War Diary - CRA - December 1941

6 December 1941

10:20 – 10:50 hours. 4th Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery, 30 minutes “Silent practice” with RAF co-operation.

Royal Artillery Iceland (C ) Force Operation Order issued to 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery and a copy filed as Appendix A with the War Diary. (No copy found in the file at The National Archives).

12 December 1941

Supplement to Royal Artillery Iceland (C ) Force Operation Order issued to 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery and a copy filed with Appendix A with the War Diary (No copy found in the file at The National Archives).

Lt-Col F W B Maufe M.C., T.D. Royal Artillery disembarked Reykjavik from AKUREYRI ex-“Leinster” to assume appointment of Acting Commander Royal Artillery during absence on leave of Brigadier E L G Griffith-Williams D.S.O., M.C.

13 December 1941

Royal Artillery Iceland (C ) Force Training Instruction issued and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix B. (No copy found in the file).

Instructions for Anti-aircraft Signals Exercise No. 5 issued and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix C. (No copy found in the file).

14 December 1941

General Instructions for Anti-aircraft defence exercise in conjunction with Iceland (C ) Force Passive Air Defence Exercise No. 16 issued.

10:00 hours. Brigadier E L G Griffith-Williams D.S.O., M.C. inspected “A” troop 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery at Packway Camp, Hafnafjordur.

11:30 hours. Major-General H.O. Curtis C.B., D.S.O., M.C. G.O.C. Iceland (C ) Force inspected 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery, less one Troop at Guivatn Camp, BALDURSHAGI.

15 December 1941

12:00 – 13:00 hours. Anti-aircraft Signals Exercise No. 5.

17 December 1941

G.O.Cs. T.E.W.T. for Senior Officers – Lt-Col F W B Maufe M.C., T.D. Royal Artillery (Acting Commander, Royal Artillery) and Major B Armitage Royal Artillery, Brigade Major Royal Artillery, Iceland (C ) Force, attended.

18 December 1941

01:00 hours 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery relieved by two Batteries 46 Field Artillery Battalion U.S. Army at Guivatn Camp, BALDURSHAGI – PACKWAY CAMP, Hafnafjordur. Relief completed by 02:00 hours.

14:00 hours. 366 Field Battery Royal Artillery embarked for UK less Captain R Crighton-Brown and Batman on Winter Welfare (?Warfare) Course AKUREYRI – 2/Lt K Ball and Batman left as Rear Party.

Brigadier E L G Griffith-Williams D.S.O., M.C. embarked for UK proceeding on leave.

19/20 December 1941

Iceland (C ) Force Passive Air Defence Exercise No. 16 in conjunction with Anti-aircraft Defence Exercise No.6.

22 December 1941 – Skeleton Hill.

10:00 – 10:45 hours. Final Conference of Force Exercise No. 16 and Anti-aircraft Exercise No. 6.

Gardar/Brighton Camp. 11:05 – 12:50 hours. 203rd Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery Royal Artillery 105 minutes “Silent Practice” with RAF co-operation.

28 December 1941

Grotta, Engey, Pimple Hill – 10:15 – 11:00 hours. 4th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, 45 minutes “Silent Practice” with RAF co-operation.

Weather for the month was mainly mild with intermittent sharp frosts lasting 2 – 3 days followed by thaw. Snow fell on several occasions, but in each case, a thaw set in after a few days. Health remains excellent.

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