View source for 1st Tyneside Scottish November 1942

'''2nd November 1942 KINGTON.'''

At 07:50 hours the Battalion left by road for its new location.

At 19:00 hours the Battalion arrived at PRESTON and was billeted in the Staging Camp for the night.

'''3rd November 1942'''

At 09:00 the Battalion left PRESTON.

At 14:00 hours the Battalion arrived at Greystone Camp, DALTON-in-FURNESS.

Major R.H.C. Drummond-Wolff assumed command of the Battalion in the absence of Lt Col Oxley on leave.

Weapon training and Battle Drill resumed.

'''11th November 1942'''

The G.o.C., Major-General H.O. Curtis, visited the Battalion.

'''15th November 1942'''

The Pipe Band took part in the DALTON Civil Defence Parade.

'''18th November 1942'''

Lt Col C.W. Oxley resumed command of the Battalion.

'''22nd November 1942'''

The Pipe Band, three Officers and 86 Other Ranks took part in a Civil Defence Parade in BARROW-in-FURNESS.

'''25th – 26th November 1942'''

The Brigade Exercise “MONTE CARLO” for Motor Transport was held – this included night driving.

'''29th November 1942'''

Exercise “ATTACK” was held – information being contained in Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.

'''Appendices attached to the War Diary of 1st Tyneside Scottish for November 1942.'''

'''Appendix 1 – Exercise “ATTACK”.'''

This exercise was due to take place on Sunday 29th November and was concerned with testing the defences of MILLOM Aerodrome, which would be held by all the RAF Station personnel supported by Nos 15 and 16 Platoons of C Company of the 7th Cumbrian Battalion of the Home Guard.

1st Tyneside Scottish were to provide the attacking force consisting of B and C Companies – commanded by Captain Campbell – supported by one Section of the Carrier Platoon and four detachments of the Mortar Platoon.  The attackers were to wear the Tam O’Shanter while the defenders would use their steel helmets.

The Director of the Exercise was Major H.L. Palmer M.B.E. while the Chief Umpire was Captain Brennan, assisted by Captain W.K. Angus and Lieuts A.S. Lawrie, J.B. Shorter, D.S. Salisbury, and J. Robson with the defenders.

All the Officers would act as Umpires with the attackers – namely; Captain A. McLagan, Lieut J.D. Allen, Captain A.L. Campbell, 2/Lt W. Aikenhead, Captain K.P. Calderwood and Lieut A.P. Whitehead, plus two Home Guard Officers.  NCOs would be in command of the Platoons.

Arrangements were made for Umpires’ conferences.

The Tyneside Scottish troops were due to leave DALTON by Motor Transport at 05:45 and the exercise was due to commence at 08:45 and conclude at 11:30 hours.

The second page of the notes indicated that no live ammunition was to be taken but that possibly some blank rounds might be available.  A Plan of attack and an exercise narrative were attached as a separate sheet.  A warning was listed to avoid a genuine minefield between BULLSTONE and KIRKSTANTON, round the coast and about 20 yards deep.  A sheet of notes for the Umpires was also provided.

The exercise narrative assumed a German invasion of Northern Ireland which was being used as a staging point for raids on the mainland in the North West area, using airborne troops to attack airfields, aimed at maximising damage to aircraft on the ground, and leading to a seaborne invasion of the North West Coast.

MILLOM Aerodrome had five defended localities (as shown on an aerial photograph) each containing between 50 and 70 men with Smith Guns and numerous Light Machine Guns and rifles.  There were concrete pillboxes and trenches – some of which were wired.  The whole perimeter was triple-wired with a single fence.  An air bombardment of defences and ground equipment would precede the assault.

The attacking troops were to take the high ground, having been dropped North and East of the airfield.  C Company would take the South end of the airfield, plus the bomb dump and administrative buildings, and D Company would take the North end, together with flying control, the hangars and Battle HQ.

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