2nd Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment War Diary - November 1943
1 November 1943 – Battalion HQ War Diary
Mortar Platoon of “B” Group in action at Inverary. The standard of shooting is high, but the sights now being used for the 4.2” Mortar are most unsatisfactory in that on some sights there is considerable lateral play with the lensatic sight itself. Numbers one tend to correct their lay by taking advantage of this fact, rather than by actually laying the Mortar. It is hoped that in the near future a really good sight will be issued.
2 November 1943
“C” Group returns from Combined Operations Training at Rothesay.
5 November 1943
Major D’Abo returns from a five days course for Senior Officers at the School of Signals, Catterick.
8 November 1943
The Divisional Commander, General Barker, visits the Battalion and inspects “A” and “C” Groups.
Major D’Abo goes into hospital with a foot injury sustained on return from “C” Group.
11 November 1943
The Battalion Advance Party , less “C” Group, move to Johnstone. Units of the Norwegian Mountain Warfare Brigade are to occupy the Callender area when we leave.
Major C D Pattison relinquishes the rank of Major and command of “C” Group. He assumes the command of the Mortar Company in “A” Group.
Major M Palmer relinquishes the rank of Major and command of the A/A Company in “C” Group. He assumes the appointment of Second in Command of the A/A Company “C” Group.
Major R E N D’Abo now commands “C” Group with Major Bare as 2nd in command.
The War Establishment allows for two Majors in each Group. The old policy of making the A/A Company Commander, who appeared to be the one most likely to replace a Group Commander casualty in action, has been abolished and the Adjutants of the Groups are now to be Majors and 2nds in command.
13 November 1943
Battalion HQ, “A” and “B” Groups Main Bodies move to Johnstone. “C” Group Main Body and train party moves to Benacre in Suffolk.
14 November 1943
“C” Group now under control of 70th Brigade.
15 November 1943
The Band of the Middlesex Regiment arrives for a four-day visit. Their programme is to play in the Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes, the NAAFI and on two evenings at Guard mounting.
16 November 1943, C Group, Benacre
“C” Support Group came under the command of 70th Infantry Brigade.
17 November 1943
The Commanding Officer accompanied by Major Wilmot visits “B” Group at Inverary and there saw the Group Cutter crew, under Mr Wright, practising for the forthcoming cutter race. Snow has fallen for the first time.
18 November 1943
The Commanding Officer inspects the Camp area and remarks on the improvement in the Camp since we took over four days ago.
The Commanding Officer visits 146 Brigade at Hamilton to discuss 4.2” Mortar ammunition scales, and goes on, with the Adjutant, to attend a one-day course on 2nd Echelon Duties. On his return journey the Commanding Officer went to Larbert Hospital to see Major D’Abo whose leg is in plaster and is doing well.
C Group, Benacre
14 Other Ranks posted from 1st Battalion M.T.B. King’s Royal Rifle Corps and taken on strength.
1 Other Rank posted from 10th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps and taken on strength.
1 Other Rank posted from East Surrey Regiment and taken on strength.
1 Other Rank posted from Royal Sussex Regiment and taken on strength.
2 Other Ranks posted to “Y” list and struck off strength.
1 Other Rank posted to Home Detail.
19 November 1943
Captains Strawson and Braybrook attend a 2nd Echelon Course at Hamilton.
Major D’Abo leaves hospital to join “C” Group in Suffolk.
Weather much warmer.
20 November 1943
Authority is at last received to promote Officers to fill vacancies within these Groups.
A bright day.
21 November 1943
A Church Parade was held at St John’s, Floor, St Johnstone. Although the Battalion has recently had little time for “spit and polish” the turnout on such parades are a credit to the Battalion.
All Subaltern Officers attend a talk by the Commanding Officer on the Duties of the Orderly Officer.
Sgts Creswell and Russell of “A” Group both got D3 on the Unit M.T. Storekeeping and Accounting Course which they attended from 27th October to 9th November.
