1st June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
187839 T/Captain RLE Lowry, RIrF, rejoined the hospital ex hospital.
186875 A/Captain PI Chalk, RASC, posted to this HQ as Brasco vice Captain RWS Plumley.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Bttn spent the day settling into a new area. Change over in transport. Lieut JA Smith, Lieut HCP Hamilton joined the battalion. And Lieut JP Brady re-joined from hospital.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Awards confirmed by GOC in C 1st Army to Lieut C Clarke MC, and L/Cpl EH Teare DCM.
Lieut DFS Schayek re-joined bttn on recovery from wounds.
2 LIR.
Major D W Conroy re-joins Battalion from X (iv) list.
Lieutenant B C Stigant admitted to hospital.
2nd June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
0745 Officers of the bttn photographed for the press.
2” Mortar course commenced.
A quiet day.
1815 Massed drums and pipes of 38 (Irish) Infantry Brigade beat the retreat.
2000 Guest night held in Bttn HQ mess. Many guests were invited, including the brigadier.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Sgt Hadden and L/Cpl Herbert awarded Commendation Cards.
The MMG Platoon disbanded as a separate unit. Two sections of Carriers Platoon to be linked with MMGs.
2 LIR.
Battalion moves by Companies to new location. Battalion HQ established 695082 (Sheet 54 Algeria 1/50,000).
Captain T L Laister (late Adjutant) visited the battalion. He took many photographs, including a group of officers (Photographs att. Appendix). He also wrote the ‘History of the Irish Brigade’ for publication.
Major J W Dunnill awarded the DSO and Rifleman Bishop received a Commendation certificate.
3rd June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Junior Leaders School opened at 733085 – officer in command Captain JS Clarke, 1 RIrF.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Brigade Battle School under Captain JS Clarke commences.
Bttn signal course starts.
Carrier and 3” Mortar course starts at La Menaghia.
Nothing of interest happened throughout the day.
2 LIR.
Platoon and Company Training commences. Signal Cadre is started under the Signal Officer – Lieutenant Lovatt.
Lieutenant Glasgow and the remainder of the Carrier and Mortar Platoons rejoin their Platoons at La Mornaghia for training at a Brigade Carrier and Mortar Training School.
4th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day. Nothing to report.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Bttn commences individual and weapon training. In addition to an Officers’ and Section Leaders’ course under bttn arrangements, Brigade specialist courses for Signals, SBs, carriers and mortars are being held.
A/Tk Platoon is attached to 64 A/Tk Regiment RA, and Pioneer Platoon is attached to Field Coy RE.
2 LIR.
Companies construct their own ranges. 2-i-c recces Field Firing Range. 4 Officers and 20 NCOs attend Course Number 1 at the Brigade Battle School. Lieutenant Lyness posted there as an Instructor and Lieutenant White as Officer Commanding Demonstration platoon.
5th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
187839 T/Captain RLE Lowry, RIrF attended HQ, 5 Corps.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Party left to collect kit bag and officer kits, belonging to officers and men joining the bttn as reinforcements, left at Algiers.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Captain McPhillips joined the bttn and took over A Coy. Lieut JBA Miller, Lieut JE Mathew, Lieut JD Long also joined the bttn along with 10 other ranks.
2 LIR.
Snipers’ Course commences under the Intelligence Officer. Duration 10 days. Four men per Rifle Company attended.
W/Lieutenant Harper (RUR) joined the battalion from X(iv) list and posted to 6 Innisks the same day.
6th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Liaison Officers’ course (6-13 June) began at Divisional HQ.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
1800 Pioneer course starts at 214 Field Company RE.
Church parade for all denominations.
6 Innisks.
Anti Tank Platoon attached to 64 A/Tk Regiment RA for training and firing. Duration about 3 weeks.
7th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Brigade Carrier course (7-13 June) began area Tunis 9250 – office in command Major DT Little, 6 Innisks.
Brigade Mortar course began same area – officer in command Captain T Woods, 1 RIrF.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Training continued under company arrangements.
Courses still in progress, otherwise to report.
2/Lt WT Bolton joined the bttn.
2 LIR.
Pioneer Platoon attached to 214 Field Company RE for training. Duration one week.
