War Diary: 5th Battalion Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

Month and year: Febuary 1944

The 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) February 1944 War Diary covers the units time in the UK moving from Worthing to Folkestone

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1280

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WO 171/1280 5th Battalion Duke Cornwall Light Infantry

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Page 1 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			GENERAL on Feb 3rd, the Bh completed the
			period of training in co-operation with tanks,
			which took place on the South Downs in the
			WORTHING area. For the rest of the month the
			Bn remained at FOLKESTONE. Cadres were	SEE Appx "E"
			started by all specialist Platoon Commanders
			in order to:- a) Train new reserves, to bring
			the number of trained specialist reserves
			to 100 %
			b) Refresh personnel already
			trained or partially trained as specialist
			reserves.
			One week was devoted to Administration,
			during which inspections were held by the
			Commanding Officer and the Brigade Commander.

Page 2 of 14

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Worthing	2	The advance Party left Worthing for Folkestone
		moving in Unit Tpt. The party consisted of
		Capt D.C. Acton and 27 Other Ranks.
		The following Officers Joined the Bn, having
		been transferred to Infantry from the R.A.C.:-
		2/Lt D.E. Eccleston
		2/LT G.P. Greenacre
		2/Lt J.G. Gibson.
		2/Lt K.W. Gilbert

	3	The Bn moved from Worthing to Folkestone,
		having completed a period of training in
		Co-operation with tanks lasting 18 days. All
		personnel were conveyed by rail with the
		exception of the advance Parly, Rear Party and

Page 3 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Worthing			those other Ranks who normally travel in
			unit transport. Those Officers and Other Ranks
			Travelling by rail were divided between three
			trains.
Folkestone	4	930	The C-in-C 21 Army gp, visited (GEN
			Sir Bernand Montgomery KCB, DSO) visited
			43 Div with the object of seeing and addressing
			as many officers and men as possible. The
			Bn was represented by all Officers and
			480 Other Ranks. The party proceeded in
			RASC. tpt to the Cricket ground at RYE
			while the C-in-C walked through the
			ranks and later addressed the parade.
		1430	All Officers and N.C.O's (down to and
			including Lance-Sergeants) attended a lecture

Page 4 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Folkstone			on:- "Conduct if cut off from the Unit or
			captured by Capt GE Instone, M.C.
	5	1030	The Commanding Officer gave a talk to
			the whole Bn in the garrison theatre, FOLKESTONE.
			He gave an outline of his training policy
			for the coming months, and expressed his
			views regarding discipline and leave etc.
			Immediately after the talk, the CO. spoke
			to all boxers and to the Demonstration Pl
			for the Battle School.
	6	1100	A parade of 250 officers and Other
			Ranks attended the morning service at
			Holy Trinity Church, FOLKESTONE, at which
			the Archbishop of Canterbury preached the
			sermon. The Band and Bugles attended

Page 5 of 14

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Folkestone	7	The Bn Boxing Team lost to 8th Middlesex
		Regt by 12 bouts to 3 in the second round
		of the Divisional Boxing Team. Our boxers,
		though in most cases outclassed, showed
		great pluck and determination.
	8	The Commanding Officer held an admin-
		istrative inspection of two Rifle Coys (am
		A Coy , pm "C" Coy " He was assisted by
		a number of officers detailed for specific
		tasks e.g. documentation, maintenance of
		transport, sanitation etc. For the inspection, one
		platoon paraded in Battle Order, one platoon
		with kits according to the "daily" kit plate
		and one platoon with kits laid out according
		to the "monthly" kit plate

Page 6 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Folkestone	9	1100	The Commanding officer attended a talk
			at 43 Div HQ given by the Adjutant - General.
			During his absence the 2nd-in-Command
			held inspections of B and D Coy similar
			to those held the previous day. HQ + S
			Coys were inspected by their our officers
	10		In the afternoon a rehearsal was held
			for the inspection of the Bn in line on The
			Leas by the Brigade Commander the following
			day.
	11	1000 hrs	The Bde Commander carried out a full	For Full Details
		to 1700 hr	administrative inspection of the Bn. He was	of the Inspection
			assisted by the Staff Capt, Bde Transport	and C.O's remarks,
			officer and technical experts	See Appendices A&B
		1800	Capt C.R. Dale (Bde Inf Offr) gave a

