War Diary - G Branch - November 1941
1 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) S.S. BERGENSFJORD reached Reykjavik and disembarked the following personnel for the staff of the Winter Warfare School viz. Major J F TODHUNTER Royal Artillery, Major J M SCOTT, Royal Artillery, Captain L M WARD-WALTERS Royal Engineers, Captain M G MEADE-KING, Royal Artillery, Captain T J O’CONNOR Royal Artillery, Captain E C FONTAINE Royal Army Medical Corps, Lieut A M GREENWOOD, Royal Artillery, and Lieut E A WEDDERBURN, Royal Artillery together with some of the Other Ranks personnel for the School. A conference was held at Force HQ to clarify policy with regard to the School of which minutes will be issued to all concerned.
(2) Embarkment of 668 (?688) Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers and 89 Company Pioneer Corps was completed.
(3) The Force examination in Icelandic for military personnel was carried out today.
(4) Captain G L Gay (Intelligence Officer) returned from leave in the UK.
2 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Icelandic time reverted by Government decree from Icelandic Summer Time to Icelandic zone time (one hour behind G.M.T.) at 02:00 hours today. All times will be given in Icelandic Zone Time.
(2) S.S. BERGENSFJORD and H M T LEINSTER sailed for UK.
(3) Reports were received that a US P.B.M. aircraft returning from an operation patrol failed to return to its base. It was last seen in REYKJANES area.
(4) The lights at TJORNES and RAUDINUFUR on the North East Coast have been re-exhibited with a reduced visibility of 10 miles.
(5) Captain P E Hirst (G.S.O. 3 Ia) left for UK on leave.
(6) The following were issued :-
a. Force Intelligence Summary No. 80. Copy filed as Appendix No. 1.
b. Force Operation Instruction No. 64 (Training Ammunition for 1942). Copy filed as Appendix No. 2.
3 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A search party was sent out from 10th Durham Light Infantry at first light today in an attempt to locate the missing US aircraft and at 11:00 hours located the wreckage of the machine at LYNGBREKKA (Map Iceland 1/50,000 point 049787). It had crashed into the hillside and the occupants, of whom there were twelve, were all killed.
(2) The G.O.C’s. Model Exercise on mountain warfare for Brigade Commanders and Senior Officers was opened at new Combined Operations Room, ARTUN. All nominated to attend were present.
(3) Information was received that the road AKUREYRI – SEYDISFJORDUR was open again. The road EGILSSTADIR – REYDARFJORDUR still remains closed.
(4) S.S. LOCHNAGAR sailed for AKUREYRI with the Officers and men for the Winter Warfare School who landed from S.S. BERGENSFJORD and with Lt D HAIG-THOMAS, RASC, who is joining the School from this Force.
4 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) C.O.C’s. Model Exercise on Mountain Warfare continued at Force HQ.
(2) Lt Col Walker (Officer Commanding 1/ 4 KOYLI) arrived from REYDARFJORDUR by air for G.O.C’s. training conference later this week.
(3) The following were issued :-
a. Programme for G.O.C’s. TEWT on Mountain Warfare. Copy filed as Appendix No. 3.
b. Programme for Air Co-operation Course to start on 11th November 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 4.
5 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) At 05:35 hours information was received that S.S. LOCHNAGAR proceeding to AKUREYRI had caught fire off the North West coast in the neighbourhood of KOGURNES as a result of an explosion in the after-hold. She was escorted by H M Trawler, “WISTERIA”. Messages indicated that the troops had been landed in REYKJAFJORDUR in the vicinity of DJUPAVIK and that the fire was being brought under control. In the afternoon further reports were received from civilian sources that both vessels had sailed again Eastwards into the HUNAFLOI. The weather in that area was bad, a strong breeze from the North West blowing with 10/10ths cloud at 1000 feet and less in the frequent snow squalls, temperature about 28 degrees Fahrenheit. No direct contact with, or information from, either vessel was received during the day and no news was received of their location or state, after the message reporting their sailing. There are 29 Officers and 285 Other Ranks on board. Naval and RAF assistance to make contact could not be obtained owing to other operational commitments for those two services elsewhere.
