2nd Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment War Diary - May 1942

1 May 1942 Velindre, Cardiganshire.

80% of HQ, F and G Companies returned from disembarkation leave.

Appointments – Officers – Captain D A Thomas appointed Unit Gas Officer.

- 2/Lt J W W Wightman assumes the duties of Messing Officer.

Command – Major J B Worton assumes command of the Battalion on his return from the Senior Officers’ School at Erlestoke with effect from 3/5/1942.

2 May 1942

An Advance Party under the command of Major R E N D’Abo left for Huntley, Aberdeenshire.

A Dance was held in Velindre this evening.

3 May 1942

The Advance Party arrive in Scotland

4 May 1942

The Order for the Battalion to move to Scotland, was cancelled.

5 May 1942

The Advance Party returned to South Wales.

Appointments – Officers – Lieut R J Cannon appointed Battalion Security Officer.

6 May 1942

The Commanding Officer carried out a billet inspection of HQ, F and G Companies this morning.

8 May 1942

Location list No. 4 was issued as Appendix A attached to the War Diary (for details see below).

11 May 1942

A team of 10 Officers defeated the Sergeants in a .22 rifle competition.

13 May 1942

A cricket match against St David’s College, Lampeter, resulted in a win for the Battalion.

15 May 1942

A T.E.W.T. was held today to discuss the Operational Role.

An Inter-Platoon Football league has been started today.

17 May 1942

2 Kensington Operation Instruction No. 1 was issued today as Appendix B attached to the War Diary (for details see below).

20 May 1942

2 Kensington Operation Instruction No. 2 was issued today as Appendix C attached to the War Diary (for details see below).

22 May 1942

A Battalion Exercise was held today to practise the Operational Role of F Company. (For details see Appendix D attached to the War Diary – details below).

25 May 1942

Lt R J Cannon assumes appointment of Acting Adjutant during absence on leave of Captain M Palmer with effect from 25/5/1942.

26 May 1942

F Company carry out machine-gun field-firing at MYNYDD PRESCELLY. A team under Major Worton represented the Battalion in a .22 shooting match against 5th Bn Carmarthenshire Home Guard and just lost in a very close match.

27 May 1942

F Company again field-firing, they also carried out a night shoot at MYNYDD PRESCELLY.

28 May 1942

Captain Sheppard in charge of F Company Advance Party left for Weobley. An ENSA Concert was given for the Battalion in Velindre.

29 May 1942

2/Lieut S J Davis assumes the appointment of Intelligence Officer vice Lieut R J Cannon with effect from 28/5/1942.

G Company fired the rifle on 100yds range at BEULAH. Lieut Colonel D V G Brock joined the Battalion from 2/7 Middlesex Regiment on 28/5/1942 and assumed command with effect from 28/5/1942.

31 May 1942

A Battalion Inter-Platoon cross-country contest was held, the winners being 10 Platoon of G Company, the A.A. Platoon being runners-up.

Appendices attached to the May 1942 War Diary of 2nd Battalion Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment.

Appendix A – Location List No.4

This document showed that:-

Battalion HQ and the HQ Company were at Cilwendeg Mill, Velindre – map ref 800614.

F Company was at The Hutted Camp, Velindre – map ref 805618.

G Company was also at Cilwendeg Mill, Velindre map ref 800614, while

E and H Companies were both still in Iceland.

Appendix A – Operation Instruction No 1.

This Instruction sets out the action to be taken by the Battalion in the context of 49th Division being tasked as the Western Command Reserve. The Battalion was likely to be called on, in an emergency, to mobilise its troops before such time as the Division had concentrated for action.

F Company was tasked to act as the Unit’s Mobile Column – structured as two Infantry Platoons with an Anti-Aircraft LMG per Platoon plus a Machine-Gun Platoon. Their role would be for immediate action against enemy airborne troops in the near vicinity. The Primary Task would be to counter-attack ABERPORTH Aerodrome and the Secondary Task to attack enemy airborne landings in the area.

Exercises would be held, including at night, to practise this role and configuration.

G Company was expected to remain in its present area with a role of moving to the concentration area to join 147 Brigade Group.

Appendix C – Operation Instruction No. 2

This instruction was concerned with the marking of vehicles and the designs of vehicle signs, including Tactical Signs, Bridge Classification Signs, Formation Signs, Unit Signs and Speed Limit Signs.

Details of size, colours and locations on the vehicle were all set out, together with the arrangements for painting and fitting them. The Appendix to the instruction gave examples of the markings to be used for particular vehicles, and set out the relevant codes for each vehicle in the Battalion.

Appendix D – Instructions for 2 Kensingtons Exercise No 1.

This document set out the details of the proposed exercise, which was intended to test one method of counter-attacking ABERPORTH Aerodrome. Those taking part were F Company, with a Platoon of G Company and 30 Other Ranks from the RAF Regiment to act as enemy.

The usual practical instructions as to timing, dress and weapons were included. The exercise was to be directed by Major D’Abo.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.