11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary November 1943
1st November 1943 ROTHESAY.
The Advance Party for the new location left for HAMILTON. Captain Lang was the Officer in charge of the Advance Party and he had Lt J.E. Johnson to assist him.
2nd November 1943
A Rest Day prior to Exercise “TRIDENT”.
Church Parade was held at 11:00 hours.
At 23:45 hours the Battalion, less the transport which had already embarked in an LCT, embarked in an LCM.
3rd November 1943
At 01:45 hours the troops landed on JIG GREEN Beach.
At 02:30 hours the transport landed.
At 03:15 hours the Battalion was present and concentrated in the assembly area.
At 06:00 the advance to the Divisional second objective began with 10th DLI as Advance Guard.
At 11:00 the exercise was closed and the Battalion returned to Camp by march route.
Exercise “TRIDENT” was designed to study the problem of landing the Reserve Brigade with its vehicles at night, with particular reference to the problem of congestion on the beaches. Owing to the excellent arrangements made by the Brigade Transport Officer and the Unit Landing Officers, the landing went without a hitch and, apart from a Platoon of B Company which, with its Company Commander was landed late, the Battalion concentrated in the assembly area without there being any stragglers.
At 18:00 hours a Conference was held in the ROTHESAY Drill Hall on Exercise “TRIDENT”.
4th November 1943
At 09:00 hours the Advance Party left HAMILTON for Southwold.
At 14:00 hours the movement of transport to HAMILTON from ROTHESAY was cancelled owing to bad weather in the bay.
5th November 1943
The move of the Main Body to HAMILTON took place under the command of Major Humphreys.
The move of transport to HAMILTON took place under Captain Grant.
Captain Cooper had, meanwhile, returned to HAMILTON to prepare for the departure of the first Leave Parties.
8th November 1943
Lieut Col J.M. Hanmer was appointed to the command of the Battalion.
The first Leave Parties departed.
The Battalion was issued with Movement Instructions for the move to Southwold. (Unfortunately these seem not to have been filed with the War Diary).
9th November 1943
The second set of Leave Parties departed. The Baggage Train was loaded under the supervision of Lt Ford.
10th November 1943
The third set of Leave Parties departed. The Road Party, under the command of Major Fanning Evans, left for CARLISLE.
11th November 1943
The move of the Carrier Train took place under the command of Captain Nicholson, while the Main Body left by train under the command of Major Humphreys, and the Baggage Train departed under the command of Lt Ford.
The Road Party arrived at DONCASTER.
12th November 1943 Southwold.
Lt Col Hanmer joined for duty as CO. The Battalion was settling in to its new billets, while the Road Party had reached LUTTERWORTH.
14th November 1943
A Voluntary Church Parade was held on what was “Mayor’s Sunday” at Southwold.
15th November 1943
The day was spent in administration prior to an inspection by the CO. Training programmes were prepared and ground reconnaissances carried out.
16th November 1943
At 09:00 hours the CO carried out an administrative inspection of A Company.
At 14:00 hours the CO carried out an administrative inspection of S Company.
19th November 1943
At 09:00 hours the CO carried out a billet inspection of HQ Company.
The CO also carried out an administrative inspection of C Company.
20th November 1943
Lt Col Hanmer departed on leave – command of the Battalion being delegated to Major J.A. Boucher.
21st November 1943
A Church Parade was held at Southwold Church. Photographs of the Church can be seen on the location page.
22nd November 1943
B and D Companies devoted the day to repairing billets, cleaning and checking of stores.
The second batch of Leave Parties from A and C Companies departed by special train.
23rd November 1943
The departure of the final Main Leave Party took place.
B Company began a Mines Course under Lt Kingston.
D Company underwent a full kit inspection.
24th November 1943
B Company were employed testing their Bren Guns on the 30 yard Range, while their Mines Course continued.
D Company had a road run and Padre’s Hour.
25th November 1943
B Company held a Shooting League at 09:00 hours.
At 14:00 hours a Company Commanders’ discussion hour took place followed by a road run.
D Company carried out exchanges of kit and there was a Games afternoon.
26th November 1943
B Company held a CSM’s Drill Parade at 09:00 hours.
There was a Company Commander’s billet inspection.
A half-holiday was granted following the range work which had been undertaken on the Sunday.
From 09:00 hours D Company were engaged in constructing mock-up LCA’s for the purpose of practising assault drill.
27th November 1943
B Company spent the day on the Pakefield Range while D Company were employed on administration and Drill.
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