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National Archive Reference: WO 171/1269
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRATHPEFFER | 1 | Lt Col RDR Sale, TD was awarded OBE (Military Division) in the New Year's Honours, Capt Rev RJE Dix, Ch F received MRE and Sjt Instr S. RIDER, APTC | ||
| the BEM, | ||||
| 0800 | Exercise SMASH postponed for twenty-four hours, owing to inclement weather. | |||
| Wef 1 Jan 44 overseas documentation was introduced within the Unit and administration is carried out by GHQ 2nd Echelon. | ||||
| 2 | 0915 | Exercise SMASH cancelled. All elements of 6 Beach Gp which were to have landed "wetshod" returned from conc areas. | ||
| 1030 | Church Parade for all units in STRATHPEFFER. | |||
| 3 | 1400 | Comd Offr attends conference at HQ 101 Beach Sub Area. QMS(ORS) K.BATEMAN | ||
| left for 2nd echelon, 21 Army Group. | ||||
| 4 | Visit of Comd 3 Br Inf Div, Maj Gen TG RENNIE, DSO, MBE who was accompanied | |||
| by comd 101 Beach Sub Area. | ||||
| 6 | Comd Offr visited HQ 103 HAA Regt RA. | |||
| 7 | Conference for exercise GRAB at BRAHAN CASTLE. All Comds of Units in 6 Beach Group were briefed from cloth model of the exercise area. | |||
| 8 | Wetshod parties moved to Assembly Area, in accordance with 6 Beach Gp Movement Order No 1. | |||
| 9 | Dryshod parties moved to Assembly Areas in accordance with 6 Beach Group Mov. Order No 2. The party for GREEN Beach was billeted in two churches and | |||
| three granaries at BURGHEAD and the party for WHITE beach in three 'robins' and two 'super robins' lent by RAF Sta KINLOSS, | ||||
| 10 | 0940 | H Hour for exercise GRAB. Comd Offr was chief umpire of the Beach Gp. Comds 1 Corps, 3 Br Inf Div and 101 Beach Sub Area visited Beach Gp HQ during | ||
| the day. | ||||
| 10 | 5381657 CSM K.BATEMAN long associated with the Rn sustained a severe injury | |||
| to his leg and is admitted to Fort George hospital. | ||||
| /11th |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1200 | Cease Fire' The exercise was designed to test the Beach Group in the assault phase, ie in landing large numbers of personnel and vehs of the | ||
| assaulting division. D. Day conditions were very difficult, the weather being-particularly inclement. | ||||
| 1830 | Convoy left BURGHEAD area for STRATHPEFFER. Roads were ice bound and progress elow | |||
| 12 | 0400 | Arrival of convoy. | ||
| 1000 | Comd Offer Beach Coy Comds (Maj RGH BROCKLEHURST and Maj H.C. le NEVE FOSTER) attend conference at HQ 101 Beach Sub Area to decide on landing priorities | |||
| for Beach Gp from H to H+90. Staff table issued showing assault and Residual Scales of an Inf Bn. | ||||
| 13 | 1000 | Conference at HQ 101 Beach Sub Area contd. | ||
| 15 | 1015 | Conference at HQ 3 Br Inf Div on exercise GRAB. Comd 3 Br Inf Div addressed all Officers. | ||
| 16 | 1015 | Church parade. | ||
| 1115 | Conference for all and ORs down to and incl Cpls in Exercise GRAB. | |||
| 20 | Exercise ROUNDABOUT IV, 6 Beach Gp Movement Order No 1 issued. | A' | ||
| 21 | Administrative Instruction No I issued | B' | ||
| 22 | 6 Beach Gp Operation Order No 1 together with 1st Key Plan issued also Administrative Instr No. 2. | C' 'D' | ||
| IO leaves group and is attached to 101 Beach Sub Area for an indefinite | ||||
| period. | ||||
| 23 | 0830 | Advance road parties leave present locations for exercise area GOSFORD and GUILANE, E.LOTHIAN in accordance with App A to 6 Beach Group Movement | ||
| Order No 1. | ||||
| 1115 | Gp Comd holds briefing conference on exercise ROUNDABOUT in the Pavilion Strathpeffer for Comds, WOs and NCOs down and incl Cpls. | |||
