War Diary: 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment

Month and year: March 1944

During the 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment March 1944 war diary the unit is based at Strathpeffer and took part in exercise Leapyear.

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	References to Appendices
Strathpeffer	1		Normal Duties
	2		Normal Duties
	3		Maj HHH Boehm assumed command of Bn wef 3 Mar 44 during the absence of Lt Col
			RDR Sale OBE TD.
	4		B' Coy held a dance at the Strathpeffer Pavilion.
	5		A Gas Conference was held in the Conference Room Gp HQ at 1030hrs, by the Gas Officer Capt GLE Eyles. A small gas circus was organised to visit the various
			attached units and the Bn Coys, commencing on the 8th and terminating on the 18th Mar 44.
	6	0830	Mortar Pl course started in Strathpeffer under the Mortar Officer - Lt Johnston	'A'
	7		Maj R.G.H. Brocklehurst assumed command of the Bn during the absence on leave of Maj H.H.H. Boehm,
	8	1930	Special Boxing Tournament held at the Town Hall DINGWALL Novices 1 Bucks V attached Units. Proceeds in aid of the Red Cross Society. The Bn Band was
			in attendance.
			Gas Circus commenced visiting Units.
	9		Normal Duties
	10		Normal Duties
	11		Normal Duties
	12		Normal Duties
	13		Normal Duties
	14		Normal Duties
	15		Normal Duties
	16		Maj ADW Bird assumed command of the Bn vice Maj RGH Brocklehurst and in the
			absence on duty of Lt Col RDR Sale.
	17		Normal Duties
	18		End of Gas Circus and Mortar Pl Course.
			Pnr Pl played a soccer match against RAF Evanton and were beaten 5-2.

Page 2 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Strathpeffer	19	1430	About fifty volunteers for blood transfusion parades at the RAP, where they
			were attended by Red Cross Nurses from Inverness.
	20	1015	The Bn Band played at the Church Parade
	20	1430	Offrs Mess played Sjts Mess at Soccer and lost 4-1
		2000	The Sjts Mess organised a Band Concert, conducted by Lt AD Hare, which raised
			£20 in aid of Red Cross.
	21	1430	Unit Comds attended conference on Ex 'LEAPYEAR' at ROTHES. Exercise area is
			same as for Ex 'GRAB'
	22		20 ORs were drafted to the Bn from 2nd Bucks Bn.
	23		Lt Col RDR Sale OBE TD, Capt JD Bicknell, Lt GL Taylor returned from exercise 'BARON'
	24		Lt Col RDR Sale OBE TD assumed comd of the Bn.
	25	1000	A further conference on Ex 'LEAPYEAR' was held at Gp HQ and was attended by all Unit Comds.
	26	1015	Church Parade for all Units in Strathpeffer. A detachment of A Tk Pl left
			for embarkation at FORT GEORGE for Ex 'LEAPYEAR'
	27	0800	LCT parties moved off to Assembly Areas in accordance with 6 Beach Gp Movement
			Order No 1, but neutral tpt was not sufficient to lift them all, and a second convoy had to be formed up later in the day. No maps or key plans were taken,
			but were issued on board when units were at sea.
	28	0830	LCI parties embussed at 0830hrs for assembly area; but on arriving at Staging
			Camps owing to bad weather and rough sea the move to embarkation points was postponed until the 29th.
	29	2330	Parties moved to embarkation points.
	30	0330	After embarking and travelling for almost 2 1/2hrs the parties made a wet landing
			at Burghead Bay.
	31	0900	Ex 'LEAPYEAR' ended.
		1200hrs	Comd Offr attended conference at Burghead.
		1600	Embussing for return to billets commenced and the Bn was back in Strathpeffer
			by 2000hrs.

Page 3 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			OFFICERS: - Promotions, Appointments, Postings etc.
			2/Lt RCBM Viney posted from 161 OCTU 2 Mar 44
			Lt AR Bruce to be A/Capt wef 5 Feb 44 2/Lt DJD Defriez to be WS Lt wef 12 Feb 44
			Capt MG Shewell MC posted to London District Assembly Centre wef 15 Mar 44. 2/Lt PB Ayres to be WS Lt wef 15 Jan 44
			Maj EA Carse posted from HQ 3 Br Inf Div wef 23 Mar 44, and appointed 2IC wef same date