70th Infantry Brigade War Diary November 1943.
1st November 1943
The daily programme is attached to the War Diary as Appendix A.
11th DLI carried out Exercise ULYSSES in extremely rough weather.
The Advance Parties left for Exercise ASTONIA, staying two days at HAMILTON and picking up the Rear Party transport.
2nd November 1943
The daily training programme is attached to the War Diary as Appendix D. 1st Tyneside Scottish carried out Exercise ULYSSES.
The G.O.C. and G.S.O. 1 of 49 Division visited 70th Brigade Group. The Brigade Commander returned from his Course at BARNARD CASTLE. C Support Group returned to their home location in order to complete mobilisation prior to taking part in Exercise ASTONIA.
A Brigade Motor Transport concentration – details of which were attached to the War Diary as Appendix B – was to be run over the course of a month to teach rear party drivers waterproofing and Motor Transport discipline.
3rd – 4th November 1943
70th Brigade Group Exercise TRIDENT – details of which are attached to the War Diary as Appendices G, H, I, J, and K – took place. This was a wetshod exercise dealing with a Reserve Brigade during darkness. Personnel and vehicles embarked on L.S.I. (Landing Ship Infantry), L.C.A. (Landing Craft Assault), L.C.M. (Landing Craft Medium), and L.C.T. (Landing Craft Tanks) during the afternoon of 3rd November, spent the evening on board and moved off to reach the appropriate beaches by 01:30 hours on 4th November.
All serials reached the beach at the correct times, all loads were discharged, all personnel and vehicles reached their assembly areas with almost unbelievable ease: only one vehicle was “drowned” in the exercise. Although being unwaterproofed, the vehicle was attempted to be driven through four feet of sea water. The vehicle was recovered and was in the assembly area, in perfect running order, within half an hour of the rest of the convoy.
The Brigade Group advanced at dawn from the assembly area onto the final Divisional objective. All personnel had their unit assembly area serial number marked on their foreheads in chinagraph pencil prior to embarking. Black lettering on a white background proved to be the easiest to see at night. The beach way track on the sand and through the woods proved to be impossible to see with only vehicle side-lights being used.
5th November 1943
Exercise AFLOAT 81R – the return of 70th Brigade Group from C.T.C. CASTLE TOWARD – took place – details being set out on Appendices F, L, and M – attached to the War Diary. The weather conditions were unsuitable for the Road Party from CASTLE TOWARD to be landed at WEYMSS BAY by L.C.T. and this group had to switch arrangements quickly and travel a 100-mile journey by road to their home location.
6th November 1943
The weather was still unsuitable for landing L.C.Ts. – so the Road Party from ROTHESAY returned to their billets at ROTHESAY. All Rail Party personnel were loaded in BEN McREE by L.C.M. (Landing Craft Medium) ferry service and proceeded via ARDROSSAN to their home locations.
7th November 1943
All Road Parties from ROTHESAY on Exercise AFLOAT 81R returned to their home locations after being landed by L.C.Ts (Landing Craft Tanks) at WEYMSS BAY.
8th November 1943
Preparation for Exercise ASTONIA – all units of 70th Brigade Group, with the exception of 185 Field Regiment – completed the loading of rail baggage trucks at HAMILTON CENTRAL, HAMILTON WEST and BOTHWELL Stations. The Brigade Major proceeded to Darsham, while the Rear Parties from Exercise AFLOAT 81R returned to their home locations.
9th November 1943
Major Hanmer, 2 i/c of 10th DLI was posted as O.C. 11th DLI vice Lt Col Rogers.
The Brigade Commander proceeded on 10 complete days privilege leave.
10th – 13th November 1943
Exercise ASTONIA. 70th Brigade Group moved from the HAMILTON area to Eastern Command, the Road Party being split over two days and completing the journey in four days after staging at CARLISLE, DONCASTER and LUTTERWORTH – the latter two stops being under canvas. Full details are attached to the War Diary in Appendices C, E, N, O, P, and Q.
50% of the Brigade Group proceeded on privilege leave. Brigade staffs, C.Os. and Adjutants of all units were ordered to have ten clear days at home. (This was presumably to allow for the intensity of the workload on these men in recent months).
