11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary May 1943
1st May 1943 HAMILTON
Lt J.E. Johnson and 70 Other Ranks took part in a “Wings for Victory” Parade.
2nd May 1943
Preparations were made for the move to LLANELLY.
The syllabus for the Officers’ Promotion Examination was issued and a copy was filed with the War Diary as Appendix A – for details see below.
3rd May 1943
Scheme “SHYLOCK” (the move back to South Wales) begins. The Road Party moves to the outskirts of CARLISLE under the command of the 2 i/c.
4th May 1943
The Carrier and Baggage trains leave under the command of Lt T.H. Rowell and 2/Lt R.H. Broughton. The Road Party moves to PRESTON.
5th May 1943
The Main Body prepares to move. The Road Party moves to WELLINGTON.
6th May 1943
The Main Body moves by train to LLANELLY. The Road Party arrives at LLANELLY.
7th May 1943 LLANELLY
Lt Ian Aitken Bansall joined the Battalion and was posted to A Company.
Settling in to the new location.
9th May 1943
The CO went to WHITNEY for the G.o.C.’s Training Conference.
10th May 1943
The Motor Transport personnel attended a tyre exhibition at the Drill Hall, CARMARTHEN.
All Officers attended a lecture by the Brigade Commander on “Road Movement”.
Battalion individual training undertaken – A Company on the Range.
11th May 1943
A and B Companies went on three-day Company Group Marches including approach march and contact, attack and consolidation, defence and night exercises.
12th May 1943
C Company went on a two-day Company Group March.
13th May 1943
An Officers’ lecture was held on “Employment of the Company Group in the Advance Guard”.
14th May 1943
Officers’ Day. A Cloth Model Exercise was held on the lessons of Artillery Exercise “BOMBARD”.
A Guard Mounting demonstration was given by A Company.
15th May 1943
The CO held an inspection of C Company.
16th May 1943
Battalion Church Parade.
17th May 1943
Eight Subalterns attended a lecture on Umpiring by the Chief Umpire at 49th Division.
Battalion Cross Country Run.
Major J.A. Boucher gave a lecture to all Officers on “How to prepare an outdoor exercise with and without troops”.
18th May 1943
B and C Companies left for their three-day marches.
S and HQ Companies were on the Range.
19th May 1943
The Adjutant gave a lecture to Officers on “Military Law – taking of evidence”.
20th May 1943
Captain K.C. Johnstone and Captain I.G. Sopwith left the Battalion to instruct at the Highland Fieldcraft School, Glen Feshie.
A Company was on the Range.
S Company had a CO’s Administrative Inspection.
21st May 1943
An Officers’ TEWT was held on “Occupation and preparation of an Anti-Tank locality”.
22nd May 1943
B Company gave a demonstration on “Interior economy and administration of a Company”.
24th May 1943
Battalion individual training continues.
25th May 1943
A Cloth Model and rehearsals took place for Exercise “CAULDRON II”.
27th May 1943
The G.o.C.’s training visit took place.
Exercise “CAULDRON II” was held – a demonstration based on the work of No 4 Commando on the Dieppe Raid. The Operational Order No 1 for the exercise was filed with the War Diary as Appendix B – for details see below.
29th May 1943
A Battalion detachment under Captain C.A. Smallwood, consisting of three Sections of the Carrier Platoon, three Sections of Anti-Tank Guns and 200 Other Ranks paraded for the LLANELLY “Wings for Victory” procession.
31st May 1943
C Company moved to The Old Harbour Camp, PEMBREY.
The Anti-Tank Circus from 88 Anti-Tank Regiment were with the Anti-Tank Platoon at PEMBREY.
Appendices attached to the 11th DLI May 1943 War Diary.
Appendix A – Officers’ Promotion Examinations – issued 2nd May 1943.
In order to ensure that all Officers were fitted to take up the rank above their present one, and were fully qualified when promotion opportunities did occur, quarterly promotion examinations were to be held for Lieutenant to Captain and Captain to Major.
All Subalterns, except the Quartermaster, with more than six months’ service were to take the Lieutenant to Captain examination and all Captains, after six months in the rank, would take the Captain to Major examination.
On the first occasion, which would be on or around 21st June, all Captains, except the Adjutant and permanent Company Commanders, would take the Lieutenant to Captain examination. In June, Company Commanders only would take the Captain to Major examination.
The syllabus was in two parts – Practical and Written. Appendix A to the document set out the full syllabus.
For Lieutenant to Captain the syllabus covered:-
Command of a Company Group with, under command, a Carrier Section, two Mortar detachments, one Anti-Tank Gun Section and a Field Battery of Royal Artillery in support.
The training and administration of a Company in Barracks and in the Field.
The administrative duties normally performed by a Captain.
For Captain to Major:-
Command of a Battalion and Supporting Arms in the Field.
Battalion administration in Barracks and in the Field.
The conditions of the examinations were that 50% was the minimum pass rate in each paper and a minimum 60% aggregate across the whole examination. Failure in one subject would justify a re-take in that subject only at the next examination. A distinction would require an 80% pass rate.
