11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary October 1943
1st October 1943 HAMILTON
The Battalion was making preparations for Exercise “BRIDGEHEAD”.
2nd October 1943
The Battalion moved to the concentration area for the exercise.
Captain P.A. Johnson was in command of the Harbouring Party and by 14:00 hours the Battalion was concentrated in farm buildings near MONKTON.
At 17:00 hours the Battalion O Group was held – and the CO gave “cock-shy” orders from the map.
At 18:00 hours the Brigade O Group was held.
3rd October 1943
At 07:30 hours the Quartermaster and Lt Cleminson left with parties for AWD and 1st Tyneside Scottish to make up boatloads.
By 09:00 hours the Battalion boatloads were completed with attached personnel except for the Royal Artillery Observation Post which had not yet arrived.
At 09:15 hours the Battalion in boatloads marched to the TROON beaches where it was organised in “boxes”.
At 12:00 hours the Battalion moved to the assembly area on the dunes near the Marine Hotel.
At 14:30 hours a Brigade O Group was held.
At 17:00 hours a Battalion O Group was held.
At 17:30 hours a hot meal was served, together with the issue of “compo” rations for the following day.
At 20:00 hours there was a special rum ration issue. The dunes were very bleak and exposed and as it was raining heavily the night was miserable.
4th October 1943 (Exercise D Day).
At 04:45 hours breakfast was served – a combination of compo rations and tea.
After breakfast, the Battalion moved to its “boxes” where it waited until “doors down” at 08:15 hours.
At 08:30 hours, while the Main Body were marching to the assembly area the CO ordered the Carrier Platoon and the Cycle Company under Major J.A. Boucher to move ahead to take up outpost positions and to patrol the roads in that vicinity.
At 09:15 hours the Battalion arrived in the assembly area but, as the Anti-Tank Guns had already arrived, Brigade ordered us to push ahead, so we marched straight through MONKTON. The Companies marched straight to their provisional areas and Battalion HQ, under the Adjutant, was established temporarily at MIDTON 905527.
Meanwhile the CO was carrying out a rapid reconnaissance and, following on the Divisional Commander’s decision that the main Tank threat was on the right flank, orders were given for a further concentrating of the Battalion box.
A Company remained in the area of MIDTON 905527, B Company were astride the road 903508, C Company at LAW 903513, D Company at Hall of Barnwell and Battalion HQ and S Company HQ were at PISGAH 899512. During the remainder of the day energy was concentrated on digging in. At 20:30 hours food was brought up to Companies by the QM.
During the night 4th/5th October Captain P.A. Johnson took out a strong fighting patrol towards TARBOLTON. He reported no sign of the enemy attack mounting. Prisoners were taken and identified as 2nd Royal Ulsters.
At about 04:45 hours A Company reported that an enemy attack was being mounted with Tank support with the road from MILL 913512 to point 287 as the probable start line. This information was immediately forwarded to Brigade and proved later to be accurate.
At dawn, the attack was put in. The Battalion was stood to in readiness but in turn B Company, C Company and Battalion HQ were overwhelmed by superior numbers, D Company and A Company being left isolated almost untouched.
5th October 1943
By 10:00 hours the counter-attack of 1st Tyneside Scottish was judged to have failed and the counter-attack of the Reserve Brigade was in motion. This was eventually successful. At 12:00 hours the Cease Fire Signal was given.
Exercise “BRIDGEHEAD” was designed primarily to study the problem of congestion on the beaches, but although the conditions were wretched, the purpose of the scheme was always clear and realistic.
6th October 1943
The day was spent in Battalion administration and in preparation for the move to C.T.C. ROTHESAY.
7th October 1943
The Cadre and Advance Parties moved to the C.T.C. The CO went with the Cadre, leaving the 2 i/c and the Adjutant to bring up the Battalion on the following Monday. The QM was in charge of the Advance Party.
8th October 1943
When the Cadre arrived at ROTHESAY it was found that the Course did not begin until Sunday 10th. The 8th and 9th October were spent instead solving accommodation problems (which, with the limited requisitioned property available, were numerous) and in reconnaissances of ground and beaches for future training.
Meanwhile at AUCHINRAITH Camp, the Main Body of the Battalion was preparing to move.
11th October 1943
The move of the Main Body to ROTHESAY took place. A Rear Party was left behind at HAMILTON under the command of Captain P.A. Johnson. This consisted primarily of drivers who were to undergo a Brigade Motor Transport Course, but also of sick personnel and a proportion of immatures.
