1st Tyneside Scottish April 1943
7th April 1943 LLANELLY.
The Battalion was inspected by Lieutenant-General E.C.A. Schreiber, who expressed his satisfaction at the high standard of turnout attained by all ranks.
10th April 1943
The Pipe Band, two Officers and 50 Other Ranks took part in a “Wings for Victory” Parade at BURRY PORT.
The Battalion Boxing Team was defeated by 49th Division Royal Engineers Team in the Finals of the Divisional Championship held at HEREFORD.
12th April 1943
The Advance Party left for the new station at HAMILTON, Lanarkshire (Exercise “SOUDLEY”). More information is set out on Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
The Company Commanders left for Divisional Exercise “BOMBARD”. This exercise, which was for the purpose of exercising them in Royal Artillery co-operation, was held in North-East England.
14th April 1943
The Advance Party arrived in HAMILTON.
16th April 1943
The transport left for the new station.
19th April 1943
The transport arrived at the new station.
21st April 1943
The baggage and Carrier trains left for the new station.
22nd April 1943
The Main Body of the Battalion left for the new station.
23rd April 1943
The Main Body arrived at HAMILTON.
30th April 1943
The Training Programme was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 2 – for details see below.
The Battalion began preparing for the move back to South Wales.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary for April 1943.
Appendix 1 – Exercise “SOUDLEY” – issued 13th April 1943.
This document – Movement Instruction No 1 – contained the detailed information about the forthcoming change of the Battalion’s location to HAMILTON RACECOURSE.
The timings were set out for the departure and arrival of the Advance Party, Road Party, three Rail Parties and the Rear Party – the whole process was expected to take from 12th April to at least 23rd April. A separate instruction had already been issued for the Advance Party – the other groups were covered by individual appendices attached to the main document.
Appendix A set out the Brigade Group Order of March for the Road Party – including all the supporting units. The convoy was to bivouac at the WELLINGTON Staging Camp on the night of 16th April, PRESTON Staging Camp on 17th April, CARLISLE Staging Camp on 18th and reach HAMILTON on the night of the 19th April.
A Traffic Control Post of 7 men from A Company, under the command of Lt Kennedy, would set off each day in a 15cwt truck half an hour before the convoy, accompanied by three Regimental Police on motorcycles.
Two Cooks’ Advance Parties would set off and “shuttle” between them so as to provide breakfast and an evening hot meal en route at the various stages.
Captain Keith would command the Road Party, assisted by Lieut Stowart and 2/Lieuts Oglesby, Hoare and Armstrong.
For anti-aircraft protection twin Bren mountings would be made available for the two-stroke cars in the convoy, and manned by men from HQ Company.
Instructions were set out about vehicle lights and flags. Vehicle maintenance would be carried out at the Staging Camps. Annex 1 to Appendix A set out the routes to be followed and the relevant timings.
The Road Party would consist of six Officers and 175 men, with all the transport not required for Exercise “BOMBARD”.
Annex B to the main document covered the movement of the Rail Parties. These consisted of a Carrier train, a Baggage train and a Personnel train. Timings and loadings for each of these were set out, and a second sheet dealt with the loading arrangements.
Annex C to the main document covered the move of the Rear Parties, who were expected to have handed over the existing accommodation and dealt with outstanding matters within a maximum of seven days after the departure of the Main Body.
Annex D consisted of the General Administrative Instructions covering; blankets and bedding, arms, outstanding contracts and bills, arrangements for collecting swill, pay and imprest accounts, petrol stocks, training stores and fixtures and fittings. It also dealt with the arrangements for stores and rations for the various Parties during the move to Scotland.
Appendix 2 – Training Programme for the week ending 1st May 1943.
The usual wide range of topics were planned to be covered during the various training periods with the addition of; Sten Gun training (for what appears to be the first time), field sketching, Tank and AFV recognition, tactical crossing of obstacles, chasing a retreating enemy, reconnaissance training and house clearing.
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