143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. War Diary April 1944

1 April 1944 HEMSBY.

Nothing of importance.

2 April 1944

Exercise SEEK – RHQ and 507 Battery.

3 April 1944

Mobilisation completed for the third time in 12 months. SEEK.

4 April 1944

SEEK still on.

5 April 1944

SEEK ended. 388 and 190 Batteries to Dunwich.

6 April 1944

388 and 190 Batteries return from Dunwich.

7 April 1944

Regiment using PAKEFIELD classification Range.

8 April 1944

C.O. to HQRA for Conference on Exercise “BUMP”, returning at 15:00 hours with orders.

9 April 1944

Audit Board postponed owing to preparation for “BUMP”.

10 April 1944

Feverish activity for “BUMP” getting ready.

11 April 1944

Move off on “BUMP”. B? area WOODRIDGE.

12 – 17 April 1944

Moved with PISTOL GUN GROUP to area A?? and come into action OO. Hours 12th April. See Appendices ABC below.

Dug in and established Observation Posts and concentrated forward for attack on night of 15/16th. DF tasks fired – barrage not fired. Corps Commander and Army Commander visited Regiment on 15th and were quite pleased. See Movement Order No. 2 – Appendix D.

Returned 17th April.

18 April 1944

HORSEY Anti-Tank Range – Batteries all fired. Unit Censorship began today. APO ? used signal ??

19 April 1944

Preparation for Exercise “WASH”.

20 April 1944

Regimental Sergeant Major Banks reverted to rank of Battery Sergeant Major and became 507 Battery’s Battery Sergeant Major.

Major Howorth and Captain Smithers both considered medically unfit – asked for Captain Nicholson and Lieutenant Berry asked for.

21 April 1944

C.O. on 47 hours leave.

22 April 1944

Nothing of importance – glorious weather. C.O. returned from leave.

23 April 1944

Audit Board. Church Parade. Nothing of importance. Fine.

24 April 1944

Nothing of importance. Fine.

25 April 1944

Nothing of importance. Fine.

26 April 1944

C.O. visited C.R.A.

27 April 1944

Review at HOPTON by H.M. King George VI – all Royal Artillery in Division attended. Adjutant on pass.

28 April 1944

C.O. on Exercise “BIFF” and 388 Battery zeroed at HORSEY.

29 April 1944

Adjutant returned.

30 April 1944

C.O. finished “BIFF” with an “Old Boys’ Dinner”.

Waterproofers returned from Course at Yarmouth.

Appendices attached to April 1944 War Diary.

Exercise “BUMP” Trace

This appears to be the only document relevant to this exercise which has survived to be included within the War Diary. The orders for the Exercise put 143rd Field Regiment in support of 70th Infantry Brigade in carrying out two separate attacks – one lead by 11th DLI and one by 10th DLI. The trace identifies gun safety areas for the guidance of exercise participants. Major Bowring was identified as working with 10th DLI as Forward Observation Officer. Various codewords and timings were set out for the two attacks.

Field Return – Officers – dated 29th April 1944.

The War Establishment is shown as 42, with 43 Officers in post – two surplus and 3 deficiencies. As mentioned in the War Diary, Captains Berry and Nicholson were specifically requested to be returned to the Regiment from their existing postings. No Officers had left or arrived in that week. The detailed list of Officers in post shows some variations from that listed on 5th February – these will be incorporated into the personnel list.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.