W/Lieutenant BC Stigant re-joined the Battalion from hospital.
W/Lieutenant Wilkin posted to 1 RIrF.
W/Lieutenant Wade posted to Lancashire Fusiliers.
8th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day.
2 LIR.
W/Lieutenant Bird and 2/Lieutenant Daly joined the battalion from X(iv) list.
9th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
53967 Captain TJ Glenn. Worcester Regiment, posted this HQ for duties as IO.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Course No II for Platoon and Sections Commanders opened.
1015 Demonstration for A Coy on night patrols.
Party returned from Algiers with officers’ kits, men’s kit bags could not be traced.
Captain DR le P Gethin and Lt JHA Monsell re-joined the bttn.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Retreat played on football ground by massed Pipes and Drums of Brigade.
2 LIR.
Company Training.
10th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Training continued. Nothing unusual occurred.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Major PR Savage joined the bttn and took over C Coy.
Major SJ Bunch reverted to T/Captain.
Captain RJ Dilson posted to 152 Field Ambulance.
Lieut KFC Brown RAMC joined this unit.
Thirty ORs transferred from LIR.
2 LIR.
Company Training.
11th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day.
1800 Discussion on “Lessons of the Campaign”.
1900 Concert by 152 Field Ambulance concert part in the cinema at Guelma.
Major JH Coldwell-Horsfall re-joined the bttn from hospital. Lt JB Cammiade, Lt GF Ash, 2/Lt WG Fielding joined the bttn.
2 LIR.
Three Officers and 20 NCOs attended the Course Number 2 at the Brigade Battle School.
W/Lieutenant KDH Rowlette and W/Lieutenant M Tasker promoted A/Captain.
12th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Nothing to report during the day.
Bttn played a football match against A & SH.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Bttn Sports Meeting. A Company won Company prize.
Captain DK McCaldin MC returned to bttn on recovery from wounds.
2 LIR.
Lieutenant Clark in charge of a party of Officers and NCOs per company to go to Phillipeville to inspect LST and MLC.
13th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Demonstration of Recce and Group drill at Divisional HQ.
W/Lieut WJ Concannon (193879), RUR, posted to this HQ as LO vice 89181 W/Lieut Seymour, RUR, to 2 LIR.
Liaison Officers’ course ended.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day. Training continued as per programme.
Received warning of impending visit by the Secretary State for War.
2 LIR.
Company Training.
14th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Divisional Intelligence course began. All Bttn and Brigade HQ Intelligence personnel attended. Programme attached.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day. Training continued.
No 6 Section 10 Platoon C Coy won the inter section shooting competition.
Lt OPB Jewell joined the bttn, Lieuts RH Richardson, A Smith and RG Wilkin joined the bttn.
Nothing to report. Bathing under coy arrangements was carried out.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Lieut A Ferriss appointed assistant Adjutant.
2 LIR.
Intelligence Section attended divisional intelligence course. Duration four days.
T/Captain DHM Davies (Welsh), T/Captain JKH Culverhouse (RE), W/Lieutenant GT Griffiths (RWK) W/Lieutenant EJ Griffiths (Welsh) joined battalion from X(iv) list.
T/Captain KS Grannell (RUR) joined battalion from RWK.
T/Captain WH Westcott admitted to hospital.
Seven Officers and 27 NCOs attended Course Number 3 at the Brigade Battle School.
15th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Visit by Secretary of State for War cancelled.
Training cancelled.
2 LIR.
Three Company Commanders, 3 Platoon Commanders, and 4 Platoon Sergeants attended courses at 18 Army Group Battle School.
16th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Brigade Support Group arrived (1st Kensingtons) in area 691069. Brigade Support Group organisation attached.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Nothing to report. Some vehicles went to MT shops. Capt PT Proctor, 2/Lt GL Richards, Lieut GF Ash left to attend 18th Army Battle School.
Warning orders saying General Montgomery would speak to all officers tomorrow.
2 LIR.
2’’ Mortar Course for all Platoon detachments under the 2 i-c. Duration 2 days.
