A Brief History to 50th Divisional Signals in WW2

Discussion in 'Royal Signals' started by Drew5233, Oct 14, 2010.

  1. October/November 1943 War Diary (extract)
    1 Oct: Month opens with Unit still in Sicily and following Signal Sections still under command. 69 Bde, 151 Bde, 168 Bde, 231 Bde, 74 Fd, 90 Fd and 124 Fd Regts.
    2 Oct: G2 Signals 30 Corps visits Unit to discuss personnel and W.E.
    3 Oct: Major D L Campbell leaves Unit to fly to Cairo via Catania to supervise the collection of Unit baggage which was left in Egypt.
    4 Oct: Party under Lt Hubback proceed on expedition up Mt Etna.
    10 Oct: 168 Bde with Signal Section proceed to mainland of Italy and cease to be under command this unit. C.O. holds Section Officers conference to discuss proposed reduced W.E.
    12 Oct: Intimation received of Div move. C.O. attends conference at A/Q 50 Div.
    13 Oct: All 3-ton vehicles less 1 handed in to Div RASC. All M/C less 1 to be handed in to Misterbianco.
    16 Oct: 151 Bde leave for Port of Embarkation.
    17 Oct: 69 Bde leave for Port of Embarkation.
    18 Oct: Adv. party of Div HQ leave for P. of E. All billets cleaned and handed over. Unit relieved of all responsibility for communications.
    19 Oct: Unit embarked on H.M.T. Duchess of Bedford – 1 Sgt and 3 O.Rs are to be employed operating Ship’s Broadcast System. “Reefer Scheme”
    20 Oct: 9 O.Rs to be employed during journey assisting Naval Signallers on bridge.
    23 Oct: Duchess of Bedford sails from AUGUSTA.
    5 Nov: Duchess of Bedford docks at Liverpool. Great enthusiasm amongst troops.
    6 Nov: Disembarked at Liverpool and troops proceed to SUDBURY area.
    7 Nov: Day spent in settling down. 1 Coy split between AUBRIES and CHADACRE camps caused much shuffling.
    8-10 Nov: Leave preparations, No communications taken over, very little transport is available, that which is available is only on loan.
    12 Nov: Disembarkation leave commences. Whole Unit away by 16 Nov, for either two, three or four weeks depending on length of service overseas.
    27 Nov: Leave personnel commence to return to unit. This unit takes over AUBRIES camp and existing communications.
    30 Nov: Clothing and equipment arrives.
    GENERAL ..very little of interest..the month being taken almost entirely by leave.
     
  2. Unfortunately unable to trace war Diary for December 1943 and January 1944. From this point Dad was with a small Section who are mentioned only briefly in the Diary, being attached to Command Royal Artillery. I am continuing with his recollections and hope they add to the official history.
    “On the ship back from the Middle East only two things stand out. The destroyers were weaving in and out dropping depth charges and we saw them bring a sub to the surface. Our ship sailed on but I clearly recall it surfacing. (Cannot find any mention of this anywhere else)
    The other memory is of Jimmy....., who let me read a letter he had received from his wife. She was having a baby to another man. He also had a Beretta and said he was going to, -Well I said Jimmy that will only get yourself into trouble, throw it overboard. You’ve been no angel. After talking things through, he hoyed the pistol over the side. He brought the baby girl up as his own and they stayed married after the War. A lot of that happened, just the way it was then I think.
    When we docked at Liverpool there were no crowds and we were on a train to ‘Mudacre Park’, that was Chadacre Park near Bury St Edmunds. We were billeted in Nissen Huts and went up to the big hall, which had been taken over, for meals.
    I had a home leave and spent Christmas in hospital in Bury St Edmunds having an infected boil lanced from my right arm.”
    (23/12 Awarded Africa Star with 8 Army Clasp
    4/1 M.O. 50 Div Sigs – classified A1)
     
  3. February/March 1944 War Diary (extracts)
    2 Feb: Sudbury area – Div Signals Exercise No 2 opens...mainly to practice Staff Officers in the use of R/T and various codes, but line comn was also used.
    3 Feb: 15 cars 5cwt 4x4, 4 HP CVs and 1 3ton wireless I lorry collected.
    8 Feb: 69 mile cable drawn from Old Daulby.
    11 Feb: 19 Dvr Operators arrive on posting this unit from 5 O.T. Bn.
    20 and 21Beach Signals Sections arrive on affiliation to this unit.
    50 miles of training cable drawn.
    14 Feb: 20 x 19 sets collected from Old Daulby.
    18 Feb: Div HQ Convoy Exercise held to ascertain the ‘Groups’ and where Staff Officers are to travel.
    21 Feb: 2 Carriers Universal received by rail from 9 AFV Depot.
    22 Feb: 14 O.Rs posted from this unit to 3 T.T. Bn to undergo training for remustering.
    23 Feb: His Majesty The King visits the Division, including this unit.
    Percentage of personnel proceeding on leave is doubled.
    25 Feb: Commanding Officer lectures 61 Div on ‘Signals in Battle’.
    26 Feb: 21 Beach Signals Section attached to 231 Bde for all purposes.
    27 Feb: 56 Bde comes under command. Signal Section is very small, strength being only 35.
    69 Bde, with Signal Section, move by rail to Inverary.
    28 Feb: 231 Bde move to Darsham.
    29 Feb: Orders to remobilize by 20 March 1944.

    During the month, courses are attended by members of the unit in the following:-
    Wet Driving – Waterproofing – Maintenance of W/T sets – Ciphers.

    Personnel not attending these courses are fully employed in sectional and individual training.
    A course of one month’s duration is held for Services operators and proves successful.


    5 Mar: Main Div HQ moves from Auberies Camp to Melford Hall, Long Melford.
    7 Mar: 19 Humber Utility cars exchanged for Wireless Houses at 150 Inf Ord Sub Park.
    8 Mar: 10 jeeps collected from 150 Inf Ord Sub Park.
    2 Typex machines drawn from A.D.O.S.
    9 Mar: One 9 KVA drawn from Aldershot Ord Depot.
    10 Mar: 6 HP CVs are drawn from Swaffham.
    11 Mar: Eighteen M14 half track vehicles collected from 150 VRD, Swaffham....in lieu of Trucks 15cwt personnel.
    12-23 Mar: Checking equipment and stores.
    24 Mar: 26 trailers 10cwt drawn from VRD, Swaffham.
    1 x 15cwt water trailer drawn from 21 VRD, Sastle Ashby.
    25 Mar: Tac HQ moves from London to HMS PURBECK, Weymouth.
    28 Mar: All privileged leave stopped.

