War Diary: 241 Provost Coy

Month and year: April 1944

The April 1944 war diary of 241 Provost Company records training and preparation in Britain ahead of the Normandy invasion. After participating in Exercise Leapyear in Scotland, the company moved south through Kinross, Carlisle, Preston, and Cirencester to a new location near the south coast. The remainder of the month was spent on security duties, conferences, and preparations for the large-scale rehearsal Exercise Fabius.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/3386

The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

All diaries for this unit

WO 171/3386 241st Provost Company

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

Page 1 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
SPEY BAY	1		Exercise "LEAPYEAR" Entire Coy on Exercise.
	2		" " "
	3	0630	Advance party left under Lieut. KEAY for new location. One sub section
			sent comprising 2 L/Cpls per Section,
		1000	Conference at Beach Gp HQ. Post Mortem on "LEAPYEAR". No results and good
	Schelon		reports for Coy in general. Lieut BEARD on leave as per Leave Instructions
			from Beach Gp. 12 NCOs also away on leave.
	5		RSM and COMS and 12 NCOs away on leave to complete roster. Conference with
			Staff Captain at Beach Gp HQ.
	6/7/8		Conference at 1430 hrs each day with reference Exercise "HANDSUP". Probable
			date of move 10th April.
	9		Preparation for Exercise "HANDSUP".
	10		Coy Main Party moved off under O.C. at 0500 hrs. 1st stop KINROSS.
	11		Staging at KINROSS. Moved off 0600 hrs. Good weather.
	12		" " CARLISLE. " 0600 " " "

Page 2 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	13		Staging at PRESTON, Moved off 0600 hrs. Good weather.
	14		" " WELLINGTON. " 0600 " " " slight rain.
	15		" " CIRENCESTER " 0600 " " " Arrived new location 1700 hrs.
	16		Settling in in new locations. Tentage area. 1/2 sub section at Sub Area HQ under
			Cpl. SPEDDING.
FIELD.	17		RTO duties at HAVANT. Security on Camp Gates set up.
	18		" " Security on Camp. Beach Gp HQ and Sub Area HQ.
	19		" " " " " " "
	20		Security and General duties. Lt. KEAY visits Div Pro.
	21		" " " Lt. BEARD visits No, 6 Beach Group.
	22		Conference 5 Beach Gp HQ. Security and preparation of signs for Exercise "FABIUS"
	23		General Duties, POW Lecture.
	24		Company excused duty following TAB & T.T. & Typhus injections. DAPM visited Coy.
	25	1430	4 L/Cpls - FLOWER, FENNER, LAUGHTON, and MACKINLAY to 1st Residue (D+21) Camp
			at ALDERSHOT. Lt, KEAY and entire party attached to OC 3 Div Recce Regt. Lt. KEAY as 1st Reinforcement Officer.

Page 3 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD.	26	1430	Sgt. BIRLEY and Serial 252 away on Exercise "FABIUS"
	28	0630	CQMS and Serial 382 moved off Exercise "FABIUS"
	29	0700	OC and remainder of Coy landing on 1st tide away on Exercise "FABIUS"
	30		Exercise "FABIUS" day spent in Marshalling Camps.