“B” Group return from Inveraray where the previous day they had come second in the Cutter Race, beating the R N Commandoes who came third.
22 November 1943, Benacre, C Support Group.
26 15cwt trucks taken over.
23 November 1943
The following promotions and appointments appeared in Orders today.
To be Acting Major –
Captains R C Bare, S R Pinks, T E Wilmot, I A Strawson.
To be Acting Captain –
Lieutenants E C Dudley, R F Green, A H A Fenwick, O Kennedy, C A Hunt, E J Braybrook, A R Galt, C J Reay, C P Douet.
Consequent upon completion of the re-organisation of the Battalion and the granting of Command pay to Group Commanders, Group Commanders will in future rank as senior to the 2nd in command
Major R E N D’Abo thereupon relinquishes the appointment of 2nd in command with effect from 16th November 1943.
Major S R Pinks, late Adjutant, assumes the appointment of 2nd’ in command with effect from 16 November 1943.
Captain C A Hunt, late Intelligence Officer, assumes the appointment of Adjutant with effect from 16 November 1943.
Lieut W Q Nicol assumes the appointment of Intelligence Officer with effect from 16 November 1943.
24 November 1943
Following the Divisional Commanders Order that all Officers are to have a medical category check by December 30th, some of the Battalion Officers today came before a Medical Board under Lt Col Taylor of 146 Field Ambulance and the Battalion M.O., Lieut D Fane.
25 November 1943
Major O P Parker, G1 Infantry (21 Army Group) who was Chief Instructor at Netheravon visits the Battalion for Conferences with the Commanding Officer, Group Commanders, the Adjutant and Quartermaster.
Major Parker has been visiting all Support Battalions to discuss queries and alterations regarding G1098 and problems of personnel.
26 November 1943
Major Parker returns to London after having visited Divisional HQ with the Commanding Officer.
The latest reports in Mortar and MMG from Netheravon are extremely gratifying. In the past thirteen entries the results obtained were:-
One D (Captain E C Dudley)
Four Q1’s
And two Q2’s.
28 November 1943
A Church Parade is held at St John’s, Floor, St Johnstone. Major R J Cannon was i/c the Parade. The Commanding Officer inspected the Camp. Later he gave a talk to those Subaltern Officers who had missed his first lecture on the Duties of the Orderly Officer.
29 November 1943
The Commanding Officer has received a letter from the Colonel of the Middlesex Regiment referring to the general dislike of the term “Support Regiment” which it is felt conveys no idea of our role to other units and means nothing at all to civilians. It is desired to produce some new title which will be indicative of our new role and the Commanding Officer has invited suggestions from all ranks.
This letter also mentioned that the Middlesex Regiment has received little or no publicity from either the BBC or the Press.
29 November 1943, Benacre, C Support Group.
Wrentham Town Hall requisitioned for “C” Support Group entertainments.
30 November 1943
S I McCormack returns from a P T Refresher Course at Aldershot. The Battalion has, during the past year, reorganised from an MG Battalion to a Support Battalion. This has been done under great difficulties i.e. lack of men, tradesmen, Officers and equipment. Lack of a settled War Establishment – late issue of the G1098 Scale - but it has been accomplished by hard work, improvisation, and taking all courses offered that had any bearing on the Support Battalion work.
The equipment is now coming in fairly quickly but the Battalion is still short of thirteen Officers and some sixty men.
This state of affairs, coupled with training personnel with no knowledge of our weapons, with Combined Operations training, mobilisation not being completed on its due date, one Group being moved from the Battalion immediately after the mobilisation date and the necessity of personnel still going on courses, has made it sometimes difficult to find even ten men for any extra duties that may have to be done.
30 November 1943, Benacre, C Support Group.
1 Other Rank posted to “Y” list and struck off strength.
1 Other Rank posted to Home Detail.
Officers’ Part II Orders – 2/Lieutenant R F Brockis granted War Substantive Lieutenant with effect from 20 September 1943.
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