(2) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) held a conference for Sector Commanders on Winter Training.
(3) The Anti-aircraft operations room at the Combined Operations Room at Force HQ was opened today and the operating personnel moved in. The room is not yet in operation.
(4) The following were issued :-
a. Instructions for TEWT on Mountain Warfare. Copy filed as Appendix No. 5.
b. Notes on G.O.C’s. conference on policy for Winter Warfare School (held on 1st November 1941). Copy filed as Appendix No. 6.
6 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) S.S. LOCHNAGAR reached AKUREYRI at 10:10 hours today. The cause of the accident was a fire in the engine room which blew in the wall between the engine room and hold. No-one was reported injured but a certain amount of cargo, including some Nissen Hut-ends had to be jettisoned, and a teleprinter was damaged. Acting Commander 146 Infantry Brigade has convened a Court of Enquiry and a report is being furnished by the Captain to D.S.T.O.
(2) The road Reykjavik – AKUREYRI is now blocked at BAKKASEL.
(3) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) conducted a TEWT on mountain warfare in the Alafoss – THINGVELLIR area for Brigade and Battalion Commanders.
(4) The following were issued :-
a. Amendment to programme for Course No. 1 at Winter Warfare School. Copy filed as Appendix No. 7.
7 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) held his final conference on the TEWT on Mountain Warfare.
(2) Reports were received that the road Reykjavik – Akranes was impassable at the Eastern end of Hvalfjordur owing to ice conditions. The road Borganes – Blonduos is passable. The road Blonduos – AKUREYRI is deep in snow drifts but a civilian bus was able to make one journey. The road from AKUREYRI Eastwards is closed at BOLSTADARHILID.
(3) The following were issued :-
a. Notes on the G.O.C’s. training conference held on 5th November 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 8.
b. Programme for Course No. 9 at Force Tactical School (Senior Officers). Copy filed as Appendix No. 9.
c. Amendment to programme for Course No. 1 at Winter Warfare School. Copy filed as Appendix No. 10.
8 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) visited Hvalfjordur and was received on board H M S King George V by Sir John Tovey Commander in Chief, Home Fleet.
9 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The Force Tactical School reopened at the newly constructed tactical school on the Concrete Road, Reykjavik and the Senior Officers Course (Course No. 9) assembled.
(2) Information was received that the road Reykjavik – AKUREYRI – HUSAVIK is now open to traffic again.
(3) The following were issued :-
a. Programme for Courses 10, 11 and 12 (Company Commanders) at the Force Tactical School. Copy filed as Appendix No. 11.
b. Force Operation Instruction No. 65 on the return of works units to the UK. Copy filed as Appendix No. 12.
c. Force Intelligence Summary No. 81. Copy filed as Appendix No. 13.
d. Amendment No. 2 to Force Location Statement No. 15. Copy filed as Appendix No. 14.
10 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A message (99754) dated 4th November having been received from the War Office authorising the institution of a complete censorship on all press messages originating in Iceland, as a result of conversations with A.C.I.C., the Acting A.O.C. Iceland, H B M Minister, Iceland Base Command and the Icelandic Government arrangements were made that all communications from press correspondents should be submitted to joint British and American censorship and that as a voluntary measure the Icelandic Government had been requested to instruct the Director of Posts and Telegraphs not to accept for transmission any press message not bearing a censorship stamp. A message (0. 1328) was today sent to the War Office setting out the arrangements made, but emphasising that owing to the present political crisis in Icelandic internal affairs it was unlikely that any definite agreement by the Icelandic Government to the proposals could be obtained immediately. Copy of message filed as Appendix No. 15.
(2) A report was received from the Coast Watching Post at FLATEYRI of the sighting of a suspected parachute mine over the sea at 14:15 hours today.
