11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary May 1942
1st May 1942 TAN-LAN
11th DLI Road Protection Exercise was completed – the Battalion showed much improved ability. This entry included a reference to Appendix A to the May War Diary, describing the exercise, but this had apparently not survived in the War Diary file. However, it was filed in the April 1942 War Diary as Appendix L and, given that the exercise involved a night component – starting on 30th April and finishing on 1st May – that record can be consulted for details of the work involved.
2nd May 1942
11th DLI played 187th Field Ambulance at football with the result being 5 goals to 2 in favour of the Battalion. The weather at this period of the Camp was excellent – warm and fine.
3rd May 1942
Preparations were made for Brigade Exercise “DRUM”.
4th May 1942
2/Lt Rodham joined the Battalion from NO 4 Infantry Training Centre, Brancepeth.
Exercise “DRUM” commenced. For information about the Exercise please see Appendices B and C, attached to the War Diary – details are set out below.
On the first day the Battalion marched to the night’s Camp area some five miles from HARLECH. A pleasant and quiet night was spent.
5th May 1942
The Scheme commenced in earnest with 11th DLI passing through 1st Tyneside Scottish around the left flank. Mist and cloud prevented the day’s operations from developing as intended in the Scheme. 11th DLI camped on the Northern slopes of the mountain MOEL-GOEDOG, some 800 feet above sea level. Not a pleasant night, rather cold and damp.
6th May 1942
At 06:00 hours the Battalion advanced and succeeded in taking the mountain MOEL-Y-GERDI and all the smaller subsidiary hills. The exercise finished at 12:00 hours and the Battalion returned to Camp by 17:00 hours – all fit, but rather tired.
8th May 1942
A visit to the Camp was made by Major-General Cox.
2/Lt Stephenson reported to the Battalion.
9th May 1942
Colonel Matthews – Colonel of the Regiment – visited the Battalion and attended the football match between 10th and 11th DLI.
10th May 1942
Colonel Matthews inspected the Battalion and attended Church Service – he was extremely pleased with what he had seen.
11th May 1942
Night patrols were undertaken between 21:00 hours and 03:00 hours, with sleep discipline imposed between 14:00 and 17:00 hours.
12th May 1942
Night patrols again took place between 21:00 and 03:00 hours.
13th May 1942
Major C.D. Hamilton travelled to CATTERICK for a Demonstration of Infantry and Tanks in the Attack.
15th May 1942
The Battalion moved to HAVERFORDWEST overnight. The arrangements for the move were set out on Appendix D – a copy of which was attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
16th May 1942
Captains Smallwood and Walker played for the Western Command Rugby XV.
17th May 1942
The Battalion’s Standing Orders for Operations were issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix E – for details see below.
18th May 1942
Further Standing Orders were issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix F – for details see below.
19th May 1942
The Battalion Defence Scheme was issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix G – for details see below.
20th May 1942
A Weapon Training Cadre was commenced for junior NCO’s and selected Private soldiers.
A Scouting and Observation Course also commenced.
21st May 1942
A visit to the Battalion took place by Colonel Higgons of the Home Guard.
22nd May 1942
The CO returned from his reconnaissance of the next Camp area.
23rd May 1942
The Pioneer Platoon under Lieut Bruce left to prepare the next Camp site.
25th May 1942
The Commanding Officer, Lt Col F.W. Sandars, went on leave. Major C.D. Hamilton assumed command during his absence.
26th May 1942
A Short Course for Platoon Commanders and Senior NCO’s began under Major Hamilton – the subject being Battle Drill and Minor Tactics.
Lieut E.S. Newport attended an Interview Board at SHREWSBURY with a view to transfer to Airborne Troops.
The Pioneer Platoon had completed the construction of a 7-target open range near the coast at HAROLDSTON WEST. The Battalion started firing their Range Course.
27th May 1942
11th DLI Movement Order No 1 was issued for the move of the Advance party to the new location. A copy was attached to the War Diary as Appendix H – for details see below.
28th May 1942
D Company were firing their Range Course on the PENALLY Range.
29th May 1942
The Advance Party of two Officers and 50 Other Ranks left by road under Lt J.H.P. Hadden.
B Company were firing on the PENALLY Range.
Major-General H.O. Curtis visited the Battalion in the afternoon.
30th May 1942
C Company were firing on the PENALLY Range all day.
The Battalion football team scored a fine victory over 9th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, five goals to three.
A Boxing Tournament was held in the Market Hall, HAVERFORDWEST in the evening, by permission of the CO. Several members of the Battalion took part and prizes were presented by the Brigade Commander.
31st May 1942
A Company, and details of other Companies, were firing on the PENALLY Range all day. During the week the Battalion Range was in use continuously and nearly all men had fired the new Rifle Course.
