War Diary: 5th Battalion Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

Month and year: April 1944

The 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) April 1944 War Diary covers the unit training and taking part in Exercises Sabre I and Sabre II

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1280

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Page 1 of 16

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FOLKESTONE	1	A + B Coys had a free day
		C & D Coys completed their march back from the
		River Medway which they had started on the previous
		evening. The Coys marched between 40 and 50 miles
		in under 24 hours.
		The Co. carried out a recce of the defensive posn
		which the Bn had been ordered to take up for
		the beginning of EXERCISE SABRE I (4-6 - April)
	3	10 Junior NCO's went to 43 Div Battle
		School for a Section Leader's Course
		all Offrs and N.C.O's down to Section
		Commanders carried out a recce of the defensive
		position to be taken up by 1200 hrs the following
		day on EXERCISE SABRE I
	4-6	The Bn took part in 43 Div EXERCISE SABRE I

Page 2 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			set and directed by the Div. Comd. The object of the
			exercise was to practise "Thrust-line" tactics
			at the beginning of the exercise the Bn was
			given an independent role in which it represented
			a Bn of another Div in the line in contact
			with the enemy; the idea being that 43 Div tps
			would break out of their concentration area and
			pass through the troops holding the bridgehead
			early on the morning of the 5th april. On the
			evening of the 4th April, the Bn was relieved
			in the line by 7 Bn Hants, and for the rest of
			the exercise came under command of 214 Bde.
			On the 5th April, 214 Bde followed 130 Bde along
			the Div thrust line using "quick-lift" method of
			transportation (The Exercise was carried out on light

Page 3 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			scales). At 1800 hrs the Div Comd issued orders
			for the Div to advance "two - up" (hitherto the
			advance had been "one - up") and for 214 Bde to
			move by another route on the Northern flank
			of 130 Bde. The Div intension was to secure
			the high ground to the East of the river
			Medway, with a view to sending patrols across
			the river and later forcing a crossing of the
			river.
			Owing to congestion of traffic on the roads, the
			Bn took rather longer to reach the objective
			than was anticipated and this, together
			with the fact that patrol leaders had had no
			opportunity of recce in daylight resulted in
Aus			rather unsuccessful patrolling during the night

Page 4 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		Only one of the four patrols which had been sent
		out succeeded in crossing the river, and this patrol
		brought back no identifications.
		the Exercise terminated at about 1200 hrs and
		the Bn returned to Folkestone by quick lift.
7		C and D Coys were given a free day
8		A and B Coys were given a free day.
9		Censorship was imposed throughout the Division
		wef 0001 hrs The regulations included censorship
		under unit arrangements of all private mail,
		telegrams, parcels etc and also restriction of
		telephone calls.
	0930	An Easter Day Church parade service, was held in
		Holy Trinity Church, FOLKESTONE and was
		Conducted by Rev A.E. Gibbons, Methodist Chaplain

Page 5 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		attached to the Bn The Bde Comd, accompanied by
		the staff Capt attanded the service.
	1100	The 2ND-in-Command, Capt James, gave a talk
		to all Officers regarding censorship and their
		duties regarding the franking of OR's letters.
	1200	This was followed by a talk to the Baltalion
		explaining the need for censorship and regulations
		which had come into force.
10		Staff Capt 214 Bde held an Adjt's conference
		at which it was Explained that the Bde would
		move to the area of BATTLE, SUSSEX at the
		end of EXERCISE SABRE II (13-15 April the move
		was to be regarded as "Most Secret" as it was
		in fact the "unofficial" concentration of the Div,
		and only those offers and OR's to whom it was

Page 6 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		essential that the information be passed, should be
		told.
	1730	The Commanding officer held a conferrace of
		Coy Comds, M.T.O. and RQMS APPLETON acting QM during
		illness of Lt Renick and explained his plans for
		the move.
11		w.e.f. 0001 hrs the Bn adopted the following
		closed address :- 5th Bn D.C.L.I.
		90 A.P.O. England
	0920	The Commanding Officer attended a conference at
		214 Bde H.Q.
	1700	The Commanding Officer held a second conference
		at which final details were issued regarding:-
		1) Concentration of Main Body of Bn for Ex. SABRE II
		2) Move of the Adv. Party to CROWHURST, PARK Nr Battle
		(3) Handing over by Rear Party at FOLKESTONE to a Cdn unit

Page 7 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	12		a draft of 18 O.R.'s arrived from 8 Mx???, and
			were inspected soon after arrival by the CO. The
			draft contained many men with Experience of
			carrier-driving and DR duties, who will doubt
			less prove useful reserve specialists.
	13-15		The Bn took part in the Div Exercise SABRE II
			The setting was the same as SABRE I, but this
			time 214 Bde was the leading Bde on the Div.
			Thrust line On the 13th the Bn remained in a
			concentration area and received orders for the advance
			which was to take place on the following day. On
			the 14th the Bn advanced some 30 miles by "quick
			lift" and dealt with light enemy opposition on the
			way in a very satisfactory manner. On the night of
			the 14th / 15th the Bn carried out an extremely efficient

