War Diary: 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment

Month and year: Febuary 1944

During the 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment February 1944 war diary the unit is mainly based at Gullane, Gosford, Strathpeffer taking part in training and exercises.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1269

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WO 171/1269 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Page 1 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
GULLANE	1	1105	Preliminary Gas Report stating that Wheeled Exit RED Beach contaminated with
			Mustard Gas.
		1205	Wheeled Entrance RED Beach also contaminated with Mustard Gas Detours made
			in both circuits.
		1450	The use of Tear Gas reported in vicinity of Wheeled Exit GREEN beach. One
			vehicle is heavily contaminated.
		1450	Water point, suspected of being contaminated is tested, decontaminated and
			reported fit for consumption.
	2	0400	GREEN BEACH attacked by Enemy a/c. 12' Bomb Crater in Wheeled Exit.
		0045	RED BEACH attacked by ENEMY a/c 12' Bomb Crater in Entrance.
		0145	One ENEMY a/c attacked the DID causing damage to the Entrance.
		0155	Damage to RED and GREEN Beaches repaired and normal traffic conditions
			resumed.
		0240	Damaged Entrance to DID repaired.
		2359	Bad weather continues unabated and only a very small quantity of stores

Page 2 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			continues to trickle in
	3	0300	Small Fire broke out in the Ammunition Dump. Extinguished 0305hrs.
		1800	Despite the elements a strenuous attempt was made all day yesterday to work
			both LBVs and DUKWS but again the weather won and after a trickle of stores had been produced during the afternoon and evening, the LBVs decided to return to
			Port Seton and eventually even the DUKWS were defeated. As the result of the Storms of the last two days nearly half the LBV are out of action and
			with no prospect of the weather abating Control decided to end the Exercise and Orders were issued to that effect at 1800hrs.
	4	0900	Dispersal begins and by 1800hrs all personnel are back in billets at GULLANE and GOSFORD Camps.
GOSFORD	8		A Coy proceeded to Portobello, B Coy to Musselburgh, C Coy to Haddington to load stores into Coasters, etc for use by (9 Beach Gp who were taking part
			in the next Exercise in this Area.
	8		Remainder of Group moves back to normal locations in accordance with 6 Beach	No 4 A No 5 B
			Group Movement Order No 4 and 5.
	9 - 22		Normal Training for Units stationed in STRATHPEFFER.
STRATHPEFFER	23	1040	A. B. C. Coys arrive from Exercise Area.
	24-29		Normal Training except for one small Exercise by A and B Coys designed to
			practice the control and beaching of craft, landing and passage of vehicles across the beaches and deployment of units in the Beach Area.

Page 3 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			OFFICERS. Promotions, Appointments, Postings etc.
			2/Lt Tasker to be WS Lt wef 4 Dec 43
			Maj J Beckett 2IC posted to 101 Reinforcements Group wef 17 Feb 44