70th Infantry Brigade War Diary May 1943.
1st May 1943
70th Infantry Brigade Operation Instruction No 2, “SHYLOCK ROAD MOVE” was issued, a copy of which was attached to the War Diary as Appendix A.
2nd May 1943
Annex 1 to Appendix B to 70th Infantry Brigade Movement Instruction No 2 “SHYLOCK” was issued and a copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix B.
All preparations were completed for the tactical move due to commence at 07:00 hours on 3rd May.
3rd May 1943
70th Brigade Group began the first stage of a tactical move into the South Wales area, a distance of over 350 miles – with a bivouac the first night on the outskirts of CARLISLE.
4th May 1943
The movement of the Brigade Group re-commenced at 08:00 hours – Sector Controls for the Battalions operating efficiently. The recognised route proved to be impossible for the guns to complete at 15 miles per hour. One gun and a quad overturned in the SHAP area – the Brigade Group bivouacked in the area of PRESTON.
5th May 1943
The Column began the next stage of the move – to WELLINGTON – and during the day, Sector Controls were tested, two diversions being made which affected the rear of the Column.
6th May 1943
70th Brigade Group arrived in South Wales at 18:00 hours and returned to their old billets, with the exception of 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI, who changed locations. The former went to VELINDRE and the latter to LLANELLI.
7th May 1943
The Rail and Baggage Parties arrived in the South Wales area. The Brigade Major visited CARMARTHEN Sub-District HQ regarding Ranges and Training Areas.
8th May 1943
The Brigade Commander visited the 1st Tyneside Scottish in their new location.
9th May 1943
A Training Conference was held at THE BARN, WHITNEY, attended by the Brigade Commander, Brigade Major and all C.Os.
10th May 1943
The Brigade Commander and Brigade Major visited 11th DLI. G.2 from 49 Division visited this HQ. The Staff Captain attended an A.D.O.S. conference.
Captain G.L. Gay, Durham Light Infantry, G.III of 49 Division, began an attachment to this HQ as Staff Captain.
The Brigade Rear Parties arrived from the HAMILTON area.
11th May 1943
The Brigade Commander visited 10th DLI.
The Divisional Commander Royal Engineers visited the Brigade HQ regarding the appalling state of parts of the Brigade’s accommodation.
12th May 1943
Major Liddell, G.II (O) of 49 Division, visited Brigade HQ.
14th – 15th May 1943
Brigade HQ Exercise “LOCAL” was run in which all ranks in the HQ took part. The principal objectives were camouflage, speed and setting up the HQ in which the Signals 3-tonner office truck was used as a “G” and “I” office and the normal “G” office truck was converted into a Signals Office. The exchange of vehicles appeared to be satisfactory and more practical.
16th May 1943
The Brigade Commander took the salute at a Home Guard parade in ABERDARE.
17th May 1943
“A” Company of 10th DLI marched, by Platoons, to AMROTH CASTLE for one week’s individual training under canvas.
18th May 1943
Captain G.A. Stewart-Rattray, Brigade Royal Army Service Corps Officer (BRASCO), of 70th Infantry Brigade, was killed in a motorcycle accident on the CARMARTHEN – LAMPETER road.
11th DLI were put through the test Intelligence Exercise “EYEOPENER”. Details were attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.
19th May 1943
10th DLI were put through the test Intelligence Exercise “EYEOPENER”. Details were attached to the War Diary as Appendix C.
20th May 1943
An Inquest was held in LAMPETER on the death of Captain G.A. Stewart-Rattray, attended by the Brigade Commander and Staff Captain. The verdict was that of accidental death.
1st Tyneside Scottish were put through the test Intelligence Exercise “EYEOPENER”.
Captain W.L. Bell ceased to be attached to 49 Division and returned to his duties as Staff Captain at Brigade HQ. (The date of his attachment to Divisional HQ is not known).
22nd May 1943
The funeral of Captain G.A. Stewart-Rattray took place at CARMARTHEN Cemetery.
24th May 1943
“B” Company, 10th DLI, moved to AMROTH CASTLE for a week’s individual training under canvas.
26th May 1943
The Divisional Commander, Major-General E.H. Barker C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., carried out an administrative inspection of 1st Tyneside Scottish accompanied by the Brigade Commander and Brigade Major.
27th May 1943
The Divisional Commander carried out a training inspection of 11th DLI.
Brigade HQ carried out a Motor Transport move, using the new system of control, i.e. Officers on Motorcycles acted as “rovers”, one Despatch Rider at the rear of the Column, the remaining Despatch Riders behind the leading vehicle. At each road fork one Despatch Rider directed traffic until the Column passed, and then joined the rear. The Rear Despatch Rider then moved up and joined the pool behind the leading vehicle. The system worked satisfactorily but the exercise was hampered by several breakdowns.
28th May 1943
The Brigade Commander proceeded on five days’ privilege leave.