    During this month, reinforcements arrived and helped to bring the unit up to War Establishment. Change over from ‘Home Documentation’ to ‘Overseas Documentation’ caused an untold amount of work for a depleted staff.
    Considerable periods of training were given to all operators, some of whom were ‘green’, coming from training Bns to this unit.
     
  4. “I suppose we had a lot of indiscipline – not that - maybe we were a bit cocky and did what we pleased.
    ‘H’ Section were only a small group of us and we lived together, and looked out for each other. Hartest was the nearest village and I palled up with a lad from the Home Guard called Bill Basham. He had a sister called Brenda. Mrs Basham ran the butchers shop in the village and I ended up living there. I played football for the village team and enjoyed being part of a family again. Bill had a girlfriend called Phylis who was a Land Army Girl, who lived with them.

    We had parade every morning and I remember being late once, grabbed the Greatcoat off the back door and took Bill’s bike up to Camp. Stood on parade’ Gilly’ came up to me and whispered in my ear ‘How long have you been in the Home Guard’ – I had taken the first coat hooked behind the door!
    Sgt Gill sent me in to swap places with the billet orderly and saved me from a charge.

    I remember going on a soft sand driving course – vehicles were provided – you drove down into pits of water and then out into sand pits. I was a bit ‘Bolchie’ there I remember, said something along the lines of I’ve been driving in the desert in sand for the last two and a half years!

    (12/3 Passed STT as Dvr Mech DII)

    Most of this time we had a lot of new faces come and go. I would take drivers out and assess them around the little village roads, they would be with us for a few days then gone. One lad tipped a 15cwt with all the batteries into a ditch on a corner once and I had to pull him out with the halftrack. Ted Barrs left us about this time I remember. There were exercises around the villages as well with the wireless sets in a 15cwt and then later in the halftrack.

    When we moved to the New Forest, (3-4 April’44), the Section was up a little side road in woodland just outside of Brockenhurst, on the Lyndhurst road. I would drive the 15cwt into Lyndhurst on a night. We were later joined there by CRA, maybe two dozen of us at most. There was the Command vehicle – a 3ton specially made caravan with side and back doors, soft skinned. My halftrack and when we got Capt Soutar he had a jeep and a Batman. There was a 15cwt vehicle, and sometimes the 30cwt with stores and wireless repairs.”
     
  5. War Diary April/May 1944 (extract)
    1 Apr: 8 x 3-tonners collected from 61 VRD, Malmasbury.
    2 Apr: Main Div HQ leaves Melford Hall, Long Melford. Stages night 2/3 at Yattendon transit Camp.
    3 Apr: Main Div HQ arrives Malwood House, Minstead and takes over from 3 Canadian Div Signals.
    124 Fd Regt moves from Long Melford to Shepreeth Camp, near Cambridge.
    4 Apr: 5 White Scout Cars drawn from 50 Div RE Fd Coys.
    13 Apr: Signal instruction for Exercises SMASH III and IV produced.
    124 Fd Regt in exercise BUMP under command 49 Div. Comns work well.
    15/16 Apr: Signals exercise CLUBFOOT with 30 Corp.
    18 Apr: Exercises SMASH III and IV commence.
    22 Apr: Signal Instruction for FABIUS produced.
    Exercises SMASH III and IV end.
    26 Apr: Main HQ move from Weymouth and rejoin Rear HQ at Minstead.

    Month generally spent in training and checking equipment and stores. Drivers attend courses on waterproofing of vehicles in unit, particular attention is paid to new types of vehicle, such as M 14.
    Accommodation at Malwood House Camp, Minstead exceptionally good. Ideal sports field available to unit and much sport played by men.
    Communications taken over in situ from 3 Cdn Div Signals in this area and prove very satisfactory.

    1 May: Capt D W Soutar, R Signals reverts to WS/Lieut and assumes appointment of OC ‘H’Section.
    4 May: Capt T I C Gray, R Signals, admitted to hospital in Southampton suffering with malaria.
    6 May: Exercise FABIUS
    7 May: 24-hour leave passes commence.
    8 May: CSO 30 Corps visits unit.
    10 May: Div Signals Exercise GRAB.
    11 May: Operation Signal Instruction No. 1 for OVERLORD produced.
    Commanding Officer attends briefing conference at Div HQ.
    12 May: Waterproofing of vehicles for OVERLORD commences.
    13 May: General Eisenhower visits Div.
    14 May: Convoy of 17 Jeeps exchanged for 17 prewaterproofed vehicles.
    15 May: Orders received for all ranks who served overseas in Sicily and Italy to commence suppressive treatment for malaria – 4 mepacrine tablets weekly.
    16 May: Lt (QM) VW Page, R Signals, admitted hospital suffering with malaria.
    20 May: Commanding Officer attends BRAKER I conference at Southampton by General Montgomery.
    All leave finishes.
    21 May: Commanding Officer speaks to all ranks regarding forthcoming operations.
    24 May: Unit moves to marshalling areas.
    26 May: Commanding Officer briefs all officers for forthcoming operations.
    All camps in marshalling areas sealed with effect from 2359 hours.
    27 May: Several cases of malaria in unit. Medical inspection of all ranks held. Weather very hot.
    29 May: Briefing of sections by Section Officers takes place. Troops morale very high and everyone is very keen to commence operations again. Great interest taken in general plan and many questions asked. Weather still very hot and shirtsleeves is order of the day. Final check up on orders, stores, wireless sets and vehicles.
    30 May: Unit D Day personnel form up into craft serials and move to concentration areas.
    Commanding Officer embarks on HQ Ship ‘BULOLO’.
    31 May: Unit D Day personnel commence move to embarkation areas.

