2nd Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment War Diary October 1941.
1 October 1941 Rushlake Green, Sussex.
The Advance Party under the command of Lieut D A Thomas embarked for Iceland.
Postings – Officers – Posted to Home Details.
Major Ferguson (41131)
Captain R.G. Beloe (94852)
Lieut Edward Macaulay Bruce (113936)
2/Lieut Kenneth Thomas Draper (200345)
2/Lieut Colin Avis Fiske (200347)
2/Lieut Philip Leonard Daly (204410)
2/Lieut John Edward Powell (204435)
2/Lieut Robert Kenneth Prescott (204436)
2/Lieut David Sydney Smee (204439)
3 October 1941
The Assistant Inspector of Training (War Office) Colonel the Lord Digby today inspected the Battalion and submitted a very favourable report.
Postings – Officers –
2/Lieut Adam John Watson Alexander (165993) posted from the 1st Battalion Kensington Regiment to duty with this Battalion, where he assumed the appointment of Signals Officer.
2/Lieut Cecil Hersey Sewell (180675) – posted to the 70th Young Soldiers Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
2/Lieut John Willoughby Bryan- Brown (180660) - posted to the 70th Young Soldiers Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.
Lieut-Colonel Cyril Comyn Musselwhite assumes command of the Battalion with effect from 1/10/1941 on being posted to it.
6 October 1941
The Commanding Officer had an interview, and lunched with the G.O.C. Iceland Force, Major-General Curtis in London today.
Postings – Officers –
Major Warton posted to this Battalion from 1/8th Middlesex Regiment, and assumes the appointment as Second in Command.
7 October 1941
The Assistant Inspector of Arms, South Eastern Command, inspected the Battalion’s small Arms today.
10 October 1941
Appointments –
Captain Palmer appointed Adjutant with effect from 1/10/1941.
Relinquishment – Captain Alistair Wray relinquishes appointment on being given the command of E Company.
Promotions –
Lieut-Colonel C.C. Musselwhite to be Acting Lt-Colonel with effect from 1/10/1941. Captain A E N D’Abo to be Acting Major with effect from 1/10/1941. Captain A Wray to be Acting Major with effect from 1/10/1941. 2/Lieut Sheppard to be Acting Captain with effect from 1/10/1941.
11 October 1941
Appointments –
Captain T A Burton appointed Unit Security Officer.
12 October 1941
The Battalion today completed mobilisation, having got rid of all transport. The Postal address was changed to Army Post Office 1390.
13 October 1941
Promotions –
Lieut D A Thomas (97346) to be Acting Captain. Lieut A L Lovibond (121930) to be Acting Captain.
14 October 1941
The Battalion moved from the Sussex area, in three troop trains from Eastbourne, Rye and Heathfield.
H Company – Rye, Sussex.
21:40 hours. Company entrains at Rye Station (Southern Railway) for service overseas. Company strength is 5 Officers and 156 Other Ranks including 11 first-line reinforcements and 5 attached personnel.
The Officers are :-
A/Major R E N D’Abo commanding; A/Captain A L Lovibond, 2nd in command, Lt S Jacobson (first-line reinforcements); 2/Lieut I Strawson commanding 14 Platoon; 2/Lieut E P Greville, commanding 15 Platoon. 2/Lt S I Davis, commanding 13 Platoon, had proceeded with the Advance Party
15 October 1941 Greenock.
Troop trains arrived at Greenock, after a very good journey, only one halt. All Companies embarked, on tenders, to the H.M.T. Bergensfjord which sailed at 21:00 hours.
H Company
11:30 hours. Company arrives at Greenock at 11:30 hours and embarks on H.M.T. Bergensfjord at 15:30 hours. H.M.T. Bergensfjord sails at 22:00 hours.
16 October 1941 H.M.T. Bergensfjord, the Atlantic.
An uneventful but fairly rough day, most of Battalion remained below decks. Very few meals were eaten. The mens’ quarters were rather crowded. An American destroyer and some aircraft escorted us throughout the trip.
H Company
At sea.
17 October 1941
A much calmer and more enjoyable day, the majority have now found their “sea legs”.
H Company
At sea.
18 October 1941
Land was sighted at about 08:30 hours, arrived at Reykjavik Harbour at 12:00 hours. The night was spent on board the Bergensfjord. A Company Commanders’ Conference was held, to discuss future training.
