49th Division Provost Company War Diary - July 1941

7 July 1941 Iceland, Reykjavik.

18:00 hours. United States Marine Corps Advance Party arrived in Reykjavik harbour. Order of the Day issued by G.o.C. Iceland ( C) Force, welcoming Americans and filed with the War Diary as Appendix A (not included within the original file at The National Archives)..

70th Infantry Brigade Field Firing Exercise. M.P. engaged on traffic control and direction and car parking.

8 July 1941

USMC disembarked at Reykjavik Docks. Additional Military Police on duty in Dock area.

Company Part I Orders Nos. 116 – 128 issued and filed as Appendix B within the War Diary (though the document has not survived in the original file).

9 July 1941

70th Infantry Brigade Field Firing Exercise. M.P. engaged on traffic duties.

10 July 1941

06:00 hours. 30 CMP Motor Cycle Orderlies engaged in Signal Exercise (Force Exercise No. 5).

11 July 1941

06:00 hours. Signal Exercise continued.

18:00 hours. Captain W M J Carruthers, Officer Commanding, and Lieutenant C H McLaglan disembarked Reykjavik. Leave party arrived from the UK.

12 July 1941

06:30 hours. New leave party embarked for the UK.

Captain G W Watson, Royal Artillery, relinquished temporary appointment of Officer Commanding, Force Provost Company.

13:30 hours. German Prisoners of War escorted from Iceland ( C) Force Detention Barracks to Reykjavik Docks and embarked for UK. M.P. escort.

14 July 1941

Rehearsal of 147th Infantry Brigade Field Firing Exercise. One Section of Company employed.

17 July 1941

06:00 hours. 147th Field Firing Exercise. One Section CMP on duty, traffic control, car parking, de-bussing points etc.

19 July 1941

Company Part I Orders Nos. 129 – 148 issued and filed with War Diary as Appendix B (document did not survivie in the original file).

21 July 1941

00:01 hours. Inter-Brigade exercise between 147th Infantry Brigade and 70th Infantry Brigade. 32 Military Policemen engaged on traffic control in area covered by troops and as Despatch Riders to Director’s Pool, Chief Umpires Pool and Control Staff Pool, Force Headquarters.

22 July 1941

00:01 hours. Inter-Brigade Exercise continued.

09:15 hours. Exercise ended. Double rum issue authorised for troops taking part.

18:00 hours. Company Part I Orders Nos. 149 – 153 issued and filed as part of Appendix B (which does not appear to have survived in the file).

26 July 1941

Company Part I Orders Nos. 154 – 163 issued and also filed as part of Appendix B.

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