    General
    Exercise FABIUS held as practice for marshalling for operation OVERLORD. All vehicles up to D+3 took part but only vehicles up to second tide were waterproofed.
    Vehicles up to H + 6 hours were supposed to land but only vehicles up to H + 90 minutes landed, owing mainly to weather conditions.
    Marching party and second tide personnel were not embarked, and eventually sent back to unit. All personnel up to H + 6 were successfully embarked.
    After two cancellations, the landing took place on Hayling Island.
    Throughout the exercise, communications were successful and worked according to plan. It was found, however, that Tac Div needed a link to Corps which …...has since been rectified.
    The take-over of Tac Div from Div HQ Ship ‘BULOLO’ worked satisfactorily.
     
  6. (Deprived of 7 days pay by CO and forfeit 1 days pay under RW for AWOL from 23:59hrs 10 Apr 44 until 13:40 hrs 11 Apr 44 {Absent 13hrs 41 mins} AB 64 PtII Serial No. 31)

    “We were allowed a twenty-four hour pass within a certain radius of London. The ‘Geordies’ couldn’t get back home so Sgt Gill, Cpl Robson and a lad from Gateshead who’s name I’ve forgotten were going to London. I was driving them in to Lyndhurst to get a train. Gilly said why didn’t I go back to Hartest and after a couple of ‘phone calls from a telephone box he got me a pass.

    I missed the train back. Mrs Basham found out there was a milk-train to London and they drove me to Bury-St-Edmunds. I caught a connection to Bournemouth and got nicked there by the M P’s. What I didn’t realise until later was that the train had stopped at Brockenhurst on the way to Bournemouth!

    We took part in little Exercises down on the coast and took part in one proper landing (Fabius?) which I can remember very little about. I recall the run into the beach driving up the beach and turning left. Capt Soutar was in his jeep and said we should move pretty sharpish as it was live shells being fired over us.

    I cannot remember being issued Mepacrine – we did get it given on Sicily and in the desert and couldn’t get any food until you took the pills. That said a lot of blokes wouldn’t take them because they made you go yellow. I didn’t get my first attack until 1945.

    The halftrack: I had no training, it arrived one day and it became my responsibility.
    It was a left hand drive. There were three levers; a gear lever which gave four forward and one reverse, a booster gear stick which was for a very low gear, and a lever for the winch which was on the front. The ‘dashboard’ had a petrol gauge, an ammeter for the battery and an odometer. I don’t know how fast it went but it could travel pretty fast when you wanted.
    There were two self sealing petrol tanks one above my head at the side and the other at the opposite side. Both, if I recall held 34 gallons. Self sealing means if a bullet hits it doesn’t set off the fuel. If it is an incendiary I think things would have been different! The front tyres were self sealing also. Seats – two passenger one driver. A frame with a bit of padding covered in canvas – one colour –khaki.
    Mine was open to the sky, but you could have a canvass top. The front armour was held up on props and when it was down there was a slit for me to see through and one at the passenger side. Armour was about 3 eights of an inch. The windscreen was glass, there were no side windows but again there were armoured flaps that came down. The back of me was also armour plated. The back of the vehicle had a framework with canvas over. To get in the back you climbed over the sides. I did get a door in the back after we were mortared on Market Garden.
    In the back were three operators with one big set and two small ones – 9 sets and a 22 set I think, but they were the operators and I didn’t get involved. The batteries were under the seats. There were modifications made which fitted a traversing rail above my head where the twin Brens were. It was my job to strip these down and keep them maintained.
    I had a huge spanner to tighten up the tracks, checked oil, water and fuel and most importantly keep the batteries charged. You could wire them up to charge while we were moving, but when we were static I had a chore horse. It was noisy petrol driven engine and I would take out the spares to charge much to the annoyance of the operators.
    I was also responsible for camouflaging the vehicle by draping netting with a walk-in and setting up the big aerial the few times we stayed static.
    As I said I didn’t get any training but learned to skid it in a small turning circle by giving it bags of gas, throwing the wheel hard over and braking!
     
  7. “The Section moved with the Artillery group into the main Camp outside Brockenhurst. Everyone was concentrated prior to the Invasion. Drivers stayed with their vehicles and these were all parked along one side of the main street out of Brockenhurst. I went up to the camp to eat but slept in the halftrack. We were to land on Gold Beach Jig Red at H+90 minutes. Capt Soutar, Sgt Parker, ‘Plodder’ Jones, three operators and myself"
     
  8. “Even though we had some freedom of movement up and down to the Camp for meals drivers had to stay with their vehicles on a night. The whole area was patrolled by ‘Bluecaps’ checking paybooks.

    I drove down to Southampton Water, must have been the beginning of June because I do know we boarded on the 2 June. I reversed the halftrack down an incline onto the LCT and was first on at the back right. There were two ‘Funnies’ next and three Bren Carriers in front. Right at the front was one of the big Dodge jeeps. It had a U.S. Major and a driver that we called ‘Pennsylvania’, and was to act as a liaison vehicle with Omaha Beach. Also on board were a dozen or so Hampshires who stayed down near the ramp some sheltering in a little space at the front left.

    We had a four-wheeled frame with us that carried the back-up sets. We called it the ‘pram’. ‘Plodder’ was in charge of this with another operator. They spent their time in the cubby-hole by the ramp on the right hand side. I don’t remember where the ‘pram’ was parked and didn’t see it when we landed.
    (The landing tables for LCT Serial 2156 show a different make-up to this – the Hobarts may actually be the Sherman ARVs listed)

    I only remember seeing one Naval rating all the time we were on board. He filled us with confidence by telling us that even if the LCT broke in two, both halves would float!

    The LCTs were moored three deep along the river bank. We were at the back and on the outside. I saw what we later learned was a ‘Mulberry’, go past, only we had no idea what it was at the time. We spent two nights moored and both nights the Naval ‘Passion’ boat came and tied up by us and took ratings ashore.
    Sgt Parker and I went for a swim, the water was filthy! We ate a lot of the rations and drank all the self-heating cans of cocoa we had been issued.
    We left on the 4 June and once the postponement came through went into ‘Piccadilly Circus’ just going round and round. When we finally started across I remember Capt Soutar addressed us and read out – I think it was a message from Ike – then he told us where and when we were landing and that they expected 60 percent casualties. We were going in with the Dorsets, following 231 Brigade. We had to get off the LCT and off the beach as quickly as possible.

