1st Tyneside Scottish April 1942
2nd April 1942 CRICKHOWELL.
At 08:00 hours No 4 Platoon left GLANUSK Camp to proceed by road to TYNEDALE Camp (0666 Sheet 49 1” to 1 mile map). The instructions were issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendices 1 and 2 – for further details, see below.
3rd April 1942
At 00:01 hours A Party left GLANUSK Camp and marched to ABERGAVENNY for entraining.
At 03:45 hours B Party left GLANUSK Camp and marched to ABERGAVENNY for entraining.
At 18:00 hours at PENRHYNDEUDRAETH No 4 Platoon arrived at TYNEDALE Camp.
4th April 1942 PENRHYNDEUDRAETH.
At 09:00 hours the Rear Party left GLANUSK Camp by Motor Transport.
At 23:30 hours the Rear Party arrived at TYNEDALE Camp.
5th April 1942
Brigadier P. Kirkup D.S.O., M.C., O.B.E. T.D. , Commander of 70th Infantry Brigade inspected TYNEDALE Camp.
6th April 1942
The Training Forecast was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 3 – for details see below.
Battalion Administrative Instructions Nos. 3 and 4 were issued and copies were attached to the War Diary as Appendices 4 and 5 – for further information, see below.
7th April 1942
At 11:00 hours No 7 Platoon gave a demonstration of picquetting a hill.
At 17:00 hours Lt Col Oxley held a conference on training.
Colonel A.L. Moody i/c Administration, South Wales District, visited the Camp.
9th April 1942
At 09:00 hours A and B Companies carried out a Field Firing Exercise – details of which were set out on Appendix 6 attached to the War Diary – see below for more information.
C and D Companies carried out Lake Scheme No 1.
10th April 1942
At 09:00 hours C and D Companies carried out the Field Firing Exercise described on Appendix 6 while A and B Companies carried out Lake Scheme No 1.
At 11:00 hours A and B Companies carried out a 36-hour exercise while C and D Companies carried out the Quarry Scheme. These exercises are described on Appendices 7 and 8 attached to the War Diary – for more details see below.
11th April 1942
At 09:00 hours the classification of the Battalion’s Signallers was conducted by Lt D.M. Bale, Royal Corps of Signals – attached to 70th Brigade HQ.
12th April 1942
At 04:30 hours a party of 12 Officers and 12 Sergeants visited LLANBERIS to see the German propaganda film “Victory in the West”.
13th April 1942
At 11:00 hours C and D Companies did a 36-hour exercise while A and B Companies did Company training.
News was received of the arrival from ICELAND of the Advance Party of 1/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at GLANUSK Camp.
14th April 1942
At 09:00 hours A and B Companies took part in an Inter-Company scheme.
Brigade Training Instruction No 3 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 9 – for details see below.
15th April 1942
At 11:00 hours, Major M.M. Davie gave a lecture to the whole Battalion on Battle Drill in the Attack.
Operation Instruction No 5 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 10 – for details see below.
At 14:00 hours No 7 Platoon gave a demonstration of the points raised by Major Davie in his lecture.
16th – 17th April 1942
All the Rifle Companies and the Reconnaissance Platoon trained by Platoons on the lines laid down by Major Davie.
17th April 1942
Lt Ross, Lt Armstrong and 2/Lt Patterson left the Battalion on orders to proceed overseas.
18th April 1942
At 07:15 hours Battalion HQ and Nos. 1 and 2 Platoons took part in Brigade Signal Exercise “Lamb”.
20th - 21st April 1942
A Battalion exercise took place with 454 Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery, a Section of 757 Field Company, Royal Engineers and one Company of 187th Field Ambulance participating, with the enemy being provided by No 4 Platoon and the reconnaissance Platoon under Captain Calderwood and 2/Lt Rose.
21st April 1942
At 17:30 hours the Brigade Commander held a conference on Exercise “Lamb”.
22nd April 1942
At 09:00 hours the Companies began training by Platoons.
At 17:30 hours the CO held a conference on the 36-hour exercise, with Brigadier Kirkup present.
23rd April 1942
At 09:30 hours the Battalion rehearsed the Brigade Field Firing Exercise.
24th April 1942
At 09:00 hours Platoon training by Companies commenced.
