2nd Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment War Diary - August 1942
1 August 1942 Llwyn-Barried, Radnorshire.
Major J B Worton assumes command of the Battalion during the temporary absence on leave of Lieut-Colonel D V G Brock.
4 August 1942
2 Kensingtons Administrative Instruction for move to new Camp area issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix A (for details see below).
7 August 1942
Tents were “doubled-up” and final preparations made for the move.
8 August 1942
Battalion Headquarters, HQ, F and G Companies moved by March Route to Pencerrig Camp, near Builth Wells. The Main Body left Llwyn-Barried at 10:15 hours, arriving at the new Camp at 13:30 hours. This is to be a Battalion Camp and is conveniently situated on the main road 2 ½ miles from Builth Wells.
10 – 11 August 1942
The time has been spent in settling in and in making a stone road for transport through the Camp.
12 August 1942 Pencerrig Camp.
5 trucks and 3 motor-cycles from the Battalion took part in 49 Division Transport Exercise “Monte Carlo”. This exercise was designed to test the serviceability, maintenance and performance of the vehicles taking part.
Marks were awarded under each category and the results are to be announced at a later date.
Lieut-Col D V G Brock re-assumed command of the Battalion on his return from leave.
Postings – Officers – 2/Lt Wilkes posted to this Unit from 70th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment, to duty with F Company.
2/Lieuts Nightingale, Edwards and Wightman attached to 5th Battalion The Cheshire Regiment, pending embarkation for a tropical climate.
17 August 1942
Postings – Officers – 2/Lieut Williams-Treffgarne posted to 24 M.G.D.C. Chester and struck off the strength of this unit.
18 August 1942
Courses – Officers – 2/Lieut Pinks attended course at 49 Division Battle School, which commenced today.
19 August 1942
The subject of a Battalion Order today was a congratulatory message from the Commanding Officer to all personnel concerned in the Divisional Transport Exercise “Monte Carlo” on the excellent results obtained. The marks obtained were:-
Max Marks Marks Obtained Placing Serviceability 300 230 10 Initial Maintenance 300 248 7 Performance 300 274 15 Final Inspection 100 94 17 TOTAL 1,000 846 12 (Final Placing)
22 August 1942 Pencerrig Camp
2 Kensingtons Operation Order No. 1 issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix B (for details see below).
2 Kensingtons Move Order No. 1 issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix C (for details see below).
A report was received at 15:15 hours this afternoon that a “Miles Master” aircraft (No. 486736), bound for Hereford had made a forced landing near Llandridnod Wells. There was no fire and its occupant, a Sergeant Pilot, was unhurt.
23 – 25 August 1942
HQ, F and G Companies, with Battalion Headquarters, took part in 49 Division Exercise “Hotspur”. The object of this exercise was to practice the Division in Defence and Counter-Attack.
The exercise commenced at 16:00 hours 23/8/1942 and positions were dug by 17:00 hours 24/8/1942. Alternative positions were prepared on 25/8/1942. There was considerable rain during the latter part of the exercise, which concluded at 12:00 hours on 25/8/1942.
26 August 1942
“H” Company 2nd Kensingtons arrived at Pencerrig Camp from Iceland (C ) at 06:00 hours today.
27 August 1942
2 Kensingtons Location List No.7 was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix D (for details see below).
The Commanding Officer and 2nd in command made a recce for 49 Div Field Firing Exercise “Jumper”.
28 – 29 August 1942
49 Div Exercise “Jumper” took place. Its object was to practice all arms in the firing of live ammunition.
F, G and part of HQ Company with Battalion HQ took part.
Nearly all Machine-Gun Sections fired their guns and the exercise concluded at 17:00 hours on 29/8/1942.
Exceptionally fine weather was an unusual feature of this exercise.
31 August 1942
The Commanding Officer attended a lecture by Lt Col C W M Norrie D.S.O. M.C. on “Recent Operations in Libya and Egypt” at Chester.
H Company proceeded on disembarkation leave.
Appendices attached to the August 1942 War Diary of 2nd Battalion Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment.
Appendix A – Instructions for the move to a new area.
The administrative instructions were for a move to a new Camp location on Saturday 8th August 1942. They covered; baggage, tentage removal, RE stores, rations, fuel, signal stores and equipment and a reference to the timing of the move – the details of which were to be notified later. Any men absent were to be notified of the new location and sent railway warrants for them to return to the new Camp.
Appendix B – Operation Order No.1 – Exercise Hotspur.
The exercise brief followed the usual format of; “own troops”, exercise locations to be used, the intention, the method to be employed (F Company would be placed under the command of 70th Brigade), the priority of work to be performed, intercommunications and the aim of the exercise.
Appendix C – Move Order No 1 dated 23rd August 1942.
This brief document set out the order in which the Battalion was to move to the Exercise areas and the timings and map references involved. Route Cards, vehicle densities and speeds were also covered.
Appendix D – Location List No.7
In accordance with the changes described above this short document confirmed the Battalion, less E Company, were now at Pencarrig Camp, near Builth Wells.
E Company remained in Iceland.
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