70th Infantry Brigade War Diary July 1942.

1st July 1942

Fine weather still prevailed. A conference of all C.Os. took place at Brigade HQ, during which an appreciation of Exercise “EQUATOR” was given. A representative of “Q” Battery, 88 Anti-Tank Regiment was present for the first time, the Battery having recently joined the Brigade Group.

3rd – 4th July 1942

49 Division Exercise “EQUATOR”, an Inter-Brigade Exercise, which took place in the RHAYADER area, lasted for approximately 24 hours and is described on Appendix A, attached to the War Diary.

6th July 1942

The spell of fine weather ended, now mingled with spasmodic showers. Still further restrictions on the use of Motor Transport came into being and communal systems of collection of rations, mail etc. were now adopted.

Lt Col F.W. Sandars, 11th DLI, left the Brigade to take up an appointment as G.S.O. 1 at Northern Command.

7th – 9th July 1942

Brigade Exercise “EDWARD” took place, in contrast to earlier fast-moving schemes; this involved defending a semi-mountainous area against an enemy superior in tanks and aircraft. The Brigade’s Carriers were pooled and given to the “enemy” and all available aircraft co-operated with the enemy force. Details of the Exercise were set out in Appendix B attached to the War Diary.

70th Brigade Training Instruction No 9 was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.

10th – 11th July 1942

The Western Command Intelligence Circus gave lectures to the Brigade group on the organisation of the German Armoured Division, its origin and roles, and the tactics and layout of a German Parachute Battalion.

Lt Col Trotter, 45 Recce Regiment, gave a lecture to Officers of the Brigade Group on the organisation of the Reconnaissance Regiment.

13th July 1942

The Brigade Commander and Brigade Major paid a visit to ATCHAM Aerodrome, near SHREWSBURY and were successful in arranging air support for the forthcoming Exercise “FREDDIE”.

Lt Cmdr Webster, Royal Naval Liaison Officer, Western Command, gave his second lecture to Officers of the Brigade Group on Combined Operations, dealing fully with beach organisation.

14th July 1942

A C.Os. conference was held at Brigade at which both domestic points and future individual training were considered.

15th – 17th July 1942

Brigade Exercise “FREDDIE” took place, entailing a long approach march and a river crossing by night, using Assault Boats. The notes on the exercise are set out in Appendix D to the War Diary.

18th July 1942

Officers and NCOs from various Battalions of the Warwickshire Home Guard began a week’s attachment to the Infantry Battalions.

The Brigade Transport Officer and Battalion Transport Officers attended a one-day vehicle maintenance course at the 10th DLI Camp.

The Brigade Commander, Brigade Major and Staff Captain were present at an excellent bridging demonstration by the Divisional Royal Engineers.

19th July 1942

Lt Col E.V. Lang arrived and assumed command of 10th DLI.

20th – 23rd July 1942

Divisional Exercise “FRISK” involving a long approach march on the route RADNOR - ABERYSWYTH – NEWTON, and a subsequent attack took place. 49 Division was organised on a two-Brigade front. The details are set out on Appendix E attached to the War Diary.

Lt Col J.H.N. Poett arrived and took command of 11th DLI.

24th July 1942

The G.O.C.-in-C. Western Command, General Sir James H. Marshall-Cornwall, K.C.B., C.B., D.S.O., M.C. visited all Battalion Camps during the morning, accompanied by the Commander of 49 Division and the Brigade Commander.

Brigadier P.P. King, late of 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, assumed command of the 70th Infantry Brigade vice Brigadier P. Kirkup, who had held command since 25th August 1939.

25th – 28th July 1942

Divisional Exercise “GEORGE” was held in the LLANDIL – CARMARTHEN area. Battalion Traffic Platoons were employed for the first time. 101 Royal Marine Brigade acted as enemy and employed guerrilla and infiltration tactics to the utmost. A successful night bridging operation was carried out by 49 Division Royal Engineers after a bridgehead had been forced by Infantry Brigades crossing in Assault Boats.

C.Os. attended a conference at Brigade HQ to received directions for the fortnight’s individual training in August.

29th July 1942

C.Os. attended a three-day’s Senior Officers’ Motor Transport Maintenance Course at CRAVEN ARMS.

Two Air Raid Warnings were given in the district.

30th – 31st July 1942

The Brigadier visited the Brigade Group units and made his first acquaintance of as many Officers as possible.

Appendix A – Exercise “EQUATOR”

This exercise was predicated on an enemy landing at ABERYSTWYTH, with the intention of destroying the Water Works at ELAN VILLAGE.

It was a Brigade exercise with one Company of South Staffordshire Regiment and a Home Guard detachment under Brigade command. Six Hurricane aircraft were at the disposal of the Brigade Commander. The Brigade was ordered to anticipate and destroy the enemy.

The routes were set out for the Motor Transport and a report line and “bounds” were specified in detail. The Brigade was operating over two routes with a need for troops to be debussed and the arrangements and locations for doing this, and subsequently parking the vehicles, were set out. Restrictions were placed on the scale of vehicles to be employed within the A1 and A2 Echelons. A total of 271 vehicles were expected to be involved.

Appendix B – 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise “EDWARD”

This was a Divisional Exercise based on two Brigades advancing to take over the position of another Division and then continuing the advance to take a hilly enemy position, The exercise again involved embussing and debussing, using both trucks and coaches, and an advance and operations in hilly country.

Appendix C – 70th Infantry Brigade Training Instruction No 9.

The instruction took account of the points which had arisen during Exercise “EQUATOR” and was in addition to the Divisional Commander’s remarks at the end of that exercise.

Motor transport discipline was seen to have improved in standards but several points required further attention, such as:-

Vehicles not pulling off the carriageway when halted.

Unexplained delays not being immediately investigated.

Insufficient attention being given to the March Table provided.

Security matters were regarded as having been tackled in a commendable way but further attention was required to radio procedure to avoid the unintentional release of sensitive information, useful to an enemy.

Concern was expressed that Map Codes were not fully understood and that more practice was required, and more frequent code changes were recommended.

Appendix D – 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise “FREDDIE”

This exercise involved a long approach march, an assault on high ground and a river crossing, lasting from the afternoon of 15th July to the early afternoon of 17th July. Detailed instructions were provided of the routes to be used. The basis of the exercise was a move to make a flank attack on enemy forces and cross the River SEVERN near GLOUCESTER.

Appendix E – 49 Division Exercise “FRISK”

The Division was again advancing on a two-Brigade front, using troop carrying transport and detailed March Tables, involving some 323 Brigade vehicles. Embussing and debussing practice would again be a feature.

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