The Rear Parties of Exercise ASTONIA handed over the accommodation in the HAMILTON area to 146 Brigade.
14th November 1943
Column “B” of the Road Party of Exercise ASTONIA arrived at the new location.
The Brigadier of 163 Infantry Brigade visited the 70th Brigade HQ location. The Brigade Major of 33 Tank Brigade visited 70th Brigade HQ and made arrangements for a a second Course of Infantry and Tank co-operation – one Company Commander being attached to 33 Tank Brigade for nine days, three Subalterns being attached for four days and one Company of Infantry, an Infantry Anti-Tank Platoon and a Troop of 6pdr Anti-Tank guns from 217 Anti-Tank Battery winding up the Course by a two-day exercise.
15th November 1943
The Brigade Major proceeded on 48 hours leave. Lieutenant Wood of 49 Recce Regiment was attached to Brigade HQ and assumed duties as G.S.O. III.
16th – 17th November 1943
70th Infantry Brigade Group completed administrative arrangements in the new area. All units were put under command of 70th Infantry Brigade, with the exception of M.S. (? Medical supplies) and certain “A” returns.
The unit locations were as follows:-
Brigade HQ – Darsham House, Darsham.
1st Tyneside Scottish – Felix School, Southwold.
10th DLI – Southwold Town.
11th DLI – Southwold Town.
Brigade Light Aid Detachment – Swan Garage, Southwold.
“C” Support Group (2nd Kensingtons) – Benacre Hall.
86 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery – Walberswick.
217 Anti-Tank Battery – Benacre Hall.
757 Field Company, Royal Engineers – Sotterley Hall.
187 Field Ambulance – Redisham Hall.
482 Brigade Company RASC – Wetheringsett.
18th – 19th November 1943
One Company of 11th DLI, the 11th DLI Anti-Tank Platoon, and a 6pdr Troop from 217 Anti-Tank Battery carried out a Tank Exercise with a Squadron of Churchills from 33 Tank Brigade.
20th November 1943
The Brigade Major proceeded on 10 days’ privilege leave. The initial papers for 49 Division Exercise DISCOVER were issued to all units in the Brigade Group – a copy being attached to the War Diary at Appendix R.
21st November 1943
The Brigade Commander returned from ten days’ privilege leave.
22nd – 29th November 1943
All units carried out schemes with live ammunition in conjunction with Tanks and Self-Propelled Guns on a Company, Squadron and Battery basis. 11th DLI held a Battalion Field Exercise on Dunwich FIELD FIRING AREA. The second 50% bulk leave personnel of the Brigade group left in special trains on 22nd and 23rd November.
30th November 1943
The movement instructions for the move to the concentration area for Exercise DISCOVER were issued to the Brigade Group and a copy is attached to the War Diary as Appendices S and T.
Appendix A – The daily training programme for 1st November.
Brigade HQ staff, Signals Section and Transport were not booked for any training sessions on this particular day.
Appendix B – Details of the Brigade Motor Transport concentration.
The aim of this concentrated training period was to:-
(a)Practice and train Brigade Group drivers in vehicle maintenance, waterproofing and general driving discipline.
(b)Practice and train Motorcyclists in maintenance, passage of obstacles and cross-country riding.
The programme was set out in four one week periods and four teams were created who would tackle each stage a week at a time, so that each week each team was carrying out a different phase of the programme.
The Chief Instructor was Captain C.D. Elrick of Bde HQ, assisted by Captain Dinnin of 10th DLI, Lt J Cleminson of 11th DLI, Lt Armstrong of 1st Tyneside Scottish, Captain Hill or CSM Adams of 187 Field Ambulance and Sgt Grimsley of Bde HQ. Other instructors for the maintenance phases were to be provided by O.C 70 Bde Workshops, REME.
The programme included competitive elements and a mixture of practical and theoretical training.
Appendix C – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This document provided further details on the move South of the Brigade Advance Parties. At this stage it was uncertain whether the Support Group would be sending an Advance Party and development were awaited. The document provided details of the assembly and routing of the convoy, with the staging points identified and the distances calculated.
