8/Feb/43

Light occupation

On parade with guns*** hats.

Occupation well carried out.

Sent of parcel why don’t GPO see before **** of fire post of director & Tp picket.

***** manning in gateways etc.

Lights – what for D Troop

SOS fire talk to men.

Registration in twilight.

All DRs less BSMs A 1S & orderlies must go back to wagon lines with vehicles.

NB

1. Column got away to bad start
2. Did not move off as body.
3. One of DRs – keep in line road unless DR

Methods of controlling left.

1043 – 1 vehicle N into P du Fas.

1100 – Men moving in farmyard 774029.

1102 – 2 vehicles interval approx 300^x moving S from P du Fas to Robo Wood not observed after passing behind RW

1210 – 1 vehicle & 1 M/C going SW alone Rd 847030

1215 – 1 Vehicle travelling NE v fast along same road.

1220 – Vehicle & M/C stopped in village 818000

Several (3) objects possibly bogged vehicles along main road 8402 and 8301.

1225 – Vehicle travelling fast NE from village 81800 – past RW and into P du Fas.

1345 – Enemy shelled fr Anjout from pt 348 area – our medium guns opened up – saw no bursts, Big S*** 83” and 5 bursts.

1400 hrs – Orders from KVI to fire at Tgt P6 – Order from E OP.

KVI Target P6

1 Rnd Gun Fire

Fire.

1415 hrs at 10850

1417 hrs KVI Tgt P 1 1 Rnd GF Fire

1419 hrs

P. Royle

Check up Zone of Observation.

Line to E Troop OP (about 50^x down hill)

Panorama – bring specialist up.

Major Hall OC C Coy 3 Para

Illustration

Sunday 14/2/43

1. A Tp A/Tk Role
2. All gun nets up.
3. Start digging gun pits.
4. See Nos 1 re Box, then Sandy.
5. Green envelopes for RA crew.
6. Get Code proforma from CP.

A/Tk

Local Tank Spotters line.

Fox – leave?

Dickens – OK to Rt.

Larson] OK

Todd   ]

AP Shot all in Posⁿ

? Super charge

Learmouth? OCTU

21 Sets           18 Sets           11 Sets

8 working       2 working       1 in repair

2 in repair      2 in 7* repair

(incl OM)

                        9 Sets

                        Nil

21 Sets           18 Sets           11 set

RA                  2 in repair      1 in repair

GA                  RA

RB                  X1

GB 2

H                     RB

X2                   new one

X1                   in OM

K1 8

1RB

1H

Conference Tues 16 Feb 43.

My points

406 Inspections-

Proper vehicle states in each CP showing states of int at beginning of each day –

Latrine trenches.

(1) Names 3 per Troop next for stripes – inform Duckworth

(2) AA –

(i) Trench near gun – if attacked when chaps at gun

(ii) Near sleeping or working place.

Policy if aircraft about.

Shade – near slits) – if attack comes in, into shots.

(3) guns out of action.

(4) Vehicles – Officer or WO to drive 1 vehicle per day for ¼ hour preceded by 5 mins quick over – see if clean and lost tools.

(5) Gun stores complete check of gun stores and vehicle stores nb – Larsson and his gun stores.

Wed 17^th Feb 43.

OP 6 am

Troops all a.m.

Siting of local Ops etc, discuss with Ian

Get Flash simulators taped with Fowles.

Water Cans – reported to CAS

Tie bar for Dickens

4.30

Own Troops line on Red

Widen CP and make room for boards.

Tannoy Mike

Intelligence map up to date.

Thurs 18 Feb 43

2 Water Cans for Larssen 1 supplied, 1 on indent.

Tie Bar for Dickens.

Own Tps in Red.

CP tidied up.

Check up on RA.

Tannoy Mike.

Squad parade at 9 daily.

Intelligence map up to date

Get simulators taped – Write report.

A Dains as spare OP A

Learmouth on guns? A *** ***

Thurs

1 Water Can from Larsson

Tie bar X for Dickens.

? RA out of workshops.

Test ** box of simulators.

Spare OP A & GPO A.

Servant.

Learmouth on guns.

Check up on A Troop Trenches near gun, near sleeping and or eating holes.

Troop doing check of guns & vehicle stores

Report on Flash Sims.

