10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, War Diary August 1942

For a more complete picture of activity this War Diary should be read in conjunction with the 70th Infantry Brigade War Diary for the same month.

3rd August 1942

A period of individual training began. Field Firing varied with swimming instruction, range firing of all arms, grenade throwing and night patrolling. Inoculations and vaccinations took place in large batches.

The system of allowing each man a rest and a sleeping-out pass weekly if desired has proved popular and effective.

5th August 1942

B Company proceeded on leave.

13th August 1942

HQ Company won the inter-Company Shooting Competition with 72 points as against the tied score of 68 points each by A and D Companies.

12th – 14th August 1942

49 Division Exercise MONTE CARLO tested unit transport for maintenance, performance and driving. 10th Battalion DLI obtained second place for performance and came fifteenth out of twenty-four in the overall results. (The point had already been made in the Brigade HQ War Diary that the fact that most of the vehicles were transferred to the UK after eighteen months’ service on Icelandic roads probably counted against the 70th Brigade units).

16th August 1942

10th Battalion DLI won the Brigade Sports with a score of 6 ½ points. A Prize Shield was awarded by the local Council and Civilians.

19th August 1942

An E.N.S.A. Concert Party from the Café Anglais gave a performance in the NAAFI.

22nd – 23rd August 1942

Exercise HOTSPUR was a Defence Exercise held in the NEW RADNOR area. The Battalion dug itself in and camouflaged the posts, wired them, and minefields were laid out. Aerial photographs were taken of the results.

26th August 1942

Training films were shown in the Cinema at KINGTON.

The Royal Artillery carried out a shoot at SENNYBRIDGE, watched by, amongst others, the Battalion C.O. and six Officers.

27th – 29th August 1942

49 Division Exercise JUNIPER was a Field Firing Exercise in which all arms fired. The only casualties were Lieut. Steele and CSM Street of A Company, who were run over by a Carrier of another unit. Lieut Steele sustained severe bruising while CSM Street suffered the major injury of a fractured pelvis.

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