11 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The cable to UK was reported as broken in the FAEROES this morning but was repaired and available for traffic at 16:15 hours.
(2) Force Air Liaison Course started at REYKJAVIK aerodrome.
12 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Report was received that the road EGILSSTADIR – REYDARFJORDUR is now open again for traffic.
(2) Addition to list of Ranges was published. Copy filed as Appendix No. 16.
13 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The roads EGILSSTADIR – REYDARFJORDUR and EGILSSTADIR – SEYDISFJORDUR are closed.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Force Operation Instruction No. 66 on the relief of 699 General Construction Company, Royal Engineers. Copy filed as Appendix No. 17.
b. Amendment to Operation Instruction No. 64. Copy filed as Appendix No. 18.
c. Message G. 715 bringing Code Name List No. 23 into force. Copy filed as Appendix No. 19.
14 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
NIL.
15 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) S.S. BANFORA reached Reykjavik and landed three Officers for Force Specialist Training School staff and eight Officers from the UK to attend the first Course at the School.
16 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Lt Col L F Heard (G.S.O.1) left for the UK on leave.
(2) 803 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers embarked on S.S. BANFORA for return to the UK and sailed during the evening.
(3) Force Intelligence Summary No. 80 was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 20.
17 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following were issued :-
a. Additions to the list of Ranges. Copy filed as Appendix No. 21.
b. General Instructions for Force Exercise No. 14 of 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 22.
18 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) An exercise of the Force HQ Defence Scheme covering ALABASTER and FENTON STREET CAMPS was held between 14:30 and 15:25 hours today.
(2) The following documents for Force Exercise No. 14 of 1941 were issued :-
a. Opening situation and narrative. Copy filed as Appendix No. 23.
b. List of Code Names. Copy filed as Appendix No. 24.
19 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Exercise No. 14 of 1941 (a signal exercise for Divisional HQ and Signals) was held today starting at 08:30 hours and Divisional HQ was established at HELGAFELL HOSPITAL, Helgafell by 11:30 hours. The scheme was designed to exercise the R.O.F.T. system and envisaged a seaborne landing of about one enemy Division on the sea coast (represented by the Western shores of THINGVELLIR lake). The G.O.C. went forward with an “O” Group at 12:45 hours and attacks were launched on features North of the road Alafoss – THINGVELLIR from 13:55 hours onwards. Night operations were included, including a move of HQ 147 Infantry Brigade and 1/ 5 West Yorks and 1/ 6 Duke of Wellington’s from area road GEITHALS – THINGVELLIR to area Helgafell. At midnight the exercise was continuing. Strong gales blew throughout the day and there were frequent rain squalls.
(2) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) gave the first talk on the Educational broadcast period which was today inaugurated over the Icelandic State Broadcast Service.
(3) Additions to list of ranges were issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 25.
20 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Exercise No. 14 of 1941 continued today and was concluded at 14:30 hours. An attack by 70th Infantry Brigade was staged at 09:00 hours with 147 Infantry Brigaade moving forward to leapfrog through on the 70th Infantry Brigade objectives being taken as was the case. An attack on Divisional HQ by parachutists was included. The weather continued gusty with rain squalls moderating during the morning.
(2) Force Training Instruction No. 22 on Winter Warfare Training was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 26.
21 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Arrangements were made in agreement with the A.C.I.C. for the visibility of lights at DADATANGI and KAMBARNES by the Icelandic authorities.
22 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Operation Instruction No. 67 on the return of 687 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers and 807 Road Construction Company Royal Engineers to the UK was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 27.
23 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Instructions were issued to Commander, Royal Artillery to investigate the installation of a U.P. Projector provided by the Royal Navy as an additional defence to the Combined Operations Room at ARTUN.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Force Chemical Warfare Summary No. 4. Copy filed as Appendix No. 28.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 83. Copy filed as Appendix No. 29.
