National Archive Reference: WO 171/1280
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST PARK | GENERAL | |||
The month of May 1944 was for the Bn a month | ||||
of intensive preparation for overseas movement. In | ||||
particular all "Light scales" vehicles underwent | ||||
the preliminary stages of waterproofing, and several | ||||
trials were carried out with regard to vehicle | ||||
loads. Final checks of all clothing and equipment | ||||
took place, and the Bn disposed of all stores | ||||
surplus to G 1098 scale. | ||||
A great deal of time was devoted to sport | ||||
with the two fold object of fostering an Inter-Coy | ||||
Competative spirit and reaching a high standard | ||||
of physical fitness. Inter-Coy competitious took place | ||||
in football athletic sports and boxing. | ||||
Entertainment was provided by a Class "B" Ensa |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST PARK | show every Tuesday evening, and film shows every | |||
Wednesday and Thursday evening all Coys were | ||||
able for the first half of the month to make | ||||
use of "recreational transport facilities which | ||||
enabled men to visit Hastings at least once a week. | ||||
Training was for the most part confined to | ||||
shooting, laying and clearing of mines, passing | ||||
transport through a minefield, marching and | ||||
patrolling. There were however two exercises | ||||
involving (i) a Brigade attack with air support, and | ||||
(ii) a Brigade in a defensive posn for 24 hours. | ||||
Three cadres were run for N.C.O's which included | ||||
drill, regimental duties, regimental history, and | ||||
discipline. The last cadre was attended by four | ||||
subalterns. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 1 | 4 offrs (Major James [2i/c], Capt Coode [O.C."S"Coy], Lt | ||
Birchenall [Pnr offr] and Lt Willcocks [Int offer] and | ||||
21 OR's (incl the Int see and representatives of the | ||||
Pnr Pl and A/Tk Pl) visited an exhibition of enemy | ||||
and allied tanks, weapons and equipment at the | ||||
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth. The visit was of | ||||
great training value and much appreciated. | ||||
5 DCLI Adm Instr No 1 was issued. This | Appx "A" | |||
adm order covered the preparation to be carried | ||||
out before the Bn received the code word ordering | ||||
"Concentration" It included the order of battle of | ||||
offers, N.C.O's, and the nominal roll of "R" Coy. | ||||
1-2 | a cadre for junior N.C.O's which had started | |||
on 30th April was continued under Capt JBB Aimers. | ||||
3-6 | The Bn, less the A/Tk pl, marched to the |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 3-6 | South Downs training area to take part in a | ||
Brigade exercise with air support on the 5th May. | ||||
On the night 3/4 May the Bn bivouacked in the | ||||
area of LAUGHTON (6 miles east of LEWES). On the | ||||
night of 4/5 May the bivouac area was PEACEHAVEN, | ||||
where through the kindness of the 6th Bn Som L.I. | ||||
our men were able to sleep under cover as the | ||||
march to the South Down's area had been non- | ||||
tactical, all ranks were allowed to proceed out | ||||
on the evening of the 4th with the result that | ||||
many Officers and men were able to visit Brighton | ||||
and Newhaven on the 5th May, the Bde exercise | ||||
took place, which was not as successful as had | ||||
been hoped. The squadron of planes which had | ||||
been expected to Co-operate was represented by |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 3-6 | four planes, which failed to fire the pre arranged | ||
recognition signal calling for the display of | ||||
coloured triangles by the leading troops, after | ||||
having arrived late. After the exercise, the Bn | ||||
marched back to CROWHURST bivouacking at LAUGHTON | ||||
on the night 5/6 May. It was estimated that | ||||
those who had taken part in the exercise | ||||
marched over 70 miles in the four days 3-6 May. | ||||
4-6 | The A/Tk Pl proceeded to LYDD ranges for practice | |||
firing. The Commanding officer watched the shooting | ||||
on the morning of the 4th and the Divisional | ||||
Commander also paid a brief visit. | ||||
7 | The Bn had the day off | |||
8 | The day was devoted to administration by Coys. | |||
all Light Scales vehicles were painted with a five- |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crowhurst | 8 | pointed White Star. | ||
In the evening a dinner-party was held in the | ||||
offers Mess at which the officers of "R" Coy were | ||||
the guests of the Mess, as R Coy was being posted | ||||
away from the unit on the following day but one. | ||||
9 | All personnel in the Bn who had not tested | |||
their respirators for three months did so under | ||||
arrangments made by the Bn gas offer (Lt Portrait) | ||||
1730 | The Bde Comd addressed all offers in the grounds | |||
of Battle abbey. His chief reason for summoning the | ||||
offers of the Bde was to impress on them the | ||||
very great need for security during the forthcoming | ||||
weeks and If emphasize each officer's personal | ||||
responsibility in this connection. He also referred | ||||
to Defence tactics, discipline, man-management |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST. | 9 | and morale. | ||