| 24 | Advance rail parties leave for GOSFORD And GULLANE in accordance Appx B to 6 Beach Gp Mov Order No 1. Gp Comd and MLO leave for exercise area. | E' and 'F' | ||
| 6 Beach Gp Mov Orders Nos 2 and 3 issued |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 0830 | Movement of main body begins. Vehs of Group at assault scale leave at 0830 hrs | ||
| staging for one night at PERTH and arrive at exercise area 1300 hrs the following day. | ||||
| 1930 | First half of main body leaves by rail beginning at 1930 hrs arriving exercise area approx first light the following day. | |||
| 26 | 1935 | Second half of main body leaves by rail beginning 1935 hrs arriving exercise area approx first light the following day. | ||
| GOSFORD HOUSE | 27-28 | Settling-in and final preparations for exercise completed. | ||
| 1500 | O.Gp assembles and final orders issued by Gp Comd. | |||
| 29 | D.Day During the early hours WETSHOD parties leave the camp for GRANTON harbour where they embark. DRYSHOD parties assemble in marshalling areas | |||
| then move in tpt to exercise area and are re-assembled ready to feed in on beaches in accordance with the Landing Table. | ||||
| GULLANE | H Hour. 1st elements of Beach Gp land deployment proceeds smoothly. | |||
| 1200 | R' Gp lands. Gp Comd assumes control of beaches and established Command | |||
| Post Initial recce of BMA is carried out by 2IC. | ||||
| 1420 | Wheeled veh exit on red beach is opened. | |||
| 1620 | Wheeled and tracks exit completed on DOG GREEN. Wheeled exit on DOG RED completed. All Beach Areas cleared of mines. | |||
| 1700 | Orders received that 1st Flight of coasters will sail from LEITH D+1 0830 hrs. | |||
| 1900 | Additional exit under construction for GREEN Beach. DUKW (exit and entrance) | |||
| tracked for two way traffic. | ||||
| 30 | 0010 | Water point opens. The whole of the BMA ready to operate and receive and issue stores. | ||
| 0945 | Coasters sail from LEITH 0845 hrs. 2nd Key Plan issued. | |||
| 1210 | 1st coaster beached on DOG RED. Unloading commenced by DUKW's 1245 hrs. | |||
| 2359 | During the first twenty four hours approx 800 tons of stores were unloaded. | |||
| The Weather appears determined to oppose the keen-ness and enthusiasm of the troops to unload a record tonnage of stores by continuing to blow at gale | ||||
| force making the unloading a hazardous and difficult project. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 4 more coasters sail from LEITH. | |||
| 1415 | The use of GAS reported imminent against the BMA. | |||
| 2359 | The weather continues unabated with the result that it was only possible | |||
| to unload a total of 553 tons during the second twenty four hours. | ||||
| EXERCISE ROUNDABOUT IV continues. | ||||
| OFFICERS PROMOTIONS; APPOINTMENTS, POSTINGS etc. | ||||
| STRATHPEFFER | 6 | Capt JD BICKNELL relinquishes appointment of Adjt 1 Bucks wef 6 Jan 44 and | ||
| assumes appointment of Staff Capt within WE of 101 Beach Sub Area and attached to 6 Beach Group. | ||||
| Capt M FLOWER assumes appointment of Adjt 1 Bucks wef 7 Jan 44 (vice Capt J. D. BICKNELL posted) | ||||
| 7 | Lt NL SMITH appointed A/Capt wef 7 Jan 44 (vice T/Capt FLOWER appointed Adjt). | |||
| 23 | 2/Lt As EMMENS to be War Sub Lt wef 1 Nov 43. | |||
| GULLANE | 31 | 2/Lt LC SHILLING posted to this unit wef 22 Jan 44 | ||
| Lt P. B. AYRES " " " " 2/Lt D. J. O. DEFRIEZ " " " " | ||||
| 2/Lt J.W. SMITH " " " 23 Jan 44 2/Lt D.A. CHATHAM " " " " | ||||
| 2/Lt CE MORLEY " " " " Lt C DUNKLEY " " " " | ||||
| Lt R.D. VASEY " " " " Lt D.O. EDEN " " " " | ||||
| Lt R. S. CARLEY POCOCK " " " |
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