5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary: April 1944
The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment's April 1944 war diary covers amphibious assault training and pre-invasion exercises in the Hampshire and Dorset area. The period focused on Exercises Smash I and Smash III, including a night bivouac at Corfe Castle, alongside company training at Bournemouth and Winchester, with the battalion embarking for Exercise Fabius at the end of the month.
National Archive Reference: WO 171/1398
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOURNEMOUTH | 1 | Training and preparing for SMASH I. | ||
| 2 | 0900 | Coys move off for Smash I - recalled SMASH postponed for 24 hours. | ||
| 3 | 0900 | -do- - adv party Capt Soaft IC leaves for new location. | ||
| 4 | 1430 | EX SMASH I ended. | ||
| 5 | Preparation for move to WINCHESTER. (BUSHFIELD CAMP). | |||
| WINCHESTER | 6 | Move to BUSHFIELD CAMP. | ||
| 7 | Settling into billets. | |||
| 8 | Coy trg. | |||
| 9 | Church Services - C Coy Street Fighting at SOUTHAMPTON. | J | ||
| 10 | Unit on APO, ENGLAND address. | |||
| 11 | Censorship of mail within uniy commences. | |||
| 12 | Coy trg | |||
| 13 | Briefing for Ex SMASH III by C.O. (Major J.H.F. Dixon) | |||
| 14 | Preparation for SMASH III. Briefing of coys. | |||
| 15 | -do- Carr Pl move off for loading onto LCTs. | |||
| embark for SMASH III. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINCHESTER | 17 | Bn moves off for SMASH III. Night spent bivouaced at CORFE CASTLE. | ||
| 18 | SMASH III in progress - night leaguer at RIDGEWAY - visit of G.O.C. | |||
| 19 | 1400 | Bn returns. | ||
| 20 | General cleaning, wpns, etc., after Ex. | |||
| 21 | Coy trg. | |||
| 22 | -do- First briefing for Ex FABIUS | |||
| 23 | Sunday routine | |||
| 24 | Coy trg | |||
| 25 | Preparation for FABIUS - waterproofing of vehs, etc. | |||
| 26 | -do- | |||
| 27 | Ex FABIUS | |||
| 28 | Bn in Marshalling Area | |||
| 29 | -do- | |||
| 30 | Bn embarks for EX FABIUS |
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