70th Infantry Brigade War Diary February 1944.
1st February 1944
70th Infantry Brigade Group moved to SHADWELL COURT in the THETFORD area with, under command, 1st Tyneside Scottish, 10th DLI, 11th DLI, 217 Anti-Tank Battery, 482 Brigade Company RASC, 187 Field Ambulance, 70 Brigade Workshops REME and Light Aid Detachment. 185 Field Regiment Royal Artillery and 757 Field Company Royal Engineers remained in their present locations, as 185 Field Regiment was no longer attached to the Brigade Group.
“C” Support Group becomes “C” Company (MMG) 2 Kensingtons and is attached as such to 70th Infantry Brigade Group located at CORTON near LOWESTOFT 67/0015. The Brigade Group reported in at their new locations by 18:00 hours as follows:-
Brigade HQ – SHADWELL COURT – 76/3801.
1st Tyneside Scottish – SNAREHILL CAMP – 76/358009.
10th DLI – RIDDLESWORTH – 76/4099.
11th DLI – SOUTHWOOD CAMP – 76/3700.
Light Aid Detachment – SHADWELL COURT – 76/3801.
217 Anti-Tank Battery – LODGE CAMP – 76/3203.
757 Field Company, Royal Engineers – BECCLES
482 Brigade Company RASC – MILDENHALL – 76/1693.
187 Field Ambulance – THETFORD – 76/3201.
70 Brigade Workshops REME – BRANDON HALL – 76/2204.
“C” Company 2 Kensingtons MMG – CORTON – 67/0014.
5th February 1944
The weekly Field Return of Officers was completed as at 5th February and attached to the War Diary as Appendix A. (This showed no change from the previous return).
A Cloth Model Exercise on MINEFIELD BREACHING was held at Brigade HQ to study the drill for breaching a mine-field and the ultimate assault on an organised German “Hedgehog”.
7th February 1944
The Brigade Major proceeded on 10 days privilege leave.
10th February 1944
The Brigade Commander visited the 11th DLI Bridging Exercise.
70th Infantry Brigade Training Notes no 2 were issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix B.
11th February 1944
70th Infantry Brigade Training Notes No 3 were issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.
A two-day telephone exercise for Adjutants and Officers at Brigade HQ was issued to practice Officers in the use of SLIDEX and Map Reference Code – details were attached as Appendix D to the War Diary.
12th February 1944
The weekly return of Brigade HQ Officers as at 12th February was completed and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix E. (There was no change from the previous return).
13th February 1944
The Instructions No 1 for 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise PONTOON were issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix F.
14th February 1944
11th DLI held an exercise in the STANFORD Battle Area. Two Landing Craft, Tanks are being constructed in concrete in order to practice unit drivers in embarking and disembarking.
15th February 1944
General Sir Bernard Montgomery inspected the 70th Infantry Brigade Group in the grounds of SHADWELL COURT. A parade of 5,000 men was drawn up in three sides of a square. After the formal inspection, General Montgomery gathered all ranks around his Jeep and delivered a ten-minute informal talk.
16th February 1944
The Brigade Commander visited the 1st Tyneside Scottish Exercise PEP, being held on the STANFORD Battle Area.
17th February 1944
The Brigade Major returned from his ten days’ privilege leave.
18th – 21st February 1944
49 Division Exercise PONTOON – a Signals Exercise – was held in the NORWICH area during an extremely cold spell of weather. Skeleton Battalion HQs and Brigade HQs concentrated in the NORTH WALSHAM area. An advance was made on a three-Division front and the main objectives of the exercise were practised – i.e. river crossing drill with particular reference to Traffic Control. Further details are set out on Appendices G, H and I attached to the War Diary. The exercise ended at 12:00 hours on 21st February in the area just North of WATTON.
22nd February 1944
The weekly Field Return of Brigade HQ Officers as at 19th February was completed and attached to the War Diary as Appendix K. (No change was seen from the return of the previous week).
23rd February 1944
The Brigade Commander gave a lecture on the SICILIAN CAMPAIGN to the Officers and NCOs of 11th DLI.
24th February 1944
The Brigade Commander proceeded on ten days’ privilege leave.
26th February 1944
The weekly Field Return of Brigade HQ Officers as at 26th February was completed and attached to the War Diary as Appendix M. The post of G.S.O. III which had been held by Lt Wood for some time on an attached basis was formalised as part of Brigade HQ, thereby adding an additional Lieutenant post to the War Establishment, and one of the Lieutenant Liaison Officer posts – that held by Lt Ogg – was promoted to Captain. These changes were reflected in the return.
