1st Tyneside Scottish August 1941
1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish War Diary August 1941
4th August 1941
Birthday Greetings from the Battalion were sent to Her Majesty the Queen as Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment.
5th August 1941
Battalion HQ and the Signals Platoon took part in a Force Signals Scheme.
A large US Convoy arrived containing detachments of the US Air Arm.
8th August 1941
A, B, C, D, and HQ Companies took part in a Mobile Column Exercise in the KEFLAVIK area. The exercise was described on Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
11th August 1941
The sixth Leave Party returned and the eighth Leave Party left for the UK.
13th August 1941
Lt Col Ware, the Battalion Commander of 11th DLI lectured to all Officers on Mountain Warfare at Milnesbridge Camp, HAFNARFJORDUR.
16th August 1941
The Battalion provided one Officer, 24 Other Ranks and the Pipe Band for the Guard of Honour on the arrival in Iceland of Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff Sir John Dill, 1st Sea Lord Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman, the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sir Alexander Cadogen, Lord Cherwell, and Lt Franklin Roosevelt Jnr.
Later in the morning about 500 men of the Battalion took part in a ceremonial march past on the concrete road, with the Prime Minister taking the salute.
24th August 1941
The seventh Leave Party returned from the UK.
25th August 1941
A Draft of 14 Other Ranks arrived, having been posted from No 8 Infantry Training Centre, Perth.
The ninth Leave Party left for the UK. While Major Walmsley was on leave, Major McGregor acted as Battalion 2i/c and Captain Stordy took over A Company.
26th August 1941
A Revision of the Operation Order for REYKJAVIK Sub Sector Defence was received. This major document was attached to the War Diary as an Appendix and appeared to be numbered V. For details see below.
Inter-platoon competitions started with kit inspection carried out by Col Oxley and Major McGregor. The information about the competitions was set out in an Appendix to the War Diary dated 21st August 1941 and numbered 1 – which appears to have been an error. Details are set out below.
28th August 1941
C and D Companies carried out exercises in the KLEIFARVATN area.
The Brigade Major – Major Roper – gave a lecture on Mountain Warfare to Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants of the Battalion at SKIPTON Camp.
30th August 1941
A Curtiss P40 Tomahawk fighter hit a tractor on VATNSMYRI airfield and went up in flames.
The Battalion again supplied working parties on the airfield during the month.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary August 1941.
Appendix 1 – Mobile Column exercise
This was to practise the Battalion in the role of a fully motorised Mobile Column.
Elements included:-
Moving by bounds.
Clearing of bounds offering debussing facilities.
Communications within the Column using signal, Wireless Telegraphy and Despatch Rider.
The exercise was based around a simulated landing on the KEFLAVIK landing ground and the Battalion being ordered by Brigade to clear the enemy from the KEFLAVIK Peninsula.
Additional transport was made available by the Transport Officer, including a Light Aid Detachment truck, and detailed instructions were issued for the loading and transport of the troops.
The Reconnaissance Platoon were expected to report to Battalion HQ and the Advanced Guard Group on the bounds in the order - Hafnarfjordur 207993, Hvaleyri Ridge 1998, Skygnir 1194, Pt 40 059945, Grimsholl 9789, Innri Njardvik 9290 and the Keflavik landing ground.
The Main Body was not to pass these bounds until they were declared clear.
The Start Point was FOSSVOGUR Camp 236050 as per the movement table – this ran to several pages and was detailed down to the individual truck and Platoon. There appeared to be 85 separate vehicles involved, including Carriers and Motorcycles.
Appendix V – Scheme for the Defence of Reykjavik .
This is a very comprehensive and detailed document – replacing the original version issued in December 1940 and referred to in the Brigade War Diaries at that time. The revisions were necessary largely because of the changes to the forces and locations involved.
In particular the arrival of American troops and equipment had caused changes to be made. The US Forces in Iceland at this time included:-
3rd Battalion of 6th Regiment, US Marine Corps,
2nd Battalion 10th Regiment, US Marine Artillery, with a specific mention of F Battery.
In addition, British Forces included:-
507 Field Battery Royal Artillery.
183Battery Coastal Defence Artillery.
1/9 Battalion Manchester Regiment (MMG).
86, 89 and 140 Companies Pioneer Corps.
Royal Engineers Special Mechanical Engineering Company.
687 and 688 Artisan Works Companies Royal Engineers.
1007 Docks Operating Company Royal Engineers.
4 Sup Reserve Company RASC.
RAOC,
It should be noted that whenever the Battalion’s Reserve Company left Camp, troop carrying transport and G1098 scale equipment moves with it.
The Town Water Front Company was expected to provide boarding parties for vessels failing to stop and a guard for the Naval and RAF HQ at MENTASKOLLIN.
Appendix – Inter-Platoon Competitions – issued 21st August 1941.
This competition was in two parts – an inspection of clothing, equipment and tools and military training.
The Umpires, in carrying out the inspection element, were to pay particular attention to deficiencies of equipment, based on issue scales, the state of clothing repair and the cleanliness of personal kit. The men of the Platoon were to be inspected, wearing their second-best Battle Dress, and standing beside their personal kit. Company HQ would be included in the inspection – including the attached ranks – cooks, clerks, drivers. Any loss of marks by Company HQ would be applied evenly across all their Platoons. The Company second in command and the CQMS would be available, with ledgers and other records, to answer any questions from the Umpires.
The training element would cover:-
The fitting of personal equipment.
March discipline.
The loading and unloading of the Platoon truck – including camouflage netting.
The Platoon in the Attack.
Firing of personal weapons - including revolver, Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, Light Machine Gun and Rifle.
The timings for each Platoon’s inspection was set out as was the timetable for the marching, shooting and fieldcraft elements. Each Platoon consisted of Platoon HQ (Commander, Sergeant, Batman, Runner, two 2“ Mortar operators, two Anti-Tank Rifle operators) and three Sections, each of an NCO and six Other Ranks. Each man would fire five rounds application on the 30 yard range and the scores would be added to the results of the rest of the competition, with a possible bonus for Range Discipline.
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