Appendix D – The daily training programme for 2nd November.
Again, Brigade HQ staffs and Sections were not involved directly in the days’ training programme.
Appendix E – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This single sheet was a revision of the earlier instruction and changed the basis on which rations for the journey would be provided and where.
Appendix F – Details of Exercise AFLOAT 81R
This document set out the movement table for the exercise with additional information on drawing fuel and the secure parking of vehicles.
Appendices G – K Details of 70th Brigade Group Exercise TRIDENT – Operation Instruction No 1.
The documents on this Exercise were all marked “Most Secret” and were identified for destruction if there was any possibility that they might fall into enemy hands. In total there are 29 pages filed with the War Diary and, while some were marked with Appendix numbers, most were not, so it is not possible always to correlate the reference to an Appendix in the body of the War Diary to the page of the Appendix itself. The description below therefore covers the total set of pages on this major Exercise.
This document set out the details of enemy and own troops and described the basic scenario of the Exercise – namely a Divisional assault of a beach area from the sea. 70th Infantry Brigade was intended as the Reserve Brigade. Provision was made for significant Naval and Air Support. The Brigade would have under command, in addition to the current units in the Brigade Group, a detachment of No 1 Bombardment Unit and one and a half Sections of the Divisional Provost Company.
The Brigade was expected to land not before H + 180 minutes on either flank as the circumstances required, and make progress through either 146 or 147 Brigades with all speed to secure the Divisional objectives. Liaison and reconnaissance parties were to be present with the other Brigades so that routes could be correctly identified, for example.
Details were set out of the make-up of the various groups to go ashore when required – generally dominated by Support Companies from 10th and 11th DLI with the assistance of Anti-Tank, Engineer and Artillery forces. Speed was clearly a main factor with extensive use of Carriers and bicycles. Routes to be used were specified in detail and timings allotted by when objectives should be reached. The movements were quite complex in sequence and in make-up of troops and vehicles – hence the importance of Traffic Control and signposting.
Forward Observation Officers from 185 Field Regiment, and Naval Observation Officers, were to accompany each of the forward Battalions. Anti-Aircraft Guns were to be positioned in darkness in specified areas, ready to support the morning assault.
The assembly and transport ashore from the HQ ship of the Brigade “O” and “R” Groups was specified, together with their locations when ashore.
The order of march was set out, with relevant map references and the routes to be followed by each sub-group of troops and vehicles. Engineers were to support the advance groups from 10th and 11th DLI, create tracks and then make improvements to allow wheeled vehicles to follow the routes – clearly all this had to be co-ordinated to ensure that the right forces were in the right order – hence the preponderance of Carriers and tracked vehicles in the early groups ashore.
Each man was expected to carry one 75 Grenade in his pack, with an extra supply on the Carriers, and extras carried on the bicycles. H Hour was set for 22:00 hours on 3rd November.
A radio diagram was provided, showing the allocation of sets, frequencies and Code Names. A trace was included, intended as an overlay over the Ordnance Survey map of the area and showing the landing and concentration areas. A second trace showed the routes to be followed. The loading table provided the timings for each of the landing craft to beach with their loads of troops. The early batches of craft carried only bicycles with the troops until serial 18, which included the Signals handcart with wireless equipment. The larger craft then were due to begin landing, containing vehicles, Anti-Tank guns and Carriers. In total the tables included 54 separate serials for embarkation and landing, each with its own identity and relationship to the overall plan – the first landing at H plus 180 minutes and the last at H plus 320 minutes.
Appendix I was a trace showing the Jig Green landing beach and the position of the 70th Brigade forces. A separate table showed the serials disembarking from the L.C.T. – essentially the main body of trucks and lorries – for which loading instructions were also provided.
Separate sheets set out the arrangements for Naval Gunfire support, including the resources available afloat, the targets to be addressed, and the role of the Forward Observation Officers, including two who were planned to be dropped on the beach by parachute on D-1. Individual ships were linked to individual targets under the control of these Officers.
