1st Tyneside Scottish March 1941
3rd – 7th March 1941 Most of the time was taken up with the Inter-Battalion relief arrangements between 1st Tyneside Scottish and 1st/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
HQ Company were posted to Skipton Camp with B as Reserve Company.
A Company was posted to Craven Camp.
C Company was posted to Keighley Camp, GROTTA.
D Company occupied the Docks area.
One Platoon of R Coy was posted to Bingley Camp.
The details were apparently set out on Appendix 1 to the War Diary, but this document has not been traced – it may not have been saved from the original source material.
7th March 1941
Operation Order No 1 (Revised) came into force and the command of the Reykjavik Sub-Sector was devolved to the Commander of 1st Tyneside Scottish as from 12:00 hours on 7th March.
12th March 1941
The Reykjavik Sub-Sector Defence Scheme was amended and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 2 – for details see below.
14th March 1941
At 09:30 hours a Practice Stand-to was held to test the new arrangements.
17th March 1941
The Sub-Sector Defence Scheme was further modified, making the Reserve Company at Skipton Camp a mobile reserve – for details see Appendix 3 attached to the War Diary – for more information see below.
20th March 1941
Several Command changes took effect as follows:-
Major McGregor to command A Company with Captain Stordy as 2 i/c.
Captain Angus to command HQ Company.
Captain Calderwood to command B Company.
Captain Dunne to command D Company.
Capt Brennan to command R Company.
Captain Boyne to be promoted from Assistant Adjutant to Adjutant with effect from 7th March 1941.
28th March 1941
A Company, supported by a Section of Carriers and detachments from the Mortar Platoon gave a Field Firing demonstration of “The Company in the attack” at the Force Tactical School in front of the G.o.C.
30th March 1941
At 10:10 hours a German 4–engined aircraft was seen over Reykjavik. (This was most likely a Focke-Wulf Kondor – used particularly for reconnaissance missions).
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary, March 1941.
Appendix 1 – Inter-Battalion relief 6th – 7th March 1941.
A copy of this document had been filed with an earlier War Diary.
Appendix 2 – Reykjavik Sub-Sector Defence Scheme (Revised) – Amendment No 2 – issued 12th March 1941.
This document made provision for the POST OFFICE at POSTHHUSTRAETI to be occupied by an Officer and ten men of the Battalion in an emergency, and that they would be relieved, as soon as possible, by an Officer and ten Other Ranks from No 19 Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers.
Appendix 3 – Reykjavik Sub-Sector Defence Scheme (Revised) Amendment No 3 – issued 17th March 1941.
As indicated above this document instructed that the Reserve Company at Skipton Camp would remain mobile, ready to move in any direction.
Administrative Instructions for Inter-Battalion Relief 6th-7th March 1941 – Supplement No 1.
This single-page document added to the detail of the Instructions, directing that Molotov Bombs, Soyer stoves and Electrical lighting equipment were all to be handed over on the relief, and that maximum use was to be made of allotted transport – so that vehicles used to bring in relieving troops would take out those currently in post. Only Posts manned on a permanent basis would be handed over tactically.
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