70th Infantry Brigade War Diary March 1944.
3rd March 1944
Units returned to their home locations after four days on Services Exercise REMEDY II.
4th March 1944
The Brigade Commander returned from 10 days’ privilege leave.
The Field Returns of Officers and Other Ranks in Brigade HQ as at 4th March were completed and copies attached to the War Diary as Appendices A and B. The HQ Defence Platoon and the Light Aid Detachment were each accounted for on its own return as part of the Other Ranks documentation – again no indication was given as to why these returns had been re-assumed after such a long break.
The Officers’ Return on 4th March showed that Brigade HQ had indeed made application for Lt Wood of the Recce Regiment, who had been acting for some time as G.S.O. III, to be appointed to the post now that it had been included in the War Establishment. No other changes were identified, other than Reverend Captain W. Coupe returning to attachment as Chaplain to 10th DLI from 187 Field Ambulance.
The Other Ranks Return of 4th March in respect of the Brigade Defence Platoon showed a shortfall of six non-specialist men, including one Lance Corporal, against the War Establishment of 33. The Other Ranks Return for Brigade HQ itself also showed a shortfall of six men (one Warrant Officer, one Sergeant and four men) against the establishment of 55, while carrying a REME craftsman surplus to establishment and one private from the Recce Regiment on trial as a Batman. Various troops were also carried as surplus to the HQ establishment, including the CSM Physical Training Instructor, the Royal Military Police detachment (one Sergeant, 2 Corporals and 6 Lance Corporals), 2 REME privates and the Royal Engineer Sapper from the Divisional Postal Section.
The Light Aid Detachment, with an establishment of 14, was a Warrant Officer Class 1 short.
The return to the unit of three men who were, at the time, in hospital, was particularly requested. These men (Cpl Pullan, Driver O’Rourke and Private Reick) have been added to the Brigade HQ database.
5th March 1944
A demonstration was given by 49 Divisional HQ of the three-ton Office Truck. It was decided that Division and Brigade HQ Office Trucks should be of standard design, especially equipped and modified by formation Workshops.
6th March 1944
A demonstration was given by 70th Brigade Signals Section on “Keeping direction by Wireless”. A 60 yard long ground aerial was placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of advance. The experiments proved successful on distances up to a mile, further experiments were to be carried out over greater distances.
The 49 Division scale of transport to be used on continental operations showed a decrease of 7 vehicles against the current War Establishment.
The Brigade Motor Transport Concentration No 3 commenced.
7th March 1944
The Brigade Commander attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace where he was decorated with the D.S.O. and bar.
The DSO was earned while Brigadier Cooke-Collis was a Major (T/Lt Col) commanding 6th Green Howards and the citation, found in National Archives File WO 373/21 piece number 3854 reads as follows:-
On 27, 28 and 29 May 1942, when commanding 6 Green Howards in the area BIR ASLAGH – KNIGHTSBRIDGE – BIR TEMAR Lt Col Cooke-Collis displayed outstanding gallantry. With complete disregard to his personal safety he remained with his forward Companies inspiring his men who were being subjected to continuous machine-gun and shell fire. During these days all moves of the Battalion were carried out under direct threat of enemy AFVs, it was due to Lt Col Cooke-Collis’ cool-headedness and skill that the Battalion suffered very few casualties in the engagements that took place.
On 26 June Lt Col Cooke-Collis when in command of 69 Brigade was wounded during operations S E of MATRUM. Refusing to be evacuated he remained in action gallantly commanding the Brigade with his wounded arm in a sling.
On 28 June when 69 Brigade with the rest of 50 Division were surrounded Lt Col Cooke-Collis conducted the break-out of the Brigade to the South through the enemy lines with skill, devotion to duty and conspicuous personal bravery.
The recommendation, dated 1st August 1942, for an immediate D.S.O. was made by Major-General Nichols, commanding 50 Division and endorsed by General Auchinleck.
