70th Infantry Brigade War Diary April 1943.
1st April 1943
Brigade HQ held a T.E.W.T. on Combined Operations on the lines of the No 4 Commando Raid on DIEPPE, attended by all Officers and Sergeants from Brigade HQ.
2nd April 1943
A Wireless Telephony exercise was held at Brigade HQ in order to exercise Officers in Radio Telephone procedure.
3rd April 1943
The Divisional Rugby Football Semi-Finals were played – 187 Field Ambulance versus 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (no result was quoted).
Location of Brigade HQ – the identity of the new area was made known.
4th April 1943
A demonstration was given, by 49 Division Royal Engineers, of mine laying and lifting at PENYBONT, attended by all available Officers and NCOs.
The Brigade Commander proceeded to CAMBRIDGE for a conference on Exercise “SPARTAN”.
5th April 1943
The majority of all ranks in the Brigade saw the film “Desert Victory”.
A lecture on Code No 6 was given by M.I. 9 (Military Intelligence) to two Officers and one Warrant Officer per Battalion.
6th April 1943
The G.O.C.-in- C. Western Command accompanied by the G.O.C. 49 Division and the Brigadier General Staff from Western Command inspected units in the Brigade Group. Unit transport was drawn up to the left of marching personnel. The General Salute was given and Polar Bear Medals presented.
7th April 1943
The Semi-Final of the Divisional (probably Soccer) competition was held at CARMARTHEN. The result was 10th DLI 2 – Royal Scots Fusiliers 1.
8th April 1943
The Brigade Commander and the Brigade Major visited the 11th DLI exercises.
9th April 1943
The Final of the Divisional Soccer competition took place and 10th DLI were the winners.
10th April 1943
The Brigade Commander attended the G.O.Cs. farewell luncheon party at 49 Divisional HQ.
The Finals of the Divisional Boxing competition took place between 1st Tyneside Scottish and the Divisional Royal Engineers – the latter being the winners.
11th April 1943
The Brigade Commander proceeded to OTTERBURN to commence an initial reconnaissance for Exercise “BOMBARD”.
The instructions for the move to SCOTLAND were received and issued as 70th Infantry Brigade Movement Instruction No 1, a copy of which was attached to the War Diary as Appendix A.
12th April 1943
Advance Parties proceeded to the HAMILTON area, with Brigade HQ based in the Barracks at HAMILTON, 11th DLI in billets in the town and 10th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish based at HAMILTON Racecourse.
13th April 1943
An exchange of transport and vehicles continued, including the 15 cwt trucks, to complete the establishments with BEDFORD types.
14th April 1943
Appendix D to the Brigade Movement Order No 1 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary. The Brigade Commander returned from his reconnaissance.
15th April 1943
D-Day for the Mobilisation Scheme.
49 Division Exercise “BOMBARD” commenced.
Appendix D to the 70th Infantry Brigade Movement Order SOUDLEY was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix B.
16th April 1943
70th Brigade Road Parties left at 07:30 hours en route for HAMILTON, staying the first night at WELLINGTON BARRACKS. The Brigade Commander left for Exercise “BOMBARD”.
The Road Party bivouacked at night outside the empty huts at the staging Camp.
17th April 1943
The Road Party proceeded to PRESTON and bivouacked for the night.
18th April 1943
The Road Party stayed the night at CARLISLE. The Main Body left the South Wales area by train.
19th April 1943
The Road and Train Parties arrived in the HAMILTON area.
20th April 1943
Divisional Exercise “BOMBARD” – the Artillery reached OTTERBURN RANGE and put their guns into action during darkness.
21st April 1943
A complete days’ Artillery firing in conjunction with 70th Infantry Brigade was held at OTTERBURN RANGES with the Infantry Commanders calling all targets. A conference was held at OTTERBURN on Exercise “BOMBARD”.
22nd April 1943
The Brigade Commander arrived in the HAMILTON area and visited all units. Nine Officers per Brigade began one week’s attachment to 185 Field Regiment on the Ranges at OTTERBURN.
23rd April 1943
The Commander of the Glasgow Area visited Brigade HQ.
24th April 1943
Brigadier Proctor, Acting 49 Divisional Commander, visited the 70th Brigade area.
25th April 1943
A Drum Head Church Service was held at HAMILTON BARRACKS. 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI Bands played for a march-past taken by the Brigade Commander. The Cameronians Band played during the Church Service.
26th April 1943
Two Liaison Officers visited Scottish Command. The Brigade Major reconnoitred ranges in the HAMILTON area.
27th April 1943
The Brigade Commander and Brigade Major carried out a reconnaissance of the Range at DETCHMON which had 140 targets.
The Brigade Transport Officer attended an A.D.O.S. conference.
28th April 1943
A conference at 49 Division was attended by the Brigade Major and the Staff Captain. 49 Division had been ordered to leave the HAMILTON area and return to the South Wales locations, until facilities were once again available for training in Combined Operations. The Rear Parties of Exercise “SOUDLEY” (the move of the Division) were turned back at CARLISLE and became the Advance Parties of Exercise “SHYLOCK” (the move back to South Wales).
