10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, War Diary December 1941

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.

During this month Leave Parties departed for the UK.

Learner skiers started training in the Alafoss area.

12th December 1941

A farewell party was held for Lt. Col. Marley who was leaving the Battalion on promotion to Brigadier.

15th December 1941

Today was the first chance for the Battalion’s Mortar Platoon to fire live.

18th December 1941

Lt. Col. Marley, the C.O., left the Battalion to join 143 Brigade as its Commander.

19th December 1941

Arrangements were made to “black out” Reykjavik for a Force P.A.D. (Passive Air Defence) scheme. As far as is known this was the first occasion on which the population of Reykjavik had experienced what had become normal for the population of the UK.

A Mountain Warfare School was being held at AKUREYRI, on the North Coast of Iceland. Various members of the Brigade would return to this School for Course of Instruction during their periods of Mountain Warfare training, even when they had returned to the UK.

31st December 1941

The 10th Battalion embarked on SS ORBITA for transport to the UK at the conclusion of their posting to Iceland. Having been the first unit of the 70th Brigade to land in Iceland, they were the last to leave.

The 2nd Battalion of the 6th U.S. Marine Regiment took over the Battalion’s camps and operational role.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.