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War Diary: 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

Month and year: January 1944

The 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry January 1944 war diary covers their time at Southwold and moving to Thetford.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1292

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Page 1 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
SOUTHWOLD SUMMARY This month has been taken up mainly with Coy and Individual training, inter pl. competitions
and a week's night training.
Jan 4/9 Exercise "Ibex" took place. The object of the exercise was to practice all commanders from Brigade
down to pl. Commander in briefing their men for an operation.
Jan 10 Fd. firing exercise for B and D Coys took place in Dunwich area. B Coy's exercise took place in the
morning and D Coy's in the afternoon. Each Coy had a squadron of tanks, 1 pl. M.M.G's and 1 pl. 4.2
mortars in support.
Jan 11 Bn. T.E.W.T. on defence for all officers took place in the area of Halesworth.
Jan 12 Lecture Was given by M.O. for all officers and serjeants on First Aid.
Jan 14/15 Inter pl. competition for A, B,C & D Coys took place. Bn Mine Course run by Pnr. Officer started and
goes on until Jan 17th.
Page 2 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
SOUTHWOLD Jan 20 Mines Course run by Pnr. Officer visited each Coy during the day and carried out demonstrations of
laying mines and breaching minefields.
Jan 21 Lecture given by C.O. to all officers, W.O's and full rank N.C.O's on Bn. Drill for night
attack and for passing vehicles through a breached minefield by night.
Jan 22 Bn. Exercise "Elk" took place in the area of Sudbourne. The object of the exercise was to practice
the assault R.E's in their work of breaching minefields and obstacles.
Jan 24 The Bn. commenced night training i.e. living by night and sleeping by day. A Bn. night exercise
took place in area of SouthCove.
Jan 25 Bde. Int. exercise "BLACKEYE" took place in the area of Halesworth. The object of the exercise was to
practice Int personnel in map reading by night selection and preparation of O.P.s during darkness, and
bridge and recce reports during darkness.
Page 3 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
SOUTHWOLD Jan 26 Bn. exercise took place in the area of Wangford and South Cove The object of the exercise was to practie
the bn during darkness forming a bridgehead through a minefield and then passing vechicles through a gap.
Jan 27 Bn night attack place in the Dunwich field firing area. The object of the exercise was the same as that
of the 26th Jan 1944 but with support of 1 bty arty, 1 pl. of 3" mortars and 2 secs of armies.
Jan 28 All rifle pls. and specialist pls. went out on 36 hr. schemes. During this period no one was allowed
to enter any buildings. Coy Commanders set various schemes for their pls. during this period.
Jan 29 2/ /Lt. Lt Holt, Lt Sanderson and Lt. Roberts reported for duty from heavy A/A.
Jan 30 The night training has now come to an end. The Bn is now getting ready for exercise "SWOP" This Bn.
is exchanging its location with the 6th Bn Green Howards of 67 Inf. Bde., which is at present in the
THETFORD area. The advance party left at 1230 hrs today. The operation instructions and the movement
order are shown appendix 'A'. Lt Ellis, Lt Davey and Lt Gregg reported for duty from hy. A/A.
Jan 31st Whole day in spent packing for move to Thetford.

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