28th February 1944
An inspection by the War Office of the Brigade HQ vehicles commenced.
29th February 1944
A Skeleton Brigade HQ proceeded on a 49 Division Services Exercise REMEDY II. The G.O.C. of 49 Division visited units training as follows:-
09:30 hours – 217 Anti-Tank Battery concentration.
11:00 –12:45 – 1st Tyneside Scottish – Company Exercises.
14:00 hours – 11th DLI Tactical Range Firing by Sections.
15:00 hours – 10th DLI Assault River Crossings.
Appendix B – 70th Infantry Brigade Training Notes No 2.
The topics included in this edition were:-
The use of 75 Grenades for blowing pits. Mortar and Anti-Tank Crews were instructed to equip themselves, and secure the necessary training, in order to use this Grenade to create gun or mortar pits, as the Brigade Commander was of the view that this explosive was more effective for this purpose than for blowing Rifle Section weapon pits. Care in disclosing locations to the enemy was required when carrying out this work.
The Rifle Section in Defence. Section Commanders were reminded not to set out weapon pits in straight lines but to seek all-round and mutually-supporting defence arrangements.
March discipline. The need for such discipline was reinforced when carrying out forced marches. Company 2 i/cs and Platoon Sergeants were expected to bring up the rear of formations – which should generally march in three ranks – to discourage straggling. Men were to rest properly at halts.
Cadres for Junior NCOs. The point was reinforced that these NCOs would be instructing trained soldiers, not raw recruits, so the syllabus for their cadre training should reflect this.
Firing smoke from the 2” Mortar. Firers were reminded of the need to calculate the point of impact and aim accordingly once the area to be “smoked” had been identified, and to note the differences in aiming technique from using High Explosive rounds.
Marking of routes. Stencils to be used by unit police as more signs were likely to be required than would normally be carried on an exercise or operation.
Siting of HQs. Units were reminded to avoid cross-roads, road junctions, individual buildings or small copses as HQ sites but to aim for dispersing vehicles at least 75 yards apart so as not to present an attractive aerial target.
Personnel of Carrier Platoons to be trained in First Aid.
Appendix C – 70th Infantry Brigade Training Notes No 3.
The topics covered in this edition were:-
Range Practices. Apart from zeroing weapons, straight forward range shooting was to be kept to a minimum, and work was to be focussed on active service conditions, maximising the facilities of the ranges available in terms of use of ground.
Patrolling. Patrols to be made up of specially selected personnel in each Company, trained for the purpose. Sizes of reconnaissance and fighting patrols were specified.
Appendix D – Telephone Exercise.
The aim of the exercise was, as indicated, to practice Officers in the use of SLIDEX and MAP REF CODE. This involved receiving and decoding messages – a large variety of which were provided as exercise material.
Appendix F – Exercise PONTOON – 70th Brigade Movement Instruction No 1.
His document set out the arrangements for moving the Brigade group into a concentration area. A march table with routes, and timings for each unit, was included, together with the map references for each unit’s location in the concentration area.
Appendix G – Exercise PONTOON.
This appendix set out the basic orders for the Brigade and the order of march to be adopted in arriving at the intended location. Arrangements for Traffic Control, and the various inter-unit relationships and the communications arrangements to support those were included.
Appendix H – Exercise PONTOON.
This document confirmed the verbal orders which units had already been given at briefings. Arrangements for harbouring and sending out patrols were specified.
Appendix I – Exercise PONTOON.
This was further documentary confirmation of verbal orders and included intelligence on the enemy and their positions. The Brigade was involved in a river crossing in order to create a bridgehead and then seize their objectives. The artillery support was set out in detail for the second phase of the operation in particular.
Appendix L – 70th Infantry Brigade Motor Transport Cadre No 3.
The aim of the cadre was to practice Motor transport drivers in the various aspects of M.T. training in accordance with a detailed programme. Separate Training Wings were established for Motorcycles, Universal Carriers and Loyd Carriers. The ratio of drivers to vehicles was to be 2 to 1 and all vehicles were to be fully equipped with tools and camouflage nets. Drivers would be spectators at the waterproofing trials but units were reminded that they would not be available to assist with the work of waterproofing.
The training programme was comprehensive – covering topics as diverse as driving through mud and protecting convoys from air attack. Motorcycle work included cross-country riding.
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