{"id":13681,"date":"2025-09-03T17:33:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/?page_id=13681"},"modified":"2025-09-04T18:10:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T18:10:27","slug":"war-diaries-2-lir-august-1944","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/second-world-war\/war-diaries\/war-diaries-2-lir-august-1944\/","title":{"rendered":"War Diaries, 2 LIR \u2013 August 1944"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1 August \u2013EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> CO\u2019s inspection of of bttn camp area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Warning Order. Probable future move of 7% of present bttn strength leave present area under command of Staff Captain, approx date 5th<\/sup> August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> RSM\u2019s lecture of ceremonial drill to NCOs and Officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Lecture on Egypt by Mr Heywood (British Council of Information).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Bttn inoculation and vaccination parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Warning for advance party to move to Sidi Bishr 0900 hrs on 4th<\/sup> August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Brigade Band played ceremonial \u2018Retreat\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2100<\/strong> ENSA film show \u2018Tunisian Victory\u2019 for the brigade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0500<\/strong> Five day leave party left for Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Bttn advance party left for Sidi Bishr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1215<\/strong> CO\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Movement Order. Bttn to move on 7th<\/sup> August to Sid Bishr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2000<\/strong> Dinner in Officers\u2019 Mess for Brigadier and Officers of brigade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> Five day leave party left for Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1800<\/strong> Long leave party returned from Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

6 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0700<\/strong> Reveille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Bttn loading stores and striking camp in preparation for move. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0430<\/strong> Reveille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0445<\/strong> RASC Transport (23 x 3 tonners) report to bttn for move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> Bttn (less Advance Party) em-bused ready for move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0652<\/strong> Head of column past Brigade Start Point. Route \u2013 Qassassin, Tel el Kebir, Bibbeis, Qualyub, Nile Barrage, Khatatra, Amiryia, Alexandria, Sidi Bishr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Bttn halts for one hour for a meal at Khatatra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2200<\/strong> Bttn arrives at Sidi Bishr. Journey without incident but considerable delay caused by drawbridge on Nile and canals. Further delay caused owing to queue of traffic at Patrol Filling Point at Amiryia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifty six other ranks join bttn on posting from 6 Innisks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0600<\/strong> Reveille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> R Company formed under command of Major Gibbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Brigade PT Course resumed. Air Photography Course commenced at Brigade HQ under divisional arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1300<\/strong> Five day leave party left for Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1400<\/strong> Cricket match 2 LIR versus 1 RIrF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Coy Commanders\u2019 Conference re training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> Five day leave party left for Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Long leave party returns from Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> Bttn PT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Range practice (as per Training Instructor No 1, 9\/8\/44).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

12 August\u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> Bttn PT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> E Coy on firing range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1700<\/strong> Bttn Sports Committee Meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

13 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Cricket match \u2013 G Coy versus S Coy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1100<\/strong> Voluntary RC Church Parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Bttn Sports Committee Meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1400<\/strong> CO\u2019s O Group on future moves of bttn. Movement Order No 7 issued; warning Bttn Advance Party to move 1600 hrs, 15th<\/sup> August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0630<\/strong> CO addresses bttn at PT parade on recent incidents in Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0930<\/strong> CO addresses R Coy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bttn trial football match \u2013 \u2018Possibles\u2019 v \u2018Probables\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

15 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Five day leave party left for Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pioneer Platoon personnel proceeded on 13 day course organised on divisional basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Bttn Advance Party move (due to take place at 1600 hrs) postponed until further orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

16 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> E Coy on Field Firing Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> All Thompson Machine Guns handed in prior to issue of Carbines M3 (American Manufacture).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

17 August -EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Brigadier\u2019s inspection of bttn camp area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

F Coy on Field Firing Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1600<\/strong> Bttn Movement Order No 8 warned Advance Party to move off at 0715 hrs on 18 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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18 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0730<\/strong> Bttn Advance Party left for Alexandria docks at 0830 hrs. G and H Coys on Field Firing Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1700<\/strong> CO\u2019s TEWT for Officers and Platoon Sergeants on Tank Cooperation. Lecture given with aid of Sand Table Model of Rapido Battle. Officers of the Tank Corps, 2 Innisks and local units of the Egyptian Army also present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Carbine M3s issued during course of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

19 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> S Coy on Field Firing Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Warning Order for bttn to prepare to function on Light Scale as from 0600 hrs on 20th<\/sup> August. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

20 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> RC and C of E Church Parades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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21 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> All transport to be loaded with non essential G 1098 stores ready for shipment on 22nd<\/sup> August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0930<\/strong> F Coy on Field Firing Ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1500<\/strong> Notification of the award of DSO to CO, Lt Col HEN Bredin MC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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22 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1400<\/strong> Bttn transport moved off to Alexandria Docks via Amiryia Transit Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1700<\/strong> Bttn Boxing Team participated in Brigade Boxing Championship Matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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23 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1130<\/strong> CO\u2019s conference for all Coy Commanders, IO and SC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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24 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1000<\/strong> CO\u2019s inspection of bttn camp area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1200<\/strong> Platoon Commanders and Sgts of Signal and Intelligence Sections proceeded to Brigade HQ for lecture on new Slidex Code System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1230<\/strong> New Divisional Commander visited Bttn HQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1700<\/strong> Bttn Boxers participated in Boxing Contest, 38 (Irish) Brigade v RAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

25 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Bttn route march \u2013 Route, Camp through Alexandria to Mustapha Barracks returning to Sidi Bishr via the sea front. Dress \u2013 Drill order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1300<\/strong> Bttn returned to camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

26 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Platoon and Section Commanders on lecture \u2013 Section Fighting and Village clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior Officers on bttn on Divisional Cloth Model Exercise \u2018 Tiber\u2019 (River Crossing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

27 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0900<\/strong> Compulsory C of England Parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cricket match \u2013 HQ Coy v G Coy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2000<\/strong> Pioneer Platoon return from Divisional Course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

28 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0700<\/strong> HQ and S Coys Route March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R Coy Field Firing Range. E and F Coys on 30 yards range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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29 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0830<\/strong> Beginning of RSM\u2019s Cadre Course for junior NCOs of bttn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H and HQ Coys on 30 yards range with SMGs and M3s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R Coy route march.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1830<\/strong> H Coy\u2019s dance took place in Alexandria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

30 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0930<\/strong> G and S Coys on 30 yards range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1415<\/strong> Signals Officer gave lecture on Slidex to all Coy Commanders, IO and Second in Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

31 August \u2013 EGYPT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1130<\/strong> Bttn Sand Table Exercise for Administrative Personnel of the bttn subject \u2013 Supply and Admin of brigade positions on Monte Castellone near Cassino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1230<\/strong> General Paget, C in C, Middle East, visited bttn area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 August \u2013EGYPT. 1000 CO\u2019s inspection of of bttn camp area. 1100 Warning Order. Probable future move of 7% of present bttn strength leave present area under command of Staff Captain, approx date 5th August. 2 August \u2013 EGYPT. 0900 RSM\u2019s lecture of ceremonial drill to NCOs and Officers. 1000 Lecture on Egypt by Mr Heywood (British Council of Information). […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":13610,"menu_order":20,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13681","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13681"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13682,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13681\/revisions\/13682"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonirishrifles.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}