1st Tyneside Scottish October 1942
1st October 1942 KINGTON.
Training films were shown on Motor Transport subjects and Aircraft Recognition at KINGTON Cinema – attended by 180 Officers and men.
Training Instruction No 9 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 1 – for further details see below.
2nd October 1942
The training films were shown again to an audience of 50 NCOs and men.
7th October 1942
At 15:00 hours a lecture on “Evasion of Capture” was given by a Mr Butler to an audience of Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants.
15th October 1942
At 12:30 hours the Battalion was visited by Major-General H.O. Curtis C.B., D.S.O., M.C. – Commander of 49th Division.
21st October 1942
Major-General Curtis watched the Battalion on RSM’s Parade.
23rd October 1942
Training films on the German entry into Russia, and Aircraft Recognition were shown to an audience of 300 Officers and men.
24th October 1942
A Tug-of-War Team representing the Battalion won the Hereford County Challenge Cup at CREDENHILL.
27th October 1942
At 12:00 hours the Camp was visited by the Brigadier, General Staff of Western Command, Brigadier C.B. Callander.
31st October 1942
The Advance Party – comprising representatives of all Companies left for Greystone Camp at DALTON-in-FURNESS.
Appendices attached to 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary for October 1942.
Appendix 1 – Training Instruction No 9 – issued 3rd October 1942.
This latest edition in the series of Training Instructions ran to four pages.
The policy introduction began with drawing attention to the time approaching when the Battalion would be called to action. This required a high standard of realism in training, coupled with discipline. This set the tone for the next three months’ training activities.
All ranks were required to be familiar with Battle Drills and Battle Techniques – including cooks, cobblers, tailors, butchers, mess staff, clerks and batmen.
All men would be required to pass, or improve, their ratings, in the Tests of Elementary Training.
All ranks were to reach and maintain a high standard of physical fitness, so that they were all able to walk/run ten miles in two hours and then engage in combat.
All were to be well drilled and smart in turn-out and appearance.
Old lessons were to be put across in a new way.
Weapon training.
All riflemen not yet classified as at least second-class shots were to do so – those already classified were to concentrate on small figure targets on the field ranges. Team work was to be emphasised. First-class shots were to be trained as snipers.
All ranks were to classify on the Light Machine Gun in so far as ammunition supply allowed – at least four men per Section would fire the Bren War Course and become second class shots as a minimum.
All ranks were to fire the 2” Mortar and the Anti-Tank Rifle and throw or fire one of the various grenades.
All ranks were to learn how to lay and prime Anti-Tank Mines.
All Bren and Riflemen were to be trained to take instant offensive action against hostile aircraft.
All ranks of the Anti-Tank Platoon would fire the 2pdr Anti-Tank Gun.
Weapon training would be run by Major W.L. McGregor, assisted by Lieut J.S. Highmore, CSM Fell and Sgt Hutton.
Training Periods.
The Instructions covered four periods of three weeks each, commencing 1st October, and allowing for a move of location. Over each period a Company would be concentrating on either Battle Drill, Weapon Training, the Battle Course or Miscellaneous training – by the end of the three months all Companies would have covered all the topic areas.
All Companies were to cover Battle Drill for the first period – as taught at the Divisional School and in accordance with the Training Pamphlet. Following this the remaining training periods would be run as Battalion Schools. The Chief Instructor of the Battle Course would be Captain A. Maclagan, assisted by Lt K.D. Buchanan, CSM Jewitt and Corporal Webster, together with the Officers of the Company concerned who had already attended the Battle School. Preparation of a suitable training area would be made in the new location.
Miscellaneous Training.
Company Officers would run the various training sessions assisted by specialist Instructors as follows:-
Gas, explosives and demolitions (Captain Brennan, Sgt Brownley and the Pioneers). Gas training was to be more realistic, with the help of the Divisional Gas Circus.
P.T. and purposeful hardening (Sgt Bosley).
First Aid (Medical Officer).
Sand Table Exercises.
Mechanical maintenance (Captain Keith and Sgt Mantle).
Night schemes and night driving.
Section and Platoon tactical marches.
Use of ground and Judging Distance.
Camouflage.
Field engineering.
Education.
Daily and regular routine.
Reveille 07:00 and Breakfast at 07:45.
Rifle inspection and “daily dozen” PT at 08:45 until 09:15.
Vehicle maintenance for drivers at 09:15.
Tea at 16:45.
Wednesday afternoons would be taken up with an RSM’s Drill Parade followed by organised recreation – those not playing games to complete a 6-mile walk and run across country.
An Adjutant’s Drill Parade would take place each Saturday morning followed by a period of administration (care and maintenance of equipment and weapons) until 12:30. The afternoon would be used for games.
Sunday was treated as a holiday.
Officers’ Training.
There was planned to be an Officers’ study period every Wednesday evening – used for eithera sand table exercise, discussion or lecture. All Officers were to attend. TEWTs or Sand Table exercises were to be held on a fortnightly basis, on a Saturday.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
The general standard of NCOs must be raised and more proficient Instructors produced. Every suitable Private soldier was to be given an opportunity to develop in this area. Two NCOs Cadre Courses, each of three weeks’ duration, were to commence on 30th September and 22nd October with the objective of training Instructors. The courses commencing on 10th November and 3rd December were to be for selected Private soldiers.
Courses.
All Officers and NCOs were to attend the Divisional Battle School as vacancies became available – Captain J.K. Dunn, Captain A.L. Campbell and 2/Lt J.G. Allan were to attend the mid-October course.
Vacancies had been requested at the following Command and Army Schools:-
Small Arms School, Hythe (Lt Highmore, Lt Barron and 2 NCOs).
Platoon Weapons, Hythe (one selected NCO from each of the for Rifle Companies).
Western Command Weapon Training (one NCO from each of Carrier and AA Platoons and two from Rifle Companies).
Weapons – Company Commanders (Captain Brennan and Lt Mackenzie).
Western Command Gas School (Lt Tatham and one NCO).
Driving amd Maintenance School Keswick – Carrier Wing (Captain Calderwood and Lt Paton).
Intelligence School, Matlock (Lt Shorter).
School of Military Administration (Captain Alexander).
Street Fighting School, West Ham (Major McGregor).
Regimental Signallers School, Catterick (Lt Salisbury).
One Officer and one NCO from each Company would attend Driving and Maintenance Courses as vacancies became available and all Company Commanders would attend GHQ six-day courses as they occurred.
With regard to specialist training, the Signal Platoon were to classify their present reserve class in October and commence a further class for classification in December. Existing signallers were to be trained to a higher standard. The Anti-Aircraft Platoon were to visit ALTCAR and must have achieved a high standard of weapon training and aircraft recognition before attending. All ranks of the Mortar Platoon were to be able to take up any team place and be able to drive and maintain a vehicle – attention would be given to map reading and signalling. The Carrier Platoon would carry out Battle Drill as at the 49th Division School and concentrate on weapons only during the weapon training period.
Drivers and Driver Mechanics.
A reserve of 100% was required to be in place within each Company and specialist Platoon. The Motor Transport Officer was to continue training classes until this figure was reached.
Motor Transport Maintenance.
This was to be carried out routinely on the basis ordered in a recent letter from Brigade HQ.
Education.
This would be confined to the “miscellaneous” period and would be the last period on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – using rooms for the purpose. Captain Campbell was to continue as Education Officer. CRQMS Hanson was to be prepared to give lectures on bookkeeping to potential clerks.
The Intelligence Section were to continue their present training regime but would also take part in Battle Courses,
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