143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. War Diary October 1940

1 October 1940 HURSLEY.

10:00 hours. Rehearsal for route march to point of embarkation. Lt Col Askwith and Brigade Major visited the Regiment.

5 more reinforcements reported from ASCOT. Weather fine.

2 October 1940

Nothing of importance. Weather fine.

3 October 1940

08:30 hours. Party A left for Port of Embarkation. Weather wet all day.

4 October 1940

11:00 hours. Inspection of Regiment by C.I.G.S. (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) and Army Commander. Weather wet.

5 October 1940

Nothing of importance. Weather wet.

6 October 1940

Nothing of importance. Weather wet.

7 October 1940

08:30 hours. Party B left for Port of Embarkation.

14:05 hours. Message received placing Regiment under operational control of War Office and ordered to be ready to move any time after 00:01 hours 9th October. Weather fine.

8 October 1940

Alabaster Movement Instruction No. 9 received. Weather fine. (Document not filed with the War Diary). 9 October 1940

Alabaster Movement Instruction No. 9 postponed. Weather wet. Brigadier ?Mackeson visited unit.

10 October 1940

Orders received to send road parties' kits by passenger train to GOUROCK. Weather showery.

11 October 1940

08:57 hours. Road parties kits left for GOUROCK from WINCHESTER. Weather fine.

12 October 1940

C.O., Second-in-Command and 5 Officers returned from Port of Embarkation. Weather fine.

13 October 1940

Nothing of importance. Weather fine. Three trucks received from 63 Medium Regiment. Two 30 cwt returned to ? Medium Regiment.

14 October 1940

Nothing of importance. Weather showery.

15 October 1940

Preliminary indication a move, date given by M C S C. Weather fine but thundery.

16 October 1940

13:00 hours. Instructions for Special BR for move of baggage parties and main parties. Weather wet.

17 October 1940

Preparing for move. Weather showery.

18 October 1940

16:20 hours. Baggage party consisting of Major Buxton, Captain Browne and 100 Other Ranks left for Port of Embarkation. Weather fine.

19 October 1940

16:20 hours. Main Party left for Port of Embarkation. Weather fine. Rear Party consisting of 2nd Lieutenants Stannard, Marsden and Marwood-Tucker and 26 Other Ranks remained to clean Camp and report to Royal Artillery Depot.

20 October 1940 En Route.

Main Party arrived at GOUROCK and embarked on H.M.T. Empress of Australia for ICELAND.

21-23 October 1940 HMT Empress of Australia.

At sea. O.C. Troops Lt Col F N Richardson. Ship’s Adjutant Captain R N Marshall.

24 October 1940

18:00 hours. HMT Empress of Australia arrived off Reykjavik.

24 – 28 October 1940 Reykjavik.

Main Party aboard HMT Empress of Australia disembarking stores. 388 Battery disembarked 26 October for Borganes.

29 October 1940

11:00 hours. Main Part disembarked and proceeded to Camp at Alafoss.

30 – 31 October 1940

RHQ and 386 Battery preparing Camps.

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