Abbreviations
|
AC Amn A/Tk Bde Bty Comd Coy CRASC Def Div GOC Med OC Op Pet Pl PT RASC RE RV SDP Sec Sigs Sup Veh W/Shop |
Aircraft Ammunition Anti-Tank Brigade Battery Commander Company Commander Royal Army Service Corps Defence Division / Divisional General Officer Commanding Medical Officer Commanding Operation Other Ranks Petrol Platoon Physical Training Royal Army Service Corps Royal Engineers Rendezvous Supply Dropping Point Section Signals Supply Vehicle Workshop |
Month and year: July 1943
Commanding Officer : Major M. St.J. Packe
1st July 1943
Place: MSaken
Normal duties, training and maintenance; swimming in evening at SOUSSE. CRASC conference 0900 hrs. Further vehs of 'B' Coy still limping in. Balance of W/Shops still en route.
2nd July 1943
Place: MSaken
Morning - training and maintenance, 'B' Coy unloading vehs. CRASC conference. Afternoon, skin inspection, internal economy, maintenance, swimming.
3rd July 1943
Place: MSaken
Normal training and duties. CRASC's Conference. Swimming. D Platoon - range firing.
4th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Church parade morning - remainder of day holiday and swimming. Visit to Bdes to ascertain f[?] of amn required for packing in panniers.
5th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Start of pannier packing by two Pls. A Pl. range firing. Transport duties.
6th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Morning - Concentrated work on packing of panniers and formation of dumps: work ceased 1200 hrs and all personnel returned to Camp. At 1430 hrs tremendous explosions were heard from the direction of 93 Coy's location, and it soon became evident that their amn. dump had been caught by a heath fire & was ablaze and exploding. A hot wind carried the fire rapidly, and soon the whole Div almost, including this Coy was out fighting the fire amidst a hail of falling shrapnel. By 1800 hrs the fire was under control. CRASC's Headquarters was completely gutted: the amn was completely burnt out; there were a few minor casualties. No sabotage suspected. Sups, Pet untouched.
7th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Packing of sups, pet and amn for Red and Green dumps recommended by this unit working at considerable pressure. Good progress was made.
8th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Packing continued at pressure. Green dump completed. [?] Inspected by Gen. Montgomery, Comd. 8 Army.
9th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Loading continued at considerable speed. Packing for Green and red dumps was completed. CRASC conference at 1700 hrs to discuss Op. as effecting RASC. At 1800 hrs, 1 Borders & 2 S.Staffs with HQ 1 Airlanding Bde, A/Tk Bty and Med, Sigs, RE detachments took off from Div Airfield in this area towed by C47, Albemarles, and Halifaxes. This is the first time in history. Div. Comd. travelled in first AC - a Waco. Bde landed in Sicily during the night and approached SYRACUSE.
10th July 1943
Place: MSaken
News of attack on SICILY officially announced on Allied and Axis radio. Commando landings were made at several points. Whole of 15th Corps, including fifth Division appear to have landed also. American land and Airborne forces are also landing further West. This Coy standing by on two airfields to resupply by air - see Operation Order attached. News very hard to obtain. 2 Para. Bde. who were supposed to take off today have been delayed.
11th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Quiet night. Still standing by on airfields. News still scarce, except that initial landings were apparently successful, bridgehead has been opened, fifth Div have relieved Airlanding Bde, and have entered Syracuse. Div. Comd. has joined HQ 13 Corps. Operations are proceeding.
12th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Coy. still standing by, but no further developments. Neither Parachute Brigade has as yet taken off as planned, but Operation appears to be proceeding successfully. Visit by Brigadier of 4 Para Bde. to see dumps.
13th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Nothing to report, still standing by, but [?] received. Training of Pls. recommended on small scale.
14th July 1943
Place: MSaken
1 Para. Bde took off during night. Reports received at midday indicated that supply by air might become necessary. Coy. stood to again, but demand was cancelled owing to reluctance of American Pilots to fly.
15th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Nothing to report. Still standing by. Operation proceeding well. 1 Airlanding Bde. returned. Conference at CRASC.
16th July 1943
Place: MSaken
No further demands seeming possible, Coy stood down. Demonstration and instruction in progress for 93 & 253 Coys.
17th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Domestic duties. Training recommended.
18th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Church parade 0800 hrs. Inspection of weapons. Coy concert in evening.
19th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Demonstration to Coy of Defence Section fire power, Hispanos, Piat, Bren, Rifles, mortar.
20th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Def. secs night firing - sten. CRASC conference.
21st July 1943
Place: MSaken
Departure of O.C. to SICILY by air. Def secs night march & firing.
22nd July 1943
Place: MSaken
Talk to Div RASC by G.O.C. Para Sec synthetic training in Albemarle. Balance of vehs. handed over to 253 Coy. Visit to dumps of 4 Para Bde.
23rd July 1943
Place: MSaken
Visit of Coy. Concert Party to 1 Borders.
24th to 25th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Defence Sections in training camp on coast near SOUSSE. P.T. Games, and Swimming. Rain storm.
25th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Church Parade.
26th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Course of Explosives for Defence Sections. Gammon Bomb used. Visit of C.R.U. Concert party. Dvr. Edmonds wounded by accident with sten bullet. Not fatal.
27th July 1943
Place: MSaken
1715 - Training. French and German classes resumed as part of training programme. Good attendance. Court of Enquiry on Dvr. Edmonds.
28th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Synthetic training Albemarle. 30 all ranks. Visit of Coy. Concert Party to C.R.U.
29th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Drop from C.47s. for 32 all ranks for training cancelled owing to strong wind. D Pl. left for Training Camp near SOUSSE. Field Firing Scheme, and Sport.
30th July 1943
Place: MSaken
Capt Bate with 9 Jeeps and 11 ORs left by sea for Sicily as a Salvage Party for Parachute equipment.
31st July 1943
Place: MSaken
0800 - Exercise Despatch. 3 officers and 27 ORs dropped from 3 Albemarles. Moved to R.V. using trollies Airborne. and 2 Abandoned enemy vehicles. Set out S.D.P. and Containers and Panniers dropped by 93 Coy. and 253 Coy from 2 Albemarles. Supplies collected ready for delivery. Time Table excellent.
