War Diary - G Branch - October 1941
1 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) In view of the considerable publicity which had been given by the Icelandic press to the reports emanating from a “Morality” Committee on the question of relations between troops of the British Forces in Iceland and Icelandic women a statement was prepared analysing the evidence submitted to the committee and a copy of the statement proposed to be made by the G.O.C. to the Icelandic press was sent to H B M Minister.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Force Training Instruction No. 17. Copy filed as Appendix No. 1.
b. General Instructions for Force Exercise No. 11 of 1941 (Signals Exercise). Copy filed as Appendix No. 2.
2 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major S W M Whitehead (G.S.O.2 (Training)) returned from the UK.
3 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A conference was held at Force HQ at which a statement was issued to the Icelandic press on the reports of the Icelandic Morality Committee and they were given an opportunity of reading the analysis of the evidence produced before the committee prepared by Force HQ.
(2) Major J J Packard (G.S.O.2 (Ops)) left for a tour of the North West and North East Sectors.
4 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Captain E H Stafford, Sherwood Foresters, assumed appointment as G.S.O. 3 (Ops).
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Opening situation for Force Exercise No. 11 of 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 3.
b. Amendment No. 8 to Force Operation Instruction No. 30. Copy filed as Appendix No. 4.
5 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Remaining two Companies 12th Battalion, Worcester Regiment embarked for the UK on S.S. BERGENSFJORD.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Force Location Statement No. 15. Copy filed as Appendix No. 5.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 76. Copy filed as Appendix No. 6.
6 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following documents for Force Exercise No. 11 of 1941 were issued :-
a. Code Names. Copy filed as Appendix No. 7.
b. Movement Table. Copy filed as Appendix No. 8.
7 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Exercise No. 11 of 1941 commenced at 06:00 hours. It involved HQ staffs including such of Force HQ as are part of a Divisional staff establishment. The Divisional HQ opened at KOTASTROND at 10:30 hours, closed there and opened again at the Selfoss road junction on the road Reykjavik – ALVIDRA at 19:00 hours. The exercise terminated at 20:30 hours.
8 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Training Instruction No. 18 was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 9.
9 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Agreement was reached with Commanding General Iceland Base Command, on the allocation of a weekly short period broadcast from VATNSENDI transmitting station both to USA and Great Britain to be operated by US troops and British troops respectively, the scripts being considered jointly by the Intelligence Branch of each Force.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Amendment No. 1 to Force Operation Instruction No. 41. Copy filed as Appendix No. 10.
b. Amendment No. 1 to Force Order of Battle. Copy filed as Appendix No. 11.
10 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish interchanged positions in the South West Sector.
(2) Major General Kirkup (Acting G.O.C.) held a conference of heads of Branches on the establishment of a mountain warfare school at AKUREYRI. The following decisions were made :-
a. Each Course would take 70 Officer students.
b. First Course to start about 17th November.
c. Courses to last five weeks.
d. Accommodation to be found from additional hutting but temporary arrangements would have to be made in the Sector, possibly by the use of accommodation released by the completion of the HRAFNAGRIL hospital. Commander, 146 Infantry Brigade was advised.
(3) Major General Kirkup (G.O.C.) held a conference on the Force Exercise No.11 of 1941.
(4) An unidentified aircraft was heard but not seen in the North East Sector , at 19:08 hours at BUDAREYRI and at 19:50 hours at ESKIFJORDUR. No British or USA aircraft were known to be in that area.
(5) General Instructions for Force Exercise No. 12 of 1941 were issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 12.
11 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Preliminary Instructions for Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941 (Intelligence Exercise) were issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 13.
12 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major J J Packard (G.S.O.2 (Ops)) returned from North East Sector.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Amendment No. 2 to Force Order of Battle. Copy filed as Appendix No. 14.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 77. Copy filed as Appendix No. 15.
13 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Letter sending Code Name List No. 23 and additions to List No. 22 was issued. Copies filed as Appendices 16, 17 and 18.
14 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The weekly inter-service conference was held today at Force HQ. The principal decision made was to form a committee in co-operation with the Icelandic Government to assist in preventing any deterioration of morale which might result from the presence of the services in the island.
15 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Exercise No. 12 of 1941 began at 06:00 hours once again in heavy rain. The only road available through the area of operations rapidly gave way under the heavy traffic and Motor Transport found difficulty in moving further in or withdrawing while control by the Control Staff was extremely difficult. The force operating from the South gained contact with the Advance Guard of the Northern forces but otherwise the main bodies of troops were not fully deployed. At 16:00 hours Major General Kirkup decided to cancel the exercise and operations were put in hand for the recovery of the vehicles and restoration of the road.
