War Diary - AQ Branch - November 1940

1 November 1940 – Reykjavik

Transit margin increased from 30 to 60 days. Authorised reserves 90 days.

4 November 1940

N. E. Sector hutting programme completed.

6 November 1940

S.S. ZARFARAN sailed for UK with Rev. Wrangham-Hardy and three Other Ranks on Compassionate Transfer.

8 November 1940

I.L. Section approved for ALABASTER (1 Officer and 4 Other Ranks).

9 November 1940

Inspector General’s report beginning to take effect. New address “Force HQ” NOT “HQ 49th Division”.

11 November 1940

Royal Engineer stores, huts and vehicles shipped on S.S. SOAGEN.

12 November 1940

Captain (Acting/Major) Packard, East Yorkshires, G.S.O.2. (Training) for Tactical School.

13 November 1940

Force Sign fixed. Divisional troops – The White Rose. Non-Divisional troops – A Polar Bear.

14 November 1940

E.N.S.A. Concert Party arrived.

16 November 1940

Colonel E. Temple appointed A.A.& Q.M.G. to A/A Division in UK.

18 November 1940

Captain W.B. Draper, Royal Engineers (Staff Captain, Training) ordered to the UK.

21 November 1940

Air Mail Contract made.

26 November 1940

Spitfire Sweepstake closed.

DISCIPLINE – SUMMARY OF COURTS MARTIAL.

November – Reykjavik – 15 Convictions.

Appendix A – Routine Orders for November.

This document was No 136 dated 13th November 1940 and followed a regular format.

The substance of Field General Courts Martial were reported for the week ending 2/11/1940, setting out the crimes and the punishments awarded.

A paragraph on transport for recreation set out the limits and locations for embussing and debussing in and around Reykjavik.

A note indicated that civilian labour was not to travel to work in hired Icelandic trucks, but could use Army trucks.

Units were to draw relevant stores and arrange to fit black-out material to windows etc.

The decision about Force insignia mentioned above was included in orders and units were asked to indent for the Polar Bear insignia as soon as possible before prices rose.

The Orders also mentioned a mislaid kitbag from the H.M.T. Empress of Australia, belonging to 4458357 Murden W R and sought its urgent return to 70 Brigade HQ. (Corporal Murden was a member of 11th DLI and worked as the Mess Corporal at 70 Brigade HQ).

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