    I remember on the way across sleeping on the bonnet of my vehicle, spending some time with ‘Plodder’ near the ramp and checking the halftrack over. We passed through the big ships, anchored-up and let the LCIs pass through us. Soutar told us about this time that we were going in early.

    I got to my vehicle, had the side shields up and only the 2x6 slit to see through. I had sandbagged the foot-well so as to leave a small space for my feet. This was against water coming in but mainly to protect my feet from any blasts. I’d been issued a Smith and Weston revolver and it was strapped to my leg like ‘Tom Mix’. I remember thinking you have to be pretty close to use one of those!

    The ramp hit a mine on the first run-in. The jeep went off and sank and we pulled back out. Second run-in the Hampshires rolled out coconut matting, they were in shorts I remember that. That must have been when I got in the halftrack because after that I don’t remember seeing the other vehicles get off.

    I am sorry but it all becomes a bit confused here as to where the other vehicles went, if we came out again and ran-in a third time, I don’t know. I remember driving off and the water rising so that I had to stand up in the seat. All this time there was stuff flying about overhead, going both ways. I drove up onto the beach and heard a bang and a ‘whooshing’ sound come from the right. I got out and went round the front to check. I’d ran over a big oil drum that had burst and there was oil over the side of the halftrack and running in the sand. There was a small jeep (Willys) struggling to get out of the sea on this side. I turned and saw a Beach-master coming down the beach and pointed to the winch and said ‘I can pull him out, Sir’ to which he replied ‘You’ve had your orders, get off my bloody beach!’

    That is where I should have turned right and found the beach exit. Instead I drove up between the fences and right up onto a raised embankment – then turned right. On the land side was a huge bomb hole full of bodies. It must have been a collection point because they all seemed to have been laid out. I drove along until nearly opposite a pillbox with a dead Jerry sat outside. Capt Soutar told me to wait while he found out where we were. It seemed like a long time, exposed as we were until Soutar came back just as an MP began walking towards us along the embankment, and directed me down onto the beach exit.“(The embankment was the coastal narrow-guage railway. The pillbox is designated WN36)
     
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  9. “This exit led to a track with raising ground to the left. Capt Soutar was in front with me at this point and giving me directions. We turned off this track left onto a farm lane with a walled farm on the right and fields on the left. Opposite the arched farm entrance we turned into a field and parked up by the hedge. I stripped off the ‘elephant’s trunk’ waterproofing to the carburettor, draped the nets and put up the aerial. Then I dug a slit-trench between the vehicle and the hedge.

    The French would just walk about while all this mayhem was going on. I saw this later but this first time I experienced it – a girl from the farm came into the field to milk a cow there. The cow was so obviously injured by shell fragments and in distress, but she kept trying to milk it. I offered to put it out of its misery using sign language, but she would have none of it and led the poor thing away.

    We were receiving sniping from along the lane to the left. Later two German soldiers came along from this direction with two French girls who were both crying. Capt Soutar took them prisoner and detailed me to take them down to the beach. I took them to the lane end and sent them down the track.

    Later still we got a traumatised Hampshire lieutenant arrive. He had no helmet, webbing, weapon, – he had gone completely, couldn’t speak. I sat with him in the front of the vehicle, but the sound of the stuff going over just made him more and more jumpy. In the end he opened the door jumped out and fell into my slit-trench. He was in the hedge when I got round to him and after that we decided it would be best to hand him on. I took him right down to the beach where landing craft were being loaded and sent him off down to be taken-off

    That’s it, can’t remember anything more – total blank, until we walked into Bayeux next day and had a drink in an estaminet. We must have moved and parked up but that’s all gone I’m afraid”
     
  10. War Diary June 1944

    Southampton Area The month opens with the following sections under command:- 69 Bde,
    151 Bde, 231 Bde, 56 Bde, 8 Armd Bde, 74 Fd Regt, 90 Fd Regt, 124 Fd Regt, 86 Fd Regt, 147 Fd Regt.

    1 June: First craft loads embark at Southampton, mainly in LCT.
    Div HQ embark in LSH H.M.S. BULOLO.
    2 June: Embarkation continues, including marching personnel in LSI.
    Weather still very hot.
    Signal office still maintained at BROCKENHURST for phone calls and urgent DRLS, this being manned by the unit final residues.
    Div HQ on board and in phone communication with the shore and Div Report Centrs.
    3 June: 1700 Div HQ ship sails from Southampton after a visit from the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Smuts. Anchor in Solent with remainder of Naval Force ‘G’. All ranks are briefed on the operational maps and the whole plan is explained.
    4 June: Weather very bad – strong wind, cold and wet. Operation postponed for 24 hours. Force remains anchored in Solent.
    At Sea
    5 June: 0700 In spite of continued bad weather, force begins to sail, slowest craft going first. Later in the day there is a slight improvement in weather.
    1845 HQ Ship sails via Needles channel. At last light the Isle of Wight is still just visible astern. All wireless silent but listening watch is kept from time of sailing on the lateral link to Force U, 5 U.S. Corps.
     
  11. 6 June: 0500 As we approach the French coast, it is possible to see the flashes and explosions of the preliminary air bombardment.

    0600 Arty bombardment starts from warships and SP arty in LCT.
    Weather still far from good, though the wind has dropped, there is quite a considerable swell.
    Most of the coast defence batteries have been silenced on our sector but there is one gun still firing which might be a nuisance, and has in fact got a bracket on the HQ ship. No sign of enemy air activity.

    0710 H-15 minutes – Wireless silence broken on all nets; communication established all round very quickly with very little interference. The ships signal sections work extremely well and are largely responsible for the efficient working.
    Details of communications at H Hour and subsequently are given in the OVERLORD Signal Instruction.

    0720 W/T Dets 5 E Yorks and 6 G Howards (2 assault bns 69 Bde) have rough landings with heavy seas and enemy action with snipers and mortar bombs. 5 E Yorks Det pinned down with infantry for over an hour against shelter of sea wall.

    0750 Tac 231 Bde leave H.M.S. NITH in LCM with Bde Comds Recce in jeep.

    0830 1 Hants fail to answer on 231 Bde A as handcart, station and operators landed in deep water and had to swim ashore.