24 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) First Company Commanders Course commenced at Force Tactical School and was opened by Major General Curtis (G.O.C.).
(2) The following were issued :-
a. General Instructions for Force Exercise No. 15 of 1941. (Air Defence). Copy filed as Appendix No. 30.
b. Force Operation Instruction No. 68 on the organisation of 49 Mountain Division. Copy filed as Appendix No. 31.
c. Force Operation Instruction No. 69 on the organisation of 49 Divisional Reconnaissance Unit. Copy filed as Appendix No. 32.
d. Intelligence Summary on Winter Warfare. Copy filed as Appendix No.33.
25 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Operation Order No. 2 revised was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 34.
26 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A conference on the air defence of Iceland attended by A.C.I.C., A.O.C., Commander, Royal Artillery and representatives of Iceland Base Command and Anti-aircraft defences. A copy of the minutes of the conference is attached as Appendix No. 35.
(2) The following instructions in reference to Force Exercise No. 15 of 1941 were issued :-
a. Instructions for Umpires. Copy filed as Appendix No. 36.
b. Programme of incidents. Copy filed as Appendix No. 37.
27 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) held a two-day administrative exercise on problems of administration arising on a landing on hostile soil. Major J J Packard (G.S.O.2 (Ops)), Major W M M Bratby (G.S.O.2 (I)) and Captain J Copeland (Acting G.S.O.3 (O)) attended representing the “G” Branch.
28 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Administrative exercises started yesterday continued.
(2) Discussions between Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) and Major General Bonesteel, Commanding General Iceland Base Command and their respective staffs on the co-ordination between British and American troops in Iceland were today concluded by the joint signature of a memorandum on co-ordination of joint operations. A copy was sent to the War Office. Copies filed as Appendices Nos. 38 and 39.
(3) Force Exercise No. 15 of 1941 was held, commencing at 22:30 hours and terminating at 23:59 hours. It was intended that a “blackout” of all electric current in Reykjavik – Hafnafjordur and Alafoss should be included in the Exercise and that the Passive Air Defence incidents included should be dealt with in conditions of “black-out” but at the request of the A.O.C. RAF Iceland the electric current was not switched off, nor was any Anti-aircraft barrage fired, as a Wellington bomber was overdue and might be in the area at any time during the period of the exercise. In consequence full value from the exercise was not obtained but the Passive Air Defence arrangements in Camps and the Anti-aircraft G.O.R signals exercise were able to proceed.
(4) Reports were received about 23:00 hours that the missing aircraft had been seen at STYKKISHOLMUR (North West Sector) and reports from Icelandic civilians indicated that there was a probability that it had crashed in the hills to the South West of that town. 1/ 5 West Yorks at Borganes were instructed to send out four search parties to that area and a code of signals arranged with the RAF for liaison with the air patrols the A.O.C. proposes to despatch at first light.
(5) Instructions were issued that the Force Manning Exercise provisionally fixed for 3rd December would not now take place. Copy filed as Appendix No. 40.
29 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The search for the missing bomber aircraft in the SNAEFELLSNES peninsula continued but it was not located.
(2) Information having been received that the civil police in Reykjavik were proposing to install wireless transmitting sets in police cars, H B M Minister was informed that the G.O.C. did not think it possible to permit the use of these wireless sets by the police but that every assistance would be given by military sets.
30 November 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following were issued :-
a. Instructions for first NCO’s course at Specialist Training School. Copy filed as Appendix No. 41.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 85. Copy filed as Appendix No. 42.
c. Message G. 752 on arrangements for final conference for Force Exercise No. 15. Copy filed as Appendix No. 43.
d. Artun area defence scheme with sketch maps. Copies filed as Appendices Nos. 44 and 45.
Appendices attached to the November 1941 War Diary for G Branch, Iceland Force HQ.
None of the Appendices were photographed at The national Archives – this may have been because of the size and scale of the document – 45 this month alone – or it may have been because they had already been removed from the file.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.
