143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. War Diary March 1944
1 – 4 March 1944
Sadly, this page is a further example of a blurred copy, badly photographed, to the point at which the manuscript cannot be deciphered. There continue to be issues with the legibility of the manuscript, regardless of the identity of the scribe
5 March 1944
Nothing of importance. Promulgation of LAKE Field General Court Martial.
6 March 1944
Nothing of importance. Medical Officer decided that the Dental Officer with Mobile Dental Centre is suffering from a nervous breakdown and arranged interview with Psychiatrist.
7 March 1944
Medical Officer had a hell of a day with Dental Officer. In 388 Battery Mess, with whom Dentist was staying, word was given to Major Weston that the C.O. was visiting him that morning to see a ? Charles Weston said “Good – I wanted to see the Old Man about getting some Sports Gear”. The Dentist sprang to his feet and said “Sir, that is no way to speak of your Commanding Officer”. Charles for once was dumb. Later the Dentist was taken into NORWICH by the Medical Officer and after escaping once by walking out when nobody was looking and having been hailed by an ? he was brought in front of the Psychiatrist who ? him but and on Friday he will enter a mental home.
8 March 1944
Adjutant goes on leave.
9 March 1944
Very busy all day. Flap from HQRA on light scales.
10 March 1944
C.O. goes to HQRA to see CRA.
11 March 1944
388 Battery shoot at Winterton – calibration.
12 March 1944
Wireless silence starts. 190 Battery do drill order at Dingle.
13 March 1944
507 Battery calibrate at Winterton. 388 Battery should have gone to Dingle for drill order but didn’t. C.O. set off to see them and he got to Yarmouth remembered he had seen all Batteries in Camp.
14 March 1944
190 Battery calibrate in Winterton. C.O. confers with acting C.R.A. re light scales. 507 Battery go to Dingle for a night occupation.
15 March 1944
507 Battery return from Dingle.
16 March 1944
388 Battery zero on Horsey Anti-Tank Range. Lecture from A.C.B.O. and Field Security – Troop Commanders.
17 March 1944
M.G.R.A. visits us. Arrives late, has lunch. ? from 3rd Royal Horse Artillery turns up with ?? ?? ?? to show M.G.R.A.
18 March 1944
190 Battery goes to Horsey Anti-Tank Range. Z lorry arrives.
19 March 1944
Church Parade. Long service by local priest.
20 March 1944
Nothing of importance. Concert by Gorleston Amateur Dramatic Society – very amusing.
21 March 1944
Nothing of importance. Showery.
22 March 1944
Visit from mobile cinema. Training films, also Charles Laughton in “The Man from Down Under”.
23 March 1944
190 Battery Tank shooting at Stan??
24 March 1944
Regiment less 190 Battery shooting at Dunwich. Troop of Light Anti-Aircraft out co-operating. See Appendix A attached to the War Diary – see below.
25 March 1944
Saturday a lovely day.
26 March 1944
Adjutant goes on leave. A beautiful ? day.
27 March 1944
A typical dreadful Monday.
28 March 1944
Nothing of importance.
29 March 1944
Calibration at Winterton. Combined Regimental and RAF Dance.
30 March 1944
Visit from Records Officer to look at documents and mobilisation generally.
31 March 1944
Training at Winterton.
Appendices attached to March 1944 War Diary.
Appendix A – Exercise “BANG” – dated 20th March 1944.
The purpose of this exercise was to; give course shooting to Junior Officers, prepare positions for night occupation, carry out night occupation, carry out an advance by day, test march discipline and carry out a survey.
The document set out details of routes, timings and rendezvous, and the locations for various parties. Feeding and ration arrangements were specified. The Medical Officer was to accompany the Regiment. Intercommunication arrangements were also set out.
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