    0905 231 Bde LCM hit by shell and sinks. Bde Comds Recce jeep and set lost but Cpl Davison manages to get the carrier ashore with all personnel by skilful driving.
    Tac 231 Bde HQ proceed to M.B.S.S. as all W/T sets are drowned, where HQ st up and full use made of Beach Signal communications.
    69 Bde Sigs lose their M.14, this dropping into deep water, then jugging along and eventually disappearing from view in the wake of the line jeep into a deep water-filled bomb crater. BM 69 Bde party incl Lt A.G. Conroy, R. Signals have to swim for it.
    Replacement set for 47 R.M. Commando found by 231 Bde.

    1000 Tac Div HQ reports it is ashore but unable to get off the beach.
    Assault bdes (69 & 231) progressing inland slowly.
    Bde HQs W/T has taken over from Beach Signals. In the case of 69 Bde they have had to keep two wireless dets complete from Beach Signals with some charging sets.
    Tac 151 Bde HQ transferred to LCM containing carrier and jeep. Heavy swell running and much seasickness amongst personnel.

    1130 151 Tac Bde touch down on beach and land successfully.
    Marching personnel in LCI’s have water ‘breast high’ on landing. Handcart W/T sets float ashore alright.

    1245 151 Bde HQ are reorganised at VER SUR MER.

    1300 G.O.Cs party just joined Tac Div in MEUVAINES. Tac party landed without casualties but one jeep with 19 set drowned which was later recovered.

    1330 Tac Div HQ takes over control on Div A and CRA waves from HQ ships.
     
  12. 1400 Duplicate 231 Bde HQ joins Tac HQ at M.B.S.S. 22 set handcart stations at 1 Hants and 1 Dorsets replaced by M14’s with 19 sets. The M14 attached 2 devons had been drowned on landing. 1 Hants clearing pockets of enemy resistance in LE HAMEL.

    1500 Mobile column of 6 and 9 DLI (151 Bde) push forward to first objective which is high ground E. Of BAYEUX.

    1600 Marching parties arrive at Div HQ with additional wireless sets and signal office equipment.

    1645 Brig Senior, Comd 151 Bde, with L/Cpl Horton, MM reported missing, believed captured, holding all Div code signs and codes for next 14 days. Impossible to take any action.
    (There is an annotation here in pencil in the margin with a line to the last sentence, it reads ‘Why?)

    1800 More vehicles of line section and two CVs HP arrive together with Corps Comds CV to work to Army Comd.

    2359 All communications established and working except AIMBW for which Beach signals have no sets. Disembarking is many hours behind schedule.

    Casualties in the unit are as shown:-
    14328060 Sigmn HARRIS J. (20 Beach Sig Sec)
    2385859 Sigmn VANE J. (69 Bde Sigs)
    Both killed in action
    (But see 7 June entry at 1000 re Signalman Vane)
    14381374 Sigmn CAIRNS A. C. (69 Bde Sigs)
    3718547 Corpl KELLETT T. C. (69 Bde Sigs)
    2362602 Sigmn HODGES W. F. (69 Bde Sigs)
    2381804 L/Cpl DEWHURST J. (231 Bde Sigs)
    All wounded in action
    2584843 L/Cpl HORTON P. J. MM (151 Bde Sigs) Missing believed captured
    (But again see 7 June entry at 1600 re Cpl Horton)
    7 June: 0300 Further parties of D day personnel land.

    0700 K Sec (231 Bde) still unable to get in W/T touch with 47 RM Commando and 16 RCT.
    Swarms of British fighters overhead.
    Pte Abbot, cook in L Sec, reports with 16 German prisoners from ST GABRIELE.
    Transport in Bde sections was mainly ‘Shanks Pony’ or bicycles.

    0900 recce party goes forward to select new location for Div HQ in area SOMMERVIEU.

    1000 O C 3 Coy reports Sigmn Vane J. (L Sec) previously reported killed, now reported wounded in action and evacuated.
    Bdes pushing forward to objectinves and encountering stubborn resistance by enemy.

    1300 25 Germans including 4 officers captured by 151 Bde HQ personnel.

    1600 Div HQ moves to new location at SOMMERVIEU.
    Lieut D.F. Hubback, R Signals sent to Bayeux with Div I. O. To see the civil exchange which is found to be complete and in working order. Arrangements made to close and guard.

    Brig. Senior, Comd 151 Bde, returns wounded after escaping from enemy in BAZENVILLE WOOD and reports L/Cpl Hortom P.J. (MM), his recce operator previously reported missing, now reported killed in ambush 1530 hours, 6 June.

    2000 Established in new location and lines laid to all RA regts and bdes, except 8 Armd Bde.
    Balance of D day transport and personnel has now arrived.
     
  13. 8 June: Div HQ remains at Sommervieu. Communications remain the same and all quiet satisfactory.
    Replacement signal stores beginning to arrive in Ordnance Beach Dump but no S1098 stores (which include 70 miles of D8 cable) arrived yet.
    Main job at present is to find out what units have lost in signal equipment and try to make them up. Commanding Officer visits CSO 30 Corps. C in C Army Group visits Div HQ.
    1600 Lt Hughes, signal officer 47 RM Commando, reports to 231 Bde HQ to explain their W/T set LBEA and further 22 set borrowed from FOO had also been lost when their HQ was overrun.
    LO and operator with wireless set return from 16 RCT and report that although set working well; communication with 231 Bde HQ had not been possible.
    Transport of all sections being sorted out and assembled, wireless layout and dispositions being carefully reorganised.

    Great interest being shown in the BBC broadcasts. When the initial announcement came that 50 Div was the first Division to land in France, one of the last to leave Dunkirk, the first British Infantry division to fight in the Desert and through the whole of the North African campaign and was one of the assault divisions on Sicily, a feeling of great pride swept through the unit.

    9 June: PL route on road RYES-BAYEUX in very good order and being used as a main artery into the town. C in C 21 Army Gp visits 231 Bde.
    2030 Straffing by enemy aircraft (using rocket guns) near Div HQ – no casualties.
    Stand to held at dawn and dusk daily. C. O. Keeps unit informed of battle situation.

