1st Tyneside Scottish February 1944
1st February 1944 LOWESTOFT.
The Battalion moved to its new location at Thetford.
Details of the move were set out on Appendix 1, which was listed as being attached to the War Diary. As far as can be seen, no documentation has survived in the Battalion file.
5th February 1944
The weekly Return of Manpower was filed with the War Diary.
This Return shows new Officers joining the Battalion as follows:-
WS/Lt MacDonald D A, Black Watch, Duty Officer D Coy from 23/1/1944.
WS/Lt McDowall P A, Black Watch, Duty Officer B Coy from 23/1/1944.
Ws/Lt Irwin W J H, Black Watch, Duty Officer C Coy from 13/1/1944.
WS/Captain Manson S, Cameron Highlanders, Quartermaster from 3/2/1944.
As regards Other Ranks, the 5/2/1944 Return shows a total of 920 men present against the War Establishment of 815, with 7 reinforcements still required and 117 men surplus to the War Establishment.
With regard to attached ranks – the 5/2/1944 Return shows 10590101 L/Cpl Welsh J of the 70th Brigade Workshops REME as being attached to the Battalion (He was not on the 8/4/1944 return).
The Home Details were reduced to 67 by 5/2/1944 including 18 Immatures.
12th February 1944
The weekly Manpower Return was attached to the War Diary and showed the following:-
WS/Lt Carnie T C, Black Watch, joined the Battalion on 10/2/1944 from the HQ of 49 Division to be a Duty Officer with B Coy.
Quartermaster Findlay is shown as pending posting – he eventually left on 15/2/1944 (presumably having “handed over” to QM Manson) and was posted to No 8 I.T.C. Perth.
In terms of attached ranks the following men were shown as being with the Battalion at this date:-
4866086 Pte Pepper J, 513 Coy Pioneer Corps. (Not on the 4/3/44 return).
1479949 Pte Burt H, 513 Coy Pioneer Corps. (Not on the 4/3/44 return).
13111150 Pte Commorton W, 513 Coy Pioneer Corps. (Not on the 4/3/44 return).
2939836 Pte Hughes W, 513 Coy Pioneer Corps(Not on the 4/3/44 return).
It is not known for certain why these Pioneers were attached to the Battalion for this period.
15th February 1944 THETFORD.
The Brigade was addressed by the Commander-in-Chief, General Montgomery, with the Corps Commander, Lt General Bucknall, also present. Appendix 2, said to be attached to the War Diary, described the occasion. As far as can be seen, no documentation from this Appendix has survived in the Battalion file.
16th February 1944
Exercise “LEAPFROG” was held – an exercise in forming an advance guard of the Brigade. No reference is made in the War Diary to any documentation on this exercise, nor was any mention made of Battalion Exercise “PEP” which was mentioned in respect of the Battalion in the Brigade War Diary.
18th – 21st February 1944
A “Skeleton” Battalion HQ took part in the Divisional Signals Exercise “Pontoon”, described on Appendix 3 which was marked as being attached to the War Diary. As far as can be seen, no documentation has survived in the Battalion file.
24th February 1944
Major D L Nicol assumed command of the Battalion in the absence on leave of Lt Col R W M De Winton.
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