Normally Officers would have passed the examination before being considered for promotion. The Battalion had a vacancy for one Captain, which would not be filled until after the June results were known – but the appointment, when made, would be backdated to 8th April 1943.
A failure by a Captain or Major at the June examination would not mean immediate reversion to previous rank but the qualification for holding the rank would be reviewed. In respect of Subalterns, taking account of the short notice for the examinations, a failure would not mean a complete bar to promotion but the results would be given considerable weight in deciding on promotions, alongside the display of character, powers of leadership and energy.
The training syllabus would greatly influence the upcoming programme of Officers’ Days and TEWTs and Officers were reminded that success would depend on intense personal study and the taking of all relevant training opportunities – a factor which the CO insisted they owed to their men in fitting themselves for higher command.
The syllabus for Lieutenant to Captain had the practical element of:-
Preparation of a Company Group exercise, including Field Firing.
Practical tactical problems in the form of a TEWT dealing with a Company Group, including supporting Artillery.
The written element covered:-
Administration and welfare – Pay and Accounts, Messing, Accommodation and Billets, Discipline, Court-martial procedure, Leave rosters, Legal and financial assistance for soldiers, Hygiene and sanitation in Barracks and in the Field.
Training and tactics – General principles of tactical doctrine, Preparation of Training Programmes, Function and handling of Specialist Platoons in the Field.
Organisation and co-operation with other arms and the RAF – Organisation and equipment of Group units, Tactical handling of Artillery, Wireless procedure, Employment of Tanks, Communicating with the RAF, Motor Transport movements.
For Captain to Major the syllabus covered the practical element of:-
Preparation of a Battalion Exercise.
Practical tactical problems in the form of a TEWT dealing with supporting arms.
The written papers were essentially as for the Lieutenant to Captain examination but at a higher or more complex level and dealing with the Battalion, rather than Company, level.
Appendix B – Exercise “CAULDRON II” – 11th DLI Operation Order No 1 – issued 19th May 1943.
The exercise scenario had South Wales representing the coast of FRANCE, with the enemy urgently strengthening defences following the fall of TUNIS. Their defence was based on holding selected beaches and maintaining main forces some 40 to 50 miles inland in order to mount a counter-attack once an invasion had landed. Combined Operations were planning a series of small raids in CARMARTHEN BAY to destroy Coast Watching Posts and Coastal Batteries on the flanks of the main port of SWANSEA where it was intended to destroy the port installations.
11th DLI were tasked to destroy NORRY PORT Coast Watching Post and the Coastal Battery at PEMBREY after an assault landing on 27th May, and then withdraw.
The troops available were:-
A and C Companies.
One dismounted Section of the Carrier Platoon.
Three detachments of the Mortar Platoon.
The Pioneer Platoon at full strength.
Detachments of HQ Company, including Stretcher-bearers, Regimental Police and Signallers.
Major R.B. Humphreys would command the raiding party and the raid would be carried out using the model plan of No 4 Commando at the DIEPPE raid. The landings would take place at WOOD 8722 and LIGHTHOUSE 8823.
Light forces of the Royal Navy and an RAF Squadron were available to assist in the raid as necessary. The RAF were to make aerial photographs available to the Intelligence Officer, who would construct a model of the area concerned for use by Officers and NCOs.
26th May was available for rehearsal, preferably inland, around LLANELLY.
The aim of the exercise was to bring out the lessons learned on the DIEPPE raid as follows:-
Speed and surprise.
Fire and movement.
The use of smoke.
The use of good radio/telephone procedure.
The intention was to assault the gun position, kill all the enemy and withdraw.
The assaulting force was divided into two groups – the first of which was intended to land on the beach, penetrate the wire and get as close to the Battery position as possible in order to give covering fire to the second assault group.
The Carrier Section were organised as a Fighting Patrol, intended to cut the communication cable to the Observation Post at the Lighthouse and then take up a position to the right of C Company’s Platoons and give additional covering fire.
The Mortar detachments were to take up a position forward of the sand dunes with a forward Observation Post and engage the enemy positions both on call, and timed to coincide with the advance on to the Battery position.
The Pioneers were to breach the wire on landing – the gaps would then be policed by the Regimental Police.
The second assault group were to land in two waves – the first, led by Lt Wynn, was to eliminate any enemy positions and set up a temporary beachhead and give covering fire.
The second wave – lead by Lt Ellison – was to follow the first wave and make a right-flanking attack on the Battery position.
Phase II of the exercise was the withdrawal – the covering party being under the command of Captain C.A. Smallwood. The Carrier Platoon were to provide guides and control points for the withdrawing assault forces – for which smoke cover would be provided.
The Regimental Aid Post was to be set up in a copse, prepared to come forward on the orders of the Force Commander. Communication arrangements were set out and wireless sets allocated. Appendix B to the document set out the loading table which would be used to man the eight Landing Craft Assault (which were imaginary on this particular exercise).
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