    10 June: 56 Bde and 86 Fd Regt pass to command of 7 Armd Div.
    Apparent sabotage to PL route in Bayeux but this may have been caused by careless driving as many poles have been knocked down in various places.
    1000 47 RM Commando leave 231 Bde Group.
    1600 M.14 attached 2 Devons (231 Bde) arrives from DVP.
    1700 Capt RMW Davies MC, R. Signals, arrives with D+3 personnel and vehicles complete, and brings British newspapers with invasion news.

    11 June: 35 miles G1098 cable collected from Beach.
    L/Cpl Reid and Sigmn Beattie, both linemen of L Sec (69 Bde) wounded by enemy action,
    1900 W/T communications 231 Bde Fwd Control difficult through jamming.
    1950 Enemy attack 2 Devons from the South and infiltrate from the west flank. 14 enemy tanks have also penetrated the position and there is a certain amount of confusion.
    2000 Line communication to the Bns of 231 Bde fail due to activity of our own and enemy tanks.
    2200 Good work carried out by Cpl Richards and Sigmn Grimshaw, K Sec (231 Bde) providing useful information concerning enemy situation in Devons area.
    2300 Situation on 231 Bde front restored by a coy counter attack by 2 Devons.
     
  14. 12 June: 56 Bde and 86 Fd Regt under command 50 Div.
    Major Gibson detached from unit as OC 104 Beach Sub Area Signals to replace previous C.O. reported missing.
    69 Bde Sigs report their ‘B’ Echelon transport on D+3 arrives after being torpedoed on way over. All vehicles were on top deck of LST and were badly shaken up but no serious damage or casualties caused.

    13 June: 1400 Div HQ moves to position S. of BIARY.
    1930 151 Bde HQ move to JERUSALEM (Bomb Happy Corner).
    Active patrolling on 231 Bde front.
    Bde and Fd Regt Sig Secs less G Sec, practically up to strength.
    Areas very crowded and vehicles nose to tail on roads from beaches to forward areas.
    Arrangements made for hot baths for troops in Bayeux.
    Allotment for ENSA show in Bayeux received.
    4 operators and 2 drivers of 56 Bde Sigs wounded in action.

    14 June: Up to the present there has been very little wireless interference but it is now becoming noticeable and frequencies have to be checked more often. Several waves including CRE have had to be changed. Signal security reports show that signal security on the ‘G’ links is good but most common fault is using Slidex to encode map references. Security on Admin links bad and G Staff had to take action. Signal Security Section consists of only 6 operators and 2 receivers with no transport.
    1045 A Corps arty barrage is put down and 231 Bde advance against stiff enemy opposition.
    Despite number of field cable lines along main road, movement of tanks etc., lines are hardly ever out. Distances much shorter than in Middle East and Sicily.

    15June: Signal Centre established at BUTTE DE GROSS ORMES, probable future location of Div HQ, in order to cater for Fd Regts and Bdes in forward area.

    16 June: Capt T.I.G. Gray, R Signals arrives in charge of D+11 party.
    1500 Cpl Wood, Recce operator to Comd 151 Bde, killed by mortar bomb at 2 Essex Bn HQ.
    L/Cpl Ford (20 B.S.S) attached 69 Bde Sigs, wounded by enemy action.
    56 Bde under command 30 Corps.
     
  15. 17 June: 1000 8 Armd Bde under command 49 Div.
    M.14 (2) loaned by A Sec to HQ 69 Bde as HQ being heavily mortared.
    5 O.W/Ls, 1I.M. and 1 L/mn reinforcements arrive.

    18 June: As a result of moves of 56 Bde and 74 fd Regt, signal centre no longer necessary and closed.
    147 Fd Regt pass to command of 49 Div.
    L/Cpl Ford (20 B.S.S.) dies of wounds received on 16 June.
    L/Cpl McKee, Sigmn Felgate and Sigmn Spray, all of 151 Bde Sigs, wounded in action. L/Cpl McKee and Sigmn Felgate remain on duty.

    19 June: L/Cpl McKee (for a second time) L/Cpl Readshaw and Sigmn Farrow, all of 151 Bde Sigs, wounded in action. L/Cpl Readshaw remains on duty.
    Heavy rainfall all day.
    231 and 151 Bde Sigs finding difficulty maintaining line communications to Bns owing to enemy mortaring and shelling.
    DRs and linemen working exceptionally well under difficult conditions.

    20 June: Enemy planes straff position near HQ.
    Signal Centre at Bennieres –Bocage closes down owing to future Div location being changed.
    L/Cpl Burton (151 Bde Sigs) wounded but remains on duty.

    21 June: Div HQ move to area BUTTE DU GROS ORME, which proves very noisy owing to proximity of our artillery.
    The period 19-21 June has been a period of static activity on Bde fronts. The Bns kept shifting their positions locally and adjustments have been made accordingly in the line situation. Most damage to lines appears to be caused by movement of transport, tanks, etc- very little by enemy shelling.
    The weather is still very bad making things difficult for the linemen.

    23 June: No change in position. Continued shelling of 231 Bde Hq make continuous line communication difficult. In order to shorten the existing line, an omnibus circuit to all three bns and back to Bde HQ is introduced. In this way, almost continuous line communication is maintained, which outweights the disadvantage of having three Bns on the same line.
    Sections being taken to Bayeux for bathing.

    24 June: Bns engaged in active patrol work. Wireless and line communication satisfactory and Signals work becomes routine.

    On B Coy 2 Cheshires forward net, a German came on to the group and spoke for half an hour, answering test calls etc until he was challenged after asking for the password to be sent over the wireless. His answer to that was “OK Tommy – Out” But, after another quarter of an hour, the German came on again and asked for the last fire order to be cancelled. Frequency was changed. Apparently the Boche spoke perfect English with the same inflections and tone of voice as the operator of the section he was presuming to represent.

    25 June: Capt, J. St. C.W. Robinson joins J Sec (151 Bde) to relieve Capt. J.H.H. English.
    Reinforcements arrive – 7 Dvr.Ops 2 E.S. 1 I.M. 4 L/mn 9 O. W/Ls 1 D.R.

    26 June: Sgmn Grimshaw and Sgmn Hannon of K Sec (231 Bde) wounded by mortar fire.
    Weather dull and heavy showers of rain.
    From reports that forward lines are being intercepted by the enemy orders are issued that lines to the Bns have to be made metallic.

