11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary March 1942
1st March 1942 Pembroke Dock.
Lieut Dyson attended a Course at the Army School of Hygiene for 14 days.
2nd March 1942
A Brigade TEWT took place at CRICKHOWELL, which the CO, 2 i/c, Adjutant and Quartermaster attended.
Captains Smallwood, Waistell and Grant attended a Weapon Training and Assault Course.
11th DLI Operational Instruction No 1 was issued, and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix A – for details see below.
5th March 1942
The Matrix Intelligence Tests were held for the whole Battalion.
6th March 1942
2/Lieuts Sayce and Hebbert joined the Battalion from O.C.T.U.
7th March 1942
Exercise Gower took place in the GOWER Peninsula – the Home Guard were found to be great fun. The exercise was described on Appendix B attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
9th March 1942
The CO proceeded on leave and returned on 20th March.
B Company were at TREGLOG Camp and A Company at LLANELLY.
11th March 1942
An excellent Concert was given by “The Shrapnels”.
12th March 1942
A visit took place from Major Braithwaite of the Mountain Battery and he gave a lecture.
13th March 1942
Brigadier Kirkup visited the Battalion.
14th March 1942
Corporal McJannet began his series of Security Raids dressed in a German uniform.
19th March 1942
Captain Johnstone commenced the Assault Course at LLANBERIS.
20th March 1942
An Administrative Inspection began by Major-General Mooney.
21st March 1942
General Mooney’s Inspection was completed. 11th DLI came second in the inter-Platoon efficiency competition.
22nd March 1942
C Company commenced a week’s Camp at TREGLOG.
24th March 1942
The Advance Party proceeded to the Battalion Camp in North Wales.
The period from 24th to 31st March was used as an administrative period – completing medical examinations, firing on the Range at PENALLY and completion of outstanding leave, in preparation for the Training Camp in April.
29th March 1942
2/Lieut Sayce proceeded to ICELAND to the Winter Warfare Course.
30th March 1942
The Battalion concentrated ready for the move to North Wales.
31st March 1942
The Battalion proceeded to North Wales on the night of 31st March/1st April. Arrangements for the move were set out on Appendix C attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
Appendices attached to the 11th DLI March 1942 War Diary.
Appendix A – Operational Instruction No 1 – Mobile Column – issued 2nd March 1942.
This Instruction announced that the Battalion was to have a Mobile Column available to deal with enemy airborne or seaborne troops who might land in the Battalion Area. The Mobile Column would be at 30 minutes notice to move from midnight until an hour after dawn.
The Column would consist of one Rifle Company supported by one Section of Carriers, two Mortar detachments and a detachment of the Anti-Aircraft Platoon. The Column would be detailed in Battalion Part 1 Orders. The Carriers, Mortars and Anti-Aircraft Platoon Commanders would detail the troops to take part when in Pembroke Dock.
The Battalion Transport Officer would detail seven drivers with 30cwt trucks, who would be the Column’s transport. The Provost Sergeant would detail two Regimental Policemen, with motorcycles, to accompany the Column. These troops supporting the selected Company as part of the Mobile Column could be detailed nightly, weekly or from time to time.
The Company would have its Platoon 15cwt trucks loaded by 20:00 hours and then parked in the Garage between the Orderly Room and the Officers’ Mess. The Company Commander, and the supporting Platoon Commanders were required to make arrangements to allow the swift issue of 50 rounds per man to the Column. All Company weapons were to be kept in the relevant barrack room and taken on Company transport. The men detailed for duty would be allowed out of barracks until 23:45 hours as usual.
The Duty Officer, on receiving orders from CARMARTHEN Sub-Area to despatch the Mobile Column would personally inform the Mobile Column Commander, the CO and the Adjutant and send runners to inform the Company Orderly Sergeant, Regimental Police, and the Section and Detachment Commanders of the Anti-Aircraft, Carrier and Mortar Platoons – they would report, as soon as possible after being roused, to the Mobile Column Commander in his Company Office.
Dress would be Field Service Marching Order with water bottles filled and haversacks ready packed by 20:00 hours each night. The Quartermaster would prepare rations for the Column, and the attached troops, which would be sealed in boxes and handed over from Company to Company as required.
As regards inter-communications, two No 18 radio sets would be taken by the Column and a third set established in the barracks as the Column was despatched. Codes and frequencies to be arranged by the Signals Officer.
The instruction made clear that this was a special Column for speedy action against the enemy and was not affected by the arrangements for the whole Battalion to act as a Mobile Column – set out in Operation Order No 1.
Appendix B – Exercise Gower, General Instructions – issued 5th March 1942.
The Battalion, less the Carrier Platoon, were simulating a role as an enemy parachute formation in an attack on the GOWER Peninsula on 8th March. Each Company was allocated a bivouac area – A Company at GOWERSTON 0318, B Company at KILVEY HILL 1116, C Company and Battalion HQ at PENCLAWDD 9917 and D Company at PENRUCHECASTLE 9310.
The 31st R.A.S.C. Troop Carrying Company would make four coaches and a 3-ton lorry available to A Company at TREGLOG Camp on 7th March at 15:00 hours, and then move those troops to their bivouac area independently.
C Company would march from LLANELLY to their bivouac area.
The remainder of the Battalion would move in accordance with a March Table attached to the exercise instructions, giving routes, speeds and road densities, as well as start and dispersal points. The Battalion would move in the normal format.
The purpose of the exercise was to:-
Exercise SEVERN Sub-area and SWANSEA Sector in their invasion roles in conjunction with Civil Defence services in SWANSEA.
Practice the token arrangements for the immobilisation of SWANSEA Docks.
To practice liaison between the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Anti-Aircraft, Royal Observer Corps, Civil Defence services, and the Army, in SWANSEA and the GOWER Peninsula. (All aircraft were to be treated as hostile towards 11th DLI as part of the exercise).
