70th Infantry Brigade War Diary October 1940.
Source Document – The National Archives File WO 176/304
Further work will need to be done with staff at The National Archives regarding the referencing of War Diary material. Units on Home Service in the UK post-Dunkirk would expect to have their War Diaries filed under the division WO 167 (the pre-Dunkirk period was filed under WO 166), whereas those on overseas service in certain territories – including Iceland – would have their War Diary for that period filed under WO 176. In studying this material it would appear that some material has been, at some time, placed in folders with the wrong War Office series number – for example, the sheets covering the Brigade’s time in South Devon are apparently in part included with the Iceland papers.
Clearly a filing issue for War Diaries does arise when units move between Theatres of War at other than the end of a month – doubtless a frequent occurrence. In addition there appear to be some months when no record is available. While this would be understandable in a combat situation, it extends to other periods.
This will be further investigated and clarified.
During the first two weeks of October 1st TS and 11th DLI concentrated on training, now that their operational duties had been handed over to 102nd Royal Marine Brigade. In addition, the issue of equipment and clothing to the Army’s G 1098 Scale (as mentioned earlier, the “bible” of what a unit and each man should have) was 98% completed.
6th October 1940
The specialist transport belonging to the Brigade Signal Section, Light Aid Detachment and 187th Field Ambulance left DENBURY Camp by road for the port of embarkation, under the command of Captain D.C. MacNichol, the Brigade Motor Transport Officer.
At 12:00 hours a message was received from Southern Command that no move of the Brigade was likely before 15th October.
9th October 1940
Owing to the severe wet weather conditions being experienced two Companies of 1st TS were moved from their tented camp at Bowden House, TOTNES, to Gorway House at TEIGNMOUTH.
10th October 1940
The Carriers of 11th DLI and 1st TS left by railway flat car to GLASGOW for shipment.
12th October 1940
The vehicles which had left Devon on 6th October – belonging to the Brigade Signal Section, the Light Aid Detachment and 187th Field Ambulance, were loaded on to the “S.S. HARPENDEN” at the port of embarkation. (There may have been some confusion about the identity of the vessel, as research shows that SS Harpenden was severely damaged by enemy action on 11th October and was beached on the shore of the River Clyde, being later recovered, repaired and renamed).
The Brigade HQ transport, and the routine transport of 11th DLI and 1st TS was not to be taken abroad, as those units would take over the transport of the units they were to relieve.
14th – 16th October 1940
A Southern Command exercise took place, but the Brigade’s involvement was on paper only.
17th October 1940
Advance Parties, accompanying the heavy baggage of the Brigade’s units, entrained as follows:-
1st TS – Two Officers and eighty men.
11th DLI – Two Officers and sixty men.
187th Field Ambulance – One Officer and twenty men.
18th October 1940
At 13:30 hours Brigade HQ, together with the Signal Section, the Light Aid Detachment and the Rear Party of 10th DLI entrained at NEWTON ABBOT for GOUROCK, the port of embarkation.
19th October 1940
At 13:00 hours, some eight hours later than planned, due to Air Raids en route, the Brigade HQ Party arrived at GOUROCK.
At 16:00 hours the Brigade Party embarked on H.M.Transport “Empress of Australia”.
20th October 1940
Other units, including 143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, embarked on H.M.T “Empress of Australia”.
21st October 1940
At 22:00 hours H.M. T. “Empress of Australia” left GOUROCK and joined in convoy with H.M.T. “Antonia” containing 11th DLI, 1st TS and 187th Fd Amb, which had left LIVERPOOL some four hours earlier.
(It is not known for certain whether this dispersed boarding was for security reasons – especially as different embarkation ports were used. There is anecdotal evidence that the troops were issued with tropical kit before their journey to the port, and they were only relieved of that clothing, and cold weather clothing substituted, in sheds at the dock, once they were through the dock gates and away from public view. Certainly my father was under the clear impression that the Force was headed for Burma, as were many of his colleagues – a prospect which did not appeal in the slightest!)
The strengths of the units embarked on the voyage were as follows:-
Brigade HQ (including Sig. Section and Light Aid Detachm’t) 11 Officers, 106 men
1st Tyneside Scottish 39 Officers, 895 men.
11th Durham Light Infantry 41 Officers, 887 men.
187th Field Ambulance 11 Officers, 239 men.
The voyage was described as uneventful with excellent weather.
24th October 1940
The convoy reached Reykjavik, Iceland.
Brigade HQ, on disembarking, proceeded to BRUARLAND, ten miles West of Reykjavik and took over the Headquarters of “Z” Force of the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF). Brigadier L.F. Page D.S.O. continued to command during the period the reliefs were being conducted, with his HQ at Reykjavik.
10th DLI, who by now had been in Iceland for some six weeks, were defending the Western Sector with their Battalion HQ at Borganes, with their sub-units covering an area from Akranes to Blonduos.
1st TS moved to the Camp at BALDURSHAGI, five miles South-West of Reykjavik with a detachment at the VATNSENDI Wireless Station, relieving the Fusiliers Mont Royale, a French-Canadian Regiment, most of whose troops did not speak English.
11th DLI moved to the Camp at Alafoss, two miles West of BRUARLAND, relieving the Royal Regiment of Canada.
187th Field Ambulance went to an adjacent Camp at Alafoss.
29th October 1940
70th Infantry Brigade assumed their operational role, which had been formerly allocated to “Z” Force of the CASF – and became the Force Reserve to Alabaster Force, under the command of Major-General H.O. Curtis C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (who they had previously encountered within the B.E.F.) for the defence of Iceland.
In addition, Brigadier Kirkup took over command of the Western Sector of Iceland from the C.O. of 10th DLI, which Battalion now came back under the operational control of the Brigade.
This change completed the relief of the CASF in Iceland, except for the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (a Machine-Gun Battalion) and a few small detachments of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, that remained in Iceland.
30th – 31st October 1940
The remaining few days of the month were spent in reconnaissances by Brigadier Kirkup and his staff as their operational role of Force Reserve involved the possibility of rapid movement to any part of the Western half of the island.
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