    27 June: Weather still very wet and little to report.
    Brig. Hargest, N.Z. Army, speaks to unit on nightly ‘stand to’ talk.

    28 June: Forward troops carrying out active patrolling.

    29 June: Weather still very unsettled.

    30 June: Weather still unsettled with heavy showers of rain.
    1930 Formation of 250 heavy bombers with equal number of fighters as cover pass overhead at low altitude and release bombs over VILLIERS BOCAGE, causing, it is hoped, great damage.
    Direct line laid to 56 Bde who are now coming under command.
     
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  16. War Diary July 1944 (Extract) Butte Du Grosse Horme Sq. 7971
    1 July: Active patrolling on Div front with spasmodic shelling of enemy by own guns.
    C.O. visits 1st U.S Div and 2nd U.S. Armd Div.
    C.S.O. 30 Corps visits Unit HQ.
    56 Inf Bde and 5 R.H.A. Regt R.A. under command.
    Weather wet.
    2 July: C.S.O. 30 Corps visits Unit HQ.
    OC 3 Coy, 49 Div Sigs and several Bde Sigs officers from 49 Div visit ‘J’ Secftion to discuss general organisation.
    3 July: Training being carried out by OC ‘N’ Section for dvr. Operators, including R.E. personnel.
    Weather bad.
    Harrassing shoots by own arty continues.
    After carrying out tests, bde sections consider it inadvisable to use loudspeakers on Canadian No.9 set at night. Morse signals being heard over long distances.
    Interference on command nets causing considerable inconvenience. New formations in beach head now sharing frequency lists.
    8 Hussars temporarily under comd 50 (N) Div.
    2 x M.9 Half tracks collected from 50 Div OFP.
    4 July: 0800 Rebuilding of several lines in Div area necessary owing to airfield construction.
    Check on Regtl Signallers in 151 Bde reveals signal platoons up to strength and reserves available in companies.
    1000 8 Hussars out of comd 50 (N) Div.
    1100 Bde Cmdr 69 Bde inspects signal section attached.
    1200 ‘K’ Section (231 Bde) collect 1 x M.14 which has been used by HQ RE, to replace one lost by enemy action.
    1500 Personnel from out sections, Main & Rear Div Sigs visit cinema in BAYEUX.
    5 July: All M.14’s in ‘J’ Section modified with rear door panel for easier enrty into staff compartment. ‘G’ Section (124 Fd Regt RA) commence unloading at JIG GREEN (ARROMANCHES LES BAINS sector) and assemble with regiment in area SOMMERVIEU 8381.
    6 July: ‘C’ Sqn 141 RAC (Crocodiles), ‘C’ Sqn Westminster Dragoons (Flails), 82 Sqn 6 ARRE, 4/7 Dragoon Gds under comd for operation “MAIORI.”
    7 July: General reshuffle of Bde boundaries. 70 Bde (49 Div) take over 151 Bde area, including portion of lines laid. Bde Sig Sections make arrangements to dig in command vehicles and signal offices.
    1400 Capt. Homes G (R) 21 Army Group, visits unit in connection with wireless deception.
    Frequencies checked twice daily.
    1900 Large force of R.A.F. bombers fly over after massive bombing attack on CAEN area.
     
  17. 8 July: 0600 Div ‘A’ net recommence continuous watch.
    1400 OC ‘J’ Section visits Bn Sig Platoon of 8 D.L.I. to investigate trouble with No.18 Sets. As Bn is in rest area, all sets are sent to 151 Bde W/shops for inspection.
    9 July: Attack on HOTTOT 8266 by 231 Bde postponed 24 hours.
    Div ‘B’ net opens on three-hourly calls between 0600 and 2300 hrs daily.
    Corps C.E. net on two-hourly calls.
    Investigation by 151 Bde W/shops on faulty No. 18 Sets reveals faulty condenser in many sets.
    1800 Sigmn Abbott F.C., ‘G’ Section, seriously wounded by mortar fire whilst driving C.O. 124 Fd Regt’s jeep from TAC H.Q. to 56 Bde.
    10 July: 0900 231 Bde HQ recced new location 818693.
    1200 All 69 Bde HQ including sig section (‘L’) parade in F.S.M.O. for inspection by Bde Major.
    1400 Preparations made in 231 Bde for attack on HOTTOT the following day. Following units in support net on Bde ‘A’:- SRY (RAC) 288 A/Tk Bty, 234 A/Tk Bty, ‘B’ Sqn 61 Recce Regt (RAC), ‘C’ Coy 2 Cheshires.
    1500 151 Bde HQ to move to new location 11 July. Recce carried out and lines put into action.
    1700 231 Bde HQ move to new location 818693.
    Weather – bad visibility – rain.
    11 July: 0600 231 Bde make attack on HOTTOT. Not entirely successful. Weather bad and no air support.
    Rifle firing competition started in ‘L’ Section with prizes of £1, 15/- and 5/- for best scores. At the same time, opportunity is taken of firing Sten and Bren guns.
    1300 Div HQ area shelled. Casualties inflicted in 90 Fd Regt wagon lines, 300 yds N. of Signals leaguer. Pte. Caves W. (A.C.C.) attached ‘E’ Section, 90 Fd Regt wounded and evacuated.
    13 July: Div ‘Q’ link R/T closes down. Counter mortar W/T layout organised.
    Units attached 231 Bde (See notes for 10 July) now out of command.
    First bulk issue of NAAFI goods (including beer, whiskey, gin, cigarettes; soap; etc) much appreciated by all.
    1900 Basket ball competition in Main Div HQ; organised. First game played by Div Sigs ‘A’ Team against HQ R.E. Sigs ‘A’ won 7-0.
    14 July: Reliefs organised in ‘L’ Section so that key personnel could have 48 hrs free from duty. Leave trucks organised for BAYEUX.
    Increase of enemy air activity over div area during afternoon.
    1830 Unit football team plays combined Rear and Main Div HQ. Div HQ wins 3-0.
    15 July: Propaganda leaflets fired by 124 Fd Regt R.A. into enemy lines on Div front.
     