9-11 | a second juniors N.C.O's cadre was run by Capt | |||
Aimers. | ||||
9 | a number of inter-Coy transfers were put into | |||
affect in order to Complate the establishment of "R" | ||||
Coy prior to it being posted away on 10th May. | ||||
An ENSA (Cat. "B") concert was shown in the NAAFI | ||||
tent. The artists were entertained in the Officers' | ||||
mess after the show. | ||||
10 | "R" Coy was posted away from the Bn, and | |||
its members were taken on the strength of various | ||||
Reinforcement Holding Units. | ||||
The A/Tk Pl visited FOULNESS A/Tk range, | ||||
where the shooting showed a very great improvement | ||||
over that of the previous week. The Div Comd and Bde | ||||
Comd were present during some of the practices. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 11 | 0915 | The 2nd in Command (Major R.W. James) gave a lecture | |
to all drivers, DR.'s, the Pioneer Platoon and the Jul??? | ||||
section on the drill for the passage of F ech | ||||
transport through a minefield by day and by | ||||
night | ||||
1100 | All drivers were given the experience of driving | |||
through a menefield gap by day. The pionner platoon | ||||
had breached a gap in an imaginary minifield | ||||
and placed the necessary marking signs in position. | ||||
2200 | The same exercise was repeated by night using | |||
coloured lamps and tape to mark the edges of | ||||
the minifield gap. | ||||
12 | A and B Coys had the day off. | |||
At about 1300 hrs, information was received to | ||||
the effect that the Prime ministers of Great Britain |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 12 | Canada, South Africa , Australia and New Zealand would | ||
be passing in Cars that afternoon about a mile and a | ||||
half from the Camp. More than half the Bn was | ||||
able to line the route and cheer the Prime Ministers | ||||
as they passed. | ||||
5 Canadian officers who had been loaned to the | MAJ J.H.J. Gauthier | |||
British government under the "CANLOAN" scheme arrived for | Capt. C. Deluca | |||
attachment to this Bn for about a fortnight. | Lt M.W. Hardy. | |||
An ENSA concert party called The Nightlights" | Lt. B.D.J. Comolli | |||
gave a performance in the NAAFI tent after which | Lt. M.C.P. Rush. | |||
the artistes were entertained in the Officers' Mess. | ||||
14 | 1200 | There was a Bn Mess Resting, after which the Co. | ||
spoke to all Officers. He wished special attentoin to be | ||||
paid to drill and saluting and would arrange for periods of instruction for offers in Regtl Custom and |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 14 | History, and also "How to inspect a man's kit" | ||
15 | A photographer visited the Bn and look photographs | See Appendix "B" | ||
of all Coy groups, the Officers' Mess, the Sgts Mess | ||||
and various Pl and see groups. | ||||
In the afternoon a Bn Athletic sports meeting | ||||
was held th a field near to the Camp. It was | ||||
organised by the Bn Sports offer (Major F.A.L. Vuwdrey). | ||||
The band played during the afternoon and many | ||||
officers and OR's wives were able to attand as well | ||||
as certain local people who had received invitations. | ||||
The meeting was run on an inter-Coy basis and | ||||
a programme of events is attached. | ||||
In the evening the officers and Sgts had a social | ||||
evening together. The Sgts first visited the Officers' | ||||
Mess, and the party takes adjourned to the Sjt's |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 15 | mess, where entertainment was provided in the form of | ||
various competitions | ||||
16 | 1400 | The 2nd in-Command (acting in place of the Commanding | ||
officer who had suffered a back injury in the | ||||
Athletic Sports Meeling) carried out a recce for "Ex Tig" | ||||
which was to take place on the 25th and 26th May. | ||||
1930 | An ENSA concert party "Moods and Modes" gave | |||
a performance in the N.A.A.F.I. tent | ||||
17 | 0730 | The 2 i/c held a Tng Conference at which he allotted | ||
ranges and settled datails of Mine training for all Coys. | ||||
1130 | The Co gave a talk to the Bn on the german | |||
system of holding the Continent" and described the | ||||
type of German soldier that we should be likely to | ||||
meet in the near future. | ||||
18 | a platoon from the 1st Bn Worcs Regt gave a demon- |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 18 | stration to all Rifle Coys of "Fighting through the | ||
objective". It was exceedingly well carried out and | ||||
embodied the latest teachings from the School of | ||||
Infantry. | ||||
the 2nd-in Command carried out a further recce for | ||||
Exercise Tig. | ||||
all Coys had training by the Pioneer officer in | ||||
all types of mines | ||||
1800 | Major G.A.L. Vawdrey delivered a lecture to all | |||
offrs on "Regimental Custom" in the offers Mess | ||||
1945 | The Band played Oh the lawn outside the Offer Mess. | |||
during dinner. | ||||
19 | The Bn had the day off | |||
20 | Hythe New Range was allotted to the Bn and | |||
120 men who had not hitherto completed their |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 20 | classification with the rifle did so. | ||
In the afternoon the Bn look part th a Bde | ||||
