70th Infantry Brigade War Diary June 1943.
1st June 1943
The Brigade Commander returned from 5 days’ privilege leave.
2nd June 1943
Captain Waddell, Royal Signals, was posted to the appointment of Officer Commanding Brigade Signals, replacing Captain D.P.K. Rennick, who had received a War Office Posting Order to Air Signals, Northern Ireland.
3rd June 1943
11th DLI were put through Exercise “EYEOPENER III” – an exercise for Signals Platoons.
4th June 1943
10th DLI were put through Exercise “EYEOPENER III”.
The Brigade Commander left to attend an Artillery demonstration with Tanks at LARKHILL, prior to having 5 days’ leave.
5th June 1943
The Divisional Sports Meeting was held at FOXLEY at 12:00 hours. A copy of the Programme for the day, with a list of events, and the officials identified, was included within the War Diary as Appendix B. (the details included the names of many of the entrants for the various events so the opportunity has been taken to check those names against the database of names, or add them if they are not already present).
7th June 1943
L.C.V. arrived at Brigade HQ. The Staff Captain returned from leave.
9th June 1943
Unit stretcher-bearers were put through Exercise “EYEOPENER II” – the use of a Carrier for transporting stretcher cases proved invaluable.
11th June 1943
Major Liddell, G. II of 49 Division visited Brigade HQ. The Brigade Major proceeded on four days’ privilege leave.
13th June 1943
70th Infantry Brigade Operation Instruction No 5 was issued and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix A.
14th June 1943
A trial was carried out on the beach at AMROTH CASTLE in order to ascertain if Carriers could travel up a bank of a 1 in 5 gradient on loose shingle. The trial gave negative results, it being 2 hours before the first Carrier reached the top.
15th June 1943
Units are incorporating long Company route marches with the coast as a destination during their spells of individual training. Each Company is being allowed to work on its own for a 4, 7 or 12 day Company exercise.
16th June 1943
Captain Woodcock, G. III – dealing with Chemical Warfare – at 49 Division, visited Brigade HQ.
17th June 1943
The Brigade Commander visited the Infantry Anti-Tank Platoons shooting on the Range at HARLECH. Considerable improvement in results was shown – one Platoon achieving 66% hits. The Brigade Major left for a 14 days’ Course on Combined Operations at CASTLE TOWARD.
18th June 1943
The 70th Brigade Carrier Concentration opened in the LLANDOVERY area under the supervision of Captain W.L. Bell, Staff Captain at Brigade HQ. All unit Carrier and Mortar Platoons were to be put through ten days’ intensive training, with the object in view of testing their efficiency and producing a uniform drill for different situations.
The Brigade Commander attended a Smoke Lecture at SENNYB RIDGE during the afternoon.
20th June 1943
The Brigade Commander attended a National Fire Service demonstration held in the Park at CARMARTHEN.
22nd June 1943
Major Hamilton of 11th DLI and Captain Howard proceeded on an Assault Brigade Cadre at INVERARY.
The Brigade Commander visited 11th DLI Field Firing Exercise in conjunction with 185 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, on the LLANDOVERY Ranges. An Inter-Arms Debate was held at PENCLAWDD between 11th DLI and 185 Regiment, Royal Artillery.
23rd June 1943
The Brigade Athletics Meeting took place on an elimination basis. The following units took part:-
10th DLI
11th DLI
1st Tyneside Scottish
185 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
70th Brigade Workshops R.E.M.E.
187 Field Ambulance
Brigade HQ
24th June 1943
The Brigade Group Athletics Meeting took place in the Park at CARMARTHEN. 11th DLI won the unit competition – details being set out on Appendix B to the War Diary. Two Military Bands played during the afternoon.
25th June 1943
Lt Col C.W. Oxley 1st Tyneside Scottish had a farewell lunch at Brigade HQ.
The Brigade Commander visited a withdrawal exercise during the Carrier demonstration.
26th June 1943
Major Scott, G.II of 49 Division, and Major Coate, D.A.Q.M.G. visited Brigade HQ.
27th June 1943
A ten-day stretcher-bearer concentration began. All unit Medical Platoons and unit Medical Officers were to undergo intensive training under the supervision of the Officer Commanding 187 Field Ambulance at ORANGE CAMP, PEMBREY.
28th June 1943
Western Command Study Week began at DODDINGTON HALL near NANTWICH. The Brigade Commander represented 49 Division. The objective was to study the problems of handling a Corps.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Light Aid Detachments in the Division concentrated at PRESTEIGN for a period of intensive training, including Battle Drill.
The 70th Brigade Carrier Concentration ended.
29th June 1943
Lt Col C.W. Oxley relinquished command of 1st Tyneside Scottish, after holding the appointment for three years. He assumed the command of 14th DLI with effect from 1st July 1943.
30th June 1943
All Intelligence Sections in 49 Division were concentrated at PRESTEIGN for a 6-day intensive course run by G.I of Western Command. The Brigade Commander returned from the Western Command Study Week.
Appendix A – 70th Infantry Brigade Operation Instruction No 5 – The Role of the Brigade Group.
The document listed the constituent units within the Brigade Group – the Brigade HQ and Light Aid Detachment, the three Infantry Battalions, 185 Field Regiment RA, 482 Brigade Company RASC, 187 Field Ambulance and a Provost Section. (Note that no Engineer units were regarded as part of the Brigade Group at this stage).
The role of the Brigade Group within Western Command would be either anti-raid or anti-invasion.
With regard to anti-raid responsibilities South Wales District may call upon 70th Brigade Group to provide Mobile Columns to deal with enemy seaborne or airborne landings provided that this did not interfere with the movement of the Brigade Group as a whole.
A Mobile Column consisted of:-
One Rifle Company – motorised in unit transport – supported by a Carrier Section and a Mortar Detachment.
80 men in unit transport from 185 Field Regiment.
50 men in unit transport from 482 Brigade Company RASC.
Potential enemy objectives were most likely to be:-
RAF PEMBREY at map reference N. 8624.
PEMBROKE DOCK Seaplane Base at map reference N 4127
And were regarded as the responsibility of 70th Infantry Brigade Group.
All units were expected to be prepared to deal with any enemy landings or sabotage attempts within a radius of about 3 miles from their HQs, using their Mobile Columns set out above in the first instance.
Units were not to employ more than one Mobile Column without clearance from Brigade HQ. The Columns were to be on shorter call and were to be at 2 hours’ notice during the hours of darkness. The Column could take part, as a unit, in unit night operations.
In the event of Invasion 49 Division would operate as a whole, probably in South West Wales. Areas in which units were to concentrate on the receipt of the appropriate Code Words were set out on a trace, which was attached.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.
