War Diary - AQ Branch - September 1940
4 September 1940 – Alabaster Force - Reykjavik
Norwegians (1 and 8) attached to 1/6 DWR for all purposes.
Acute shortage of paper imminent – all news issues stopped.
News Bulletins from home for Midnight Sun invariably too late for current issue and not worth the money put in to them. Cabled War Office stopping them.
5 September 1940
Exchanged Prisoners of War ex Sweden disembarked from GOTEBURG (ex Petsanco) and were accommodated in Staging Camp – Army 111 including 3 Officers; Navy 1; RAF 8; Civilians 5 – pending provision of naval escort.
Officers dance in Oddfellows’ Hall.
News issues resumed with paper provided by Canadian HQ from that supplied by philanthropic organisations.
13 September 1940
KOHISTAN arrived with drafts for the following:-
83 Other Ranks No 1 Fire Command – to enable them to throw off Batteries for Seydisfjordur and Reydarfjordur (insufficient).
24 - F.F.I.
9 - 711 General Construction Company.
24 – Details.
And 2 draft conducting Officers - also 82 vehicles and 16 motorcycles.
15 September 1940
V and W Coast Batteries formed from No 1 Fire Command.
Received War Office decision to enlist Norwegian Platoon (now 1 Officer and 16 Other Ranks) into British Army. Not accepted by Platoon. War Office reconsidering decision.
16 September 1940
H.M.T. Ulster Monarch and Chitral arrived with the following:-
10 DLI 40 Officers, 836 Other Ranks.
HQ 147 Infantry Brigade 1 Officer, 5 Other Ranks. Temporarily accommodated in Staging Camp and transferred to Western Sector piecemeal.
16 D.I.D. 2 Officers, 31 Other Ranks.
Royal Artillery 1 Officer, 27 Other Ranks.
Royal Engineers 18 Other Ranks.
Royal Army Ordnance Corps 3 Officers, 11 Other Ranks.
Details 1 Officer, 3 Other Ranks. Staff Captain for 147 Infantry Brigade without any experience of the Army – sent back by same ship.
21 September 1940
Canadian Platoon at Vestmannaeyjar Island relieved by Platoon 1/5 West Yorkshires.
22 September 1940
A/Q Offices moved to Advanced HQ at Artum (G having moved the day before). Accommodation in Nissen Huts. Q (M), A.D.M.S., D.A.D.O.S. and A.D.S.T. remained in Reykjavik – Rear HQ.
A.A. and Q.M.G. experiencing considerable difficulties as most of his work is with the base and in Reykjavik.
25 September 1940
Captain T Lloyd (A.D.C.) invalided home – Captain G.H.P. Grenfell 1/5 West Yorkshires appointed.
Exchanged prisoners of war sailed for UK with a number of men (some Officers) medically boarded.
26 September 1940
Move of 10 DLI to Western Sector completed.
Arrival of first ENSA Concert Party – subsequent performances were very much appreciated. One week in Reykjavik area and then moved North. Permanent Entertainment Officer (F.F.I.) arrived with them. No sign of Bishop of Aberdeen who was scheduled to arrive with them end of August.
27 September 1940
Fatal shooting of Pte Moses by Driver Dutton in canteen tent – both 160 Field Ambulance.
Force Christmas Card designed and approved; 200,000 copies to be printed by 19th Field Survey Company but provides only about 8 per man.
Supply situation unsatisfactory – hand to mouth existence, instead of having six months reserve in hand. In some cases, had to unload ships hurriedly to obtain some commodity for next days’ ration. No tobacco obtainable for about a week.
High rate of sickness in Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps units – Medically examined and the following passed unfit to winter in Iceland:- 86th Company – 64; 89th Company – 40; 140th Company – 140. 89th Company has been in the country longest.
Appendices attached to the September 1940 War Diary of 49th Division/Alabaster Force.
Routine Orders for September.
Mobilisation Order dated 31st May 1940.
Neither of these appendices appear to have survived in the file at The National Archives.
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