Athletic Sports Meeting in the grounds of Battle abbey. | Programme attached | |||
The results were quite close, but the Bn was not | Appx "C" | |||
quite up to the standard of the other two Bns. | ||||
5 DCLl. Movement Instruction No 1 was issued | ||||
in which were set out the Unit Light Scales Staff | Appx "D" | |||
Tables, and complete Vehicle loading Tables. | ||||
5 DCLl. Op Instr No 2 was issued dealing | Appx "E" | |||
with the operational role of the Bn whilst in the | ||||
Concentration area | ||||
21 | "A" and "C" Coys visited Hythe New Range to | |||
Complete LMG classification | ||||
22 | B and D Coys visited Hythe New Range to | |||
complete L.M.G. classification |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 22 | the A/Tk Pl had further range practice at Langley | ||
Pt A/Tk range | ||||
22-24 | The 3rd N.C.O's Cadre was run by Capt J.B.B. Aimers | |||
This Cadre was attended by a few officers. | ||||
22 | Lt Cullin (Public Relations) visited the unit and | |||
met all afficers in the mess. He will report on all | ||||
units of 214 Bde for the Press. | ||||
22 | 1615 | RQMS appleton gave a lecture on Regtl History | ||
to the NCO's Cadre which was attended by all offers | ||||
and W.O's. | ||||
5 DCHI Movement Instr No 2 was issued, dealing | Appx "F" | |||
with Rd Mov and traffic instructions within 21 | ||||
Army Group area | ||||
5 DCLI Adm Order No 2 was issued, dealing with | Appx "G" | |||
the exchange of sterling for foreign Currency before |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 22 | Embarkation and instructions for the closing of all | ||
accounts. | ||||
23 | All Coy Comds and Int??? offr accompanied the | |||
CO and 2 i/c to a dinner party given by the | ||||
offrs of 173 Bty (affiliated Bty) | ||||
24 | CO. and 2 i/c spoke to all members of the Bn | |||
who were going to take part in the Bde Exercise | ||||
TIG on the 25/ 26 May, to practice the occupation of, | ||||
and routine in a defensive position) | ||||
25-26 | The Bn took part in Ex TIG "Enemy" was provided | |||
by a Coy of the 1st Bn Worcs Regt which carried | ||||
out recce patrols by day and fighting patrols by | ||||
night. Major James (Commanding the Bn for the Exercise) | ||||
viewed the Bn posns from the Ach GP and was very | ||||
satisfied by the Concealment and camouflage. For |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 25-26 | the first time On any exercise a Bn News-sheet | Appx "H" and "I" | |
was produced for the information of the tps. | ||||
1800 | The Co held a conference of all offrs, at which | |||
he informed them that wef. 0900 hrs 28 May the | ||||
Bh would be at 6 hrs notice to move. This order | ||||
would mean restriction of passes to some degree | ||||
and also smaller Bh bounds. | ||||
The Padre gave a talk on Burials and documentation | ||||
in the field. | ||||
27 | 5 DCLI. Admin Instru No 3 was issued which lald | Appx "J" | ||
down the degree of readiness, the Bh bounds, and | ||||
regulations with regard to passes. | ||||
1800 | The Mas??? Pl were given an allocation of the South | |||
Downs area and carried out practice firing. | ||||
One L Sec Sigs (with 15 CWT Wireless) and one |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CROWHURST | 27 | Bearer sec from 213 Fd Amb reported to the Bn for | ||
permanent attachment | ||||
28 | a full-scale "practice move" out of the Camp | |||
area was held at which all Vehicles were loaded | ||||
and personal held ready to move. The Bde Comd | ||||
inspected all vehicles, accompanied by the CO. | ||||
29 | 1000 | CO, 2 i/c, all Coy Comds, hior??? offr, Lut??? offs and | ||
Lut??? Sgt attended a lecture by the Div. Comd at | ||||
the Embassy Cinema, TENTERDEN The C.R.A. spoke | ||||
about "Counter Mortar fire" after which the Div Comd | ||||
summed up, and then spoke about certain aspects | ||||
of forthcoming operations. He disclosed the estimated | ||||
degree of air superiority which the allies could | ||||
hope to have, and expressed his confident belief | ||||
in victory. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
29 | 2045 | The CO. held a conference on "Loading" at which the | ||
maximum loads were laid down for all classes of | ||||
vehicle. | ||||
30 | In the morning further loading trials took place | |||
and all vehicles were weighed in HASTINGS. | ||||
In the afternoon the Final of the Inter-Pl football | ||||
Competition was played and which was won by 17 | ||||
pl D Coy. The Co. gave prices to the winners at | ||||
the conclusion of the match. | ||||
5 DCLI. Adm Instr No 4 was issued which | Appx "k" | |||
dealt with the loading of Vehicles, Sups in the | ||||
marshalling Area etc. | ||||
31 | The Co. attended a talk by the C-in-C 21 Army | |||
Gp (General Sir Bernard Montgomary) given to all CO's | ||||
in 12 Corps |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
31 | a fire occurred in the camp in which one tent | |||
was completely burned out. It was caused by a | ||||
British plane jettisoning a patrol tank which | ||||
burst into flames on impact with the ground. No | ||||
casualties were sustained | ||||
1945 | The offrs of 173 Bty (affiliated to this unit) | |||
were invived to dinner. The band played on the | ||||
lawn outside the officers Mess. |