April
1944
April
1944
1st April
Quite day today. Kit inspection and rifle drill completed a nice, easy, lazy day. Received a letter from Nancy, Jimmy full of beans and putting on weight.
2nd April
Boat drill on the river Warf. Left the camp in a rain storm. Using rubber dinghies for the first time; about 32 men landed in the river, nobody drowned. returned to Farnley Park at 1400, miserable and soaked to the skin. Changed and had weapons inspection before tea time.
3rd April
Made military history today. A retreat laid out for Catholics of the 15th Scottish Division. Three days at Cross Hills outside Shipley in Yorkshire. First time that this has happened in the British Army. Left camp at 1500 arriving at Cross Hills at 1700. Quite a number of men took advantage of the retreat and crossed the border and went home for three days.
6th April
Finished with the retreat and left for Otley at 1100. Upon arrival found out that I was on guard when I read the day's orders. Paraded and inspected the guard at 1700. Enjoyed my three days at Cross Hills, the Padre was interesting and his subject gave us plenty to think about.
7th April
Dismissed the guard at 0800. No duties for the remainder of the day (to make-up for lost sleep). Spent the day reading and writing. Wearying to get home.
8th April
Reveille at 0500. Left the camp at 0700 in charge of 18 Platoon for rifle and Bren gun practice at Stansall range near York. Weather very cold but bright. Firing results fairly good the new rifles proving reasonable accurate. Returned to camp at 1600, weapons cleaned and inspected before tea time. BOS duties tonight. Mounted Battalion guard at 1700. Turned out all duties at 2200 for inspection by orderly officer. Checked lights out, finished my day.
9th April
Dismissed guard at reveille. Mass in the canteen at 0900. Paraded Platoon at QM stores to have gas equipment renewed. Otley in the afternoon with Sinclair. Spent two hours boating on the river Wharf.
10th April
Weapons checked and ABC in the forenoon. Laying a minefield in the afternoon for tomorrow's exercise. Bradie and Seymour under close arrest for fighting.
11th April
Reveille at 0630. In charge of 18 Platoon on mine clearing exercise. Shown methods of lifting mines and how to find and deal with the different types of bobby traps that can be expected. Also digging two men slit trenches were the main features of the exercise. Thunder storm made conditions difficult.
12th April
Weapons training and a lecture on the different types of mines and fuses and mine lifting equipment using Polish detectors completed the day's training. Managed to get a room at Otley for Nancy who is coming down at the week-end.
13th April
Ordered to report to Company office at 0900 for an interview with Major Tindall. Received instructions to telegraph Nancy telling her not to come to Otley as we will be on the move in the near future. Did very little today fed-up.
14th April
Spent the day packing and preparing the platoon for the move. Where to, is a top secret. I expect that it will be somewhere on the South coast.
15th April
Finished duties early forenoon. Micky Caldow turned-up and I decided to have a real night out to drown my sorrows. Visted all the pubs in Otley. Somehow managed to get Micky onto the last bus for Harrogate, left him sleeping on the rear seat. Managed to crawl back to camp well after lights out, soaked to the skin. Lucky to be a NCO or I would have spent the remainder of the night in the guard room - Never again.
Findon Woods - near - Worthing - Sussex
16th April
Left Otley by train at 100 arriving at Worthing, on the South coast, at 2300. Catering left a lot to be desired, slice of bread and cheese and a piece of cake was our lot from 0700 to 0900 the following morning.
17th April
227 Brigade (Gordons, Argylls and HLI) under canvas in and around the Findon Woods 4.5 miles North of Worthing, near the village of Washington. 44 Brigade were lucky being billeted in the hotels along the Worthing sea front. Spent the day settling in. Difficult keeping equipment and weapons clean without the floor boards.
18th April
Food in short supply mainly due to supply problems. Went to Worthing in the afternoon with "B" Company on bath parade. Bought a Teddy Bear for Jimmy. The assistant was good enough to tie a ribbon around its neck with the shop name and address to let Nancy know our new area as all mail now being censored. The Canadians seem to have taken over the town.
19th April
Reprimanded by replacement Platoon officer as the Platoon lines were not up to his expectations (new broom sweeps clean). Difficult to keep neat and tidy owing to number per tent and the amount of equipment. Bren gun firing at the local range returning to camp at 1830. Weather remaining warm and dry. Doodlebug bombs over during the night, fingers crossed when engines cut-out. Ack Ack firing away.
20th April
Spent the day digging slit trenches for protection against bombing raids. Marched "D" Company to Worthing for swimming lessons. Remainder of the day on camp duties and weapons cleaning.
21st April
Paraded the Platoon in FMSO to be inspected by my Platoon officer Lt. Davidson before marching off on a 24 mile forced march. Satisfied with the turn out although didn't bring to his notice that some of the old soldiers had empty haversacks squared-up with cardboard to ease the weight off their backs. Marched along the South coast at a rapid pace with ten minutes rest in each hour. Truck picked up casualties mainly due to blister and exhaustion problems. The piper was called for by the officer to assist in keeping the men on their feet for the last few miles. Foot parade cancelled owing to exhaustion.
22nd April
30 yard firing with Sten guns, a new light machine gun and army issue revolvers. Managed a first class with the Sten, but the revolver takes a lot of practice in order to become a good shot. Went to Worthing in the afternoon then wrote letters in the canteen. Went to the pictures before walking back to the camp.
23rd April
Went to mass at 0930 in the camp dining tent. Remainder of the day checking camp area to ensure that the tents were in a tidy condition. Weather remaining nice and warm. Worthing in the afternoon, managed to cadge some cigarettes from the Canadians and walked back to the camp before lights out.
24th April
Coach to HQ. Company at the firing range in the forenoon. Enjoyed the outing, weather was ideal. Returned to the camp in the afternoon, dodged the rest of the day. Doddlebugs over the area night and day, so far we have been lucky. The enemy must relise there is a build-up of forces for action in the near future.
25th April
Field firing exercise with artillery support. 25 pounder guns were the main weapons. Gave very accurate fire and close support with rapid fire. Returned to camp at 1800.
26th April
Weapons training and camp inspection in the forenoon. Firing range in the afternoon. Was coach with the Bren gun. Firing anything but accurate (we'll need to do better when we go overseas). Returned to camp at 2000.
27th April
Left camp at 0830 on a Company 10 mile forced march in full battle order. "D" Company Commander was so pleased with the pace we were holding so he sent for the pipers to pipe us in. Had a shower and rested for the remainder of the day.
28th April
Another route march, a 20 miler this time, with FMSO. At feet inspection, on our return, I was one of the few without blisters, thanks to a good pair of boots. Bussed into Worthing after tea. Passed a Company of Argylls on the march led by a Sergeant Holland (ex manager Massey - Ayr) almost on his knees. Must have been returning from forced route march. Gave him the "V" sign.
29th April
Kit inspection and CO lecture. On the last field firing exercise in the afternoon. RSM lecture in the afternoon on guard duties. Lt. Davidson left for the paratroops today, wish him luck. Heavy bombers going over to the continent all through the night. "D" Day must be coming nearer.
30th April
Battalion on the march, led by a full pipe band, on a field fighting exercise. Advanced in battle order with heavy concentration of artillery fire, firing 100 yards to our front. The idea was to give the troops some idea of what kind of noise to expect when we come under enemy fire. Returned to camp by tea time.