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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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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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