29th April 1943
70th Brigade Movement Instruction was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.
30th April 1943
Major-General E.H. Barker C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., late of 48 Division, assumed the command of 49 Division.
Appendix A – 70th Infantry Brigade Movement Instruction No 1 – “SOUDLEY”
The appendix stated that the Brigade’s training would continue, in April, in Scotland and specified the locations in HAMILTON where the various units would be based. As mentioned in the War Diary, Brigade HQ was to be at HAMILTON BARRACKS, 10th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish were to be on HAMILTON RACECOURSE, and 11th DLI was to be billeted in HAMILTON TOWN. In addition, 482 Brigade Company RASC were to be at LESMAHAGOW, 187 Field Ambulance at DONWELL, and 70th Brigade Workshop Company RASC were to be based at STRATHAVEN.
The move required four separate Parties – Advance, Road, Main Body (train) and Rear – and a separate sheet describing the dates and timings involved was attached to the document.
The Advance Party included 9 Officers, 204 men and 32 vehicles and was expected to start on 12th April and stage through APLEY CASTLE - WELLINGTON, HADRIAN’S CAMP - CARLISLE and arrive in the HAMILTON locations on 14th April. They were to be fed by the Staging Camps, but also carry rations for the 15th April, and then have supplies delivered by the RASC on 15th to see them through 16th and 17th April.
The Brigade Group was being located within the West Scotland District of Scottish Command, who were based at GRYFFE CASTLE, BRIDGE-OF-WEIR. The Brigade HQ Staff Captain was to accompany the Advance Party and be available at the new Brigade HQ location.
The Road Party was under the command of Captain Rennick of Brigade HQ. Arrangements were set out for cooks’ parties from each unit to meet Captain Rennick in advance of the vehicle groups arriving at the various staging points so that meals could be organised. Each unit was to provide two such parties so that they could be available alternately and one could depart before the body of vehicles while the other was providing breakfast.
Brigade HQ was to arrange Traffic Control points to ensure a common order of march. The road from GRETNA to HAMILTON was to be signposted. The men concerned would move off half an hour before the leading serial, carried in a 15 cwt truck and with as many motorcycles as possible. Officers were responsible for ensuring that the correct route was followed and timings were adhered to – meaning that as many as feasible were to be mounted on motorcycles in order to carry out this role. Arrangements were made for fuel replenishment at the Staging Camps.
The sheet covering the movement of the Main Body by rail set out the numbers of men and volume of stores to be entrained at each relevant station and the timings involved. This included the transport of the Brigade’s Carriers (which required Warflat railway trucks). A practical problem arose in loading unit baggage due to the early departure of the Road Convoy. Units were therefore asked to liaise with Railway Transport Officers so that baggage trucks could be made available for loading while unit transport was still available – and then guarded until departure, or Rear Parties could be employed to assist in this task, allowing the Train Parties to depart on time. Alternatively, transport could be hired for the purpose.
On arrival at the new locations the Officers i/c Road Parties were required to make transport available for baggage unloading and movement.
A note was also provided of the administrative matters to be dealt with for the movement of the Main Body, such as drawing rations and NAAFI items to cover the days of travelling. Rear Parties were to operate on the same basis as the Advance Parties.
An exchange of vehicles was also underway and arrangements were specified dealing with the fitness of vehicles to make the journey, and the need for an adequate number of drivers to be available as new vehicles were issued or had mechanical checks completed at Vehicle Repair Depots. The Rear Parties, under the command of an Officer from Brigade HQ (Lieutenant J.A. Bruce), were expected to consist of 5 Officers, 134 men and 17 vehicles, although the factors mentioned above were likely to cause that to change.
Appendix B – Rear Parties and Handover arrangements (Appendix D to Movement Instruction No 1).
The Rear Parties were to deal with the handover of buildings and stores as appropriate and obtain Clearance Certificates before leaving. The Brigade Commander had indicated that he expected that the Brigade’s usual high standard of cleanliness and smooth handover of accommodation would be maintained on this occasion.
Appendix C – 70th Brigade Movement Instruction No 1 – “SHYLOCK”
This document covered the arrangements for reversing the move to HAMILTON, which was underway at the time, and returning to South Wales. The move to SCOTLAND was temporarily postponed. (The Brigade took the maximum opportunity of this apparent farce to practice a total Brigade Group change of location on a tactical basis).
The new locations were those the Brigade Group had only just vacated, but the opportunity was taken to make one alteration to the units based at each place, as follows:-
Brigade HQ and 10th DLI – CAMARTHEN
1st Tyneside Scottish – VELINDRE
11th DLI – LLANELLI
482 Brigade Company, RASC – (writing unclear).
187 Field Ambulance – (writing unclear).
70 Brigade Workshop Company R.E.M.E. – Pembroke Dock (Note that the Workshop Company is now part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, rather than the RASC).
185 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery – PENCLAWDD
The notes set out the arrangements for returning the various groups and units to South Wales – the Main Body again travelling by train. Details can be found on the War Diary for May 1943.
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