12th – 14th October 1943
Settling in at ROTHESAY. The Cadre continues. On the afternoon of 14th October, the Company Commanders carried out a beach reconnaissance.
15th October 1943
In the afternoon the Brigade Commander addressed the Battalion regarding the task ahead and this was followed by a promise of block leave on the completion of the combined training [loud cheers]. Films were shown of the landings in Sicily and a naval Officer talked about various naval customs.
At 16:30 hours a lecture “The Assault of the Beaches” was given to all Officers and NCOs.
16th October 1943
This was a day of lectures, first on Beach Organisation to all Officers and NCOs and later to Companies in turn on “The Assault and Assault Drill”.
17th October 1943
All Companies were engaged in boat-pulling from ROTHESAY Steps.
In the afternoon, Companies practised dryshod assaults and the use of scrambling nets.
18th – 19th October 1943
Two days were spent in training with craft. This took the form of landing on a beach and practising the drill for overcoming beach defences, including the use of Bangalore Torpedoes and scaling ladders.
20th October 1920
Exercise “GLENMORE” took place. This was a dryshod assault exercise using live ammunition. It was carried out by the A Company Group in the morning and by C Company Group in the afternoon.
21st – 22nd October 1943
The Companies practised boat pulling and there was further training with craft.
The RSM held Company Drill Parades.
23rd October 1943
Exercise “GLENMORE” was undertaken by B Company in the morning and was watched by the Corps Commander.
D Company Group carried out the exercise in the afternoon.
24th October 1943
The Strone Point Scheme was carried out by A and C Company Groups. This was a Company assault scheme with craft, using live ammunition. The first part of the scheme was the actual landing with the various types of supporting fire, including aircraft smoke, the second phase was the overcoming of the beach obstacles with scaling ladders and Bangalore Torpedoes, and the third phase the assault on five pillboxes.
25th October 1943
Administration day, followed by training with craft at night. The craft for the C Company Group failed to turn up. The sea was choppy and A Company had a series of adventures before getting back to ROTHESAY.
27th October 1943
Strone Point Exercise with live ammunition. During the morning, 4458513 Pte Thomas Coventry of B Company had the misfortune to be shot by a Bren Gun, which went off accidentally, and was killed as a result.
28th October 1943
Preparations underway for Exercise “ULYSSES” including a Cloth Model Exercise by the CO.
29th October 1943
The 11th DLI Operation Order No 1 - for the Exercise - was issued and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix A – for details see below.
30th October 1943
A Company provided the enemy to oppose 10th DLI for Exercise “ULYSSES”.
31st October 1943
Battalion Exercise “ULYSSES”. This was a Battalion Assault Landing Exercise carried out in KILCHATTAN BAY. Troops spent the night on board two LSI’s and various LCT’s.
H hour was 11:00 hours. A and B Companies landed first and established a beachhead, overcoming opposition from two prominent pillboxes. This allowed the two Reserve Companies and Battalion HQ to land. The scheme ended with the consolidation of the bridgehead and the marrying up of the supporting arms.
Appendices attached to 11th DLI October 1943 War Diary.
Appendix A – 11th DLI Operation Order No 1 – issued 29th October 1943.
This lengthy Appendix contains the operational details for the Assault Landing Exercise “ULYSSES” in respect of 11th DLI.
The “enemy” were understood to be a Battalion of Infantry Regiment 522 with normal supporting arms, holding the BUTE Peninsula. Forward localities were on the beach and a small reserve held for counter-attack purposes. Elements of the Battle group understood to be located at AUCHINBRECK Reference 5204 were anticipated to be able to reach the beach in two or three hours after any landing. Aerial photographs had shown strong points at references 603794, 598793 and 594791 – probably each of Platoon strength with supporting arms. There were strengthened sea walls with a continuous belt of wire some 30 feet deep at the rear.
70th Infantry Brigade was tasked with landing in the JIG Sector on the morning of 31st October to capture a bridgehead line from SCOULAG POINT – UPPER SCOULAG – EAST Shore of Loch FAD 5683 – SCALPSIE BAY 5580 – SUIDHE PLANTATION 5977 – KILCHATTEN 5977.
10th DLI were on the right – JIG GREEN
11th DLI on the left – JIG AMBER and RED
1st Tyneside Scottish in reserve – JIG GREEN
Commandos were due to land on the night of 30th/31st October to clear the Peninsula South of SUIDHE PLANTATION.
The 11th DLI had, under command, the following supporting troops:-
One Platoon of the Medium Machine Gun Company from 70th Infantry Brigade Support Group.
One Platoon of the Anti-Aircraft Company from 70th Infantry Brigade Support Group.
