National Archives catalogue number WO 169/8674.
Abbreviations
Adjt Bde Bn CO Div IO MC MO MTO OC Ofr OR Pl QM RAMC SAA Sigs |
Adjutant Brigade Battalion Corps of Military Police Commanding Officer Division Intelligence Officer Motorcycle Medical Officer Motor Transport Officer Officer Commanding Officer Other Ranks Platoon Quartermaster Royal Army Medical Corps Small Arms Ammunition Signals |
Month and year: July 1943
Commanding Officer: Major C.F.H. Gough
1st July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Squadron in Camp unpacking and awaiting arrival of Train Party, who have been delayed owing to railway truck breaking down. Airfield organisation now consists of 6 strips or open brush cleared spaces. Allocation of strips as follows:- "A" Troop - "D" Strip; "B" Troop - "A" Strip; "C" Troop - "B" Strip; "D" Troop - "C" Strip; Mortar Troop - "E" Strip; 1st Reinforcements - "F" Strip.
2nd July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Troops employed in preparing strips for habitation. Italian prisoners used for manual digging jobs and general labour.
3rd July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Troops - less absent Train Party proceed out to Strips. Train Party arrives in evening.
4th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Train Party move out to Strips.
5th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Preparation for forthcoming operation going ahead smoothly. Glider Pilots begin moving out to Strips.
6th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
1st Typhus Inoculation.
1445 - Divisional Reserve Ammunition Dump located 400 yards from Squadron Lines caught fire. By 1500 hrs. Camp was under heavy bombardment from shrapnel, grenades and S.A.A. - over 2 acres was ablaze. Capt. G.C. Roberts wounded by shrapnel fracture of upper arm. Danger of general conflagration spreading. All troops in area help to fight fire and by 1800 hrs under control. Complete Dump destroyed and Glider Pilots Lines burnt out.
7th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Camp cleared of unexploded bombs and generally re-organised.
8th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Glider Pilots move out to Strips.
9th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
1915 - 1st Air Landing Bde. takes off from various Strips for invasion of Sicily. Few take off casualties. C.O. flies over in tug plane. Planes return in early hours of morning.
10th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
News that landing successful. Paratroops and supplies still being sent from Strips. Airborne Troops now being reinforced by 8th Army who have landed by sea.
11th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Operation proceeding smoothly.
12th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Troops on Strips standing by for further Paratroop launching.
13th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Second Typhus Inoculation.
14th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
First Para. Bn. go to Sicily. Glider Pilot return - few casualties to men - planes written off. Troops on Strips now completed job and preparing to return.
15th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Tpr. Murphy accidentally shot himself when on Guard.
16th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Funeral of Tpr. Murphy at Kairouan Cemetery.
17th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Troops return to Camp Area.
18th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Church Parade. 15 new Matchless M/Cs. arrive.
19th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Squadron comes under command of 1st Air Landing Brigade. 3rd Typhus inoculation.
20th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Squadron designation now Airborne and not Air Landing in this Div.
21st July 1943
Place: M'Saken
16 new personnel arrive of whom only 3 are considered suitable - remainder return.
27th July 1943
Place: M'Saken
"A" Troop leave for Beni Mansour for training. Expected to last 14 days. Training is in Mountain Climbing.
31st July 1943
Place: M'Saken
Squadron Exercise against 5th Para. Bn. - Skeleton Enemy role in MAHDIA Area. "C" Troop with C.M.P. and Defence Pl. 2nd Para. Bde.
Officers present during the month were as follows:-
Major C.F.H. Gough C.O. Capt. P.C.A. Somerville Capt. T.J. Firbank Lieut. J.R.C.R. Park Lieut. R.W. Jakeman Lt. & Q.M. F.D. Elmes Q.M. & M.T.O. Lieut. H. Poole Lieut. H.A. Platt Lieut. P.L. Bucknall Lieut. D. Galbraith Lieut. W.G. Mooney Lieut. H.E. Pearson Capt. A.S. Baker R.A.M.C. M.O. |
Capt. D. Allsop Capt. A.J. Waterman Lieut. J.A. Hay Lieut. M.W. Grubb Adjt. Lieut. L.A.W. Hayes I.O. Lieut R.J. Clark Sigs Ofr. Lieut. M.S. Payne Lieut. J.A. Christie Lieut. N.R. Illingworth Lieut. T.V.P. McNabb Lieut. J.W. Marshall |