The second award can be found in National Archive File WO 373/25 – piece number 12808, and reads as follows:-
On the 16th and 17th March Brigadier Cooke-Collis conducted a series of cleverly planned and very well executed attacks on the enemy outposts in front of the MARETH line. These were entirely successful.
Again, on the night 20/21st March Brigadier Cooke-Collis’ Brigade delivered a very successful attack on the enemy main position flanking the main attack on the WADI ZIGZAOU.
The success of all these attacks was mainly due to the very fine leadership of Brigadier Cooke-Collis.
Moreover, he set a very fine example to his troops by his entire disregard of personal danger whilst carrying out necessary recces and visiting his forward positions.
The recommendation for a Bar to the D.S.O., dated 2nd April 1943, was made by Major-General Nichols, commanding 50 Division, and endorsed by Lt General Leese, commanding 30 Corps. The award was gazetted on 17th June 1943.
8th – 9th March 1944
70th Infantry Brigade Exercise STAR took place – details being set out on Appendix C attached to the War Diary. 10th DLI Battalion Group represented an enemy force who, after a forced march, took up a defensive position on BRETTENHAM HEATH. 11th DLI Battalion Group – the attacking force – was released 12 hours after the defending force had begun defensive preparations. The defending force was attacked during the night of 8/9th March by 40 members of Brigade HQ representing parachutists. 11th DLI Battalion Group made contact with the main defensive position in sufficient time for a quick reconnaissance and launch of a Battalion night attack.
10th March 1944
A conference on Exercise STAR was held at 11th DLI HQ at 17:30 hours attended by all Officers. The Brigade Major attended a conference at 49 Division HQ regarding the scale of transport for continental operations.
Details of the programme and the instructional arrangements for the Loyd Carrier Wing of the Brigade Motor Transport Concentration No 3 were set out on Appendix D attached to the War Diary.
11th March 1944
The Field Returns as at 11th March were completed and attached to the War Diary at Appendix E. The Defence Platoon remained six men short of War Establishment. The HQ Other Ranks included one more man from the previous week’s return – a driver (tracked) attached from the 1st Tyneside Scottish. There was no change in the Officer return.
Seventy vehicles from 70th Infantry Brigade were put through Waterproofing trials at the Special Waterproofing School at great Yarmouth.
The Final of the Brigade Rugby competition was held on the THETFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL ground – with the result 11th DLI 6 points – 1st Tyneside Scottish – NIL. The Brigade Commander presented a Challenge Cup to the winners.
13th March 1944
A conference was held at Brigade HQ to decide the exact scale of unit personnel and vehicles to be taken on continental operations – details were set out on Appendix F attached to the War Diary, a copy of which did not apparently survive to reach the File at The National Archives – it is possible that this document was regarded as too sensitive for retention.
The Brigade Commander and Brigade Major took part in the night convoy exercise as part of the Motor Transport Concentration No 3.
14th March 1944
A Class 5 Raft was made available to all units in the Brigade Group for training purposes. The Brigade Commander completed the reconnaissance of the concentration area for Exercise BUMP.
The Defence Platoon began a three-day marching exercise.
All personnel in Brigade HQ attended the training parade between 08:45 and 09:15 hours.
16th March 1944
Exercise papers for 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise STAG were issued and attached to the War Diary as Appendix G.
17th March 1944
The G.O.C. and G 1 of 49 Division had lunch at 70th Brigade HQ.
The Brigade Commander visited 1st Tyneside Scottish training and watched a Company Exercise – attacking through an objective and setting up Battalion HQ. 17pdr guns were loaded on to the dry mock-up L.C.T. – both by manhandling and by means of a winch on the quad tractor – the latter a much more practicable approach.
18th March 1944
The Field Returns were completed as at 18th March and attached to the War Diary. There was no change to the Defence Platoon or the Officer numbers. Other Ranks at Brigade HQ still showed a shortfall of five men, net of those held over establishment.
20th – 21st March 1944
The Brigade Commander watched Loading Trials of Assault Vehicles at 11th DLI.
