143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. War Diary April 1941

1 April 1941 Alafoss, Iceland.

07:00 hours. RQMS Leach left for Borganes. Remainder of R.A. ? personnel left for other destinations. Lt Bray RAOC, Lance Bombardier Gray arrived from Borganes. Weather very fine and bright, light North East winds.

2 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather very fine, cold.

3 April 1941

Major Hamilton attends preliminary discussions for next Tactical School demonstration. C.O. returns to Borganes from Reykerskoli. Weather dull, some slight snow later, milder.

4 April 1941

E and F Troops 388 Battery calibrating guns at Borganes. Lance Sergeant Thomsit and WO II Homewood arrived from Borganes for courses, the former in the UK. Weather overcast, mild, slight rain at times.

5 April 1941

14:00 hours. Standby Air Raid Warning received. No enemy aircraft seen. Major Hamilton on recce for Intelligence Exercise with C.R.A. Weather fine and bright. Thawing out mid-day.

Lance Sergeant Perkins arrived from Borganes for course. Course at Tactical School ends. Surveyor course at 386 Battery ends.

6 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather fine, cloudy, mild. Operation Order for move of 2 Troops received and issued.

7 April 1941

Lt Bray RAOC and 11 Other Ranks including Surveyors returned to Borganes. C.O. and party with 2nd Lieutenant P Williams returned from Borganes. Weather fine and bright.

8 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather mild and cloudy.

9 April 1941

Captain Akers-Douglas and 2/Lt Williams and 2 Other Ranks returned to Borganes. Lance Sergeant Danatt returned from course in UK. Chaplain arrived from UK for attachment to Regiment. Weather mild and cloudy.

10 April 1941

Revd A J Ostle – Chaplain to the Forces – reported for duty and attached to RHQ. Lt G R Wolff to Reykerskoli aboard HMS SABINA. Weather mild and cloudy, some rain.

11 April 1941

Nothing of importance. “Standby for Thaw” received. Weather mild and rainy. Lance Sergeant Danatt returned to 388 Battery.

12 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather fine and sunny, colder. “Stand by for Thaw” cancelled.

13 April 1941

Easter Sunday. Weather very fine and bright. Slight frost an night. Calm.

14 April 1941

Heavy fall of snow continuing all day. Snowplough personnel ordered out to Ski  ? LOGBERG. Supplied by 386 Battery. C.O. held cocktail party. Good time had by all.

15 April 1941

06:40 hours. Advance party E Troop 388 Battery travelling by road from Borganes.

01:00 Advance Party E Troop 388 Battery arrived RHQ. Weather cold. Snow showers all day.

16 April 1941

Changeover of D and F Troops 388 Battery completed. Weather fine and sunny, calm.

17 April 1941

Force Intelligence Exercise, RHQ and 386 Battery involved. Main Body E Troop 388 Battery left Borganes 02:20 hours, arrived SOGAMYRI 02:20 hours April 18th. Weather very fine and mild, calm. Thawing all day.

18 April 1941

09:30 hours. C.O. and Adjutant with Officer Commanding 386 Battery out all day on rehearsal of Field Firing Exercise taking place on Monday 21st April. Weather similar to previous day. C Troop 386 Battery and E Troop 388 Battery took over tactically at REDESDALE and Hafnafjordur Camps from 273/69 Field Regiment Royal Artillery at 18:00 hours. Weather fine, bright, calm.

19 April 1941

Captain Watson and one Other Rank from Borganes on visit to RHQ assistance of R.M.O. called for and given to convey BSM Warriner D Troop 388 Battery Borganes to hospital for operation. Weather fine.

20 April 1941

Fine but windy. One or two slight showers in the afternoon.

21 April 1941

09:30 hours. C.O. and Adjutant left for Field Firing Exercise at KLEIFARVATN. “A” and “B” Troops taking part. Fine but windy. C Troop taken over Camp at Hafnafjordur and E Troop REDESDALE CAMP.

22 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather showery, mild.

23 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Very wet all day, windy, mild.

24 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Very wet all day, windy, mild.

25 April 1941

Medical Officer left on a short visit to 388 Battery at Borganes. Lance Sergeant Bloodworth and Gunner Charlton left for UK. Bloodworth for course, Charlton for medical reasons. Captain Watson and one Other Rank returned to Borganes. Weather wet, mild.

26 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather mild, overcast but no rain.

27 April 1941

Major D S Hamilton Royal Artillery left for UK. Captain G C R Bailey assumes command of 386 Battery. Weather mild and bright intervals, calm.

One soldier and one civilian put under arrest at White Hart Camp for taking unauthorised photographs. Under instruction from Field Security Police, matter placed in their hands. 3 reinforcements arrived from UK.

28 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather fine showery intervals.

29 April 1941

Major Weston and Captain Smithers arrived on visit from Borganes. Weather fine and sunny.

30 April 1941

Nothing of importance. Weather fine and sunny.

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