  18. 16 July: 0900 Inter div lateral W/T link opens (49 and 59 Divs), 49 Div acting as control. Counter mortar net opens on 7678 kcs. Frequency trouble to start but settles down by 1200 hrs.
    Bde HQ using spare 22 sets for C.M. Group.
    1000 C.O. visits 5 U.S. Inf Div (right flank)
    1600 Airfield now in operation 600 yds N. Of Div HQ (8072).
    17 July: 0130 Enemy shells area in rear of Div HQ – approximately 100 shells (105 mm), some landing on new airfield.
    0930 Counter mortar net changes frequency to 7767 kcs.
    Remaining Inf Bde Sig Sections residues arrive. Unit now complete.
    1400 General Montgomery (‘Monty’) visits Div HQ to present medals to the division gained since ‘D’Day. The following men of this unit are presented with the Military Medal:-

    2884545 Corpl RICHARDS L.E. Sig Sec 231 Inf Bde.
    2324224 Corpl HANLON J. L. Sig Sec 231 Inf Bde.
    2574961 L/Cpl BOWSTEAD D. Sig Sec 90 Fd Regt.
    2589147 L/Cpl READSHAW E.A. Sig Sec 151 Inf Bde.
    2387773 Sigmn GRIMSHAW L. Sig Sec 231 Inf Bde.

    18 July:1000 Enemy observed to be withdrawing slightly on Div front. Bdes commence active patrolling. 151 and 56 Bdes HQs move further forward.
    Fd Coys R.E. under comd 151 and 56 Bdes net on Bde ‘A’.
    1100 R. 107 sets of ‘A’Section put on intercept of 8 Corps battle S.E. of CAEN.
    Address of troops in 21 Army Group changes to ‘British Liberation Army’.
    1500 Wireless working reduced to minimum...
    19 July: 69 Bde HQ move to 774657. Line party of ‘L’ Section have considerable trouble in getting forward lines through owing to enemy mortar activity.
    C.R.E’S net open on continuous watch. Fd Coys R.E. working on flick to C.R.E. and Bdes respectively. Security monitoring on R.E. net......Complaint- too much chat by staff officers and general insecurity.
    20 July: Lines to 8 Armd and 147 (SP) Fd Regt R.A. very troublesome all day.

    21 July: Heavy rain during night. Roads and tracks in very bad condition, making linemen and D.Rs tasks very difficult.
    1000 49 Div (less 70Bde) moves out and leaves lateral line free at Signal Centre to be picked up by incoming Div (59 Div). 70 Bde remain on left of 231 Bde until relieved by 197 Bde.
    1700 New Div HQ area recced.
    News of attack on Adolf Hitler received with considerable enthusiasm and much comment.
    22 July: Heavy shelling and mortaring on 69 Bde area in early morning. Minor damage to equipment in ‘L’ Section.
    1400 Move of Main Div cancelled. Rear Div to move to 784738.
    231 Bde out of line – move to rest area 7774-7773-7873.
    23 July: 15 (S) Div moving through Div area all day to take over from 5 U.S. Inf Div.
    Unit cricket match in afternoon on improvised pitch in Signals leaguer.
    Three members of ‘J’Section sent to 30 Corps rest Camp near Port–en-Bessin.
    ‘K’ Section (231 Bde) resting and reorganising.
    ‘T’ type maintenance det from Bde W/shops attached ‘K’Section to check over all Bn wireless sets. Experiments carried out by ‘K’ Section with trailing wire aerials on 38 sets prove unsuccessful. Bn Comds of 231 Bde request 22 sets fitted in carriers for recce. This is done in preparation for next operation, using spare 22 sets in Bde Section.
    1500 ‘C’ Section lay lateral line between 151 and 197 Bdes.
    24 July: New W/T det sent to 9 D.L.I.
    Owing to operational lull, Main Div Sigs play cricket match in afternoon against 231 Bde HQ and commence basket ball matches (inter section league) in evening.
    25 July: NTR during morning. Cricket match in afternoon against 231 Bde HQ.
    151 Bde HQ area shelled at night. Two Inf orderlies wounded – one evacuated, the other remains on duty in Signals Office. Several lines round signal office destroyed but soon repaired.
    26 July: Present of cigarettes (4 per man) from General Montgomery received and distributed.
    Cricket match against Div HQ in afternoon.
    ‘T’ type maintenance det (REME) now attached ‘J’ Section.
    27 July: Orderly wounded in 151 Bde, evacuated and in hospital in U.K. within 30 hours.
    231 Bde relieve 69 Bde. 231 Bde HQ at 772663.
    28 July: Main 30 Corps move to 760724.
    Enemy shell area 800 yds S. of Div HQ during afternoon.
    29 July: Counter mortar net operated at 231 Bde HQ by No. 19 Set vehicle station with No. 9 Canadian remote control equipment to CV. 1 proving successful.
    Conference for all unit and formation comdrs (incl OC Div Sigs) held by G.O.C. 50 Div to coordinate attacks on VILLERS BOCAGE (8157) with operations of 43 Div and 7 Armd Div.
    30 July: 30 Corps attack commences with heavy bomber effort (200 -300 Lancasters and Halifaxes) on objectives S. of Corps front.
    Two Bdes attack – 231 Bde and 56 Bde.
    13/18 Hussars (8 Armd Bde) under comd 231 Bde, with C.O. controlling armour from comd tank at Bde HQ.
    31 July: 30 Corps attack going well. 43 Div gain objectives.
    231Bde and 56 Bde progress slowly owing to large number of mines and booby traps.
    LINGEVRES AREA
    Main 50 Div HQ moves to 786674.
    Signal Centre established 779639 to serve Bdes and Fd Regts in area ANCTOVILLE 7761 and BRICQUESSARD 7459
     
  19. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    War Diary July 1944 (Extract) Butte Du Grosse Horme Sq. 7971

    7 July: General reshuffle of Bde boundaries. 70 Bde (49 Div) take over 151 Bde area, including portion of lines laid...

    This is a strange coincidence, as the 70th Infantry Brigade - 10th and 11th Bn's Durham Light Infantry and 1st Bn Tyneside Scottish (ex-12th Bn Durham Light Infantry) - was the duplicate of the 151st Infantry Brigade - 6th, 8th and 9th Bn's Durham Light Infantry. They had originally started WWII as part of the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division, the 50th (Northumbrian) Division's duplicate division, whereas the 151st Infantry Brigade was with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division throughout!

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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