Page 8 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			river crossing, using defiladed searchlights to
			creat artificial moonlight. A Bn position was
			established on the far bank and tpt was brought
			across by rafts constructed by the Pioneer Platoon
			and a bridge constructed by the RE. The
			exercise ended at about 1200 hrs on the 15 th after
			the enemy had put in a spirited Counter-attack,
			which had however been anticipated and was
			therefore successfully beaken off.
	13-15		Whilst the Bn had been out on Exercise SABRE
			II, the Advance Pty under Capt Coode had gone to
			CROWHURST PARK, near BATTLE, SUSSEX / and had been
			erecting a tented camp which was ready to
			received the Bn when it marched in on 16th April.
	15		On the Conclusion of Exercise SABRE II, the

Page 9 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Bn moved by march route to a bivouac area
			at HORMONDSEY where Coys spent the night 15/16
AW			april in farm buildings
	16		The Bn marched from HORMONDSEY to
			CROWHURST PARK (approx 16 miles), whilst the
			Bn Tpt proceeded ahead independently. The heavy
			rain of the past few days made the camp site
			extremely muddy and together with a lack of
			drying accommodation made conditions rather bad. A draft of 49 OR's arrived from the 4th Bn
			D.C.L.I. which again included a number of trained
			specialists.
	17	1000	All offers & W.O.'s I & II attended the conference
			on Exercises SABRE I and II, at which the
			Div Comd summed up the lessons learnt from

Page 10 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			the Exercise, and displayed a new mine-prodder",
			which was shortly going to be issued on the
			scale of one per vehicle.
			The Section Leaders Course at the Div Battle School
			dispenssed.
		1830	The Co held a conference in the lounge of
			CROWHURST PARK CLUB, of which all officers are
			temporary members:- - attendance all Coy Comds
			The C.O. directed that every effort be made to
			make the camp tidy and conditions generally
			better. Paths would be constructed with white-washed
			posts, tents would be allocated for drying purposes
			and for barber's shop and recreation etc. Until
			the NAAFI opened on the 25th April suppers would
			be provided under arrangements to be made by

Page 11 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		the newly appointed messing officer - Lt Portrait
18		The CO and all Rifle Coy Comds attended a
		demonstration of Street Fighting at EAST BOURNE,
		given by 43 Div Battle School.
18	1800	The C.O. held a conference of Coy Comds to
		settle promotions to fill W.E. (incl ,1st Reinforcements)
		and the formation of the a "R" Coy , as orders
		had been received that "R" Coy would be
		formed forthwith. Lts Hanson and Aylarin??? were posted
		to "R" Coy
19		7 Junior NCO's went away on a Section Leaders
		Course at 43 Div Battle School.
		Coy Comds carried out a recce of local tng
		areas
		Bn HQ offices were transferred to a nearby

Page 12 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		requisitioned house and the mess was also establish
		there.
20		All officers attended a study period an "Continental
		Maps" given by the Int offr in preparation for a
		Bde Officers Continental map-reading Viva Voce
		Compatition on the 22nd April 5
22		5 DCLI officers won the Bde Map Reading
		Compatition held at Bde HQ and conducted by
		the Bde Comd.
		"R" Coy was formed.
23	1000	Major James carried out an administrative
		inspection of the Bn Lines in the absence of
		the Commanding Officar who was away on a
		Course of instruction on the German Army (21st - 29th April)
		The 2 i/c was accompanied by the R.M.O. and RQMS.

Page 13 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1200	A drumhead service was held in the NAAFI
		tent, and attended by the whole Bn.
24		Trials were Carried out under the direction of
		O.C. "S" Coy - (Capt PEG Coode) in the sandbagging of
		vehicles, as a means of safeguarding the driver
		and his make against the effects of A/The mines.
		The resultant additional load to vehicles which
		were already overloaded was carefully considered.
		An exercise was held to practise all drivers
		in prodding for mines laid in verges of the
		road and likely Vehicle concentration areas. The
		exercise demonstrated clearly the urgent need for
		further practice in this important subject.
25		2 i/c (Major James) and all Coy Comds attended
		a lecture on "Civil affairs" at Tenterden. The

Page 14 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			lecture dealt with the many civil problems which
			will have to be faced by an army which
			invades Europe which is under the heal of the
			Nazis.
		1800	An R/T Exercise for half the officers of
			the Bn was held in the Officers Mess and
			given by the Sig Offr. The objects were to practice
			(I) RT. procedure
			(II) Wireless Security
			(III) Slidex and Map Ref Code
			(IV) Continental Map reading
			another exercise for M.T. drivers was held
			to practise mine prodding. Those M.T. drivers who
			had not attended on the preceding evening took

Page 15 of 16

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		part.
26	1800	a R/T Exercise was held for those Officers
		who had not attended on the previous evening.
		The exercise was identical with that held on
		the 25th.
		A film "Gentleman Jim" was shown in the
		NAAFI tent.
27		100 all ranks from the Bn marched to
		BEXHILL to attend a lecture by Major Nailson
		(of the Ministry of Supply) on German Small Arms
		Weapons A few of those attending were given
		the opportunity of firing some of the weapons
30		A service was held in the NAAFI Tent, and
		conducted by the Senior Chaplain of the Div:-
		Major Neill, RAC.D. The Bde Comd attended, accompanied

Page 16 of 16

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			by the Staff Capt.
			In the afternoon a tea-party was held in
			the Officers Mess to which a few Officers'
			wives came.

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War Diary: 5th Battalion Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

Month and year: April 1944

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