Landing Craft Tanks (Rocket) were to be positioned astern of the other craft and were to fire at the centre of the respective beaches. Two other supporting craft, described as LOG(L)s were to be available as a static Battery delivering on-call fire support. LOG(M) were to accompany their flights of Landing Craft and provide immediate support to assist their reaching the beach. LCS(L) (Landing Craft Support – Large) were to provide smoke cover as necessary to support the landing. Additional information was provided on the liaison and communication arrangements.
Appendix L – Details of Exercise AFLOAT 81R.
This document set out the detailed timetables and make-up of the various parties involved in the move from ROTHESAY via ARDROSSAN to HAMILTON, using a combination of Landing Craft, Ferries, Special Trains and ordinary service trains. For the Road Parties details of the routes and timings were provided, with the convoy assembling at WEYMSS BAY.
Appendix M – Details of Exercise AFLOAT 81R
Further details of the Road and Rail Parties were provided to supplement that included in Appendix L.
Appendix N – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This Appendix covered the necessary details for the movement South of the Rear Parties, staging again at CARLISLE and DONCASTER.
Appendix O – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This Appendix dealt with the arrangements for handing over the HAMILTON accommodation to 146 Infantry Brigade.
Appendix P – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This particular Appendix dealt with the arrangements for moving the Main Body of the Road Party of the Brigade Group – essentially in two major convoys.
The locations in East Anglia, and their map references, were to be as follows:-
Brigade HQ and Signals – WILDERNESS – 77/877875.
1st Tyneside Scottish, 10th DLI, 11th DLI, Light Aid Detachment – Southwold – 77/9693
217 Anti-Tank Battery – WRENTHAM – 77/9500.
757 Field Company, Royal Engineers – SOTTERLEY – 77/9102.
482 Infantry Brigade Company RASC – Area – 77/5590.
70 Brigade Workshops REME, 187 Field Ambulance – EYE – 77/5992.
The order of march was specified with arrangements for rations, fuel, overnight parking, halts, medical cover and a detailed timetable. Staging was, again, at CARLISLE, DONCASTER and LUTTERWORTH, before reaching the locations above.
Appendix Q – Details of Exercise ASTONIA.
This Appendix set out the arrangements for moving the Main Body of the Brigade Group by Rail. Troops were to travel in Field Service Marching Order (FSMO), including greatcoats and Field Service caps. Provision was made for twelve separate trains – some of which were carrying tracked vehicles – presumably on Warflat trucks.
Appendix R – Details of 49 Division Exercise DISCOVER.
This initial Appendix identified the units taking part in the Exercise – including a first mention of 144 Royal Armoured Corps and 108 Medium Battery, Royal Artillery (based at the Metropole Hotel, Cromer), and only the second mention of 86 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in the Brigade HQ War Diary.
This page covered communication arrangements and listed several topics on which further information was to be supplied. Instructions were given on the scale of umpires to be provided by units.
The aim of the exercise was to:-
(a)Practice co-operation between Advance Guards and the Reconnaissance Regiment.
(b)Practice Junior Leaders in the handling of Armoured Car and Carrier troops – to emphasise quick thinking and initiative.
(c)Practice Royal Engineer reconnaissance parties in their tasks during an “advance to contact”.
The 1st Belgian Group were acting as “enemy”. Provision was made for the repair of any fences damaged during the exercise. All RAF Airfields were considered “out of bounds” and were treated as impassable water meadows for the purpose of the exercise.
The basic scenario of the exercise was the repelling of a German invasion of East Anglia, aiming to prevent German forces from evacuating by sea. This involved pursuing a retreating enemy, who had destroyed bridges and caused other damage. 70th Brigade, in its role as Reserve Brigade, was intended to pass through 146 and 147 Brigades and pursue the enemy, using the Recce Regiment and Brigade Advanced Guards in an advance to contact in the first instance.
Traces were provided of friendly and enemy positions.
Appendix S – Details of 49 Division Exercise DISCOVER.
This Appendix set out the move to the concentration area and, in particular, the assessment of the troops already ferried across the River GIPPING, and the transport arrangements for the remainder. Again, a trace was provided of the areas to be occupied.
Appendix T – Details of 49 Division Exercise DISCOVER.
This paper set out the details of the area to be regarded as “flooded” for the purpose of the exercise.
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