1st Tyneside Scottish April 1944
1st April 1944
The weekly Strength State was completed and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix A – for more details see below.
3rd – 6th April 1944
Exercise “SEEK” was held, in which the Battalion acted as enemy to the Reconnaissance Corps and 146th and 147th Brigades.
No information about the exercise was found in the Battalion file but more information is available within the Brigade War Diary.
8th April 1944
The weekly Strength State was completed and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix B – for more details see below.
11th – 17th April 1944
Exercise “BUMP” was held - this was to exercise troops in an attack with full scale Artillery support. Again, no information was filed with the Battalion War Diary but more can be found about this exercise on the Brigade War Diary.
15th April 1944
The weekly Strength State was completed and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix C – for more details see below.
Six Sergeants and 66 Other Ranks were taken on strength from the London Scottish.
19th April 1944
Major D.N. Nicol assumed command of the Battalion in the absence of Lt Col De Winton on leave.
20th April 1944
18 Other Ranks were transferred from the Battalion to the Pioneer Corps.
22nd April 1944
Lt Col De Winton came back from leave and reassumed command of the Battalion.
The weekly Strength State was completed and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix D – for more details see below.
The Battalion Boxing team were beaten by a team from the Royal Engineers in the final of the Divisional Boxing Championship by 25 points to 20.
25th – 26th April 1944
General Sir Arthur Wauchope G.C.B., G.C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O., Colonel of the Regiment, visited the Battalion.
25th April 1944
With General Wauchope present, Beating Retreat was performed by the massed Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch, consisting of those from the 1st, 5th and 7th Battalions, along with those of 1st Tyneside Scottish.
27th April 1944
His Majesty the King inspected a Guard of Honour composed of three Officers and 90 Other Ranks and later saw demonstrations by the Rifle Companies and Specialist Platoons of the Battalion. A photograph of the occasion appears below.
29th April 1944
The weekly Strength State was completed and a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix E – for more details see below.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary for April 1944.
Appendix A – Weekly Returns of Manpower as at 1st April 1944.
This Return shows new officers joining the Battalion as follows:-
WS/Lt Frary E J, Middlesex Regiment, transferred on 31/3/1944 from the 2nd Kensingtons, posted to Battalion HQ Signals.
WS/Lt Wilson D B, Middlesex Regiment, transferred on 31/3/1944 from the 2nd Kensingtons, to be a Duty Officer with A Coy. He was posted out of the Battalion in the week ending 17/6/44 – though the destination was unfortunately unreadable.
In respect of Other Ranks, the 1 April 1944 Return shows 866 men on strength against the War Establishment and 1st Reinforcements total of 972, still leaving a net deficit of 107.
Appendix B – Weekly Returns of Manpower as at 8th April 1944.
There appeared to be no changes other than those already noted.
Appendix C – Weekly Returns of Manpower as at 15th April 1944.
This Return shows new Officers joining the Battalion as follows:-
A/Lt Carter F J, Canadian Infantry Corps, joined the Battalion on 13/4/1944 from the Canadian Army under the “CANLOAN SCHEME”.
T/Lt Manning E P, Canadian Infantry Corps, joined the Battalion on 13/4/1944 from the Canadian Army under the “CANLOAN SCHEME”.
T/Lt Nicholson H.R., Canadian Infantry Corps, joined the Battalion on 13/4/1944 from the Canadian Army, under the “CANLOAN SCHEME”.
In terms of attached ranks in this Return the Batman/Driver to the Chaplain was listed (but unfortunately not named)
Appendix D – Weekly Returns of Manpower as at 22nd April 1944.
There were apparently no changes other than those already noted.
Appendix E – Weekly Returns of Manpower as at 29th April 1944.
In respect of Other Ranks, this Return shows 948 strength against the War Establishment and 1st Reinforcement total of 972, with 4 surplus and 28 deficient in overall numbers.
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