11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary March 1944

2nd March 1944 THETFORD.

The Battalion carried out a 20-mile march followed by a night attack in the BRETTENHAM HEATH area. This was intended to practise the drill for night attacks in preparation for Brigade Exercise “STAR”.

A skeleton Battalion HQ, commanded by Major Low, the Stretcher Bearer Platoon and A Company were engaged in Exercise “REMEDY II”, whose objective was to practise the evacuation of casualties and the recovery of vehicles by the Light Aid Detachment.

4th March 1944

The CO’s Ceremonial Parade took place – though it was cut short by a snow storm – and the CO then carried out an inspection of billets.

6th March 1944

B Company held an inter-Section Field Firing Competition on the GARBOLDISHAM Range.

The remainder of the Battalion did a 10-mile road march followed by Platoon attack schemes.

7th March 1944

The Battalion paraded as for War with all vehicles loaded.

The CO held a conference on Exercise “STAR”.

8th March 1944

The Battalion marched out to the concentration area for Exercise “STAR” at 12:00 hours.

At 17:00 hours the Battalion Column arrived at the area near BARTON MILLS and, after concentrating, prepared for a dawn advance in a North Easterly direction towards THETFORD and NORWICH.

9th March 1944

At 06:00 hours the advance began with D Company as the Advance Guard, embussed, followed by B Company and the bicycles.

Cooks’ trucks were used to make D Company mobile in an ambitious plan to steal a march on the enemy. Unfortunately an enemy Anti-Tank Gun knocked out the leading Carrier Section and with D Company late across the Start Point there was a dangerous congestion of vehicles. Such early opposition had not been anticipated and with the enemy putting up a determined resistance progress was slow. Further, the idea of a mobile advance had to be abandoned.

By 17:00 hours the Battalion had reached the outskirts of THETFORD where many demolitions impeded the advance. The enemy, however, seemed to have withdrawn and was thought to be digging-in on BRETTENHAM HEATH.

By 18:00 hours THETFORD was successfully by-passed and after light outposts had been forced to make a hurried withdrawal the Battalion went into an assembly area West of BRETTENHAM HEATH preparatory to a night attack.

At 18:15 hours the O Group for the night attack was held. C Company were to hold the area of the Forming-Up Point and the Battalion was to attack the hill feature with A Company left forward, D Company right forward and B Company mopping up in reserve.

10th March 1944

The attack went according to plan except that enemy patrols interfered a good deal with the tape and lights laid out by the Intelligence Section. The exercise ended with the Battalion consolidating.

11th March 1944

The day was spent in Company administration following Exercise “STAR”.

13th March 1944

The week was spent on Company training – following up the lessons learnt in the exercise.

D and B Companies carried out Platoon advance and attack exercises including a 20-mile march and the occupation of a defensive position.

14th March 1944

A and C Companies carried out an inter-Company attack scheme set by the CO.

15th March 1944

Platoons practised pillbox assaults.

16th March 1944

Companies exercised night attacks.

18th March 1944

The RSM held a Drill Parade and the CO inspected billets.

19th March 1944

The Battalion mounted guard at Divisional HQ. The guard was congratulated on its smartness by the G.o.C. The Adjutant and RSM were present.

20th March 1944

The CO held an inspection of the vehicles of S Company and the Rifle Companies loaded for War on the new “Ops” scale. Experiments were made with the loading on to Carriers of the motorcycles.

At 17:00 hours the Transport Officer gave a demonstration to Officers and NCO’s of the correct method of loading vehicles on to LCTs.

21st March 1944

B and D Companies proceeded on a three-day march.

The Anti-Tank Platoon carried out night training with the Class 5 Raft.

22nd March 1944

For Brigade Exercise “STAG” the Battalion provided seven Officer Umpires and also a number of fighting patrols.

Arrangements were rapidly made to send the Battalion on leave in three blocks of six days, following on the instruction that no further parties could be sent on leave after April 5th.

24th March 1944

The first leave party – about 220 strong – departed.

25th March 1944

The CO held a Drill Parade followed by a billet inspection.

27th March 1944

B and D Companies practised loading for War.

At 14:00 hours the CO held an administrative inspection of D Company.

28th March 1944

A and C Companies left on a three-day march.

B and D Companies ran 10 miles in two hours.

At 14:00 hours training films were shown for B and D Companies.

29th March 1944

The CO carried out an administrative inspection of B Company.

30th March 1944

A and C Companies returned from their three-day march.

HQ Company carried out a route march.

There were no Appendices identified as being attached to this month’s War Diary.

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