Captain C.M. Cobb, R.A.S.C., was posted to fill the vacancy of B.R.A.S.C.O. caused by the death of Captain Stewart-Rattray.
Appendix A – 70th Brigade Operation Instruction No 2 – “SHYLOCK ROAD MOVE”
The Appendix began by stating clearly that the maximum operational training was expected to be extracted from this move.
The move was set out in a tactical order, with an Advance Guard, including a 10th DLI Vanguard Company, Field Artillery and Anti-Tank Guns, the rest of 10th DLI, and a Section of the Field Ambulance, together with the Brigade Sector Controls for Traffic Control purposes.
The Main Body included Brigade HQ, the remaining Field Artillery and Field Ambulance, 11th DLI, the Light Aid Detachment and the Workshop Company.
The Rear Guard included 1st Tyneside Scottish, detachment of Artillery and Ambulance and a Recovery Post provided by the Brigade R.E.M.E. Workshop.
Sector Controls were to be manned at specific locations, such as SHAP and KIRKBY LONSDALE, by each of the Infantry Battalions, equipped with radio sets. The Provost Detachment was to provide 2 Lance-Corporals for each location, who were to report their departure for the location before leaving their billets, while the remainder of the Provost Detachment were to operate under the orders of the acting Brigade Commander – Major Hanmer.
Each Battalion was to organise an Anti-Aircraft Platoon to cover the move, using 4 8 cwt cars with Motley A.A. Mountings in each. All Bren Guns in the Brigade Group were to be taken by the Road Party and distributed between unit vehicles, and were required to be capable at all times of firing at aircraft. Special attention was to be given to the Alarm Posts at convoy halts.
Instructions were given about action to be taken if the road proved to be cratered, ensuring all Officers were aware of the need to maintain progress and return to the main route as quickly as appropriate.
Unit Guide Parties – which included cooks’ parties - were to aim to be at the relevant locations 4 hours before their unit arrived, having signposted the route. Instructions were also provided for the Rear Parties – to be responsible for clearing sites after the departure of the Main Body (and presumably – although not specified – collecting the road signs and markers placed by the Guide Parties).
The Brigade Commander was also keen that a high standard of turnout and uniformity of dress was maintained throughout the move. Greatcoats were not to be worn, but steel helmets were to be worn by all except Motorcyclists and Wireless Operators.
Vehicle maintenance was to be carried out as normal by Drivers at Staging Camps (in accordance with the handbooks on the work to be done each day on wheeled vehicles - a copy of which is in the author's possession) where rations, fuel and lubricants would also be available. Guards were to be provided by each unit over its vehicles and bivouac area – including one man sleeping in each vehicle. Standing Orders were to be observed throughout the move, adjusted as necessary by the amendments in the Appendix.
10th DLI were also particularly instructed to provide a Bugler for duty with Brigade HQ throughout the duration of the move.
The next page of the Appendix set out the scenario in which this tactical move was taking place – a simulation of a Divisional move in a recently occupied country.
Appendix B to the Movement Instruction described the organisation and manning of Sector Controls in some detail. These Parties controlled the movement of the Road Party through their Sector and on to the next area. Signage and communications were particularly important. The Sector Control Party would join on the end of the convoy after the final vehicle had passed safely.
Appendix C to the Movement Instruction was the Wireless Diagram, showing the location and types of set to be employed. Watch synchronisation was to be done using the B.B.C. time announcements, checked regularly by the Central Station at Brigade HQ.
Appendix B – Annex 1 to Appendix D of 70 Infantry Brigade Movement Instruction No 1 dated 25 April 1943
This document is the table of unit rail movements, listing the number of Officers, Men, vehicles and volume of baggage to be carried on each train, with the entraining and detraining points and timings identified.
Appendix C – 70th Infantry Brigade Intelligence Section Exercise No 1 – Exercise “EYEOPENER”
This document contained the general instructions for this live ammunition exercise, which was to take place outdoors in the CARMARTHEN area. The “enemy” were represented by 6 Batmen from Brigade HQ.
The second sheet set out the Exercise problems and the Directing Staff solutions. The problems were:-
A ground study and map orientation.
Completing neat and correct map traces on talcs under time pressure.
Laying out and organising the interior of the Section truck.
Establishing Outposts from a forward Battalion HQ and reporting on enemy movements.
Producing an intervisibility chart from HQ and the two Outposts to cover a piece of ground.
Producing a Report on the suitability of three roads, in all respects, for road transport, availability of air cover and the location of traffic control points.
Compiling relevant information from a series of badly written messages and creating briefings from the data.
Interrogation of Prisoners of War and processing of information secured.
Assessing the feasibility of using identified tracks for river crossing in a few hours’ time, including the availability of bridge-building materials, and the nature of the country on the far bank.
A list of fifty questions requiring single-word answers (which were included on the master-copy of the sheet).
The Appendix was completed with the inclusion of the pro-forma sheet for recording scores.
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