H Company Reykjavik.
11:00 hours. H.M.T. Bergensfjord anchors in Reykjavik Sound, Iceland.
19 October 1941 Bytown Camp, Reykjavik.
The Battalion disembarked, E and H Companies spending the night in a transit camp, prior to a further sea journey to the North-East of Iceland. Battalion HQ, F and G Companies relieved the 1/9th Manchesters who embarked this evening for England. All accommodation is in Nissen-hutted Camps. Battalion HQ having the most comfortable and palatial Camp on the Island. F Company is about 3 miles from Battalion HQ and G Company 5 miles.
The operational role is mainly static beach defences.
H Company
10:00 hours. Company disembarks from H.M.T. Bergensfjord and arrives at Transit Camp at 11:15 hours.
20 October 1941
The Acting G.O.C., Brigadier Kirkup, inspected E and H Companies at the Transit Camp, before they proceed to the North – Lieut MacNaughton lectured the two Companies on Censorship.
H Company
12:00 hours. Company is inspected by A/G.O.C. Iceland Force, A/Maj-Gen P Kirkup, DSO, OBE, Mc, TD. Company embarks in H.M.T. Leinster for Akureyri at 17:30 hours.
21 October 1941
Appointments –
2/Lt Sayers appointed Entertainments Officer.
H Company
08:00 hours. H.M.T. Leinster sails for Akureyri.
22 October 1941
Lieut MacNaughton, Chief Censor Officer, lectured the remainder of the Battalion on Censorship. GII I(B) Major Wise lectured all Officers on the same subject.
E Company Reydisfjordur.
13:15 hours. Company arrived on SS Leinster at Budareri to take up duties as Machine Gun Company detachment under command of N.E. Sector, Iceland (147 Brigade Group) and in support of Reydisfjordur Sub-Sector. ? Camp taken over from 1/9 Manchesters whom we relieve. Operational role 2 Platoons in static defensive positions. 1 Platoon in support of C Company 1 /4 KOYLI the mobile force for this area.
H Company
14:00 hours. H.M.T. Leinster arrives at Budareri where “E” Company, 2nd Battalion Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment, disembarks.
23 October 1941
Very heavy wind and rain all day.
E Company Reydisfjordur.
Work of moving in carrying on – great shortage of M.G. kit lost in fire before arrival of this Company to area by former Unit.
H Company. At Sea.
07:50 hours. H.M.T. Leinster sails.
24 October 1941
A Manning Exercise was held by the Commanding Officer, certain guns being fired effectively on their fixed lines.
H Company Akureyri.
12:30 hours. H.M.T. Leinster anchors at Akureyri. The Company disembarks at 14:30 hours and proceeds by M.T. to Ashton Camp, 4 ½ miles North-East of Akureyri, where the Company relieves D Company, 1/9th Manchester Regiment, who embark the same day. Ashton Camp is on a plateau between the fjord and a chain of mountains. It consists of Nissen Huts banked with peat and turf, and at this date has been in use only three weeks. There is no water or electricity, and a great deal of work remains to be done in laying roads and paths.
25 October 1941
Location list no. 1 was issued. (For details see below).
H Company Ashton Camp.
This day is spent settling in. The Company Commander makes a reconnaissance of the Company’s battle positions. The Company is under command of 146 Infantry Brigade in the Akureyri area of the North-East Sector. With the exception of one Platoon, the Company is mobile and has no fixed positions. The importance of getting to know the area thoroughly and quickly is stressed by the Company Commander on his return from his reconnaissance, which shows that the country is difficult and maps incomplete and inaccurate. Thermometer readings – max 47.5 degrees F, min 36.5 degrees F.
26 October 1941
The weather was very dull and foggy (London at its worst).
E Company Reydisfjordur.
General swabbing in morning, organised rambles on surrounding mountains also fishing parties in the afternoons.
H Company
The Company completes settling in. At 11:45 hours the Camp is visited by Brigadier M P Procter MC, commanding 146 Infantry Brigade. The Company Commander later makes a reconnaissance of the Melgardi area; where the only landing ground in the Sector is situated. A probable role of 13 Platoon is in support of the defence of this area. Thermometer readings; max 58.1 F min 47.5 F.
27 October 1941
Sunny and dry; very clear; this snow which was on the mountain tops when we arrived has practically disappeared.