The War Diary records that an Iceland (C ) Force Training Instruction was received, but no Appendix number was allotted to it, and it does not appear in the War Diary file.
25th April 1942
The CO inspected TYNEDALE Camp.
27th April 1942
At 09:00 the Rifle Companies were on exercise in the Quarry area – consisting of A, B and D Companies under the command of Major MacGregor, with C Company acting as enemy.
Also at 09:00 hours No 3 Platoon held a Field Firing Exercise in preparation for the Brigade exercise.
At 18:00 hours Major Fawcett, Pack Transport Liaison Officer at 70th Infantry Brigade lectured on supply by Pack Transport.
28th April 1942
At 09:00 Company training took the form of a two-sided exercise.
B Echelon went on a route march to practice preparing food on the march.
29th April 1942
09:00 hours – Company training.
30th April 1942
At 09:00 the Battalion Transport went on a tactical march with Pack Transport.
At 17:30 hours, Major-General H.O. Curtis C.B., D.S.O., M.C. commanding 49th Division, visited TYNEDALE Camp.
Appendices attached to the Tyneside Scottish April 1942 War Diary.
Appendix 1 – Move to North Wales – Administrative Instruction – issued 31st March 1942.
This document of three pages plus a single-paged appendix described the make-up of the various road and rail parties for this latest move for the Battalion.
Transport was allotted for the conveyance of blankets and sleeping bags together with office equipment and Officers’ kit. Baggage vans were to be included in the two trains used to move the Main Body of troops. Considerable attention was paid to ensuring that GLENUSK Camp was being left in a clean and tidy condition, ready for the next occupants.
The Battalion was also warned to be prepared to identify one or two Officers with recent Mountain Warfare experience for a three-week attachment to Brigade HQ, staring on 3rd April.
The appendix set out the sub-units to be carried in the two trains and set out the command arrangements and timings for the journey.
Appendix 2 - Move to North Wales – Route Instruction – issued 31st March 1942.
This single-page document set out the detailed road route to be utilised by the Motor Transport and the Carriers. The route went from the Camp via TALGARTH, BUILTH WELLS, RHYADER, ABERYSTWYTH, MACCHYNLETH, ABERDOVEY, DOLGELLEY, BARMOUTH and HARLECH to reach PENRHYNDEUDRAETH. The timings for the various groups were set out on the reverse of the page, with notes on speed and vehicle density.
Appendix 3 – Training Forecast – issued 6th April 1942.
This two-page document sets out the Training Programme for the week ending 15th April and incorporates Field Firing, Advance Guard (Lake scheme 1), Picquetting (Lake Scheme 2), Day schemes and 36-hour exercises.
Appendix 4 – Administrative Instruction No 3 of 1942 – issued 4th April 1942.
This document set out the arrangements which had been made to support the battalion in the occupation of this tented Camp – known as TYNEDALEM Camp. The instructions covered: medical facilities and sick parades, water supply, sanitation, postal services, baths, laundry and the supply of tent boards.
Appendix 5 - Administrative Instruction No 4 of 1942 – issued 6th April 1942.
A limited number of vehicles were to be retained at TYNEDALE Camp for administration and recreational purposes – these were the CO’s cars (Humber and Ford), two 8cwt trucks, five 30cwt trucks, one 15cwt truck and motorcycles for the Signallers and Regimental Police and one for the Intelligence Officer.
The remaining Battalion transport was to be located at the Brigade Motor Transport Camp at DOLYMOCH – the Camp under the temporary command of Captain Calderwood. Lieut J.W. Barron was responsible for the training and maintenance aspects of the Battalion’s Motor Transport at the Brigade Camp.
Lieut R.M. McLeod remained at TYNEDALE Camp and was responsible for the Motor Transport at the Camp, as well as being permanent Duty Officer each day between 09:00 and 17:00 hours. A Duty Officer would be nominated in Daily Orders to cover the period from 17:00 to 09:00 hours.
Appendix 6 – Platoon Field Firing – to be held 8th and 9th April 1942.
The aim of this exercise was to practise Platoons in fire and movement, and the mutual support of Sections in the Attack in mountainous country.
The scenario of the exercise was based on “guerilla” type band of men roaming the hill areas and ambushing Columns en route – the Battalion had been given orders to “mop-up” these groups.