During the month, three Officers left on embarkation leave for overseas drafts – 2/Lt J.R. Lloyd, 2/Lt T.M. Kirk and 2/Lt E.H. Howell.
Appendices attached to the 11th DLI War Diary May 1942.
Appendix A – see Appendix L April 1942.
Appendix B – 70th Brigade Exercise “DRUM” – Notes for Platoon Commanders.
This note was intended for use by Platoon and Company Commanders to brief their men on this three-day exercise. Administrative instructions were given separately in Appendix C.
For the purpose of the exercise the coast of West WALES was simulating the coast of NORWAY. The invading force – OXCOL – consisting of 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI supported by 454 Mountain Battery, 757 Field Company Royal Engineers, A Company of 2nd Kensingtons (imaginary), 187 Field Ambulance and a Pack Transport Company – were landed at MORFA DYFFRYN on 3rd May. The German Garrison (Code name DAVCOL – played by 10th DLI) were located at FFESTINIOG 1663.
On 4th May OXCOL was to be concentrated around the road junction 068505 by 19:30 hours, preparatory to advancing on the morning of 5th May to destroy enemy works at LLYN CWM BYCHAN 1053, MANGANESE MINE at 1056 and LLYN LLEYRCH 1159.
The Battalion was due to leave Camp at 11:30 hours on 4th May, and the advance to the Mountain Warfare perimeter Camp at 065500 would be observed by the Commander in Chief of Western Command.
Platoon and Company Commanders were required to give attention to March discipline:-
Scouts.
Distances.
Halts – local protection – use of shadows and trees – packs eased.
Steel Helmets to be worn correctly.
Uniform dress.
In relation to the perimeter Camp they were to be aware of:-
Track discipline.
Sentries.
Alarm Posts allocated for everybody.
No noise or fires at night.
Respirators and rifles always to hand.
There was the possibility that the Camp might be subjected to attack after 22:00 hours.
On 5th May the OXCOL attack would be made in two phases along a planned route. 1st Tyneside Scottish would provide the Advance Guard and picquetting troops and take and hold CAREGY SAETH 1052, MOEL GERDI 0753 and the ridge North East of LLYN CWM BYCHAN 1053.
In the second phase, 11th DLI and their supporting arms would pass through the 1st Tyneside Scottish and capture and hold the MANGANESE MINES, the high ground from reference point 2046 1156 to point 1035 1158, and LLYN LLENRYCH.
The Battalion was to remain in Camp at ten minutes’ notice to move from 07:30 onwards.
Air support was available from 131 Fighter Squadron (twelve aircraft) together with a Lysander for reconnaissance, which would signal for troop locations – Signallers carried visibility panels for this purpose.
Troops were expected to be back in Camp by 19:00 hours on 6th May.
Appendix C – Exercise “DRUM” – Administrative instructions.
The instructions began with the timings for the various serials of the Battalion moving in Mountain Warfare configuration for leaving Camp. Arrangements for rations and feeding were set out, as well as dress and ammunition (each man had 15 blank rounds).
Companies were to take improvised funnels so that water bottles could be filled from Mule pakhals.
Negotiating walls en route was to be treated as a bridging operation with the help of the Field Company – who would also fill gaps afterwards. Damage to crops and livestock was to be avoided and there was only to be digging on private land if that was unavoidable, and any such trenches would be filled in after the exercise.
Prisoners of War were to be fed by their captors.
Lieut Hadden was in command of a team of 38 loaders, drawn from the Carrier and Motor Transport Platoons, who would see that 2nd-line transport was loaded on 4th and 5th May 1942. A final Conference was timed for 17:30 hours on 8th May.
Appendix D – Movement instructions for the move to HAVERFORDWEST – issued 14th May 1942.
The Battalion was to make this move by train, with an additional train for the baggage, overnight on 15th/16th May.
An additional train for the Carriers was due to run early on the morning of 18th May.
Rear Party personnel would travel on normal service trains after completing their tasks.
The instructions were concerned with the handling of striking the Camp and storing tentage, moving baggage to PORT MADOC Station and the responsibility for organising the train – Battalion Standing Orders would apply. Loading parties for the baggage were specified with the relevant times.
A separate note was provided on the arrangements for the Road Party.
The existing Camp would be cleared and left clean, ready for the next occupants. All equipment associated with Pack transport, together with all chargers and saddlery, would be handed back to No 32 Mule Company before departure, with appropriate certificates being obtained.
On arriving in South Wales the Brigade locations would be as follows:-
Brigade HQ – Sodston Manor – Narberth.
1st Tyneside Scottish – PEMBROKE.
