49th Division Provost Company War Diary - September 1940
1 September 1940 Reykjavik.
06:00 hours. Fine day. Normal duties carried out. Sergeant and 10 M.P’s carried out raid and search on S.S. LESTO. Spirits and stores found.
2 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine day. Later rain. 2 M.P’s left for Seydisfjordur to relieve 2 NCOs stationed there.
Sergeant and eight men carried out raid and search on S.S. NARVA. Nothing discovered.
Other usual duties carried out. Town duties, Docks, Traffic Control etc.
3 September 1940
06:00 hours. Dull day. Heavy rain. Normal duties.
4 September 1940
06:00 hours. Rain and strong wind. Summary of evidence taken against two M.P’s.
Normal duties. Increased number of special investigation cases. Two Corporals and one Lance Corporal CMP commenced Special Investigation Branch.
5 September 1940
06:00 hours. Rain all day. Very cold. Special patrols on duty at Officers’ Mess and NAAFI Canteen.
English beer on sale in Iceland for the first time. Other normal duties carried out.
6 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine, much colder. Normal duties.
7 September 1940
06:00 hours. Bitterly cold wind. Fine. Officer Commanding left for reconnaissance of Kaldadarnes Aerodrome district.
Stand by for JULIUS order issued.
Several special investigation cases taken on: Larceny: Soldier threatening Civil Policeman, Cow dying through shock caused by British bombers.
8 September 1940
06:00 hours. Rain. Much colder. Normal duties.
9 September 1940
06:00 hours. Warmer. Sunshine. Normal duties. Company Part 1 Orders Nos. 126 – 136 issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix A (these do not seem to have survived in the file).
10 September 1940
06:00 hours. Very cold day. Normal duties.
11 September 1940
06:00 hours. Wet and colder. 2 M.P’s engaged on “Z” Force Air Co-operation Exercise. Other normal duties carried out.
12 September 1940
06:00 hours. Very fine. Windy. Convoy of supply ships and one M.T. and one Troop ship arrived from England. M.P. engaged on docks and gangway. Other normal duties carried out.
13 September 1940
06: hours. Fine. Colder. Normal duties and extra work at Dock.
14 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Colder. Normal duties.
15 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Warmer. Normal duties.
16 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Cold wind. Normal duties. Company orders Nos. 137 to 142 issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix B (these seem not to have survived in the War Diary file).
17 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Cold wind. Normal duties. All available men engaged.
18 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Sunshine. Normal duties.
19 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Sunshine. Normal duties.
20 September 1940
06:00 hours. Very fine day. Normal duties. Special investigation cases increasing. Raids on suspected houses. Icelandic S.S. ESJA sailing for Petsamo searched by C.M.P. in conjunction with F.S.P. (Field Security Police).
21 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Colder. Alabaster Force HQ and detachment of M.P’s moved to winter quarters at ARTUN. HQ Company C.M.P. remaining in Reykjavik. Shooting incident and shopbreaking case during evening. Other normal duties carried out.
22 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine day. Normal duties.
23 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine day. Normal duties. Field Artillery practice at Kleifervatn. Sergeant and five men engaged on special traffic control and car parks for spectators.
Troopships sailed for England with personnel of all units. One L/Cpl from C.M.P. returned on medical grounds.
24 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Colder. Normal duties. Extra duties at Docks during loading of ships for N. Iceland. Company orders nos. 143 – 152 issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix c (these seem not to have survived on the original file).
25 September 1940
06:00 hours. Rain. Colder. Normal duties.
26 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Sunshine. Extra men engaged on Docks and sheep droves from mountains surrounding Reykjavik.
Fatal shooting case at NAAFI investigated by Special Branch. Other normal duties carried out with difficulty owing to shortage of men.
27 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine day. Normal duties. All available men engaged.
Captain Topham went on reconnaissance to Kleifervatn in respect of forthcoming Field Artillery Firing Practice.
ENSA Concert commenced. M.P. on duty at Reykjavik Cinema.
28 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Colder. Normal duties including continued unloading and loading of ships at Reykjavik and Hafnafjordur Docks.
29 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Normal duties. Main Body of Company HQ stationed at Reykjavik moved to winter quarters being Nissen Hut Camp in Reykjavik.
30 September 1940
06:00 hours. Fine. Normal duties. Field Artillery Firing Exercise at Lake Kleifervatn. 10 M.P’s engaged on traffic control and car parks for spectators.
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