Page 7 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Folkestone	11		lecture entitled. "Conduct if cut off from
			one's unit or capture" to all those Officers
			and Other Ranks who were unable to hear
			a Similar lecture given by Capt: G.E. Fustone
			MM on 7th February.
			Lt-Col Kindall REME was attached to
			the Bn from 11th - 17th Feb during which time
			he was given every opportunity of watching
			and studying infantry tactics, equipment, and
			organisation.
	12		The Commanding Officer proceeded on
			Privilege Leave (12th - 21st Feb). During his
			absence major R.W. James Commanded the
			Bn.
		1700	All Officers attended a lecture entitled

Page 8 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Folkestone	12		Photographic Interpretation" given by Capt Booth
	14		The Commanding officers 1st Training Directive	Copy at Appx "C"
			was issued.
	15	1415	A film unit visited the Bn and showed
			selected training films to D Coy
		1415	The APM 43 Div visited the Commanding
			officer
	16		The RQMS attended a five-day Admin Ex
			run by 43 Div to practise the system of
			supply in the field and the lay-out of the
			Div Admin Area.
	17 & 18		Capts Cavill, Acton and Nunn attended a
			two-day Course on "Hygiene" given by 213 Fd
			ambulance
	18	1400	The Band played at the FOLKESTONE Corporation

Page 9 of 14

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		ground on the occasion of the presentation of
		a flag by the Mayor to the Civil Defence
		Services.
19	1400	The Band played again at the Folkestone
		Football ground to a large crowd which
		had come to watch the final of the Folks-
	-	tone Football league.
20		A church parade was held for two Coys.
	1200	An Eliminating contest to determine the 3
		finalists in the Silver Bugle Competition was
		held. The three successful Competitors were
		Cpl Turner, Cpl Foulger and L/Cpl Beach
20 to 24		The A/Tk Pl attended a Bde A/Tk Concentration
		at Lydd ranges during which time all
		members of the A/Tk Pl had a Considerable

Page 10 of 14

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		amount of practice firing. The results obtained
		were quite satisfactory
21	1000	All available Officers, Warrant-officers and
		N.C.O's attended a lecture on "Care of Small
		Arms" given by Capt H.T.H. Moorfield REME.
		The 2nd-in-Command (Major RW.James)
		gave a lecture to the Demonstration Pl
		and inspected it before moving off to
		the Divisional Battle School.
		A War Office Personnel Selection Team
		visited the Bde to test all those who for
		any reason were not available when the
		Bn was tested in December.
22		5 Officers (Capt Cavill, Lieuts Lough & King,
		2nd Lieuts Gibson of Eccleston) attended a practice

Page 11 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	22		in Correction of Artillary fire with 18 Sets, held
			at LYDD ranges.
	23		A rehearsal was held for the visit on the
			following day of the actions Colonel of the
			Regiment - Lt-Gen A.N. Floyer- Acland CB., DSO.,MC.
			1 Offer and 10 Others Ranks of the
			American Army arrived on an attachment
			to the Bn for a fortnight. The Bn despatched
			a similar party to an American Bn stationed
			at DORCHESTER. The object at the Exchange
			was to further the good relationship
			existing between the American and British
			armies and to promote a fuller understanding
			of each others manners and customs.
			Major Sayers arrived on a short visit,

Page 12 of 14

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
		and left the following afternoon.
24		Lt-Gen A N. Floyer-Acland C.B., DSO, MC	For Details of visit
		visited the Bn.	see Appx D
		Capt D.C. Acton who had been in the Bn
		since early in 1940 was posted to the I.T.C.
		at Colchester.
		Capt P. Gordin who left the Bn in April
		1943, was reposted from the I.T.C. Colchester.
	1000	The finals of the Silver Bugle Compatition
		were held. Major Sayers who presented the
		Bugle to the Bn when he left, was one of
		the adjudicators. The winner, Cpl Foulger, received
		the Bugle from the Commanding Officer.
25		Lt Jobson and 10 W.O.'s and NCO's attended
		a half-day Course on "Care and Maintenance of

Page 13 of 14

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Folkestone	25	Rafting Equipment" run by 207 F.P. Coy.
	26	The Pioneer Pl took part in a Div demonstration
		of blowing and digging slit tranches and
		weapon pits, held at NORTHIAM. The
		pioneer platoon of this Bn was responsible
		for demonstrating an A/TK gun pit.
	27	19 NCO's left to attend a Course at
		the Div Battle School.
		Several Offrs and N.C.O's. is attended a
		recce of a demonstration which the Bn is
		to provide for cartain eminent people on
		2nd Mar. The Bn has been specially selected
		for this task by the Divisional Commander.
	28	A preliminary rehearsal was held for the
		forthcoming demonstration by the Bn.

Page 14 of 14