70th Infantry Brigade War Diary May 1941.
National Archives Document Reference WO 176/304
1st May 1941
The Officers of Brigade HQ and of the units in the Brigade were the same as previously, except that Major K.K. Walmsley, Second-in-Command, deputised for Lt Col C.W. Oxley, 1st TS, until the latter’s return from leave. During the course of the month leave parties proceeded according to plan, although the first party was away for five weeks owing to various delays, including some caused by air-raid damage at the port of embarkation in the U.K.
Leave parties, courses in the U.K. and at the Force Tactical School all contributed to a shortage of Officers which made itself felt in the units. The weather was surprisingly good throughout the whole of the month with the exception of four days. The temperature rose from an average of 45 degrees to 55 degrees and over, by the end of the month, and the days were generally cloudless and sunny. This allowed a maximum of outdoor work and, in particular, the work on the aerodrome proceeded very quickly.
Opportunities for sport were not lost. Association Football was the most popular game and the ground in Brigade HQ was used almost every day by neighbouring units. Force knock-out competitions were started for Association, and also for Rugby Football as there were a few grounds available for the latter and they were by now in good condition.
The rapid increase in the hours of daylight had by now reached its maximum and by the middle of May there was no darkness at all. Those posts normally manned during “the hours of darkness” continued to be manned for a certain time each night in addition to those manned permanently.
5th May 1941
11th Bn DLI and the attached troops forming the Hafnafjordur Sub-Sector took part in a manning exercise from 03:30 hours under the direction of the Brigade Commander. The Reserve Company 1st TS also took part acting as “enemy”. The particulars were set out on Appendix A as follows:-
The objects of the manning exercise were to –
Provide a full manning exercise for troops employed on static defence.
Practise the mobile reserve in offensive action.
The troops involved were to be only 11th DLI, Field Artillery and Medium Machine Gun units.
Brigadier Kirkup was the Director of the exercise, supported by Umpires - Officers from Brigade HQ together with an Officer each from the 1st/9th Manchesters and 143rd Field Regiment.
No live ammunition was to be issued, although anti-tank mines would be laid but not fused. Refugee control posts were to be set up, but not to interfere with traffic. No martial Law Proclamations were to be posted and all messages were to be preceded with a phrase denoting the exercise. Umpires would be given copies of any messages passed.
The instructions to 1st Tyneside Scottish, as the “skeleton enemy” charged them with advancing to, and capturing SLINGSBY HILL, against the opposition to be mounted by the defending troops. The detachment was expected to simulate a landing in KOPAVOGUR and advance to the high ground from there.
The instructions were intended to be handed to the Tyneside Scottish at 03:30 hours that morning – it would appear that they were expected to mount the attack without previous warning.
10th May 1941
Brigadier Kirkup D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C., T.D. left for the U.K. on leave. Lt Col C.D. Marley D.S.O., M.B.E., T.D. officiated as Brigade Commander during his absence. Major F. Hall – Second-in-Command – officiated as Battalion Commander of 10th DLI during this period.
11th May 1941
70th Brigade Operation Instruction No 10 was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix B.
This particular document was focussed on the impact of the arrival of six Medium Machine Guns for use by the 1st Tyneside Scottish in the Reykjavik Sub-Sector which, as a result, amended the deployment of the weapons of 1st/9th Manchesters – the supporting Machine Gun Battalion - from BULLER Camp to TOWER HILL and the taking over of the BULLER Camp positions, and three of the Nissen Huts, by 1st Tyneside Scottish. The changes also had implications for the construction of concrete pill-boxes and that was also covered in the Order. The 12th Reserve Motor Transport Company was also moving out of BULLER Camp and that had implication for 1st TS deployment.
Responsibility for two of the positions was being assumed by 330 (Norwegian) Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm (another example of the inter-service working that was a common feature of Icelandic operations – see note below).
During the next fortnight the continuance of fine weather and the allotment of ammunition for training allowed field training to take place on the Light Machine Gun and the Anti-Tank Rifle and Grenade throwing to be practised by Brigade HQ and other units as work on the aerodrome permitted.
13th May 1941
South-West Sector Operation Instruction No 11 was issued and attached as Appendix C.
Following from the statement in Operation Instruction 10, that the 330 (Norwegian) Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm was assuming responsibility for two defence posts, already in being, this document sets out the details of that arrangement and, in particular, how the Squadron was expected to carry out its responsibilities for ground defence in an emergency. Given its strength of ten Officers and 130 Other Ranks it may seem surprising that the Squadron only had access to fifty rifles and 2,500 rounds of ammunition, and was anticipated to defend the posts to the last man and last round.
Details were set out of emergency signals and code words, as well as the means and routes for communicating messages to higher formations.
16th May 1941
An exercise was held for the Reserve troops of 1st TS – One Company, plus the Carrier and Mortar Platoons – supported by E Troop of 388th Field Battery and one Platoon of 1st/9th Manchesters (MMGs). These troops carried out a possible operational role as part of the exercise – namely a counter-attack on HOWITZER HILL. The scheme was carried out successfully, despite the rain.
18th May 1941
The Brigade Commander made a visit to KEFLAVIK to inspect the post manned by 11th DLI at the Emergency Landing Ground at UTSKALAR.
The first of a series of fortnightly courses for Platoon Commanders commenced at the Force Tactical School. Twelve vacancies were allotted to the Brigade.