(2) Force Training Instructions 19 and 20 were issued. Copies filed as Appendices 19 and 20.
16 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The remaining troops in yesterday’s exercise returned. Four vehicles from 70th Infantry Brigade and eight from 147 Infantry Brigade remain to be recovered.
(2) Instructions were issued that the Company Pioneer Corps occupying BRADFORD CAMP, Reykjavik would come under command Force HQ for for protection and defence of the HQ area.
(3) Information was received that the road between REYDARFJORDUR and SEYDISFJORDUR is now closed by snow. The road AKUREYRI – SEYDISFJORDUR is still open.
(4) Instructions were issued for the supply of certain meteorological information to the RAF Meteorological Office at AKUREYRI from the following Coast Watching Posts viz. SIGLUFJORDUR, DALVIK, GRENIVIK and HJALTEYRI in the North East Sector and to the Meteorological Office in Reykjavik from the Posts at Akranes, SANDGERDI, GERDAR, GRINDAVIK, Vik, SANDUR, VATTARNES, BUDAREYRI and HOFN.
(5) Force Operation Instruction No. 61 on Recognition of Enemy parachute troops was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 21.
17 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Kirkup (Acting G.O.C.) held a conference on Force Exercise No. 12 of 1941 attended by all Officers taking part.
(2) Information was received that snow was falling on the road over the high ground between Blonduos and AKUREYRI making it doubtful if the road could be used.
(3) The following were issued :-
a. Additions to Code Names Lists Nos. 22 and 23. Copy filed as Appendix No. 22.
b. Amendment No.2 to Force Operation Instruction No. 41. Copy filed as Appendix No. 23.
18 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Information was received that the road between Borganes and Reykerskoli was impeded by a slight fall of snow but remains passable. The road EGILSSTADIR – REYDARFJORDUR and road HUSAVIK – KORAKKER closed with snow. Road communication to SEYDISFJORDUR is impossible.
(2) S.S. BERGENSFJORD reached Reykjavik having on board 2nd Kensingtons (Machine Gun) (relief for 1/ 9 Manchesters (Machine Gun)), Section of 1 Motor Boat Company, Royal Army Service Corps, 74 Section Field Security Corps and other details. Owing to weather conditions all troops could not be disembarked during the day and 2nd Kensingtons remained on board.
19 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Disembarkation from S.S. BERGENSFJORD continued in improved weather and the relief of Battalion HQ and two Companies 1/ 9 Manchesters (M.G.) in South West Sector by equivalent strength of 2nd Kensingtons (M.G.) was completed.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Instructions for Umpires for Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 24.
b. Force Intelligence Summary No. 78. Copy filed as Appendix No. 25.
20 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) H M T LEINSTER reached Reykjavik from UK with sundry drafts on board which were disembarked and two Companies 2nd Kensingtons (M.G.) taken on board for North West Sector.
(2) Captain D. Hunter, Somerset Light Infantry, reported to Force HQ on taking up appointment as G.S.O.3 (Training) in place of Captain H A V Spencer, West Yorkshires.
(3) Amendment No. 1 to Force Location Statement No. 15 issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 26.
21 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following was issued :-
a. Force Training Instruction No. 21. Copy filed as Appendix No. 27.
22 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis returned from the UK and resumed command of the Force.
(2) A Northrop aircraft of the Norwegian Squadron crashed on landing at AKUREYRI but was later successfully salvaged. The pilot was unhurt.
(3) Relief of one Company 1/ 9 Manchesters (M.G.) at REYDARFJORDUR by one Company of 2nd Kensingtons (M.G.) was complete and the Company of 1/ 9 Manchesters (M.G.) embarked on H M T LEINSTER.
23 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) attended a field firing exercise at Kleifervatn in which 1st Tyneside Scottish demonstrated a Battalion in the attack in hilly country including the use of artillery and mortar support. Bad weather seriously interfered with the exercise.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Force Operation Instruction No. 62 on the return of Works units and Company Pioneer Corps to the UK. Copy filed as Appendix No. 28.
b. Force Operation Instruction No. 63 on channels of Communication and administration in North East Sector. Copy filed as Appendix No. 29.
(3) In view of certain difficulties arising on censorship of news messages both to Great Britain and the USA a message (0. 1276) was sent to the War Office dealing with the queries on two messages relating to U.S.S. KEARNEY and urging the establishment of a complete censorship in ICELAND.
(4) Relief of one Company 1/ 9 Manchesters (M.G.) by one Company 2nd Kensingtons (M.G.) at AKUREYRI was completed. One Company 1/ 9 Manchesters (M.G.) and 804 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers embarked on H M T LEINSTER for Reykjavik.