One Platoon of the 4.2” Mortar Company from 70th Infantry Brigade Support Group.
One Troop from 217 Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery.
One Platoon from 757 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
One Bearer Section from 187 Field Ambulance.
In addition, the Battalion had, in support:-
185 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, landing at JIG AMBER and JIG RED beaches.
One Monitor, one Cruiser and three Destroyers bombarding ROTHESAY – MOUNT STUART 6082 – KERRYTONLIA 6079 from H Hour minus 30 minutes, and in support on the landing. The Forward Observation Officer was with Battalion HQ.
The Beach group would consist of:-
Q 1 RN Commando
Q 3 RN Commando
Royal Naval Signals
Royal Naval Forward Observation Officer
A Company, 6th Battalion of the Border Regiment
90 Field Company Royal Engineers
21 Beach Signals
Beach Provost detachment
51 Mechanical Engineering Section – Bulldozer
No 3 Recovery Company REME – Scammell
173 Pioneer Corps
The boundaries were set out as between 10th and 11th DLI.
The intention was for the Battalion to land on JIG AMBER and JIG RED beaches and establish a bridgehead from the cross-roads reference 592603 to the CHURCH 587791 including the SUIDHE PLANTATION.
The attack was planned in five phases:-
H – hour. Landing secret assault teams to gap the defences and overcome the pillboxes.
H plus 15 minutes. Landing A and B Companies to form the beachhead and patrol the area.
H plus 45 minutes. Landing D and C Companies and Battalion HQ and passing through to the beachhead.
H plus 90 minutes onwards. Landing of supporting arms. Patrolling to second Divisional objective by Infantry and Carriers.
H plus 120 minutes onwards. Possible move of the Battalion to the Brigade objective.
The landing tables set out in the later part of the Appendix gave specific details of each serial to be landed, timing and troops and equipment included, to put this five-phase operation in place.
The secret assault teams would support the second phase by fire after their phase was completed. Phase 2 would have A Company on the right and B on the left – each with specific locations at which to form the bridgehead.
One the bridgehead was taken the Companies would consolidate and dig in and commence patrol activity. Both Companies would provide fire support for the third phase of the assault.
Phase 3 would be conducted depending on the success of Phase 2 and after an assessment of the strength of the opposition – the aim being to take the original objectives if these had not been fully secured.
Phase 4 would involve bicycle patrols and fighting patrols beyond the beachhead with Carrier patrols probably occupying outposts on the 2nd Divisional Objective pending their relief by 1st Tyneside Scottish.
The Mortars, Carriers, Anti-Tank Guns and the Pioneer Platoon were each given tasks, including flank protection and, in the case of the Pioneers, improvement to the beaches under the orders of the Royal Engineers.
A detailed Fire Plan by both Naval ships, RAF and Royal Artillery setting out timings and targets was included. This included high explosive rounds up to H-hour, then on call subsequently, smoke cover for the first assault, and fire on registered targets subsequently.
The Medium Machine guns were to land at H plus 90 minutes and probably provide interlocking fire tasks in support of D and C Companies. The Heavy Mortars were given a likely target of a key crossroads, the Anti-Aircraft Platoon the job of protecting the beaches and the village and the Anti-Tank Battery the role of protecting the Tank run from QUOCHAG until relieved by the Battalion’s Anti-Tank Platoon – following which they would become a Mobile Reserve.
All ranks were to carry haversack rations and wear normal dress – though only transport personnel were to wear leather jerkins.
Captain P.A. Johnson and Captain T.M. Lang were named as Unit Landing Officers and were to guide Companies to the assembly areas and provide signage for the gaps.
The wireless diagram was included, together with netting arrangements and frequencies, code words and details of the listening watches to be maintained.
The landing table ran to several pages and covered 35 separate serials – basically individual craft loads. No details were set out of the “secret teams” intended to be landed at H-hour.
The early serials contained a mixture of A and B Companies in Platoon-sized groups, each accompanied by a small number of Engineers, landing in LCA’s having disembarked from LSI A, under the command of Major J.A. Boucher. In addition members of the Beach Group landed in that sequence.
The later serials included vehicles and it was noticeable – in further reference to earlier mentions of this issue, that some landing craft carried Portees and 6 pdr Anti-Tank Guns. It is not clear whether the 6pdrs were themselves being transported on the Portees but this looks probable, as there were no Carden-Lloyd Carriers included to tow those guns.
The final page gave the summary of vehicles involved in the landing as 43 – including 13 Motorcycles. In addition there were 31 bicycles included in the early phases – for patrolling purposes.
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