War Diary - AQ Branch - December 1941
4 December 1941 – Artun – Reykjavik
Sailing S.D. 17. Following units returned to UK:- 807 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, 687 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers.
Major P Lewis, Somerset Light Infantry, returned to UK to assume appointment of A.A.& Q.M.G., 48th Division.
5 December 1941
Lt-Col C D Marley, Durham Light Infantry, selected for appointment of Brigade Commander, 143 Infantry Brigade.
6 December 1941
Funeral of five airmen, killed on SNAEFELL Peninsular, in REYKJAVIK Cemetery. Now FOSSVOGUR CEMETERY.
9 December 1941
Funeral of four airmen, killed at Kaldadarnes, in REYKJAVIK Cemetery. Now FOSSVOGUR CEMETERY.
10 December 1941
Exchange of messages between Major-General Curtis and Major-General Bonesteel on the occasion of the declaration of War by the USA.
13 December 1941
Cable sent to H R H Duchess of Kent on the occasion of her birthday.
14 December 1941
Cable sent to H M The King on the occasion of his birthday.
15 December 1941
Reply received from H M The King.
20 December 1941
Reply from H R H Duchess of Kent.
Sailing S.D. 18. Following units returned to UK :- 187 Field Ambulance, RAMC, 366 Field Battery, Royal Artillery, HQ 70th Infantry Brigade with Provost Platoon, Signals and Light Aid Detachment, 11 DLI, 1 Tyneside Scottish, 30 Construction Section, Air Formation Signals and Detachment No 1 Docks Group, Royal Engineers.
25 December 1941
CHRISTMAS DAY. Morning Parade Service at Cathedral, Reykjavik, and Regimental Services.
Many concerts, dances, sing songs etc arranged by units during Christmas week throughout Iceland. Excellent supply of Christmas fare and beer for all.
30 December 1941
Conference held to discuss erection and maintenance of RAF D/F Station at HOFN.
Major F J Noakes, Manchester Regiment, arrived to assume appointment of D.A.Q.M.G.
Captain A B Rothwell, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, arrived to assume appointment of Staff Captain “A”.
GENERAL
(i) COURT MARTIAL SUMMARY (Field General Court Martials)
December – South West Sector - 25 convictions.
North East Sector – 1 conviction.
REYDARFJORDUR Sub-Sector – 4 convictions.
(ii) ROUTINE ORDERS for December.
Appendix A to the War Diary set out the disposal arrangements for the vehicles of those units leaving Iceland. This information has been detailed elsewhere on the Website.
The remaining elements of Routine Orders either were missing from the file or were not photographed at The National Archives.
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