22nd – 24th March 1944
Exercise STAG took place.
25th March 1944
The weekly Field Returns were completed and attached to the War Diary. The Other Ranks at Brigade HQ had a net shortfall of four men. The number of Police had dropped to five and the driver (tracked) had presumably returned to his unit. The requests for the return of the men hospitalised had been cancelled, so it is probable that they had also returned. The Light Aid Detachment remained at its full strength of 14 men, and there was no change in Officer personnel.
27th March 1944
The Brigade Commander and Brigade Major attended a Training and AQ Conference at 49 Divisional HQ.
28th March 1944
The Brigade Commander held a conference at Brigade HQ to explain the outcome of the Training and AQ Conference held the previous day at Division. Battalion Commanders, Brigade Major, Staff Captain and G III attended. The Brigade Commander, Brigade Major and Staff Captain left to attend Exercise CONQUEROR CORPS STUDY period at CAMBRIDGE 29th March – 1st April. The Brigade Commander and the Brigade Major saw an Air Support Play (?display) at NEWMARKET on the way.
31st March 1944
A 70th Brigade Mortar Concentration commenced – Captain G.K. Collins of 185 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was to instruct in Artillery methods – details were contained in Appendix H which was attached to the War Diary.
Appendix C – 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise STAR.
The papers for this exercise comprised the Distribution List, Instructions, Summary of Events, Special instructions for British troops and Special instructions for German troops.
The objects of the exercise were to:-
(a)Practice the rapid occupation of a defensive position by an Infantry Battalion.
(b)Practice the preparation and launching of a Battalion night attack and subsequent consolidation.
(c)Practice the evacuation of casualties.
Two Battalion Groups were organised as opposing forces. Arrangements for communications, rations and other supplies were set out, and the systems for reporting returns, such as fighting state and casualties, was also specified.
The Summary of Events was timetables and involved setting up defences, capturing an identified area, making a night attack and consolidating afterwards. The Special instructions for each side were a typical Intelligence briefing supported by timed and map-referenced movement orders. Considerable use was made of mines to defend localities.
Appendix D – Instructions for Loyd Carrier Wing Training.
The objective of this training was to practice less experienced drivers in maintenance and general driving techniques. The maintenance element was to be instructed by NCOs of the REME Brigade Workshops while the driving training was led by Lt Brian Stewart of 1st Tyneside Scottish, supported by an NCO and two good drivers from each Battalion. A total of 20 men were expected to attend the week’s training. Four Loyd Carriers were to be used for maintenance training and 10 for driving training – one per two trainees.
This training went on in parallel with the MT Cadre.
Appendix G – 70th Infantry Brigade Exercise STAG.
The exercise papers consisted of a Distribution List, Instructions, Opening narrative, Signals instructions and a Summary of events.
The objects of the exercise were to:-
(a)Practice a forced march of ten miles in two hours, followed by the rapid occupation of a defensive position.
(b)Practice the relief of an Infantry Battalion and Supporting Arms by another Battalion.
(c)Practice the use of the operational scales of transport.
Only those vehicles to be included in the Advance Party and Main Body on Operational Scales were to be employed – loaded as for War. Arrangements for rations, fuel and other supplies were set out. Live ammunition was to remain sealed and used only for loading purposes – not carried on the man – and kept distinctly separate from the blank ammunition used in the exercise. Normal Field Returns were to be completed.
The scenario of the exercise was that of 70th Brigade carrying out its Reserve Brigade role and closing a gap in the line in enemy territory as part of a Divisional landing operation on the enemy shoreline. Some contact with enemy patrols had been made but the situation was obscure.
The Signals instructions laid out the sets to be made available.
Appendix H – 70th Infantry Brigade Mortar Concentration – Programme.
This was a single sheet covering the topics to be studied over the five days, of which the fourth and fifth consisted solely of firing practice. Much use was made in the earlier part of the week of the miniature range and lessons from artillery experience, both theoretical and practical.
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