E Company Reydisfjordur.
Morning Exercise – 5 and 6 Platoons manhandle guns to static positions. Mobile Platoon practiced loading trucks and moving to Concentration Area.
H Company
Work on Camp. Platoon Commanders’ reconnaissance of Platoon areas with Company Commander Thermometer readings – max 48.2 F min 35.8 F.
28 October 1941
A Field Firing demonstration was held today, four Officers from this Battalion attended. The weather remained fine.
E Company Reydisfjordur.
R/T Cadre under 2/Lt Lightman (G Company attached) commences, also M.G. Cadre under 2/Lt Stanyer. Very high gale sprang up – carried away workshop, blew walls of new Dining Hut in, 2 Casualties – Cpl Clifford, broken collar bone, L/Cpl Wynne badly bruised.
H Company
Company Manning Exercise. Platoons are exercised individually by the Company Commander. Thermometer Readings: max 34.7 F, min 31.5 H.
29 October 1941
An Intelligence Officers’ Exercise took place today, consisting of various tactical situations occurring (25-pounders, M.M.G.’s Mortars etc). One Platoon of G Company took part. The G.O.C. and the Brigadiers of 70th and 167 (? 147) Brigades were present.
E Company Reydisfjordur.
Training not progressing as expected owing to amount of construction work on Camp.
H Company. Ashton Camp.
Company Commander, 2nd –in-command and O.C. 14 Platoon visit HQ of 4th Lincolnshire Regiment and make reconnaissance of Lincolnshires Battle Positions North of Akureyri with Lt-Col de Brisey, commanding 4th Lincolns. Work on the Camp continues. Thermometer Readings: max 55 F, min 40.5 F.
30 October 1941
E Company Reydisfjordur.
Company Commander, CQMS to Seydisfjordur by ship – 6 ½ hours journey – purpose of getting stores from Base Ordnance Dump, 2 i/c Captain Procter carrying on with training and construction.
H Company. Ashton Camp.
09:00 hours. Training route march of 3 ½ hours over rough country. This is the first march based on the new type of training the Company will carry out as part of an experimental Alpine Force. In addition to the hardening of personnel and adaptation to trying weather conditions and difficult country, a number of problems peculiar to machine-gunners have to be dealt with. Most important are carrying heavy loads up steep slopes, adequate reserve of small arms ammunition and keeping the guns serviceable in very low temperatures. Thermometer Readings: max 51.8F, min 47.1F.
31 October 1941
Weather dull but fine. The G.O.C. held a Conference on the recent Intelligence Officers’ Exercise.
H Company. Ashton Camp.
10:00 hours. Company Commander, 2nd-in-command and O.C. 15 Platoon visit HQ of Hallamshire Battalion, the York and Lancaster regiment and make reconnaissance of Hallams’ Battle Positions with local Company Commanders. Work on the Camp continues and progress is made with the building of a road and shelters for Motor transport. A canteen for the men and comfortable Messes for Sergeants and Corporals have been installed. At the end of the Company’s first week in Ashton Camp the most surprising factor has been mildness of the weather. On no day this week has the temperature dropped below 31.5F. Thermometer Readings: max 53.6F, min 41.9F.
Appendix attached to 2nd Kensingtons War Diary for October 1941
Location List No. 1. (Marked SECRET) Dated 23/10/1941
Reference Map Reykjavik and Hafnafjordur 1/25000 ICELAND 1/500,000
Unit Location Map Ref Sector
Bn HQ & HQ Coy Bytown Camp 235059 Sector 30-31
E Coy Budareyri
F Coy HQ Saebol Camp 199082 Sector 30-31 XTN 8. No 1 Sect, 7 Pl. Kipper Camp, Tern Beach 188087
No 2 Sect Curtis Bay 195094
No 1 Sect, 8 Pl. The Field 209081
No 2 Sect Canterbury Camp 207087
No 1 Sect, 9 Pl. Consul Point Camp 234081 Consul’s House No 2 Sect Bytown Camp 235059 Sector 30-31
G Coy HQ Hafnafjordur 207992 Sector 6-13
No 1 Sect 10 Pl. Slingsby Camp 215013
No 2 Sect Gardar 190013
No 1 Sect 11 Pl. Spithouse 201988
No 2 Sect Cloisters 208986
No 12 Pl. Geithales 3301
H Coy Akureyri -
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