1st Tyneside Scottish October 1943
3rd – 5th October 1943 HAMILTON.
The Battalion moved to the concentration area at TROON for a 1 Corps Exercise “BRIDGEHEAD” with the whole of 49th Division equipped at Assault Scale.
10th October 1943
The Main Body of the Battalion moved to ROTHESAY to the Combined Training Centre for four weeks’ training with various craft.
A small Rear Party was left in HAMILTON.
10th – 14th ROTHESAY.
A Cadre Course was given for a selected number of Officers and NCOs in preparation for Battalion training.
12th October 1943
The Training Programme and detailed notes about aspects of it, were attached to the War Diary as an Appendix – for details see below.
14th October 1943
The training of the Companies began.
18th October 1943
Dryshod Assault Exercise “GLENMORE” was carried out by B and C Companies using live ammunition.
19th October 1943
The whole Battalion practised swimming in full kit.
21st October 1943
A and D Companies carried out Exercise “GLENMORE”.
Corporal Coulson of HQ Company was awarded the Polar Bear Medal for gaining a “Distinguished” result on a Course.
25th October 1943
Exercise “STRONE POINT” was carried out by A and B Companies – this consisted of a Company assault on a beach with live ammunition, Air and Artillery co-operation.
28th October 1943
C and D Companies carried out Exercise “STRONE POINT”.
30th October 1943
The Battalion Soccer XI played Bute Rovers and won the match six goals to two.
Appendices attached to the 1st Tyneside Scottish War Diary for October 1943.
Appendix – Training Programme for 14th October to 8th November – issued 12th October 1943.
As indicated, the whole period was devoted to training in the use of Landing Craft.
Initial briefings and conferences were held, especially for those who had not attended the earlier training Cadre, and this took up the first couple of days.
The troops then practised the skills of rope climbing and the use of scrambling nets as well as the drills for boarding and disembarking from the various craft. Films were shown of Combined Operations in Sicily and lectures on aspects of the landing process were given by specialists.
The session during which everyone had to swim in full kit was organised in such a way that swimmers and non-swimmers jumped into the sea together. While weapons and equipment were not worn for the first exercise of this type, steel helmets were worn – but tied to the individual to ensure they were not lost.
During the exercises various craft were used, according to the Training Programme, including Landing Craft Mechanised (which took about 100 men), Landing Craft Assault (which held around 30 men), Landing Ship Infantry and Landing Craft Vehicle.
An Assaulting Battalion was structured with three Companies – each of which was allotted five Landing Craft Assault. Craft numbers 1, 3 and 5 each contained a Platoon of two Sections plus half a Section of Royal Engineers. Craft numbers 2 and 4 contained Company HQ and the attached troops, plus the balance of men from the Platoons – one Section from each.
Platoon HQ consisted of the Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Batman, Runner and three 2” Mortarmen. Each Section at full strength had an NCO and nine men.
The Royal Engineer component was led by an Engineer Officer with his Orderly and there were three half-Sections – one with each Platoon – each consisting of six men. Space was allowed for Royal Engineer stores.
The Company Commander, 2 i/c, Company Sergeant Major, four Orderlies and two Snipers made up Company HQ.
From Support Company, and attached to the assaulting Rifle Company, one Mortar detachment of four men was accompanied by six Mortar ammunition numbers.
Finally the Unit Liaison Officer and his party accounted for four men, making the total to be landed as a Company as 175 Officers and men. One Section in each of the Company HQ craft was equipped with a ladder, chicken wire and a Bangalore torpedo.
Landing Ship Infantry Drill involved the Battalion being organised into 19 serials each of 35 men, who would embark on the Landing Craft Mechanised and be shipped out to the Landing Ship Infantry – in this case the SS Duke of Atholl. The troops would practise trans-shipping at sea.
With respect to Landing Craft Infantry Drill, three troop deck parties were organised totalling 96 men and they would practise going aboard with all their equipment – including 18 bicycles per shipload. One Composite Company was organised, under the command of Captain Brennan, containing the Mortar Platoon, Pioneer Platoon and the remaining men from each of the four Companies to reach the total of 96.
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