War Diaries of
1943
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January 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
General HQ,
A and C Sqns located in billets at Kondea, Cyprus until 19 Jan, when they
were joined by A Sqn and reinforcements to complete to war establishment. Whole
unit together and up to strength for first time since 26 May 42. Following
vehicles were allotted to the unit. It did not correspond to the WE, owing
to the limited amount of transport in 45
Armd Cs 13
Carriers Bren 33
MCs 2
Cars 4-str 2
Trucks 8cwt 20
Trucks 15cwt 2
Trucks 15cwt water 9
Lorries 30cwt 11 Lorries 3-ton |
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1 Jan 43 | The above vehicles were drawn up during the first three weeks of the month. | |||
For the first four days of the month the unit was busy drawing accommodation and other stores, consequent on arriving in a new area and a new command. | ||||
Officers are accommodated in billets, ORs all in huts. | ||||
Unit is under command Brig Moffat HQ 20 Ind Inf Bde of 1st Ind Div (commander Maj Gen Blaxhand). | ||||
Higher formation is XXV Corps (commander Lt Gen Hughes). | ||||
2 Jan 43 | 2RGH personnel posted to 8H joined details at Sidi Bishr | |||
4 Jan 43 | CO issued Training Instruction No 2. | |||
7 Jan 43 | Maj Gwyn lectured at Bde HQ ‘Eye-witness Account of Operations on Himeimat Front Sep - Nov 42’. | |||
8 Jan 43 | D&M and WT classes, run regimentally, recommenced. | |||
11 Jan 43 | Troop training-cum-driving instruction by B and C Sqns commenced. | |||
Training Instruction No 3 (Wireless Training) issued by CO. | ||||
12 Jan 43 | Lecture by CO to all officers and senior NCOs ‘Recce by Armoured Cars in Close Country’. | |||
14 Jan 43 | CO and Maj Huth attended conference at Bde HQ, ‘Mountain Warfare’. | |||
19 Jan 43 | Maj Phillips and rear party, consisting of A Sqn and reinforcements, arrived by SS ‘Fouadieh’ at Famagusta at 0800hrs. | |||
Fourteen officers and 282 ORs disembarked, including two officers and 100 ORs from 2RGH and two officers and 38 ORs from other sources. | ||||
List
of officers who disembarked:- Maj
J W Phillips Maj
G W G Threlfall Capt
H H Firth Capt
M E Harari Capt
P H Wagstaffe Lt
R H Ames Posted to 8H 1 Jan 43 Lt
R H Anstey Lt
J N Lombard Lt
A V Case Lt
J E Chapman Lt
J Wharton From 2RGH posted 8H 7 Jan Lt
C J G Meade
From 2RGH posted 8H 7 Jan Lt
A J Hind Late 13/18H posted 8H 12 Jan Lt
L Preston Late Inns of Court posted 8H 12
Jan Four Daimler armoured cars arrived with above party. |
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20 Jan 43 | Capt J A G Ladenburg appointed Adjutant vice Capt P H Wagstaffe, who went to C Sqn as 2IC. | |||
A Sqn drawing up vehicles and settling in from 20-23 Jan. | ||||
23 Jan 43 | Demonstration by 61 Fd Coy ( |
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24 Jan 43 | Copy of AFW3008 and 3009 attached | |||
Capt Firth took over HQ Sqn from Capt Mills and promoted Major wef this date. | ||||
25 Jan 43 | Squadron leaders’ conference. Agenda: Promotion of NCOs | |||
A Sqn commenced troop training. | ||||
27 Jan 43 | CO, Capt Mills and Capt Heycock RMO attended Bde TEWT on ‘jungle warfare’. | |||
29 Jan 43 | Regimental parade. Practice turn-out and drive past for Corps Commander’s inspection on 1 Feb. | |||
30 Jan 43 | Ordered by Brigade at
1400hrs to find two armoured car patrols on coastal roads: (i) |
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31 Jan 43 | One troop found by C Sqn;
recce all day coast road |
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Corps Commander’s
inspection of unit to be held tomorrow, cancelled owing to arrival in |
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Copy of AFW3008 and 3009 attached |
February 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Feb 43 |
Distribution
of officers attached. Nominal
Roll of Officers RHQ
HQ Sqn T/Lt
Col C Goulburn CO
A/Maj H H Firth
OC WS/Maj
J W Phillips 2IC
T/Capt T M Mills
2IC T/Capt
J A G Ladenburg AdjtT/Capt N D A Hall
Tech Offr WS/Lt
A R Newman IO
WS/Lt F E WS/Lt
M C
A Sqn
B Sqn OC
T/Maj G W G Threlfall
T/Maj J W Gwyn 2IC
WS/Capt M 1Tp
WS/Lt J E Chapman (Carrier Tp)
WS/Lt R H 2Tp
WS/Lt R P G Dill
WS/Lt L 3Tp
WS/Lt A V Case
4Tp
WS/Lt R H Anstey
WS/Lt G V Bates 5Tp
WS/Lt A J Hind
WS/Lt C J G Meade (Carrier Tp) 6Tp
