1st Tyneside Scottish November 1943
1st – 6th November 1943 HAMILTON.
A Motor Transport Cadre had been left by the Rear Party at HAMILTON.
2nd November 1943 ROTHESAY.
Exercise “ULYSSES” was held. This involved the Battalion training in Combined Operations with the full use of assault landing craft. The exercise is described on Appendix 1 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
4th November 1943
Exercise “TRIDENT” was held – this exercise involved the Brigade training in Combined Operations including the loading of all assault scale vehicles. The exercise is described on Appendix 2 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
7th November 1943
Exercise “AFLOAT” was held – this consisted of the Main Body of the Battalion being moved back to HAMILTON by sea with a small Rear Party left at ROTHESAY. Information on this exercise can be found in the Brigade HQ War Diary.
8th November 1943 HAMILTON.
The Rear Party rejoined the Battalion from ROTHESAY.
10th November 1943
The Main Body of the Battalion moved to Southwold in Exercise “ASTONIA”. The exercise is described on Appendix 3 attached to the War Diary – for details see below.
30th November 1943 Southwold.
Major J.K. Dunn M.C. assumed command of the Battalion during the absence of Lt Col A.J.H. Cassels on a Course.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary for November 1943.
Appendix 1 – Exercise “ULYSSES”.
A limited number of papers relating to the work done at ROTHESAY have survived in the War Diaries of the 70th Infantry Brigade and the 10th and 11th Battalions of the DLI – perhaps because of the security around work which was essentially a practice for the invasion of Europe. As with other elements of the War Diaries it is recommended that all the Diaries of the participating units are read if a fuller picture of events is to be gained.
This particular exercise was a Battalion-level scheme and the papers attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary are in fact those for 10th DLI – this may be an error of filing or possibly the titles were not altered properly for the other Battalions.
Assuming that these documents are valid:-
They begin with an appreciation of the enemy opposition, locations, strength, reserves and strong point locations. Defences are described and the availability of armoured forces is set out.
The document goes on to list the troops available to support the Battalion – mentioning the “Brigade Support Group” probably for the first time in these Diaries – this reflects the expansion in the role of the 2nd Kensingtons, from being a Machine Gun Battalion to a more comprehensively armed Support Unit, with 4.2” Mortars and an Anti-Aircraft Unit which was thought to be using 20mm guns.
In the 10th DLI papers 1st Tyneside Scottish is described as the Brigade’s “floating reserve” so the role they would take in Exercise “ULYSSES” is unclear, as it is listed as a Battalion scheme, whereas Exercise “TRIDENT” is a Brigade scheme.
The documents went on to describe the bombardment arrangements before landing and attached very detailed loading and landing tables covering the many serials involved.
A diagram of the geography of the area and the Divisional objectives was also included and is set out below as an extract from the War Diary file at The National Archives. THis page is used from the War Diary by permission of specialist staff at The National Archives.
Appendix 2 – Exercise “TRIDENT”.
The documentation in this case is marked as for the 1st Tyneside Scottish and the scenario described is essentially the same as for Exercise “ULYSSES” with the same appreciation of the enemy strength and locations.
Again, 49th Division was carrying out a landing on the East coast of BUTE with 146 and 147 Brigades, while 70th Brigade acted as a “floating reserve”. The Brigade was to land in either the JIG or HOW Sectors as appropriate, drive through the 146th or 147th Brigade and seize and hold a line from PORT BANNATYNE, reference 5790 to KILDAVANAN, reference 5289.
The objective for 1st Tyneside Scottish was the area between CASTLE TREE, reference 5387 to BALLYCAUL, reference 5486. The Intelligence Officer, Provost Sergeant and Intelligence Private and a Driver were to land with 147th Brigade and reconnoitre and mark the area for the Battalion – under the command of the Brigade Transport Officer.
The Assembly Area was identified from which a designated Order of March inland would be followed. Traffic Control and identification arrangements were set out. As mentioned, more information can be found in the War Diaries of the Brigade HQ, 10th DLI and 11th DLI.
Appendix 3 – Exercise “ASTONIA”.
The documents attached to the War Diary consisted of the Movement Instruction for this exercise, which covered the movement of the Battalion, as part of the Brigade, to Southwold. The move was planned to take place between 3rd and 13th November 1943.
The move was made by a combination of road and rail from Scotland to East Anglia. Because of the length of the journey men were to be fed a substantial hot meal before departure and the haversack rations to be taken for the journey were to be “very adequate” according to the Movement Instruction and be “appetising and substantial”. As usual, the Battalion’s Baggage and the Carriers travelled on separate trains from the personnel. There were four trains in total – two for Baggage.
The Road Party was expected to take some four days to make the journey, with provision for halts at Staging Camps at CARLISLE, DONCASTER and LUTTERWORTH.
The Rear Party was due to leave HAMILTON on 15th November and travel by road to Southwold, accompanied by Lt Struthers of 187 Field Ambulance as its Medical Officer. They would travel as part of a Brigade Column – staging in the same way and in the same places and the Main Road Party, which was due to leave HAMILTON on 10th November. The detailed instructions and the Order of March make one of the first references to the use of Jeeps as part of the Brigade’s vehicle complement.
The usual administrative arrangements were made for closing down at the old location and setting up at the new one – matters of accounts, fuel and supplies being addressed in detail.
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