89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - War Diary December 1943.

5 December 1943 DUMBARTON.

Major D S HUNTER discharged from DRYMEN Military Hospital.

7 December 1943

Demonstration of demolitions and blowing of gun pits at 310 Battery.

9 December 1943

Six self-propelled guns from 308 Battery and a party of Officers and Drivers proceed to C.T.C. INVERARY.

14 December 1943

The Regiment moves off to new location at GREAT YARMOUTH, staging at CARLISLE (14 December), DONCASTER (15 December), LUTTERWORTH (16 December). See below for Appendix Dec/43/1/ attached to the War Diary.

17 December 1943 GREAT YARMOUTH.

The Regiment reaches new location at GREAT YARMOUTH.

19 December 1943

Regimental Rear Party leaves DUMBARTON area.

21 December 1943

Regimental Rear Party reaches GREAT YARMOUTH.

22 December 1943

Major D S HUNTER RA assumes command of the Regiment during the absence on leave of Lt Col H C CORY MC.

27 December 1943

Six self-propelled guns from 308 Battery and a party of Officers and Drivers return from C.T.C. INVERARY.

Appendices attached to the December 1943 War Diary.

Movement Instruction Dec/43/1 dated 11 December 1943.

This three-page document set out the detailed arrangements for moving the Regiment to East Anglia. The move was to take place entirely by road, staging at Carlisle, Doncaster and Lutterworth, while surplus baggage would be sent by rail.

Details of the driving sequence and route to be taken was set out – essentially, in modern terms, from Glasgow down the M6 to Penrith and then across the A66 to Scotch Corner and then South on the A1. Speed and density details were prescribed.

Rations were to be provided by the Staging Camps with the exception of the mid-day meal on the day of departure and the evening meal on the day of arrival. Cooks were to go forward daily and arrange meals at the Staging Camps four hours ahead of the Main Body. Vehicles were to be full of fuel and also carry their first-line fuel reserve and all available petrol cans would be carried full.

Men were to travel in 2nd best battledress, with skeleton webbing over greatcoats, cap comforters and gaiters. Those men manning anti-aircraft LMGs were to wear steel helmets and have eyeshields available. Respirators and steel helmets were to be carried in the vehicles readily available for everybody.

Details were included of Military Hospitals and REME Workshops on the route.

Rear parties were planned to leave on 19 December under command of Lt H J NICHOLLS of 308 Battery, and would rendezvous with Divisional Troops Rear Parties South of CUMNOCK, forming a separate convoy.

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