WS/Lt R D G Winn (Close Recce) WS/Lt J N C
Sqn T/Maj
P H Huth OC T/Capt
P H Wagstaffe 2IC WS/Lt
D S Scott 2Tp WS/Lt
F J E WS/Lt
J A S Hepburn 4Tp WS/Lt
J Wharton 5Tp WS/Lt
H R D Pegler 6Tp (Close Recce) Throughout
the month troop training was carried out. Strength
of Unit ORs
Officers In
Courses
etc, Total 498 |
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List
of Officers
Maj J W Phillips
Maj G W G Threlfall
Maj P H Huth
Maj J W Gwyn
Maj H H Firth
Capt M E Harari
Capt N D A Hall
Capt P H Wagstaffe
Capt T M Mills
Capt J Robertson
Capt J A G Ladenburg
Lt F E Adams
Lt R H Ames
Lt J E Chapman
Lt A R Newman
Lt H R D Pegler
Lt G V Bates
Lt M C Walker
Lt A V Case
Lt D S Scott
Lt J N Lombard
Lt R P G Dill
Lt F J E Hurst
Lt R H Anstey
Lt J A S Hepburn
Lt C J G Meade
Lt J Wharton
Lt A J Hind
Lt L Preston
Lt Hon R D G Winn
Lt(QM) E O’Malley
Capt J B
Capt Rev F L Hone
Padre |
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Corps
Commander’s inspection of unit cancelled at short notice, owing to
sudden arrival of Mr Winston Churchill in |
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2 Feb 43 |
Squadron leaders’ conference. |
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4 Feb 43 |
CO lectured all officers and troop sergeants on ‘Organisation, Role and Handling of the Close Recce Troop in the Armoured Car Squadron’. |
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6 Feb 43 |
All
officers attended lecture by Corps Commander, Lt Gen I T P Hughes DSO MC,
in |
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Signal arrived from 4 Lt Armd Bde that Tpr Weir had been awarded an immediate DCM for action when Maj Harbord was killed. |
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8 Feb 43 |
CO lectured whole Regiment on regimental history. |
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11 Feb 43 |
CO,
2IC and squadron leaders on Brigade TEWT - Defence of western plain. |
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13 Feb 43 |
Corps Comd, Lt Gen Hughes, inspected the Regiment. |
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15 Feb 43 |
2IC gave second lecture on regimental history. All ranks attended. |
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16 Feb 43 |
CO and five officers attended Brigade TEWT. CO gave lecture to all officers and troop sergeants in the evening. Subject: Flank guards. Lecture followed by discussion on contact drill. |
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19 Feb 43 |
RQMS
Spooner proceeded to |
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CO
and Adjt attended all-day discussion on ‘The Target and Interim
Garrisons of the |
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20 Feb 43 |
Lt Tisdall and seventeen ORs arrived from mainland. |
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CO, two officers and six sergeants attended umpires’ conference and recce of ground for 7th Div exercise. |
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21 Feb 43 |
Detachment of eighteen officers and 200 ORs attended ceremonial Church Parade at Nicosia Stadium, to pay homage to Russian dead. Detachment commander Maj Phillips, 2IC. CO represented Brigade Commander in Governor’s stand. Salute taken by Colonial Secretary, Mr Shaw, and Corps Commander, Lt Gen Hughes. |
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Three officers proceeded on seven-days minelifting course. |
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22 Feb 43 |
Capt Mills proceeded to mainland to attend course at Junior Staff School Sarafand. |
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24 Feb 43 |
Funeral
of Tpr Harley at |
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25 Feb 43 |
CO conducted Brigade TEWT ‘To Study the Handling of an Armd C Sqn’. |
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26 Feb 43 |
CO gave lecture to certain NCOs on ‘Contact Umpires’. |
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27 Feb 43 |
Squadron leaders’ conference. |
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One officer and four NCOs proceeded as umpires on three-day exercise of 7th Div. |
March 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Mar 43 | Throughout March the Regiment remained at Kondea carrying out squadron training, with two regimental signal exercises towards the end of the month. | |||