17th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
0700 Advance transport party left for new training sector.
1100 Visit of HM the King to 78 Division. All available HQ personnel took their place lining the Bone-Guelma road. The King, accompanied by Sir James Grigg, passed at 1345hrs on his way to lunch at HQ 78 Division. After lunch, the visitors returned to Bone.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Bttn lined the route for the visit of His Majesty the King.
Reinforcement company came into being.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
The bttn lined the road outside the camp on the occasion of the visit of HM the King to inspect 78 Division.
2 LIR.
Company training.
18th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Division I course ended. “Reference Point” Map References Code came into use.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day. Nothing to report.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Waterloo Day. Training continued as usual for a future Waterloo. Football March – Officers v Sergeants. Waterloo night celebrated in traditional manner in Officers’ and Sgts’ messes. Brigadier Russell and Lt-Col Butler were guests. There was considerable numbers of cases of mild dysentery caused by flies, which are as bad as the heat and the dust.
2 LIR.
HM The King visited the division. The battalion lined the route to Divisional HQ and the King spoke to Brigade Command Group including the Commanding Officer – Lieutenant Colonel TPD Scott.
19th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Brigade TEWT for COs’ and Commanders’ supporting arms. Main purpose to introduce the Brigade Support Group. Object, opening narrative and tracing of area attached.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
PIAT demonstration for all officers and ORs down to the rank of platoon Sergeants at the Brigade Training Camp.
Nothing further to report. Restarted training programmes.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Bttn inter platoon shoot. Bttn HQ were the team winners. A Plate shoot was won by officers.
2 LIR.
Warning Order received. Advance Party to move on 21st to new area at Hammamet. (This was later postponed to 23rd).
Died on this Day:
Rifleman James Carr, London Irish Rifles.
20th June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Lieut Cole returned from instructing at Brigade Junior Leaders’ Course.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
A quiet day. Nothing to report.
1800 Lecture on RT procedures by Bttn Signals Officer.
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
The officers of the bttn entertained in the Sgts’ Mess.
2 LIR.
T/Captain WH Westcott re-joined battalion from hospital.
T/Captain Findlater admitted to hospital.
21st June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Training continued as per programme.
1800 Lecture on the new inter battalion map reference code.
A small…
6 Innisks – HELIOPOLIS.
Platoon training starts.
The part played by the bttn in the N African campaign has been written by eyewitnesses, edited by Capt Hanna,
2 LIR.
All personnel attending courses at the Brigade Battle School re-joined the Battalion. A/Tk Platoon re-joined the Battalion.
22nd June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Nothing of interest to report. During the whole of this period, with the exception of some fairly strenuous training, the bttn was having a very quiet time.
23rd June.
Brigade HQ – GUELMA.
Advance parties left for Hammamet area 470186.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Advance party left Bttn and proceeded to new area at Hammamet.
1800 Bttn paraded for exercise.
Object of exercise – practise getting into a defensive position as quickly as possible.
Night: Bttn slept out. Warning order for impending move.
6 Innisks – HELIPOLIS.
Advance party moved to Hammamet.
2 LIR.
Advance Party under Lieutenant Barker move to new area at Hammamet.
Battalion Move Order issued.
Battalion Exercise:
Object – To exercise the Battalion “R” and “O” Groups and the rapid deployment of the battalion.
This exercise was held to discover the weaknesses and the best method of dealing with the Battalion Recce and Order Groups under the new Battalion Higher Establishment. “S” Company Commander must be included in the Recce Group and he must bring up with him his Platoon Commanders or a representative so that they may receive orders at the first possible opportunity.
It is essential that the Anti Tank Platoon Commander is well forward with Officer Commanding “S” Company at Forward Battalion HQ during the initial stages in order that the guns may be brought up immediately into position as soon as consolidation is about to take place.
Company Sergeant Majors are invaluable at the “O” Group and always come forward with the Company Commander.
24th June.
1 RIrF – GUELMA.
Bttn returned from exercise. Remainder of the day spent resting.
2 LIR.
Commanding Officer and Intelligence Officer left for new battalion area.
25th June.
Brigade HQ.
Brigade HQ left for Hammamet area via Duvivier, Souk Arras (N 1381), Gardimaou (H5503), Souk el Khemis (J0125). Staged at Souk el Arba (H8511) for night.
