16 December – Kirkuk.
1130 The C-in-C PAIFORCE, General Sir Henry Mailland Wilson GBE KCB ADC visited the Bn during a visit to 56th (London) Division.
Lieut J.J. Hurley (RUR) posted tom the Bn. From 1 B.D. Genefa in Egypt. This officer had previously been in the Bn. and was awaiting a draft to Malta when the Bn. arrived at Kirkuk.
The last of the Bn. M.T. consisting of 24 trucks and M/Cs arrived from Egypt.
22 December – Kirkuk.
One platoon of ‘B’ Coy and a number of other individual members of the Bn. took in a demonstration of Battle Drill given by 168 Infantry Brigade to officers and men of the 10th Army including General Sir Edward Quinan K.C.I.E C.B. D.S.O.
25 December – Kirkuk.
Christmas Day was observed as a holiday by the Bn, who attended Dvine Service with the rest of 168 Brigade at 1000hrs. The fine sunshine throughout the day helped the Bn. to enjoy its first Christmas away from home.
29 December, – Kirkuk.
1100 Commander 21 (Indian) Corps, Lieut. Gen. A.G.O.M. Murray C.B. C.B.E. D.S.O. visiting the Bn.
2 January – Kirkuk.
1 LIR instruction No 1 exercise “Short Wave” issued.
3-4 January – Kirkuk.
The Bn. took park in 168 (London) Infantry Brigade exercise “Short Wave”.
5 January – Kirkuk.
Complimentary letter issued by the Commanding Officer.
7 January – Kirkuk.
The Bn. took part in 168 (London) Brigade exercise “Long Wave”.
13-18 January – Kirkuk.
The Bn. took part in 56th (London) Infantry Division exercise “Crash”.
18 January – Kirkuk.
While practising river crossing on the River Zab in assaults in preparation for exercise Bombay No 7021242 Rfn Tracey and No 6406818 Andrew were drowned while crossing the river.
19-22 January – Kirkuk.
The Bn. took part in 21 Indian Corps exercise “Bombay” during which they played a leading part in crossing the river Zab.
23 January – Kirkuk.
Complimentary letter published by the Commanding Officer.
31 January – Kirkuk.
The Bn. recognised on ME war establishment.
4 February – Kirkuk.
Lt. T.J. Sweeny appointed Adjutant wef 5/243 vice Capt Ryan (posted to ‘A’ Coy).
17 February – Kirkuk.
CO’s Memo No 8 and 9 issued.
1 LIR instructions in exercise “Sesame”.
18/19 February – Kirkuk.
Bn. took part in 168 (London) Infantry Brigade exercise “Sesame”.
23 February – Kirkuk.
CO’s Special Training Memo issued:
“At the New Year, the divisional Commander published a letter in which he stated that he did no think that this Division would be left out of the fight for very much linger or words to that effect. His prophecy turns outs to be true as 56th (London) Division has been selected for a special operation. This operation requires special training and will entail a move to an area suitable for this training. Neither the time of the move nor the place need concern you at present. The type of training will soon become apparent as it will begin very shortly.
As news of this kind is what we have been waiting for and also because garbled versions of it may soon begin to circulate, I wish all ranks to be taken into our confidence and told what is afoot. I suggest that you put it to them as I am doing in this letter. You must impress on them, however, in the strongest possible terms that this is a matter of confidence and on no account is any mention to be made of it either in letters or in conversation with anyone outside the BN. who is not personally known to them as a member of the Division.
You will tell them also that higher authorities have naturally ordered a most rigorous censorship of all correspondence not only within units but at the base and that any breach of security will be dealt with very severely by Court Martial. For this reason, everyone will be required to sign a certificate on the form being issued to Coys today.
I would remind you that Base Censors who find any unit lax in security make a practice of censoring every letter from that unit, thereby causing delay in unit mails homewards. Apart from this, breaches of security at times like this may lead to failure of the whole operation with heavy and unnecessary loss of life. Notification of any necessary changed in postal address will be made as soon as possible.
I am confident that all ranks will maintain the high standard of security that we have achieved since mobilisation began, provided the matter if put to them in this fashion. Nevertheless, a reminder of the penalties involved must be clearly given out so that the thoughtless may take heed.
I can say that thought we shall, all being well, have plenty of time for this special training, there will be little time to waste and it is imperative that e very individual should apply himself with zeal and vigour to learning what is no while remembering what he has already been taught.
The opportunity y show that we can carry on the high reputation of the Regiment in war is coming and I am confident that, working as a team, we shall enhance that reputation.”
28 February – Kirkuk.
An account of the voyage from England by Rfn Biffen HQ Coy titled “En Voyage” is attached. This essay was the best account of the voyage sent in during a completion which was intended by the Commanding Officer to provide occupation for the voyage.
7 March – Kirkuk.
Lt Col. I.H. Good, Major J.K. Cantopher GM, Lt. D. Gibbon and a party of five sergeant left the Bn. for a ten-day attachment to 8th Army to gain battle experience. The party travelled by road to Alexandria in 4 days, thence by sea to Tripoli – the convoy being attacked by enemy aircraft en route but suffering no loss. Thence by road to 154 Brigade of 51st (Highland) Division, arriving in time for the opening of the attack on the Mareth Line by 8th Army. The party suffered no loss during ten days in the line and Lt Col Good, Major Cantopher and Rfn. Murphy (CO’s batman) returned by air to Cairo and re-joining the Bn. on 10 April 1943.
17 March – Kirkuk.
1100 St Patrick’s Day. The Bn. was inspected by General Sir Edward Quinan K.C.I.E. C.B. D.S.O O.B.E. Commander 10th Army. When addressing the Bn. At the end of the parade, General Quinan said that was an Irishman himself and that he had heard a lot about the London Irish Rifles and was proud to have had them under his command. The Bn., he said, would be in good hands as it was going to an area full of Irish commanders and he was sure that it would acquit itself honourably in the fighting that was to come. He ended by wishing the Bn. the best of luck. The parade was also attended by Major General E.G. Miles C.B. D.S.O. M.C., Commander 56th (London) Division, Major General Selby C.B. (late RUR) the G.A. Paiforce and Brigadier General K.C. Davidson Commander 168 Infantry Brigade. But for a break of 24 hours in the Zani before and after St Patrick’s Day, the parade would not have been possible. In the afternoon, after a football match against the 1st Bn. London Scottish, the Bn. heard a special broadcast message from the former CO J.R.J. Macnamara MP. In the evening, a special barbecue supper was followed by a convcert by the LIR. In spite of difficulties in getting supplies, over 3,000-quart bottles of beer were consumed during the evening.
28 March
1400 Capt. P.J. Toal. Capt. E.L. Grace and 50 Ors left as advance part to the Bn.
30 March
The Bn. transport under the command of Major the Viscount Stopford left for Baghdad. Together with transport from other units, it formed a convoy known as Elsewell Two.