24 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A letter was received from A.O.C. Iceland on the question of the employment of RAF personnel who had no other duties in action in the defence of REYKJAVIK aerodrome in the event of attack. Commander 70th Infantry Brigade was requested to forward his proposals.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. Instructions for Force Examination in Icelandic. Copy filed as Appendix No. 31.
b. General Instructions for Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 32.
c. Amendment to Force Training Instruction No.20. Copy filed as Appendix No. 33.
25 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following were issued :-
a. Amendment No. 13 to Force Operation Instruction No. 17. Copy filed as Appendix No. 34.
b. Instructions for enemy Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941. Copy filed as Appendix No. 35.
c. List of locations of tourist rest houses and shelter huts (“Saeluhus”) in Iceland. Copy filed as Appendix No. 36.
26 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) The following were issued :-
a. Amendments to Instructions for Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941. Copies filed as Appendices No. 37 and 38.
b. Instructions for Course No. 1 Winter Warfare School. Copy filed as Appendix No. 39.
c. Instructions for G.O.C’s. Model Exercise on Mountain Warfare. Copy filed as Appendix No. 40.
d. Force Intelligence Summary No. 79. Copy filed as Appendix No. 41.
e. Opening situation and programme for Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941. Copies filed as Appendices No. 42 and 43.
27 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) attended a field firing exercise carried out by 1st Tyneside Scottish at Kleifervatn. The exercise was a repetition of that which was postponed on the 23rd October.
(2) The following were issued :-
a. List of ranges. Copy filed as Appendix No. 44.
b. Instructions for G.O.Cs. TEWT on Mountain Warfare. Copy filed as Appendix No. 45.
c. Additions to list of Camp Names. Copy filed as Appendix No. 46.
28 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Between 11:10 and 11:30 hours heavy gunfire was heard from out at sea off Reykjavik. No British ships were known to be in this vicinity and the cause was provisionally ascribed to gunnery practice by the US Battleships which sailed from Iceland yesterday for training.
(2) H M T LEINSTER reached Reykjavik from AKUREYRI.
(3) The following points were discussed at this week’s inter-service conference :-
a. Priorities of work consequent on the return of certain Royal Engineers units to the UK. In particular No. 4 runway at REYKJAVIK aerodrome will only be completed to half width.
b. Increase in the power used on Reykjavik W/T transmission. This is useful for RAF aircraft in bad weather.
c. Relighting of certain Icelandic lighthouses for Royal Navy purposes.
d. Advice of RAF Officers on air tactics in Force exercises.
e. Official mail deliveries to East Coast by RAF aircraft.
(4) Notes on the formation of an Alpine Division prepared by the G.O.C. and taken by him to the War Office at the beginning of the month were formally submitted to the War Office. Copy filed as Appendix No. 47.
29 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941 was carried out today in the Hafnafjordur area. The Intelligence Officers and Intelligence Sections of all Battalions of the 70th and 147th Infantry Brigades and of 1/ 5 West Yorks took part. The exercise lasted from 09:30 hours to 16:00 hours and included a dive bombing attack carried out by an aircraft from 330 Squadron RAF. Major General Curtis (G.O.C.) and several Officers from Iceland Base Command (US Troops) were present during the afternoon.
(2) Instructions were given for the diversion of the VHF link from the Reykjavik – Akranes – Borganes service to provide communication with the CD/CHL set at VIK.
(3) Embarkment of 688 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers and 89 Company Pioneer Corps in H M T LEINSTER for UK commenced.
(4) The following were issued :-
a. Additions to Force Code Names List. Copy filed as Appendix No. 48.
b. Notice of a combined manning exercise and counter attack on REYKJAVIK aerodrome. Copy filed as Appendix No. 49.
30 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) A practice of the alarm systems at Force HQ (including both ALABASTER and FENTON STREET CAMPS) was held at 13:55 hours.
(2) Programme for G.O.C’s. model exercise on mountain warfare was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 50.
31 October 1941 – Artun, Iceland.
(1) Major General Curtis held a conference on Force Exercise No. 13 of 1941 attended by all Officers and NCOs engaged on it.
(2) Instructions were issued to provide for the despatch of official mail to the North East Sector by all Royal Navy and RAF craft going to ports in that Sector and for notification of sailings to be given to all concerned.
(3) Winter training programme for Force HQ personnel was issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 51.
(4) The general scheme for the G.O.C’s. model Exercise on mountain warfare was prepared and issued. Copy filed as Appendix No. 52.
Appendices attached to the October 1941 War Diary for Iceland Force HQ G Branch.
The Appendices listed above – totalling some 52 documents were either missing from the War Diary file or were not photographed due to their bulk,
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