19th May 1941
A water shortage in Reykjavik had begun to be noticed owing to a prolonged spell of fine dry weather, but drizzling rain appeared on this day and continued intermittently for the next three days. The Brigade Commander attended a conference at Force HQ on the relief of 10th DLI to take place early in June.
20th May 1941
The Brigade Major left by sea for VESTMANNAEYJAR with the Force Camouflage Officer for a Tactical and Administrative inspection of the detachment based there.
His report was attached to the Diary as Appendix D and explained that, because of the timing of sailings, it was only possible to spend 10:00 to 18:00 hours on the island – meaning only a cursory inspection could take place.
He stated that the detachment of two Officers and 53 men were relatively comfortably housed, though efforts were to be made to improve the sanitary facilities, which were poor.
Relationships with the population were understood to be harmonious, despite the presence of a number of Nazi sympathisers (a problem generally in Iceland to a degree) and a female population actively discouraged from fraternisation. The detachment was in the process of checking the existence of privately held weapons and over 200 had already been seen.
Geographically, the island was over three miles long and 1 ½ miles wide and had only two areas considered suitable for enemy landings. One was in the North, and one in the South. He was of the view that it was impossible for such a small garrison to be so disposed as to be able even warnings of all landings. However, while the detachment was watching the Northern site, he considered the Southern area could be kept under observation by a Royal Navy Coast Watching Post at a lighthouse which stood on a peak at the extreme South of the island.
A reconnaissance had taken place and a plan prepared for the move of the detachment to the South, should a landing take place there.
Three posts had been constructed to cover the harbour areas and the isthmus to the North of the harbour. The detachment commander had been advised to move one of the posts so as to bring the manning Section closer to the rest of the Platoon – the recommendation had been agreed and work was beginning on the new post.
No Government transport was available to the detachment, who had to hire vehicles locally, so arrangements were made to send a 15cwt truck.
22nd May 1941
A Guard of Honour, to be found from 1st Tyneside Scottish, for the visit of the Vice Admiral Commanding Orkney and Shetlands had to be cancelled, due to his non-arrival – his visit was subsequently held on 27th May.
23rd May 1941
10:15 hours. A demonstration of the Platoon in the Attack was given by 1st Tyneside Scottish at the Force Tactical School – the event being attended by the General Officer Commanding.
21:00 hours. A message was received from Force HQ that enemy warships were at sea near Iceland and that extreme vigilance was to be maintained.
At around this time my father and some of his comrades watched the Battle Cruiser H.M.S. Hood leave Reykjavik harbour in the hunt for the Bismarck.
24th May 1941
News was heard on the radio that H.M.S. Hood had been sunk, North of Iceland, and that the German Battleship Bismarck had been hit.
25th May 1941
The wind which had sprung up overnight became almost gale force.
26th May 1941
Weather fine and dry for the remainder of the week.
27th May 1941
A message was received by 10th DLI that an aircraft had crashed in the interior of the island, within the Western Sector. A party of one Officer and 8 Other Ranks left from Blonduos by truck to search for the aircraft but were recalled by wireless a few hours later. A party left Borganes by truck, travelled East for 50 miles and then travelled by pony to the West side of EIRKSJOKULL. Two days later news was received that the remains of the aircraft, a Fairey Battle, had been found by another search party some seventy miles away with all four occupants killed. The 10th DLI search party stayed out for a few more days to continue training in most unpromising country. One lava bed alone was found to be eighty miles wide.
(More information on this tragedy is to be found elsewhere on the Website)
28th May 1941
A message stating “return to normal vigilance” was received from Force HQ.
30th May 1941
The Brigade Commander went to Borganes with the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (Movements) to discuss the relief of 10th DLI.
By the end of the month British aerial activity in the Reykjavik area became more pronounced as the Norwegian Fleet Air Arm became equipped with machines and the first runway on the VATNSMYRI aerodrome neared completion. Sunderland and Catalina Flying Boats, Northrop Float Planes, Beauforts and Fairey Battles were all in evidence.
Appendix E to the War Diary covered the administrative matters for the month as follows:-
WORKING PARTIES
Work on the aerodrome continued – digging, rock crushing, driving etc. From 16th – 31st May 11th DLI and 1st TS provided Working Parties consisting of a daily strength of 8 Officers, 46 NCOs and 500 men at REYKJAVIK AERODROME.
In addition, those units, and 1st/9th Manchesters, were given the collective task of moving 500 15cwt truck loads of sand to the aerodrome from Hafnafjordur each week.
TRANSPORT
During the weeks in which the Brigade supplied the Working Parties, 16 15cwt trucks were supplied by both 11th DLI and 1st TS. In addition, 12 30cwt lorries were handed over during the week 11th – 17th May 1941 by No 12 Reserve Motor Transport Company to each of those Battalions. These were immediately made available, with drivers, for the daily supply of cement to Kaldadarnes aerodrome.
ACCOMMODATION
Brigade HQ, 1st TS and 11th DLI were responsible for ten days for the accommodation, clothing and rationing of 9 Officers and 85 Ratings of the Royal Navy from the torpedoed H.M.S. Salopian. In addition, similar services were provided for some 60 merchant seamen for a period of two days.
HEALTH
The general health of the Brigade continued to be excellent and Sick Parades were small.
ROYAL ENGINEER SERVICES
Cookhouses, ablutions and latrines have now been completed in all Battalion areas and only two Camps in 11th DLI (HVALEYRI and SLINGSBY HILL) required electric lighting. These were hoped to be installed before too long.
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