Burst to burst – 8 secs 5.9

Area shelled – unable to observe approx area. 683952

1 single gun.

Interval between bursts 1 ½ mins

1.  RAGS
2.  RAGS
3.  1309 – 1331
4.  Sound only
5.  110^o
6.  5.9
7.  17
8.  Time Sound – Sound 8 secs
9. Area approx 683952.

OP Log.

1000               Took over OP.

1015               Set up *** in visibility bad.

1030               Contacted French OP and made arrangements re sleeping.

1145               BC & Air OP officer visited OP.

1245               Shot on M 39 for Meteor – Correct required was 7 1^o + 400

1330               Vis still bad – strong SE wind.

1415               Nothing to report vis still bad.

1422               Bty Tgt P1 to check link – on same place OK.

1450 (a)         Dull explosion and single burst of MG fire Bng 175^o.

1455 (b)         Checked on above with B OP thought quarry work from 685904

                         GW has seen

1515               (a) & (b) reported to CP

1610               Office on its way to being averagely ***

1630               Contacted Lieut Zavrant re DF tasks for tonight.

1650               Nil sit rep to CP.

1700 (c)          Enemy shelling 150^x N of M 39 Big 118^o (gun) has gun fire 4 rnds

1717 (d)         Enemy guns same Bng – unable to see burst approx area 695950

2 rounds fired.  Probably registering DF tasks.

1727 (e)         Shot at M 39 M 1^o + 400, dropped 250 to hit  target.

1737               Sit rep c, d, & e sent to CP

1820               Tried French again for DF tasks and route of their 1 patrol ‘they will let me have it toute a l’heure!’

21 Feb 43

0600               OP manned – Vis nil.

0615               CO arrived.

0630               Barrage commenced.

0650                    “ finished.

0704               Sit rep nil – vis 2000 – mist.

0730               Registered WP B for later re metier

0903               All lines tested – OK.

0910               Sit rep Nil Vis fair.

0950               Vis v bad – to CP.

1030               Vis fair – to CP.

1040               1 vehicle travelling SW along Road 720929 – reported to CP.

1206               Enemy shelling in area 702966 .  Report for Wright’s OP – engaging

 tgts

1249               Enemy shelling same area as before Bng 110^o

1309               Shell rep sent to CP.

1420               Engaged area Zavrant thought was possible Bosche Bty area – 720929 P 168.

1445               All lines tested OK

1450               Vis up 1000^x – thick mist sent to CP

1525               Vis still bad – informed CPO of HF tasks for tonight having got them from the ‘Commandant d’ Infantrie’.

1600               Vis fair.

1609               Single Mortar burst 679940 no gun heard.

OP Log.

26 Feb 43

0745 Took over OP ***

Order of March 9, 16, 17,

OP party – passed start pt 852061

O Party Rvz 794029

Gun Group

Main gate 8.35 am

Rvz Pt 392 825041 there at 9 ocl

Pocket pistol F 1 N Truck

Ready for BC at 8 ocl.  Behind 9 Bty

E**  Camp.  Exercise 1730 hrs

*** *** Haversack Rats

S to Ravine 664927 E to 668927 then N to own lines.

27 Feb 43

OP Log

0635hrs          Occupied OP – Vis Poor.

0650 hrs        Vis Fair.

0750 hrs        Lines tested Bty Line OK

French HQ Line US

(maintenance men on it now)

0745 hrs        Received Tgt Snipe Smoke B

0755 hrs        Mortars from Bng 205^o **** – Shells landing Big 190^o Approx area 6687

0813               Line to French HQ now through.

0815               Patrol to M 70 returned having nothing to report.

0855               MG bursts and single explosion ** 167”

1020 hrs        Shelling from Bgn 205” rounds landed on Bgn 165 also on Bgn 195^o.

1030 hrs        Loud explosions on Bgn 136^o believed to be bombing

1100 hrs        Loud explosions on Bgn 145^o.

1120               Follies captured 1 Sergt who was lost (a signaller) 2^nd Battalion (reserve) behind Monsour attacked 2 Para yesterday.

1358               1 vehicle and some men.  Station 480 NE of P 106 Engaged.

Observed no movement from Tgr Guns

Not well together – A Troop No 1 +200

No 2 +100

No 3 – OK

Bng and Brg mean Bearing.