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    War Diary: 2nd Battalion The Cheshire Regiment

    Month and year: April 1944

    The 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiments April 1944 war diary covers the units time in the UK based at Brandon Suffolk and Hursley taking part in exercise Fabius and Smash III

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/1276

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

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    Page 1 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    BRANDON1st.0630Lt. Walkinshaw and advance party left for new location near WINCHESTER
    Rest of day spent in packing and preparing for move.
    2nd,0145Reveille,
    0330The cooks of H/Q & "D" Coys move off with Sgt Moye to YATTENDON the
    first staging area .
    0400The Bn. move off.
    1020Sgt Moye & cooks arrive at YATTENDON and contacted Sgt Dodd "A" Coy.,
    and arrange areas for "A" "D" & H/Q Coys.
    1330Bn. arrive at YATTENDON. Men settle themselves into the tents, have a
    hot drink and rest until the evening meal is ready.
    Bn,Move2nd0630Reveille,
    0900Bn. moves off on the final stage of the journey to the location.
    1200Bn. arrives at HURSLEY CAMP, only to find that the camp is not ready for
    us. The Bn. stages in an area on the HURSLEY - ROMSEY Rd.
    "A" Coy have moved to join 151 Bde. "D" Coy is with Bn H/Q.
    Page 2 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY5th.0630Reveille,
    0900Sgt Donaldson and 6 three ton trucks return to BRANDON for stores.
    Rest of day spent in cleaning and maintenance.
    "5th0630Reveille. HURSLEY CAMP not yet ready N.T.R.
    6th0630Reveille, New camp now ready. "D" Coy to remain in present camp,
    1400H/Q Coy move to HURSLEY CAMP 13 . Rest of day spent in settling in
    7th0630Reveille,
    1000C.O's, Conference Coy Commanders &2I/C attend to discuss routine etc.
    1300Conference ends.
    2130Lt. Birkett Smith plus rear details left at FRECKENHAM arrives in camp.
    2200Capt Green(RAMC) arrives to relieve our M.O. who has to remain on leave
    to maintain a civilian practice owing to the illness of two civilian doctors.
    8th0630Reveille.
    1400Lt. Alexander arrives to see the C.O.
    1430C.O. to attend a Briefing Conference for exercise (SMASH III) at 151 Bde.
    All Bn. Commanders attend.
    Page 3 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY9th0700Reveille.
    Bn locations now Main H/Q MR U8445 HURSLEY
    "A" " U8135 TOOTHILL
    "B" " U908463 BUSHFIELD
    "C" " U806238 PENNERLY
    "D" " U823426 Sth Holmes Coppse.
    10th0630Reveille.
    0900I.O. M.T.O. &Tech Adjt. visit Coys in their new locations. The I.O.
    also visits rear 50th Div.
    0900C.O. to RINGWOOD to attend a conference.
    1200C.O. returns.
    1500I.O. M.T.O. &Tech Adjt returns.
    11th0630Reveille.
    1000Coy 2/I/C report for conference, conference lasts 1 1/2 hours.
    1400C.O. to visit 231 BDE. &@69 BDE.
    Capt. Cruikshank arrives to relieve Capt. Green during Capt Owen's absense.
    Page 4 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY12th0630Reveille.
    0900The MTO goes to Rear 50 Div. at BROCKENHURST with queries about leave,
    Carriers, etc.
    1200MTO returns.
    N.T.R.
    13th0630Reveille.
    0830The Adjt. &S.O. leave for Main 50th Div.
    1800" " return.
    14th.0630Reveille.
    1100C.O. to "B" Coy. returning at 1300hrs.
    1530C.O. &S.O. with Major ABEL O/C "C" Coy, attend a Briefing and Ops.
    conference at 56' Bde PENNERLY A Camp" (Exercise SMASH IV )
    2000C.O. & S.O. return.
    15thQuiet day N.T.R.
    16thUsual morning a The C.O. visits the Brigadier of 231 Bde. at FAWLEY.
    Page 5 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY17th0630Reveille.
    1000The Adjt. & Q/M. visit Rear 50th. Div , and then go to Main 50th. Div H/Q
    at WEYMOUTH, They both return at 1330hrs.
    1500The Commanding Officer of The Northumberland Hussars visits the C.O. &
    leaves at 1530hrs.
    18th0630Reveille.
    1300The C.O. Major Moon & Major Langrishe go to BOURNEMOUTH to watch
    Exercise SMASH III, "C" Coy are taking part u/c 56 Bde.
    1530The C.O. &Major Moon return.
    19th.0630Reveille. N.T.R.
    20th0630Reveille.
    0930The C.O. visits all Coys to get "Morale Report" , also 56 Bde.re.
    Exercise SMASH IV.
    1400The C.O. returns.
    Page 6 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY21st.0630Reveille,
    1000The Rear Details of the Bn. move off to a conentration area at
    BUSTARD CAMP near LARKHILL , the party is u/c Major Moon.
    1500Capt. Owen the M.O. arrives after an absence of over three weeks, during
    this time he has been maintaining a civilian practice owing to the illness
    of the two civilian doctors.
    1700The C.O. goes to 151 Bde to a conference re. reinforcements supplied to
    6th 8th & 9th D.L.I. All Bn. Commanders attend.
    1900Major Moon & Lt. B. Smith return from BUSTARD CAMP.
    1930The Commanding Officer returns from the conference.
    22nd.0630Reveille N.T.R.
    23rd0630Reveille,
    1000The C.O. goes to 69 Bde, at ROMSEY. returning at 1200 hrs,
    24th.0630Reveille.
    0930The C.O. goes to Rear 50th Div H/Q for final planning conference,
    1000Capt. Cutler & Capt. Peck go to 56 Bde Conference re Exercises etc.
    1730C.O. returns
    1800Capts. Cutler & peck return.
    Page 7 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY26th0630The C.O. & 2i/c go to RINGWOOD to attend a conference,
    1000Sgt Moye the Bn. "I" Sgt convoys a party of carriers to Bustard Camp.
    1430The Adjt. & Capt Peck visit "A" & B" Coys.
    1630The M.T.O. visits 50th. Div H/Q re transport waterproofing etc.
    26th0630Reveille.
    1000Coy Commanders Conference re 'Loading Tables' & promotions to bring
    Coys up W/E. This conference ends at 1230hrs.
    1245No one is allowed to leave camp owing to the fact that a large number of
    the personnel in camp have been BRIEFED for Exercise 'FABIUS'.
    1630The Adjt & Capt. Peck go to 151 Bde.
    27th0630Reveille N.T.R.
    28th.0630Reveille.
    1500The 'Intelligence Officer' is warned that Tac H/Q were to proceed on
    Exercise FABIUS and that they should be at the start point at 1530hrs
    1700The I.O. and Tac H/Q arrive at Camp B1.
    Page 8 of 8
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and Information
    HURSLEY29th0630Reveille, All coys taking part in Exercise FABIUS Tac H/Q return from
    Exercise, NTR.
    30th0630Reveille.
    1000Briefing Conference at M.C. Office for O/C "B" Coy & Capt. Peck.
    1130Conference ends.
    NTR a Quiet Day.

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