11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary March 1943
1st – 2nd March 1943 HIGH WYCOMBE.
Final preparations were made for Exercise “SPARTAN” , the Battalion being concentrated at HAZLEMERE Camp, HIGH WYCOMBE.
2nd March 1943
Lieut R. Ellison organised a Concert on the night of 2nd March which was well attended by members of the Brigade, including the Brigade Commander.
3rd March 1943
Start of Exercise “SPARTAN”. The Battalion moved out late at night in Motor Transport to take up positions on the line of the River KENNETT with Orders to hold the river line between NEWBURY and WOOLHAMPTON.
4th March 1943
This was done by holding the bridges with small forces of Platoon strength and keeping the remainder of the Battalion concentrated centrally with an immediate counter-attack role.
10th DLI were on the right and a Battalion of the Bucks Brigade on the left.
49th Reconnaissance Regiment, which had been in contact with the enemy South of the river, withdrew through our positions just before dark.
5th March 1943
Orders to withdraw were received in the early hours of the morning and the Battalion moved back at 04:30 hours, the last to leave being A Company, which was the forward Company.
At the time of withdrawal, there had only been a few signs of enemy activity which was confined to reconnaissance.
At 09:00 hours the Battalion withdrew to GARSINGTON, South-East of Oxford, but after breakfast and routine maintenance , was ordered forward again, this time to hold the line of the River THAMES at CLIFTON HAMPDEN.
15:00 hours – the same plan was adopted as on the KENNETT line, C Company being the forward Company on this occasion. The Battalion Sector was from the high ground North West of CULHAM to (and including) CLIFTON HAMPDEN.
During the early part of the night there were several alarms, none of which materialised as an enemy attack.
One Section of armoured cars attempted to rush the main bridge, which was promptly destroyed by the Royal Engineers under orders from the Second-in-Command of C Company. This proved awkward later on as 1st Tyneside Scottish was still South of the River, but C Company’s decision was upheld by the Divisional Commander who visited the Battalion position during the night.
1st Tyneside Scottish were eventually brought back to safety by building another bridge.
Enemy Patrol activity took place during the night as a result of which one Officer and several Other ranks from the Patrol were captured.
6th March 1943
Jottings from the Officer’s notebook were very useful in building up the enemy Order of Battle.
Little activity during daylight.
Orders were received to withdraw to CHILTON. The Battalion began withdrawal at 23:00 hours and the last troops of C Company were clear by midnight.
7th March 1943
As the Troop Carrying Vehicles attached to the Battalion up to this point had been allotted another task, the withdrawal was done by march route to CHILTON, a distance of 20 miles.
The march was uneventful and all Companies were in position by dawn. Being built on a hill at the end of a ridge (LONG CRENDON being at the Southern end) the village lent itself to all-round defence. No enemy activity.
8th March 1943
The enemy did not seem clear about the position at CHILTON and it was not difficult to capture men and material coming from the direction of LONG CRENDON. By nightfall we had captured many prisoners, also three Jeeps, two 2pdr Anti-Tank Guns and an Armoured Observation Post.
9th March 1943
Enemy advances on both flanks were reported but our Orders were to stand. In the late afternoon it was reported that the enemy were advancing to seize LONG CRENDON. The CO therefore decided to make a Battalion attack, which was timed to go in at the finish of an enemy artillery concentration on LONG CRENDON.
17:00 hours. After much confused fighting (and umpiring) it was decided that the Battalion had captured half of the village and had inflicted 200 casualties on the enemy. Enemy strength was two or three Infantry Battalions, a Reconnaissance Regiment and supporting arms. Orders were received to withdraw to original positions at CHILTON. Many enemy prisoners and enemy vehicles were taken.
10th March 1943
The Battalion strength now amounted to one Rifle Company and the majority of the Support Company. By noon we had about 40 prisoners and many vehicles, including a complete Bridging Column, who had fallen into our hands.
About noon the enemy Reconnaissance Regiment supported by two Field Regiments and a Medium Battery made an attack on CHILTON. Battalion HQ, in a farmhouse, was heavily shelled and fierce fighting ensued, strong counter-attacks led by the CO and 2 i/c being successful.
Eventually it was decided by the Umpire that in the face of so strong an artillery concentration and in view of the superior numbers of the enemy, the Battalion would not have been able to hold their positions for so long, and the Battalion was ruled out of action.
The Battalion concentrated in the CHILTON area for the night.
11th March 1943
The Support Company remained at CHILTON while the remainder of the Battalion moved in two columns to concentrate at PARK VIEW, TOWCESTER, a large house on the outskirts of the town, which proved comfortable as a bivouac, but rather crowded as a billet.
12th March 1943
The Battalion attended a special performance at the local Cinema.
13th March 1943
The Battalion was entertained by a Mobile Cinema show in the afternoon and a local Concert Party in the evening.
14th March 1943 TOWCESTER.
A Battalion Church Parade was held and at the March Past after the Parade the salute was taken by the Brigade Commander.
15th – 16th March 1943
The Battalion left at 07:00 hours for the return journey to VELINDRE, arriving back in Camp at 02:00 hours on 16th March.
So ended Exercise “SPARTAN”, a most valuable exercise, in which the fitness of the Battalion and its training showed up well. Special mention should be given to the Transport who served us well throughout the exercise and were a tribute to vehicle maintenance.
The weather throughout the exercise was excellent.
17th – 20th March 1943
This time was spent on administration, including inspection of kit and equipment after “SPARTAN”.
19th March 1943
The Battalion was ordered to mobilise. Major Hamilton attended a Conference at Divisional HQ.
20th – 28th March 1943
The remainder of the month was spent in mobilising the Battalion, including making up deficiencies in personnel and equipment, medical boards, leave etc. A good start was the replacing of the 2pdr Anti-Tank Guns with 6 pdrs. Training was confined chiefly to Range Classification and Companies were firing at PENALLY on 21st, 22nd, 25th and 28th March.
23rd March 1943
In addition, on 23rd March, B Company and S Company gave a demonstration of Consolidation Drill, organised by Captain K.C. Johnstone.
25th March 1943
Major R.B. Humphreys and Captain D.M. Grant attended an Armoured Fighting Vehicle Demonstration at the AFV School at LULWORTH.
Captain W.H. Waistell left the Battalion for an attachment to 166 O.C.T.U. DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, pending posting as an Instructor.
The Commanding Officer went on 48 hours leave.
Six new Officers were posted to the Battalion from O.C.T.U’s – 2/Lieuts Drake, Broughton, Lawrence, Davies, Kingston and Peet.
A very full and busy month for the Battalion, with a promise of more to follow.
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