10th DLI – LLANION BARRACKS, Pembroke Dock.
11th DLI – HAVERFORDWEST.
187 Field Ambulance – PEN-Y-COED.
756 Field Company – KILGERRAN (CARDIGAN).
Appendix E – Battalion Standing Orders – issued 12th May 1942.
This was an extensive document, covering the full range of the Battalion’s activities, and sets out, effectively, the way in which the Battalion would live, move and organise itself. Many of the sections of the document are entirely administrative, but clearly it is the “bible” for how matters were to be conducted in Camp, on the march, or in transport – with clear responsibilities set out for the members of the Battalion, at whatever level.
The paragraph headings in the document were as follows:-
Battle procedure – the Order of March.
Special Withdrawal Reconnaissance Group – giving the composition of the group and the roles of its members in identifying and setting up a new HQ.
Moves by Motor Transport – speeds, densities, route marking, traffic control and protection.
Train moves – including handling baggage and aircraft protection.
March route – including distances between sub-units, all-round defence at halts, use of scouts, ammunition scales to be carried and timing of routine halts.
Control – training in Traffic Control.
Marking of Vehicles – placing and nature of signage on each vehicle – the unit number being “66”.
Track discipline – aimed at avoiding detection of positions.
Anti-Aircraft Protection.
Action on the March – especially as regards aircraft attack.
Action when in Motor Transport - especially as regards aircraft attack.
Action when halted - especially as regards aircraft attack.
Training – in dealing with aircraft, including recognition.
Passive Air Defence and Gas.
Camouflage.
Headquarters – siting and organisation – generally by the RSM.
Marking of HQ.
Protection of HQ.
Reporting changes of Company HQ’s.
Issue of Orders.
Operation Orders.
Messages.
Role of the Second-in-Command.
Role of the Adjutant.
Role of the Signals Officer.
Role of the Intelligence Officer.
Security – largely the job of the Intelligence Officer.
Dress – and equipment – with contents of webbing specified.
Administration:-
Supplies.
Water.
Ammunition – generally the RSM’s responsibility.
Returns – importance of good standard records of pay, next of kin and other personal information.
Appendix A to the Standing Orders specifies in detail the formation to be adopted by the Battalion in an Advance in Motor Transport. This has been referred to in detail earlier on the Website.
Appendix B to the Standing Orders sets out the detailed Battle Procedure – again, this has featured earlier in the work.
Appendix C to the Standing Orders deals with entraining and detraining.
Appendix D to the Standing Orders gives detailed diagrams of the method of loading the Platoon truck, with notes of the items to be carried, and their position on the vehicle. This is accompanied by a table of weights for each item of clothing and equipment.
Appendix F – Extracts from GHQ Home Forces Standing Orders – issued 18th May 1942.
This further set of Standing Orders is particularly relevant to Exercises and spells out; the dress to be adopted by those simulating enemy forces, the scale and carriage of ammunition on exercises, the use of road blocks, digging, dealing with road casualties and captured vehicles – including those carrying fresh rations, dispersal on conclusion of the exercise, copying messages to umpires and maintaining interest in the progress of the exercise.
Appendix G – 11th DLI Defence Scheme – issued 19th May 1942.
Attached to these instructions was a tracing showing the position of relevant road blocks – which would be manned by the Home Guard in an emergency.
On an emergency being declared, the Post at MERLINS BRIDGE would be supplemented by a Platoon from D Company.
C Company would provide the immediate action Mobile Column, supported by Carriers, Mortars, Signallers and Stretcher-bearers and sufficient transport.
G1098 scale of ammunition would be carried with rations for 48 hours. The transport would be earmarked daily and remain in the transport lines.
The Column would be at an hour’s notice during daylight, and the men would remain in HAVERFORDWEST, although not confined to Barracks. From midnight to 06:00 hours the Column would be at 30 minutes’ notice. The remainder of the Battalion would be in reserve. In an emergency the alarm would be sounded throughout the town and men would return immediately to Barracks.
Appendix H – Movement Order No 1 – issued 27th May 1942.
This movement covered the change of location from South Wales to the KINGTON SUMMER CAMP area and the instructions were in respect of the Advance Party – commanded by Lieut Hadden. The Party was due to leave by road at 10:00 hours on 29th May and instructions were given for the scale of men to be involved and the necessary transport and equipment in order for them to be self-sufficient.
Subsistence allowance was provided in order for the issued rations to be supplemented and for tea to be purchased en route.
The Advance Party would be paid on 28th May with the rest of the Battalion paid on 4th June – with the necessary transfer of imprests and banking arrangements.
The Quartermaster was required to notify, under secret cover, the Clothing and Ordnance Depots of the Battalion’s change of station.
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