1st Tyneside Scottish April 1941
3rd – 9th April 1941
Further amendments to the Reykjavik Defence Scheme were received and attached to the War Diary as Appendices 1 2 and 3 – for details see below.
10th April 1941
The first leave party left for the UK consisting of the CO, 2/Lt Paton and 40 Other Ranks. Major Walmsley commanded the Battalion in Lt Col Oxley’s absence.
11th April 1941
Brigadier Kirkup inspected Skipton Camp.
14th – 18th April 1941
The Battalion supplied 4 Officers and 280 Other Ranks to work on the VATNSMYRI airfield – the groups worked in two shifts covering 05:30 to 22:30.
15th April 1941
The Director General of Education and Welfare, General Willans, with the G.o.C. and Brigadier Kirkup visited and inspected Skipton, Craven, Keighley and Bingley Camps. General Willans was photographed inspecting the HQ Guard.
17th April 1941
An Intelligence Exercise took place at GEITHALS – involving the Brigade’s Intelligence Sections - with the G.o.C. as Umpire.
D Company moved from ICEHOUSE to GARGAND Camp (map reference 223083).
19th April 1941
A conference was held on the Intelligence Exercise, addressed by the G.o.C.
22nd April 1941
The Brigadier carried out an administrative inspection of Craven Camp – A Company, and Keighley Camp – C Company.
24th April 1941
A “Stand to” exercise was carried out from 04:00 to 07:00 hours with Battle Posts manned, Battalion HQ set up at Battle HQ on Tower Hill – map reference 236071 – and the Reserve Company – B (under the command of Captain Chudleigh) - turned out to deal with “infiltrating troops” that had penetrated REYKJAVIK TOWN. This gave the Company a chance to practise Street Fighting. The Brigadier closed the exercise at 07:00 hours.
25th April 1941
A message was received from the G.o.C. stressing the importance of the work on the VATNSMYRI airfield – linked directly to the Battle of the Atlantic as well as to the defence of Iceland.
Brigadier Kirkup carried out an administrative inspection of HQ and B Companies at Skipton Camp and D Company at Gargand Camp.
26th April 1941
Brigadier Kirkup held a conference on the outcome of the stand-to exercise. The conference was attended by all Officers and the importance of studying Street Fighting was stressed.
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, who were in support to 1st Tyneside Scottish, and indeed the Brigade, as the Machine-Gun Battalion, were relieved in that role by 1st/9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment (MMG).
Working parties of considerable size were made available by the Battalion for the VATNSMYRIN Aerodrome between 26th and 30th April - varying from 2 Officers and 178 Other Ranks to 3 Officers and 286 Other Ranks – demonstrating the versatility of the infantrymen of the Brigade; laying concrete, driving tipper trucks, running concrete mixers and leading Icelandic horses.
The men worked shifts on varying timescales over the several days.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary, April 1941.
Appendix 1 – Reykjavik Sub-Sector Defence Scheme (Revised) – Amendment No 4 – issued 3rd April 1941.
This amendment to the Defence scheme instructed that an observation post be manned by sufficient men on the roof of the National Theatre, under the command of the Intelligence Officer, until after Code Word “JULIUS” was received – when it would be taken over by No 1 Platoon.
The document also referred to changing the number of signal pistols available at various points.
Appendix 2 – Reykjavik Sub-Sector Defence Scheme (Revised) – Amendment No 5 – issued 9th April 1941.
This amendment set out the arrangements for occupying, on receipt of Code Word “JULIUS”, the Telephone Exchange and Broadcasting building in THORVALSSENSSTRAETI, opposite the HOTEL BORG, by an Officer and ten men detailed by the Town Water Front Commander. This party would be relieved as soon as possible by an Officer and ten Other Ranks from 1007 Docks Operating Company, Royal Engineers.
In a change to a previously issued amendment, a similar party would occupy the POST OFFICE until relieved also by a party from 1007 Docks Operating Company.
Appendix 3 – Probably a document revising Air Raid Warning details – copy not available.
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