1st Tyneside Scottish November 1941
1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish War Diary November 1941
1st November 1941
The thirteenth Leave Party returned from the UK.
2nd November 1941
The fifteenth Leave Party left for the UK.
9th November 1941
The CO left to attend a week’s course at the Iceland Force Tactical School.
10th November 1941
As per Iceland Force Instructions, the Education Scheme started within the Battalion. The information on the scheme, and its objectives and methods, was set out in Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary. For details see below.
12th November 1941
An Inter-Company exercise was held to practise B Company in dealing with an invading force – represented by D Company - and in movement across difficult country.
The leading troops covered 7 miles – as the crow flies – across broken lava bed country, rising over a series of ridges to a height of 600 feet in 1 hour 53 minutes. The description of the exercise is set out on Appendix 2 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
13th November 1941
The previous day’s exercise was repeated, with the Company roles reversed.
15th November 1941
C Company and the Reconnaissance Platoon left for the Brigade Training Camp at E Camp HVITANES (Camp Commandant Major Morrison 10th DLI). Details of the training were set out on Appendix 3 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
The fourteenth Leave Party returned from the UK.
The sixteenth Leave Party departed for the UK. With Captain Brennan away on leave, Captain Keith assumed command of R Company.
Lt Leitch left the Battalion, and the Army, to take up flying duties with the RAF.
17th November 1941
Captain Stordy left the Battalion on a Medical Board recommendation for a change to England.
19th November 1941
Major Walton, Captains Angus and Campbell and 2/Lt Alexander left for AKUREYRI to attend the Training School (thought to be the Winter Warfare School).
20th – 21st November 1941
Battalion HQ plus No 1 and 2 Platoons took part in Iceland Force Exercise No 14, a Signals Exercise – those participating were out for 36 hours in bad and stormy weather. Major McGregor and Captain Dunn were detailed as umpires.
23rd November 1941
The G.o.C. held a conference on Exercise No 14 which all Officers who had participated attended.
28th November 1941
Major Walmsley and Captain Keith left to attend a course at the Iceland Force Tactical School.
30th November 1941
Iceland Force Exercise No 15 was held. The exercise is described in Appendix 4 attached to the War Diary. For details see below.
A Report was submitted by the Officer Commanding C Company on the points brought up while the Company was in training at HVITANES.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary – November 1941.
Appendix 1 – The Education Scheme and Syllabus.
This scheme appeared to be being introduced throughout the Army at this time. A significant period (one hour) was to be spent each day on educational lectures. Debating, photography, music and drama were to be encouraged – the aims being to improve the troops’ chances in civilian life, increase efficiency and avoid boredom. Men were to be graded as regards educational attainment and their AB 64 (Paybook) entered when progress was made.
“Backward” men – those unable with ease to read and write, were to cover basic literacy and numeracy skills plus Regimental history, or craftwork, or the background to the War.
“Intermediate” men – who had been 14 year-old school leavers – were to cover literature, public speaking, basic writing skills, more advanced maths or scientific subjects and craft or first aid or citizenship rights and responsibilities.
“Advanced” men – those with a secondary school education – to be worked with individually with subject links to trade or vocation, City and Guilds, a Language (preferably German), and cultural subjects. Men could be “promoted” to a higher grade in response to attainment.
These initiatives were in addition to the perhaps better-known Army Bureau of Current Affairs lectures and discussions.
Appendix 2 – An Inter-Company Exercise.
This exercise was again based around attacking and defending the VATNSENDI Radio Station.
The objective of the exercise was to:-
Practise the Company in the quick location of an invading force.
Practise the Company in appreciating an enemy’s objectives.
Practise the preparation and execution of an immediate counter-attack.
Practise movement across difficult country.
The troops taking part were to be two Companies plus one Section of the Carrier Platoon. It was stressed that the exercise had no relation to the unit’s role in ICELAND. It was focussed on lifting the country’s morale by seeing a successful commando-style raid carried out. The approach was to be sea, using a destroyer, with the commando force landing on the beach, avoiding contact with defending forces en route to the target – which it was estimated would take 20 minutes on site to destroy. Prisoners were to be taken and returned to the destroyer.
The defending force were briefed on the observed landing and ordered to destroy the commando force – who would be wearing cap comforters, while the defenders wore steel helmets..
Appendix 3 – Intensive training at the Brigade Camp – issued 12th November 1941.
The single page document attached to the War Diary was actually marked in manuscript as Appendix IV.
The training spell was for C Company, with the Reconnaissance Platoon also under command – except for specialist training – and was due to last for the week from 15th to 22nd November 1941. The Company Commander was to indent for sufficient troop carrying transport to manage the movements back and forward. The Company’s operational commitments during this period were to be dealt with by R Company, with the exception of the KEFLAVIK detachment. The Company Commander of R Company was to access supporting manpower from 4 Platoon to ensure that he had sufficient men available.
During their stay at HVITANES all men – except cooks and any sick – were to carry our intensive training on the lines set out by the Battalion Commander. Winter kit would be taken, including all available skis, sledges and gumboots. G1098 scale equipment would be taken at the discretion of the Company Commander – enough to ensure local protection. Sledges were due to be drawn from 10th DLI and left at the Camp on the conclusion of the training.
Accommodation stores were adequate for 120 men, coal would be taken sufficient for a week and coke drawn from the main stores depot. All troops were to be rationed by the Depot at HVITANES.
All Camp duties were to be carried out by the permanent Camp staff, leaving the Company to concentrate on the winter training. Each Battalion provided a small number of men for Camp fatigues for a fortnight at a time – the men concerned being relieved at the end of each fortnight. The party was to be accompanied by an NCO and three Stretcher-bearers detailed by the Medical Officer.
Regular reports on progress would be made back to Battalion HQ.
Appendix 4 – Force Exercise 15 – issued 27th November 1941.
This was a Passive Air Defence Exercise to take place at night between 28th and 29th November 1941.
The objective was to test air defence arrangements, both active and passive, including the enforcement of a “blackout” period.
All troops of 1st Tyneside Scottish were to take part.
Camp fire-fighting services would be tested.
Battalion HQ, including the Signals Office, would be manned as for operations.
Despatch riders would be tested in night driving.
Signals and Motor Transport personnel would be called upon to effect repairs under black-out conditions.
Unit medical services would possibly be tested.
B Company might be required to man defensive positions as if the relvant Code Word had been received.
The Regimental Police might be called upon for traffic control duties in black-out conditions.
It was expected that American aircraft might fly over the area to simulate enemy bombers – co-operation was being received from Anti-Aircraft and Searchlight Units.
The Civil ARP services may be practising their various roles during the exercise.
Air Raid Warnings, both Civil and Military, would be sounded to indicate the start and conclusion of the exercise.
All vehicles, other than those participating in the exercise, were to be kept off the roads. Sidelights only would be used.
2/Lt Elrick would act as the Umpire for the exercise, supported by an NCO in each Camp, and he was required to report on the outcome by 12:00 hours on 29th November. A final conference on the exercise was timed for 17:00 hours on Monday 1st December at HALOGOLAND Camp.
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