8th Infantry Brigade HQ War Diary: March 1944
The 8th Infantry Brigade HQ March 1944 war diary covers intensive invasion planning and full-scale rehearsal, centred on Aberlour and Auldearn. The period focused on Exercisse BARON and LEAPYEAR
National Archive Reference: WO 171/611
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABERLOUR. | Feb 20 | |||
| - Mar 2 | Ex 'BARON' commences - Bde 'I' Staff arrive to prepare planning material | |||
| for Bde Staff Offrs. | ||||
| 3 | Bde Planning Staff arrive - reading in commences. | |||
| 5-6 | Bde Staff consider and make representation on Div Outline Plan, Order of Battle | |||
| and Allotment of Craft. | ||||
| Div Adm Plan received. | ||||
| 7 | All Comds Bde Gp and Bde Staff attend Bde Comd's Conference on Bde Outline | |||
| Plan. | ||||
| Bde Staff leave for Ex 'POP-BUZZ'. | ||||
| 8 | Ex 'POP-BUZZ'; ends p.m. | |||
| 9 | Bde Major outlines course of detailed planning - Bde Gp reps attend. | |||
| Detailed Planning commences incl Landing Tables. | ||||
| 10 | Detailed Planning continues. | |||
| 11 | All Comds Bde Gp and Bde Staff attend Bde Comd's Conference. Div draft OO received. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABERLOUR | Mar 12 | Div Conference down to and incl CO's - RN, Div Adm and Bombardment Plans. | ||
| 15 | Convoy Staff Tables handed in. | |||
| 16 | Div Final OO and Adm Order received. | |||
| First Tide Landing Tables handed to PMLO. | ||||
| 17 | Detailed Planning Bde OO. | |||
| 18-20 | 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tide Landing Tables handed to PMLO. | |||
| 19 | Detailed Planning Bde OO. | |||
| 21 | Bde First Draft OO No.1 issued. | Appx 'A' | ||
| 22 | Ex 'BARON' ends. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AULDEARN | 1 | GOC 1 Corps visits Brigade Area | ||
| Major W A Smallman relinquishes appointment of Brigade | ||||
| Major, HQ 8 British Infantry Brigade. | ||||
| Major D S Shuttleworth assumes appointment of Brigade | ||||
| Major, HQ 8 British Infantry Brigade, | ||||
| 24 | Bde HQ reps return from Exercise "BARON". | |||
| 28 | Exercise "LEAPYEAR" - Division in the assault, begins. | Appx 'A' | ||
| 31 | Exercise "LEAPYEAR" - ends. |
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