War Diary - AQ Branch - October 1940
2 October 1940 – Reykjavik
Spitfire Fund started.
3 October 1940
Hiring’s Officer’s powers revised by War Office.
Frozen mutton accepted in UK from Iceland.
4 October 1940
Local broadcast in English started. G.O.C. gave opening address. Followed by E.N.S.A. Concert Party.
Local leave started. Up to three days to be granted by Commanding Officers.
5 October 1940
S.S. SUDAN left for AKUREYRI with E.N.S.A. Concert party.
12 October 1940
Formation of an Officers’ Club under discussion.
13 October 1940
S.S. SUDAN arrived AKUREYRI with E.N.S.A. party.
14 – 16 October 1940
General Court Martial found Driver Dutton guilty of manslaughter – 2 years imprisonment without hard labour – to be served in the UK.
15 October 1940
11:00 hours. General Lord Gort (Inspector General of Training) landed with two ADC’s only – not expected until the next day. Everything laid on at very short notice, including turning people out of his rooms in the Borg Hotel.
Guard of Honour of 1/5 West Yorks with bands of 1/6 and 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkneys arrived by the same ship – also 4 Officers and 235 men of 143rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
17 October 1940
Confirmation in Reykjavik.
19 October 1940
16:00 hours. General Lord Gort left for AKUREYRI via Western Sector with G.O.C.
20 October 1940
10:00 hours. Parade Service – Bishop preached. About 150 men of 98 Squadron attended and marched past afterwards after inspection by Brigadier Lammie.
14:00 hours. Bishop left for AKUREYRI with Senior Chaplain to the Forces – Night at Akranes and then on by bus.
21 October 1940
23:00 hours. Arriving AKUREYRI with confirmation next day and departed by boat at 14:00 hours 22/10/1940 – Too much for an old man (65).
Motor Cycle Reliability Trial – No damage.
24 October 1940
Norwegian Platoon under Norwegian Government for all purposes (wire from U.K.).
H.M.T. Empress of Australia and H.M.T. Antonia arrived with 70 Infantry Brigade HQ, 11 DLI, 1 Tyneside Scottish and two Companies 14 Royal Fusiliers.
29 October 1940
08:30 hours. Blackheath and Rallus and Kohistan sailed for Clyde. Kohistan had Royal Marines R.U. on board (it is believed that this was the unit which originally occupied Iceland on 10 May 1940 – yet to be confirmed).
31 October 1940
H.M.T. Empress of Australia and H.M.T. Antonia sailed for Clyde with H.Q. Z Force, Royal Regiment of Canada, Fusiliers Mont Royale and details. Also 98 Squadron RAF less one flight (and Group Captain).
DISCIPLINE - SUMMARY OF COURTS MARTIAL.
July – Reykjavik – 7 Convictions.
August – Reykjavik – 9 Convictions – mostly for drunkenness. Akureyri – 1 Conviction.
September – Reykjavik – 11 Convictions.
October – Reykjavik – 13 Convictions. Seydisfjordur – 1 Conviction.
Appendix A – Routine Orders for October.
This document did not survive to be included in the War Diary file at The National Archives.
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