70th Infantry Brigade War Diary September 1940.
70th Brigade War Diary September 1940
Source – The National Archives – File WO 176/304
1st September 1940
The Corps Commander paid an informal visit to SALCOMBE to inspect the defence positions held by 1st TS.
2nd September 1940
The War Diary noted that preparations were almost complete for the bringing up to War Establishment of 10th DLI, prior to their move overseas as the Advance Party of the Brigade.
3rd September 1940
The Brigadier visited SEATON in the company of Major-General Allfrey, G.O.C. of the South Western Area.
4th September 1940
An “Air Spray” demonstration took place at SLAPTON under the control of South Group. Various units – one Company of 2nd Gloucesters, two Companies of 11th DLI, one Company of 1st TS and a detachment from Brigade HQ were submitted to the spray. Col Ware of 11th DLI instructed the troops during the demonstration.
5th September 1940
The Brigadier paid a visit to 2nd Gloucesters, who had replaced 10th DLI in the defence positions.
Col Vogel from the War Office came to confer with Brigadier Kirkup and Lt Col Marley regarding the move of 10th DLI. The Area Commander visited Brigadier Kirkup’s Sub-Area HQ in the evening to make arrangements for the handover of command of the Sub-Area.
6th September 1940
Brigadier R.H. Campbell, Royal Marines, arrived for attachment pending his taking over command of the Sub-Area from Brigadier Kirkup. A Conference of Battalion and Unit commanders took place at NEWCOURT on the moves to relieve 70th Brigade of their responsibility for coast defences.
7th September 1940
Major Leicester, Royal Marines, arrived at HQ pending his takeover of the role of Brigade Major for the Sub-Area.
At 12:00 hours a report was received from South Western Area of increased barge activity across the Channel, and for the need for greater vigilance.
At 21:25 hours the code-word “Cromwell” was received at HQ and forwarded to units within the Sub-Area.
8th September 1940
At 22:00 hours a message was received from South Western Area to the effect that, if the situation appeared normal by 07:00 hours on 9th September, the code word “Oliver” should be circulated.
9th September 1940
At 06:00 hours units were informed that if the situation was normal at 07:00 hours, “Oliver” would take effect.
Between 10:15 and 18:30 hours Brigadier Kirkup and the Commander of 8 Corps toured the defence areas.
At 16:00 hours all leave, other than Embarkation Leave, from the South Western Area was stopped.
At 23:00 hours code word “Cromwell” was again received from South Western Area.
Lt F.J. May RASC reported for duty as Brigade Supply Officer. (This was an example of the type of appointment which marked the transition of the Brigade from its former status to one where it would be much more self-sufficient in supporting services.)
10th September 1940
Brigadier McPherson – Director of Mobilisation – visited 10th DLI and then returned to 70th Brigade HQ to discuss mobilisation questions.
11th September 1940
At 09:30 hours a Conference was held at the HQ of South Group on mobilisation. Brigadier McPherson was present together with the Brigadier, Staff Captain and the C.O.s of 11th DLI, 187 Fd Amb and 1st TS.
2/Lt G.A. Lester RAOC reported for duty as OME (Officer – Mechanical Engineering) L.A.D. (Light Aid Detachment). (This was the small mobile unit of mechanics and repair specialists who would deal with the maintenance and support of the Brigade’s vehicles, equipped with a Recovery Vehicle and mobile workshop facilities.)
10th DLI left CREDITON for GLASGOW in two special trains leaving at 15:48 and 16:19 hours en route for overseas. The total strength of the unit was 35 Officers and 892 men.
The Battalion was seen off by the Brigadier. One Officer and 15 men of 10th DLI remained as a Rear Party, responsible for certain vehicles while Captain J. Oldham M.C. of 10th DLI, together with several staff from Brigade HQ, accompanied the 10th DLI train party as an Advance Party for Brigade HQ.
12th September 1940
At 16:00 hours South Devon Sub-Area Operation Instruction No 1 was issued. (As far as can be seen this document was not filed with the War Diary).
The 10th DLI and Brigade HQ Advance Party embarked at GREENOCK for the voyage overseas.
14th September 1940
An Advance Part of Brigade HQ under the command of Lt Q.H. Gilbey left for DENBURY Camp.
15th September 1940
HQ 70th Brigade dissociated itself from the Headquarters of South Devon Sub-Area and moved to DENBURY Camp. Brigadier R.H. Campbell and the HQ of 102 Royal Marine Brigade took over command of the South Devon Sub-Area. (While this meant that the Brigade was again a separate administrative entity under Brigadier Kirkup, 11th DLI and 1st TS remained for a short while under the operational control of the South Devon Sub-Area.)
16th September 1940
The 2nd Gloucesters relieved 11th DLI of the beach defence of the SLAPTON area and 11th DLI also moved to DENBURY Camp. The 50th Warwicks relieved 1st TS of the beach defences from SALCOMBE 1760 to YEALM 9771 – both inclusive – and 1st TS moved to TOTNES 2382.
17th September 1940
Brigadier Kirkup departed on seven days’ Embarkation Leave.
19th September 1940
Lt W.L. Lovegrove was posted from the role of Brigade Signals Officer to an appointment at 3 Command Signals, and was replaced by Captain P.M. Bowen, Royal Signals.
Captain W.B. Kirkup – Brigade Transport Officer – was posted to 11th DLI as Company Commander of “D” Company and was replaced as Transport Officer by Captain D.C. MacNichol, who had previously been Assistant Brigade Major, and Brigade Intelligence Officer before that appointment.
20th September 1940
A slight relaxation of restrictions was made as men were not confined to billets. (This had been one of the effects of the code words implying that invasion might be expected imminently.)
22nd September 1940
At 12:20 hours there was a visit by Lt. General C.J.E. Auchinleck, General Officer in Command of Southern Command. He visited DENBURY Camp and met the commander of the South Devon Sub-Area, the acting Brigade Commander (Lt Col Oxley 1st TS) the C.O. of 187 Fd Amb and the acting C.O. of 11th DLI (Major Taylor).
At 13:00 hours (presumably during Gen Auchinleck’s visit) a message was received from the South Devon Sub-Area ordering “Stand-to”.
23rd September 1940
Information was received that an invasion was seen as likely at 15:00 hours.
At 19:05 hours a further message was received from the South Devon Sub-Area cancelling the “Stand-to”.
25th September 1940
Brigadier Kirkup returned from Embarkation Leave.
The Brigade Major was admitted to hospital for surgery.
26th September 1940
A Conference was held at DENBURY Camp consisting of the Brigadier, C.O.s and Adjutants regarding the mobilisation process.
27th September 1940
The Brigadier inspected 1st TS at TOTNES and MODBURY.
28th September 1940
The Brigadier completed his inspection of the Brigade by visiting 11th DLI and 187th Fd Amb at DENBURY Camp.
30th September 1940
A further Conference was held at DENBURY Camp consisting of the Brigadier, C.O.s and Adjutants regarding the mobilisation process.
The introductory notes at the head of this month’s War Diary remark that this was a transitional period for the Brigade, particularly as the move overseas was beginning with 10th DLI as the Advance Unit. Embarkation Leave was granted to all ranks in readiness for the move. Time was spent in bringing units up to strength in men and equipment. While the intensive work on the defence of the area had naturally dominated the Brigade’s life in the last months, time was now found to concentrate on training and drill, which had suffered during the time of the construction activities.
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