War Diary - G Branch - December 1940
1 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Agenda for the “G” side of G.O.C’s. conference issued. Copy attached as Appendix No. 1.
2 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Intelligence Courses for a total of 15 Officers and 13 Other Ranks opened for a duration of 13 days.
(2) A field firing exercise was held at Kleifervatn by two Companies and one Section of Carriers of 1st Tyneside Scottish and one Troop 386 Field Battery, Royal Artillery. Major-General Curtis (G.O.C.) was present.
(3) To avoid any confusion as to the organisation of the Control Room and the exchange of information with the Royal Navy, a letter was sent to F.O.I.C. (Flag Officer in Command) Iceland on the position. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No. 2.
3 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Brigadier Phillips, Commander 146 Infantry Brigade and Captain Slater (Intelligence Officer) arrived by plane from AKUREYRI for G.O.C’s. conference.
(2) Recce of sites for installing an additional D.E.L. (Defence Electric Light) in the Reykjavik area ordered in view of the unsafe gap in the area illuminated.
(3) Force Intelligence Summary No.32 issued. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No. 3.
4 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A conference attended by Brigadier Phillips (Commander 146 Infantry Brigade) Lt Col Walter-Symons, Royal Artillery, Lt Col Davies (G.S.O.1) and Lt Commander Clements R.N.V.R. (X.D.O.) was held on the defensive armaments of the EJARFJORDUR, REYDARFJORDUR, SEYDISFJORDUR, and HRUTAFJORDUR and the necessary orders for them.
(2) A conference was held on W/T communications suggested for the new airfields in Iceland.
(3) One Company Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, C.A.S.F. embarked on S.S. TORDENSKOLD for transport to Eastern Sub-Sector.
(4) Instructions on Educational and Vocational training for the winter were issued. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No. 4.
5 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) G.O.C’s. conference held on general draft matters in accordance with programme (see Appendix No.1) and attended by Sector Commanders and heads of services.
(2) H M S Chitral reached Reykjavik with 12 Officers and 305 Other Ranks as reinforcements, the major reinforcements being 3 Officers and 109 Other Ranks for Royal Artillery Coastal Defence Batteries, and 52 Other Ranks for 49 Divisional Signals, 2 Officers and 31 Other Ranks for Hallams and 49 Other Ranks for Royal Army Service Corps. The troops were not disembarked.
(3) Captain S W N Whitehead Royal Artillery joined the “G” staff as G.S.O.III (Tactical School).
6 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) G.O.C’s. conference on A/Q matters held in accordance with programme, and attended by Lt Col Davies (G.S.O.1) and Major Beard (G.S.O.II) representing the General Staff.
7 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Message (0415) sent to War Office on the general policy of air support and defence in ICELAND for Spring and Summer 1941. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No. 5.
(2) British Vice-Consul at Reykjavik, Mr HOBLIN and his wife sent to UK on S.S. BRUARFOSS for pro-German activities and all papers and reports on his activities sent with Captain Lane, Royal Engineers on the same ship. War Office advised of sailing (0416).
(3) S.S. TORDENSKOLD left Reykjavik for North East Sector.
8 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A further barrage balloon was reported to have fallen in the mountains at VIDILAEKUR in North East Sector but weather conditions made recovery impossible at the present time.
(2) Force Intelligence Summary No.33 issued. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No.6.
9 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) As a result of the G.O.C’s. conference last week a message (0419) was sent to the War Office asking that the defensive power of the Force in static roles be increased by provision of heavy machine guns, up to 12 per Battalion, in lieu of the Light Machine Guns and Mortars previously requested. A note of the decisions of this conference was circulated. Copy attached to file as Appendix No. 7.
(2) Instructions issued to Commanders 70th Infantry Brigade, 146 Infantry Brigade and 147 Infantry Brigade as to the examination of trawlers wireless sets at SIGLUFJORDUR, HJALTEYRI, BUDAREYRI, and VESTMANNAEYJAR where facilities for the Royal Navy to do so did not exist.
(3) Provisional fire orders given to Officer Commanding, Coastal Defence Battery at HRUTAFJORDUR pending the arrival of a naval examination vessel.
10 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A recce of the KEFLAVIK area with a view to the employment of the Force Mobile Reserve in the event of an enemy landing was carried out by Lt Col Davies (G.S.O.1) with Commander, Force Mobile Reserve (Brigadier Kirkup, 70th Infantry Brigade).
(2) Supplemental list of Code Names issued. Copy filed in War Diary as Appendix No. 8.
(3) Note on revised allocation of vacancies at Force Tactical School issued. Copy filed with War Diary as Appendix No. 9.
11 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major-General Curtis (G.O.C.) accompanied by Brigadier Griffith-Williams (Commander, Royal Artillery) and Brigadier Kirkup (Commander 70th Infantry Brigade) recce the SANDSKEID area and vicinity.
12 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major Heard (G.S.O.II) with Lt Col Mason (A.A.& Q.M.G.) carried out a further recce of the KEFLAVIK area.
13 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Instructions given for the examination and sealing of W/T sets on trawlers from the Faroe Islands as well as those of Iceland.
14 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A draft of the Regulations for “Confidential Traffic, Port of Reykjavik” was returned to the F.O.I.C. Iceland with certain suggested alterations.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. List of names allotted to hutted Camps. Copy filed with War Diary as Appendix No. 10.
b. Note on the opening date of the first course at Force Tactical School. Copy filed with War Diary as Appendix No, 11.
c. Force Intelligence Summary No. 34. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix 12.
d. Note on applications between units for training. Copy filed with War Diary as Appendix No. 13.
