War Diary - AQ Branch - July 1941

1 July 1941 – Artun – Reykjavik.

Wedding between Lieut Newlove R.N. and Nurse Dixon solemnized at Reykjavik by Canon Hood.

6 July 1941

Lt-Col A Fraser, London Scottish, assumed appointment of A.Q.M.G. (M).

Captain E J Sibley, TA Reserve of Officers, assumed appointment of S.C. (M)

Captain A Ackerley and Lt S H Peacop assumed appointments of E.S.O.’s.

Acting Major P St Aubin assumed appointment of D.A.Q.M.G. (M).

8 July 1941

1st Brigade of United States Marines landed at Reykjavik. Special Order of the Day on arrival of U.S. Marines.

4 American Nurses brought into Reykjavik after being in an open boat off GREENLAND for 12 days.

12 July 1941

Message of congratulation from C.I.G.S. (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) on behaviour of British troops in ICELAND as reported by Icelandic Charges d’Affaires and representatives of Icelandic Press in LONDON. Promulgated to all troops and members of R.N. and R.A.F.

Leave trip “G” sails.

Move of one Company 1/9 Manchester Regiment to Northern Sector.

21 July 1941

Major J C R Fitzgerald-Lombard relinquishes the appointment of D.A.Q.M.G. and left for UK.

Major P U Campbell, Highland Light Infantry, assumed the appointment of D.A.Q.M.G. Iceland ( C ) Force.

25 July 1941

Major P St Aubin, General List, relinquishes the appointment of D.A.Q.M.G. (M) and returned to the UK.

GENERAL

(i) FIELD GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL.

July – Reykjavik – 8 convictions. (ii) Routine Orders for July.

The routine orders themselves have not survived to be included in the file but a separate Appendix – marked SECRET – was attached to the War Diary setting out the detailed arrangements and restrictions on the movement of mail by air to and from the UK. The importance of unit censorship of private mail was stressed.

The document also dealt with the availability of space for passengers and clarified that this would almost always be restricted to duty journeys and not leave. The urgency of the journey required justification and advance notice was required. The matter was to be handled by the RAF in Reykjavik. The availability of space on aircraft could also be used for urgent packages of a restricted size and weight.

To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.