10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, War Diary June 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.

4th June 1941

Captain Wilkinson and a local farmer went out fishing and caught 67 brown trout and then 47 more the next day, together with an arctic fox.

The new Recce Platoon had been training at KALMANSTUNGUR.

11th June 1941

From the American National Archives has come a copy of a document - Icelandic Force Operation Instruction No 50 - which describes the detailed manning of the North West Sector, following the takeover, from 10th DLI, by 12th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment and the re-designation of the area as a Sector, rather than a Sub-Sector. The manning of the Blonduos position - which was referred to in a secret memorandum in March 1941 - remains that of a Rifle Company supported by a Section of Carriers. It appears, therefore, that the suggestion raised by the Brigadier of 147th Infantry Brigade that they be used in an emergency to reinforce the troops at Borganes had not been taken up.

13th June 1941

English tinned beer went on sale in the NAAFI.

16th June 1941

A fatal shooting accident took place in which Private T.W. Allison of the Carrier Section was killed. He was buried after a funeral service on 18th June 1941. His commemorative record can be found at http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2271641/ALLISON,%20THOMAS%20WILFRED

22nd June 1941

The news was learnt that Germany had marched into Russia as an invading force.

A Platoon from the Battalion left for the VESTMANN ISLES by sea to provide the garrison.

23rd June 1941

A further document obtained by Fridthor Eydal from the American National Archives consists of Operation Order No 1 for the 12th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, detailed the action to be taken by the various detachments in the North-West Sector, dependent on the threat being presented. The Carrier Section at Blonduos is given specific tasks related to each of the potential threats, but not the movement suggested in the earlier secret memorandum. Plans of the various locations are included with the papers. These Orders seem comparable to those given to 10th DLI when they were responsible for these defensive positions.

28th June 1941

A Battalion Dance was held – the part-time Force Band provided the music.

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