To test the Home Guard administrative arrangements.
This was a “blank ammunition” exercise with no live rounds issued – but, as usual, with an emergency supply located in sealed boxes in the trucks. Bayonets were not to be fixed.
Troops were warned to respect the fact that the exercise would include Civil Defence incidents. Gas would be code-named “Stinker” for the purpose of the exercise.
British forces in the exercise would wear steel helmets, the enemy would wear Field Service Caps and vehicles would carry yellow flags. Directing staff would wear blue armbands, spectators red and Umpires white. Umpire and Directing Staff cars would carry white flags – the Battalion would loan a Pick-up truck to the Umpires, led by Major Humphreys. Company level Umpires would be Lt Lee-Graham, Lt Nicholson, Lt Johnson and the RSM.
The briefing for the exercise involved the usual format – but set out in the context of 11th DLI being an enemy force on this occasion.
Information on defences identified that there were Home Guard Posts and Road Blocks together with:-
The defences of FAIRWOOD COMMON Aerodrome.
A line of defended localities from BLACK PILL 0612 to GOWERTON 0318.
Coast defences at MUMBLES 0609 – 0709, consisting of 2 6” and 2 4.7” guns.
A line of defended localities from MORRISTON 1019 to GOWERTON.
The defences of SWANSEA.
The tracing showing the intelligence available on the locations of those defences does not seem to have survived to be included with the other exercise papers. The exercise was based on an attack by 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers via OXWICH BAY with the aim of raiding SWANSEA, via FAIRWOOD AERODROME, and subsequently re-embarking in SWANSEA DOCK. 11th DLI was to cover the landing and assist in capturing SWANSEA, re-embarking at the conclusion of the operation.
The bivouac areas were to simulate those in which the Companies, and Battalion HQ, had been dropped by parachute.
A Company was to capture and hold the BLACK PILL-GOWERTON line so as to permit the Fusiliers attack on SWANSEA. Once the Fusiliers had crossed that line, the Company was to capture and destroy the MUMBLES coast defences, so as to permit a seaborne attack to take place into SWANSEA BAY.
B Company was to capture the defences of SWANSEA DOCKS, including the bridge over the River NEATH and prevent reinforcements from reaching SWANSEA by the roads from BRITON FERRY and NEATH to MORRISTON.
C Company was to capture the Aerodrome.
D Company was to cover the Fusiliers' landing by occupying the high ground at PENMAEN 9710 – 950114.
Of the six mortar detachments, one each came under the command of A and B Companies and two each under C and D Companies.
One Anti-Aircraft detachment was attached to each Company.
KILVRUGH FARM 0011 was identified as the consolidation point after the relief of the Fusiliers and the capture of the MUMBLES defences. No transport was to be taken forward of the bivouac areas, other than to take the mortars to the FARM.
Breakfast was to be taken before the move started and haversack rations carried. A hot meal would be provided on the return to Pembroke Dock.
Communication was to be handled by an allocation of Signallers to each Company with No 18 sets and two motorcyclists at Battalion HQ, two with the Transport Officer and one with B Company.
Appendix C – Move to North Wales – issued 28th and 30th March 1942.
The first Administrative Instruction for the move was issued on 28th March with the expected date of the move being 1st April. This instruction set out the arrangements for the Road Party and the matters concerning the cleanliness and smooth handing-over of the Barracks, with all stores identified and inventoried and all premises clean and tidy.
Lt Nicholson was to command the Road Party assisted by 2/Lieut G.B. Murray on a motorcycle. Strict road discipline, in accordance with recently issued orders, was to be followed, with only one man in each vehicle in addition to the driver. A Rear Party would hand over the accommodation to the Quartermaster. The Carriers were to move by rail.
The second set of Administrative Instructions were dated 30th March and were largely concerned with the train movements to North Wales. The first train was due to depart Pembroke Dock at 00:30 hours on 1st April and arrive in PORT MADOC at 08:05 hours, containing A and B Companies, the Mortar and Anti-Aircraft Platoons. The men were due to be fed a hot meal before departure and breakfast on arrival at the new Camp.
The second train was planned to leave at 05:50 hours and arrive at 14:05 hours, containing C and D Companies and the remainder of HQ Company. The troops were due to breakfast at 04:00 hours and have a hot meal on arrival. Sleeping bags, blankets, arms and ammunition, together with stores, were to be carried on the trains. Loading and unloading parties were identified.
The Motor Transport was due to leave LLANION BARRACKS at 07:30 hours on 1st April.
The Carriers with Lt Newport and 24 men from the Platoon were due to depart from CARMARTHEN STATION at 14:15 hours on 4th April and arrive at HARLECH STATION at 19:20 hours on 4th April. Between 1st and 4th April this Platoon would be accommodated by 10th DLI, while the rest of the men in the Platoon travelled with HQ Company.
Men would travel in greatcoats with large pack on their backs and haversacks (small packs) at their sides.
The Quartermaster was to arrange the handover of the TREGLOG Training Camp on 1st April and the Rear Party from C Company (who were due to be there in the preceding days)would join the Battalion Rear Party at LLANION BARRACKS on that day. The Quartermaster would then hand over LLANION BARRACKS on 2nd April and proceed to PENRHYNDEUDRAETH by Pick-up Truck. The Transport Officer was to arrange a 30cwt truck to carry the Rear Party.
The importance of leaving the Barracks clean and tidy was again emphasised, as was ensuring that no security documents were left in the Barracks, other than those handed over to the Garrison Adjutant by the Pioneer Officer, who was also to ensure that the new Camp was marked with “66” direction signs.
The final sheet gave the transport allocation to sub-units and the road party route to the new Camp.
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