Heavy rain and floods stopped all movement of vehicles off main roads for ten days. This interfered with squadron exercises | ||||
Strength
of the unit:-
ORs
Offrs
A Sqn 120
Cyprus 32 and 2 att (MO & Padre)
B Sqn 122
Mainland 2 Base Depot; course
C Sqn 110
Junior Staff School
Mainland courses
22
Total
483 |
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XXV Corps ordered the Regiment to find one squadron at 30mins notice at all times wef this date, as part of the island defence scheme, to deal with any minor landing or attack of installations by paratroops. |
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2 Mar 43 |
CO, Lts Lombard and Winn, six WOs and sergeants, nine LCpls, away from unit until evening 5 Mar. Umpiring on 1st Ind Div exercise in hill country NW of Larnaca. |
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5 Mar 43 | CO returned from exercise 1700hrs. Snow, turning to heavy rain. | |||
6-7 Mar 43 | Heavy rain rendered much of country impassable. | |||
10 Feb 43 | Brigade Commander (Brig
Moffatt), accompanied by CO, watched B Sqn training in country between |
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Regimental boxing tournament in afternoon. | ||||
11 Mar 43 | Brigade lecture at KT on ‘Role of a Field Regiment in Support of an Armoured Brigade’, by officer of 97 Fd Regt (KY). All available officers attended. | |||
12 Mar 43 |
Regimental
B Echelon exercise commenced 1400hrs. (i)
Movement by second-class road to Larnaca, practising driving and road
discipline. (ii)
Night march from Larnaca through hill country on second-class road
to night leaguer. (iii)
Defence of leaguer against attack by paratroops at dawn, firing live
ammunition. (iv) Move by day into day leaguer positions, and camouflaging of vehicles in leaguer. |
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13 Mar 43 | B Echelon exercise terminated 1300hrs. Heavy rain 1300hrs until evening 14 Mar. | |||
15 Mar 43 |
Demonstration
by ‘demonstration troop’, ie three Daimler cars. Troop commander Lt
Wharton;
(i) Advance by the
troop along road. Contact is made with
enemy A Tk gun. Contact drill.
(ii) Tp taking up position
of observation. The standing patrol. |
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16 Mar 43 | B and C Sqn exercise set by CO. Area, eastern plain. Heavy rain on tracks already very wet, resulted in six vehicles becoming bogged. These vehicles were not got out until three days later, when weather improved. | |||
17 Mar 43 | St Patrick’s Day. Regimental holiday. Heavy rain from 1400hrs onwards. | |||
19 Mar 43 | Regimental wireless
exercise. General Idea: British force landed at |
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20-21 Mar 43 | Violent rainstorms. | |||
22 Mar 43 |
Regimental B Echelon exercise commenced 0900hrs.
(i) Two vehicle
convoys meeting and passing where one
squadron is already halted on side of road. Carried out on road
Kondea - Lefkoniko.
(ii) Daylight leaguer by
squadrons on North coast road East of Kyrenia.
(iii) Battle practice and firing
of live ammunition by B Echelon
personnel. (iv) A night march into squadron night leaguer areas. |
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Squadron minelifting courses commenced. Each squadron has the use of training mines for two days. Chief Instructor: Lt Newman, Intelligence Officer. | ||||
23 Mar 43 | B Echelon terminated 1000hrs. | |||
Regimental WT exercise for
RHQ and all armoured cars in squadrons fitted with wireless. General Idea:
8H covering a landing at |
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24 Mar 43 | WT exercise. RHQ and squadron rear links only. Max RT distance obtained on No 19 Sets: 36 miles. | |||
25 Mar 43 | 300 ORs of the unit attended
a training film and demonstration of tough tactics, at cinema - |
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CO attended conference at 1st Ind Div HQ on forthcoming exercise TOUGH. | ||||
26 Mar 43 | Notification that SSM Atkins and LCpl Scrugham had obtained periodical awards of MM | |||
27 Mar 43 | Lt Col Charlton arrived from Arab Legion to carry out attachment to the Regiment for six weeks. | |||
29 Mar 43 |
B
Sqn exercise set by CO. Area Trikomo and NE into ‘Panhandle’. To
practise:-
(i) Control of
squadron moving on two roads.
