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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 Hour 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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
Place 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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