15 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Letter sent to F.O.I.C. Iceland on the subject of the positioning of the Examination Service Vessel since at certain positions any “bring to“ round fired by the Reykjavik Examination Battery would endanger the inhabitants of ENGEY island and any vessels in the roads off that island and requesting that the vessel be stationed further to seaward when weather conditions permit.
16 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Tactical School opened in Reykjavik with 32 Officers attending course serial No.1.
17 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major-General Curtis (G.O.C.) accompanied by Major Heard (G.S.O.2) carried out an inspection of posts manned by men of 147 Infantry Brigade and Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun) in the Reykjavik and Hafnafjordur areas.
18 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major-General Curtis (G.O.C.) attended Brigade model exercises on the movement of the Force Mobile Reserve.
(2) Captain Watson of M.I.5 War Office arrived in Reykjavik on H M Armed Merchant Cruiser WOLFE.
(3) Remainder one Company Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa C.A.S.F. embarked on S.S. TORDENSKOLD and sailed for BUDAREYRI.
19 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major Heard (G.S.O.II) accompanied Brigadier Bliss, Chief Engineer and Captain Stokes (Chief of Staff, Royal Navy) on a recce of proposed Naval Boom Defences and Control of Mines Depot on Hvalfjordur.
20 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Captain Watson (M.I.5) visited Force HQ and conferred with Major-General Curtis (G.O.C.) and Lt Col Davies (G.S.O.1).
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Amendment No. 1 to Force Operation Instruction No.7 (Revised). Copy attached to file as Appendix No. 14.
b. Force Location Statement No.11. Copies attached to file as Appendices No. 15, 16, 17 and 18.
21 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) S.S. TORDENSKOLD reached BUDAREYRI. She had become separated from her trawler escort en route and could not be contacted by R/T.
(2) A fire, deliberately caused, broke out in the THEATRE DEPOT, Reykjavik but was speedily put out. Enquiries are proceeding.
(3) The following were issued :-
a. Supplementary list of Camp Names. Copy filed with War Diary as Appendix No. 19.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 35. Copy attached to file as Appendix No. 20.
22 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Suggested provisional Technical fire orders for the Coastal Defence Battery at HRUTAFJORDUR were issued to HQ 70th Infantry Brigade and revisions to the technical fire orders for EYARFJORDUR, SEYDISFJORDUR and REYDARFJORDUR issued to HQ 146 Infantry Brigade.
23 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Investigations show that the fire at THEATRE DEPOT, Reykjavik was the work of children. Arrangements were made to improve the security arrangements at this depot and at other Depots in or near towns at which sabotage is most likely.
24 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
NIL.
25 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
NIL
26 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Decision was made to increase the number of restricted areas in Reykjavik from which civilians were to be excluded on an emergency, the areas now covering the major portion of the harbour area, the protective area to the harbour and the island of EPPERSEY, and further control of civil Traffic in the remaining portions of the area. Instructions on these lines were issued to HQ 147 Infantry Brigade pending the issue of an amendment to Force Operation Order No. 2.
(2) The G.O.C. decided on the following distribution of artillery in the Spring (the distribution being on a three-battery basis) :-
North East Sector
AKUREYRI One Field Regiment less one Battery.
BUDAREYRI One Field Regiment less one Section.
SEYDISFJORDUR One Section.
Western Sector
Borganes One Field Battery less one Troop.
Reykerskoli One Troop.
South West Sector
SOGAMYRI and Hafnafjordur One Field Battery.
Force Reserve
Alafoss and BALDURSHAGI One Field Battery.
The Commander, Royal Artillery was instructed to consider the position of the HQ Field Regiment remaining in Reykjavik area and the allocation of the BALDURSHAGI Troop.
(3) Message sent to War Office (0 452) agreeing to the return of the internee JOHNSSONS on heavy financial guarantees in course of agreement with H B M Minister.
27 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A conference was held by the G.O.C. attended by Rear-Admiral Scott (F.O.I.C.) and Group Captain Ashton (RAF Adviser) on the subject of air policy in ICELAND for the forthcoming months. The following decisions were made :-
a. To proceed forthwith with the preparation of an emergency landing ground at KEFLAVIK.
b. To develop the South shore of FOSSVOGUR as the principal anchorage for a float squadron with beaching facilities, to provide beaching facilities at AKUREYRI and BUDAREYRI, and to equip Pingvellir and LOGARINN lakes as emergency float plane bases.
c. To send to the War Office a message for their necessary action with the Air Ministry. This message (0 454) was sent. Copy attached to War Diary as Appendix No. 21.
28 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Intelligence Summary No. 36 was issued. Copy attached as Appendix No. 22.
29 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Lt Col Davies (G.S.O.1) with Major Collins, Officer Commanding detachment 14 Royal Fusiliers carried out a recce of the LOGBERG – SANDSKEID area with reference to the defence scheme for that area.
30 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
NIL.
31 December 1940 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A communication was sent to H B M Minister requesting that a conference be arranged (to be attended by the Icelandic Minister of Communications and the American Consul) on the question of the re-opening of the VATNSENDI civil W/T station under military control for the transmission of messages to the U.K. and the U.S.A.
(2) A letter was sent to the War Office on the provision of an additional D.E.L. in the Reykjavik Fire Command with a sketch map of its proposed location and with a suggested establishment for its operation.
(3) Amendment No. 5 to Operation Order No. 2 was issued. Copy attached to the War Diary as Appendix 23.
Appendices attached to the December 1940 War Diary of G Branch of the Iceland Force.
None of the Appendices mentioned above were either filed with the War Diary, or, if present, were not photographed, due to their bulk.
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