Detachments of the Mortar Platoon were allocated to give support in the exercise and were allocated four high-explosive bombs each.
Orders were to be given verbally once the relevant Platoon had reached the exercise area.
Appendix 7 – Mountain Warfare – Quarry Scheme.
This exercise was aimed at exercising a Company in flank protection for a Column in a valley in mountainous country with Pack Transport.
The lessons were expected to include:-
The method of advancing on to high ground.
The occupation of a position.
The method of withdrawal.
Communication with Rear Company HQ and Battalion HQ.
The route to reach the area was set out and it was noted that the Company might be practised as a flank guard on the lower slopes than withdrawn forward and made to hold a major feature. The area was occupied by guerilla bands who were using the Quarry site, but had not yet raided the valuable stores held there by a local mining company. The Company was ordered to remove these stores.
The associated 24-hour scheme was aimed at practising a Rifle Company in carrying out an independent mission in mountainous country. The lessons expected to be covered were:-
The formation to be adopted to ensure all-round protection, whether halted or on the move.
The winners of the race to the high ground to secure that commanding ground and ensure that they are only dislodged after inflicting heavy losses on the attackers.
The dispositions and administrative arrangements at night.
The Battalion had been given the task of guarding the approaches to PORTMADOC down the valleys East and West of Snowdon.
The remaining pages covered the “special idea” for the British forces – focussed around demolishing the facilities at the Quarry – and that for the enemy force – aimed at holding the slate quarry at all costs until relieved the following day.
Appendix 8 - This document does not appear to have been filed with the War Diary – unless the papers had been marked as part of Appendix 7, which may have occurred in error.
Appendix 9 – Battalion Training Instruction No 3 of 1942 – issued 14th April 1942.
This was intended to cover the period of training from 6th to 11th April. The usual wide range of topics were included, as follows:-
Under Platoon and Company Training –
The importance of good observation was stressed and two men per Platoon were to be trained as Observers and equipped, if possible, with field glasses. All men were to be trained in intelligent observation.
The maintenance of direction was seen as crucial and practice in compass use was to be organised.
Distance judging needed constant practice with Barr and Stroud rangefinders.
The quality of fire control was seen as low and Section Commanders were to improve their own performance.
Runners were to be designated by each Section and despatched to Platoon HQ when needed.
Use of cover was seen as being inadequately performed.
O Groups were to be readily to hand and available to be called forward as necessary.
Dispersal of troops should not result in loss of control or communication.
Each Platoon was to designate a Storeman who would supervise ammunition issue, fill Bren magazines and load the Platoon Mules on the orders of the Platoon Commander. This was an experimental move and would be reviewed.
The 2” Mortar crew would separate their loads so that the No n1 carried the Mortar and his rifle, whereas the No 2 carried his rifle and a case of ammunition. Mult transport would be used for carrying further ammunition, rather than the Mortar itself.
The policy would be to split the A Echelon transport into A1 and A2 – with A1 being kept as small as possible.
Tactical handling – including giving directions for routine Mules – was to be improved. The suggestion, in order to overcome potential language issues, was to use the Storeman as transport guide when troops and animals had to be separated for routing purposes.
Mules would be halted on leaving Camp in order to tighten girths etc.
Troops were not to expect hot meals when on outdoor training – hot tea being the most that might be managed in these circumstances.
Casualty evacuation was to be further practised – particularly at the close of exercises.
Co-operation with Mountain Artillery was to include the use of the Clock Code.
Appendix 10 – Operation Instruction No 5 of 1942 – issued 15th April 1942.
During the training period in North Wales the Brigade would come under the direction of Western Command for Operations and North Wales District for administration. In an emergency the Brigade – less the Artillery and RIASC Mule Companies – would return to South Wales and come under the command of South Wales District.
Company Commanders were responsible for Camp protection under the provisions of the Standing Orders for TYNEDALE Camp.
The Duty Company plus one detachment of No 3 Platoon would be confined to Camp (except for training) and would form an Immediate Counter-Attack Column – particularly to deal with surprise landings by air or sea. They would have four stretcher-bearers allocated to them.
If the Duty Company was called out the remaining Companies would stand by in Camp as a reserve.
In an emergency – as mentioned above – the Battalion would be prepared to return to South Wales, taking only G1098 equipment scales with them.
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