War Diary - AQ Branch - December 1940
1 December 1940 – Artun, Reykjavik
Iceland’s Independence Day – No troops allowed in Reykjavik streets after 22:00 hours (mainly to avoid incidents); well observed; much appreciated in Icelandic Press who accepted it as a gesture of friendliness.
4 December 1940
S.S.M. Dunwell (Chief Clerk) selected for appointment as Lieut (QM) RASC.
5 December 1940 – Artun.
G.O.C.’s conference with Brigadiers and heads of services on “G” matters.
6 December 1940
G.O.C.’s Administrative Conference with above.
Armed Merchant Cruiser “Chitral” arrived with the following:-
Royal Signals – 1 Officer and 52 Other Ranks – additional personnel asked for in letter dated 14/8/1940, increase to War Establishment not arrived.
RASC – 1 Officer and 49 Other Ranks – increment to 12 Reserve Motor Transport Company.
Army Education Corps – 2 Officers and 2 Other Ranks – Force Educational Staff.
Reinforcements to replace casualties and to bring Hallams Battalion (51) up to strength.
Royal Artillery, Coastal Defence – 100 Other Ranks – 32 each to “V” and “W” Batteries, bringing gun detachments to War Establishment, remainder to be trained in D.E.L. work by Renfrew (F), Royal Engineers.
Commander, Royal Artillery – Brigadier Griffith-Williams.
Hasty and immediate disembarkation in the dark caused some confusion.
Vacated RAF (temporary) camp used as a transit camp for the first time on a permanent basis – administered by Det 14 R.F.
“Iceland” replaces A.P.O. 500 in address – from War Office.
8 December 1940
12:00 hours. Col. E. Temple sailed for UK – Major W.G. Mason appointed A.A.& Q.M.G. with the rank of Acting/Lt Colonel.
War Office enquiry re. withdrawal of Renfrew (F), Royal Engineers (tentative).
9 December 1940
War Office approve personnel for cookery courses for six months.
10 December 1940
17:30 hours. First Meeting of the General and Executive Committees of the Officers’ Club to consider formation on basis of no grant from UK.
15 December 1940
Chitral returned – embarking personnel for UK – courses, compassionate and sick transfers and two prisoners who had been waiting up to 2 months.
17 December 1940
E.N.S.A. Party return from N.E. Sector.
21 December 1940
War Office unable to meet demands for transport required to bring units up to War Establishment – except water trucks.
23 December 1940
Expenditure up to £54 per week re-authorised for local wireless programme – “The Hour in English” from Reykjavik; 17:00 to 18:00 hours, Mondays to Fridays.
Conference held at Force HQ with the object of reducing the present calls on unit Motor Transport.
24 December 1940
G.O.C. broadcast Christmas message to the Force.
25 December 1940
Christmas Day was observed as a Sunday – a very mild Christmas; mails long overdue.
26 December 1940
Boxing Day was NOT a holiday – normal working day. Other Ranks for War Establishment of Tactical School arrived from UK with some reinforcement drafts.
GENERAL
Shortage of passages to the UK aggravated by requirements of personnel attending courses in UK.
DISCIPLINE – SUMMARY OF COURTS MARTIAL.
December – Reykjavik – 11 Convictions.
COMPASSIONATE TRANSFER AND LEAVE
December – 13 transfers granted, 6 granted leave.
Appendix A – Routine Orders for December.
No 155, dated 7/12/1940.
This document was intended to be the cover for a promotions list attached as Appendix 23, but that document had not survived.
Lighting-up time was notified as between 14:55 and 09:50 hours for the week ending 21/12/1940.
Battle Dress – the Force Sign (Polar Bear) was to be worn by all ranks. The Rose or the 70th Infantry Brigade Sign could be worn in lieu of a Regimental flash. The members of the Infantry Brigades would also wear colour bars in order of seniority – 146th – one, 147th – two, 70th – three.
Green envelopes – for personal mail – were to be made available at the scale of two per man per month.
A note was included clarifying the purchase of stores and the handling of the invoices associated with them.
Again, kitbags from SS Chitral were reported as having been lost – in this case belonging to three signalmen of 49th Division Signals.
No 160 dated 14/12/1940
The arrangements for a model aircraft competition were set out – with the intention of the better models being used as training aids on aircraft identification.
A further promotions list was referred to – but not included in the file.
Up to date lighting-up times were also published.
The rules for accessing the Borg Hotel over the Christmas period were set out.
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