1 RIrF – IN TRANSIT.
Bttn moved from Guelma to Hammamet, staying for one night at Souk al Arba.
6 Innisks – IN TRANSIT.
Bttn moved via Heliopolis, Souk Aras. Souk el Khemis to staging area.
2 LIR.
Battalion moves to Hammamet. Leaves 0730 hrs. Arrived at Staging Area (Souk El Arba) at 1650 hrs.
26th June.
Brigade HQ.
Continued to Hammamet area (470186) via Medjez el Bab (J5834), Tunis (K0755), Grombalia (K3836).
1800 Brigade Headquarters established at 468185. Tracing is attached showing dispositions of the Brigade Group.
1 RIrF – HAMMAMET.
1630 Bttn arrived in new area.
6 Innisks – IN TRANSIT.
Bttn continued via Souk el Arba and Tunis to new Divisional area near Hammamet. Bttn area is situated in olive grove (K 1846) between the main road and the railway. The trees afford plenty of shade, but ground is very sandy. Water is available from wells.
The men have still got bivouac and sand fly nets. Many of the officers still have Axis Tenteage, but there are no accommodation stores.
2 LIR.
Battalion leaves Staging Area for remainder of journey to Hammamet. Arrives at new location 1730 hrs. Battalion HQ established 461171 (Sheet 37, Tunisia 1/50,000.)
27th June.
Brigade HQ – HAMMAMET.
Conference at Brigade HQ 1800hrs. COs and OCs arms under command attached.
Trace of training areas attached.
38 Brigade Admin Order No 1 issued and attached.
Security Instruction No 2 issued and attached.
1 RIrF – HAMMAMET.
Quiet day. Bttn settled into new area.
6 Innisks – HAMMAMET.
Recce and allotment of training area. The area covers about 3 square miles west of the main north of the camp.
The new camp is within close proximity of the sea (approximately 3 miles), where there are ideal facilities for bathing. The scrubby nature of the training area has also better facilities than the last area. Heat and dust are considerable and there is a high degree of humidity.
2 LIR.
Company training re-commences.
28th June.
1 RIrF – HAMMAMET.
Training continued. Nothing of major importance took place. Training programme.
6 Innisks – HAMMAMET.
Bttn training programme continued with Platoon and Coy training.
Major WD Davies joined the bttn from the KRR and took over 2nd in command. Four Officers per day are now being granted 48 hours leave in Tunis.
2 LIR.
Company Training.
29th June.
1 RIrF – HAMMAMET.
Company and platoon training as programme – otherwise a quiet day.
6 Innisks – HAMMAMET.
Captain RM Bayley appointed A/Major
2 LIR.
Battalion Exercise
Object – To exercise the Battalion in the rapid staging of the attack and consolidation of the objective. The Battalion was commanded by Major APK O’Connor.
Students attending course at the 18th Army Group Battle School re-joined the Battalion.
30th June.
Brigade HQ – HAMMAMET.
Instruction of Brigade Group Exercise “Tryout” (3-4 July) issued.
Captain G Bird III (I) 78 Division lectured bttns on British PoWs.
General B Montgomery, Commander 8th Army visited 38 (Irish) Brigade Group.
He visited and spoke to bttns in their own lines, and later visited Brigade HQ and Support Arms, who were formed up at K459190 at 1815hrs.
The General welcomed the brigade into the 8th Army and all ranks gave the General a hearty welcome.
Lieut JD Long (130432), 6 Innisks, posted this HQ as LO.
1 RIrF – HAMMAMET.
1630 Bttn was visited by General Sir Bernard Montgomery KCB DSO.
6 Innisks – HAMMAMET.
Bttn visited by General Montgomery, who announced the changing of the 78 Division to 8th Army.
2 LIR.
Company Training
1730 The Battalion inspected by General Sir BL Montgomery. He spoke to the Commanding Officer, 2nd in command, Adjutant, all Company Commanders and the RSM. Afterwards he spoke to all ranks, asking them where the best soldiers came from. He had many replies, but he told them that all the best soldiers came from Ireland and how pleased he was to have them all in his Army.
T/Captain Fitzgerald and T/Captain Hall promoted to A/Majors.