War Diary: 151 Durham Infantry Brigade HQ

Month and year: Febuary 1944

The February 1944 151 Durham Infantry Brigade HQ covering their time in the UK based at Clare (Suffolk) taking part in training and exercises

National Archive Reference: WO 171/670

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Page 1 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Clare (Suffolk)	1	0930	Major BALLANTYNE, 9 RTR arrived at Bde HQ and was received by the Bde Comd
			when an Exercise on a Cloth Model of STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD area was discussed.
		1130	Bde Comd attended a conference held by G.O.C. 50 Div at Div HQ.
		1300	Lt-Col Sir W.M. MOUNT, Bt and Major BROWNRIGG, 61st Recce Regt had lunch at
			Bde HQ and subsequently had a discussion with the Bde Major re co-operation
			of Recce Regt with Infantry.
	2	0830	50 (N) Div Signal Exercise for Bde and Bn HQs was held in area BURY ST EDMUNDS.
			Exercise ended 1630 hrs.
		1030	Bde Comd arrived at Exercise Bde HQ and subsequently departed to THETFORD
			to attend training being carried out by 8 DLI.
	3	0930	Bde Comd visited 9 DLI
		1400	Capt G.E.H. MANSELL, Intelligence Officer left the Bde to take up the
			appointment of GSO III (I) at HQ 50(N) Div his duties being taken over by
			Lieut W.W. TEGGIN, 6 DLI
		1430	A Cloth Model Exercise on "Infantry Co-operation with Tanks " was held at

Page 2 of 6

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		Bde HQ. 6,8 and 9 DLI, 61 Recce Regt, 9 RTR, 74 Fd Regt, 107 A TK Bty(NH)
		were respresented.
4	1000	Bde Comd and Bde Major left for THRAPSTON to visit RE Bridging Assault Course.
5	1030	At Bde HQ the Bde Comd addressed all new officers of the three Bns
6		Bde Major held a conference for officers of Bde HQ on Exercise PRIMUS.
7	0930	Bde Cond visited the area STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD to watch a TEWT carried out by
		officers of 6 DLI.
	1000	Bde Major and Staff Capt went to HAVERHILL to recce the layout for the
		inspection of the Bde by Commander in Chief 21 Army Group which was to
		take place on the 15th.
	1400	Lieut SCOTT, 505 Fd Coy RE reported to Bde HQ to construct a "watersplash"
		in the neighbourhood of Bde HQ in order to test the waterproofing of vehicles
		of the Bde.
8	0930	Bde Comd left for THETFORD Training Area to watch an exercise carried out
		by 6 DLI.

Page 3 of 6

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1800	Col MATTHEWS, DSO, Hon Col The Durham Light Infantry arrived at Bde HQ
		for a stay of four days.
9	0930	Col MATTHEWS left for 9 DLI to spend the day there and meet officers and men.
	1400	Bde Comd and Bde Major left for STANFORD Battle Area to carry out a recce
		for forthcoming exercises.
to	0930	Col MATTHEWS left to visit 6 DLI and 8 DLI to meet the officers and men.
	1100	Personnel of Bde HQ left for COLCHESTER to fire on MIDDLEWICK range.
	1430	Bde Comd visited MIDDLEWICK Range to watch the firing of Bde HQ.
		Bde Major went to SUDBURY to interview the STOUR Catchment Water Board re
		the proposed "watersplash" to be built in the area of Bde HQ.
11	0845	Bde Comd left for SAXMUNDHAM (EAST SUFFOLK) to watch a demonstration by
		79 Armd Div.
	0945	Col MATTHEWS left to visit 70 Inf Bde HQ to see Brig E.C. COOKE -COLLIS, DSO,
		and DLI Bns.
	1200	Major FILOR, EAST YORKS REGT reported to Bde HQ with reference to

Page 4 of 6

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		forthcoming training on combined operations.
12	1015	Bde Major and Staff Captain left for HAVERHILL to complete arrangements for the
		visit of C in C.
13	0915	Bde Comd left for LONDON to attend a conference with G.O.C. 50(N) Div at
		Advanced 50(N) Div HQ.
14	1315	Bde I.O. left on a recce of STANFORD Battle Area.
		Bde Comd returned from LONDON.
15	1000	Major FILOR left Bde HQ to take up an appointment with the CANADIAN Army
		Special Driving School.
	1230	C in C 21 Army Group, General Sir B.L. MONTGOMERY, KCB, DSO addressed the
		troops of 151 (Durham) Inf Bde at HAVERHILL on the forthcoming invasion
		of the Continent. After his address he arrived at Bde HQ to lunch with
		Comd 30 Corps Lieut General G.O. BUCKMAN, CB, MC, Comd 50(N) Div,Major General
		D.A.H. GRAHAM, CBE, DSO, MC and the Bde Comd, Brig R.H. SENIOR, DSO.
	1430	C in C left Bde HQ.

Page 5 of 6

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1700	Bde Comd held a conference at Bde HQ at which COs of the three Bns and the
		Bde Major attended.
16	0900	Bde Comd left for SHADWELL COURT, THETFORD to visit Brig COOKE-OOLLIS, DSO,
		Comd 70 Inf Bde.
	1700	Bde Comd held a conference at Bde HQ at which COs of Bns and Bde Major attended.
		Bde I.O. visited Main 50(N) Div HQ to see G.S.O. II and G.S.O. III (Ops).
17	1430	Bde Comd left for a conference with G.O.C. 50(N) Div at Div HQ.
	1430	Bde I.O. left for a recce of STANFORD Battle Area.
18	0930	Bde Comd and Bde Major went to 6 DLI to recce with Major G.L.WOOD, MC,
		(2 i/c) the area and arrange the programme for the visit of H.M. King
		GEORGE VI on 23rd February.
19	0915	Lieut K SALTER, GHQ Liaison Regt addressed all officers of Bde HQ on the
		work of "Phantoms" in action.
20	1330	Bde I.O. left to report to Adv 50(N) Div HQ.
21	0830	Bde Comd and Bde Major left for STANFORD Battle Area to direct exercise "FOX"

Page 6 of 6

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1200	Capt J.W. THOMPSON, RA arrived at Bde HQ to take up appointment of GSO III
22	1100	A rehearsal for the visit of H.M. King GEORGE VI was held at SHUDY CAMPS at
		which Div Comd 9 Brig Comd and Bde Major attended .
23	1115	H.M. King GEORGE VI watched an exercise carried out by 6 DLI and later
		inspected troops of the Bde. Officers of Bde HQ were introduced to His
		Majesty.
24	0830	Bde Comd and Bde Major attended Exercise "FOX" at STANFORD Battle Area.
25	0830	Bde Comd and Bde Major attended Exercise "FOX" at STANFORD Battle Area.
26	1400	Bde Comd and Bde Major left to visit the area of SOUTHWOLD (EAST SUFFOLK)
27	1030	A discussion was held at Bde HQ on a Cloth Model on Exercise "FOX". All officers
		of the Bns and officers of 86 Fd Regt who took part in the exercise attended.
28	0830	Bde Major proceeded on leave.
29	0930	Bde Comd visited the three Bns.

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War Diary: 151 Durham Infantry Brigade HQ

Month and year: Febuary 1944

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