(ii) Concentration of
close recce tp at roadblock to recce block and attack.
(iii) Standing patrols in
mountainous country, consisting each of one Armd C tp and one sec close
recce tp.
B Sqn remained out night 29/30.
3ins Mortar course commenced for three NCOs from each close recce tp.
Instructor: Sergeant from Kings Own. C Sqn training. Night out 29/30. North coast area. |
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30 Mar 43 | A Sqn exercise set by CO. A Sqn moving East across eastern plain on four-troop frontage. Wireless silence except to report arrival on bounds. Sqn on ten-mile front. | |||
A Sqn night out 30/31. |
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C Sqn night out 30/31. | ||||
31 Mar 43 | A and C Sqn exercise set by CO. A Sqn advancing West, C Sqn East. Both covering soft vehicles, whose role it is to pick up paratroops dropped inside the frontier of the other side’s state. Both squadrons on twelve-mile front. |
Ref map |
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SECRET |
Copy No 12 |
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24 March 43 |
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This
adm appx supersedes adm appx dated 21 Jan 43 to 8H OO No 1 dated 12 Jan
43, which will be destroyed by fire and certificate to this effect
rendered to this HQ. 1.
It is likely that prior warning will be given before battle posns are
ordered. In which case, action will be as follows:
(i) Surplus baggage and
stores to Malcurda R5756, accompanied by personnel less (ii) below.
(ii) Spare Armd C crews to
[illegible] 0158.
(iii) Nonrunner Armd Cs to VRP
Strovolos S0366. If
Battle Posns or Action Stations is received without any prior warning,
surplus baggage, stores and spare personnel will remain present location. 2.
Amn Full
echs as per G1098. Res carried as follows: B1 1/3 res; B2/B3 2/3 res. 3.
POL Full
tanks and 130 miles to be carried as follows: B1 80 miles; B2/B3 100
miles. 4.
Water Water
trucks full. To be regarded as unit res for refilling 2-gall containers if
necessary. 2-gall containers to be carried full on scale one container to
one man. Replenishment from waterbottles if opened, or from local
resources. Sqns will carry chlorinating powder. 5.
Sups
(i) Unexpired portion of
day’s ration and three days battle ration will be carried on every
vehicle.
(ii) Balance of battle rations
for personnel proceeding to Malcurda etc will be handed in to FMC Malcurda. 6.
Maintenance Policy
(i) Normal maintenance
will be continued as long as possible. B Ech will draw direct from FMCs,
supplemented where necessary by 2nd Line RASC.
(ii) FMCs are located as
follows: Amn Sup
POL
No 1 FMC - ???????? R890580
R878564
R885545 R895553
No 2 FMC - ???????? R786560
R785550
R783573 R781562
No 3 FMC - Troodos R590410
R624410
R589411 (R620348
(R550349
No 4 FMC - ???????? R150740
R155735
R148742 R153745
Limited stocks of sups and amn are held in Keeps.
(iii) When drawing from FMC or Keeps,
B Ech will refill completely. |
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7.
B Ech. B Ech tpt will remain with unit and under unit comd until ordered
to come under Bde comd.
Bde B Ech comd will be the senior unit B Ech comd. 8.
Med Permanent
MRSs are established at:
(i) ???????? S090825
(ii) ???????? R6249
(iii) ???????? R877535. 9.
Rec
(i) All towable vehicles
which cannot be got going by sqn fitters will be recovered by sqns onto
nearest main road. These, and non-towables, will be reported to RHQ.
(ii)
2nd Line - 90 Bde Larnaca
10 Bde ????????
25 Bde Strovolos.
3rd Line - 3 Indep ???????? (0153). 10.
PWs All
PWs to Bde HQ. 11.
Traffic and Pro
(i) Lighting - normally no
lights.
(ii) One MC per sqn will report
Regtl Pro Sgt for pro duties. 12.
Liaison with Civil Authorities To
be done through civil LO at Bde HQ. ACK.
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Field |
(Sgd) J A G Ladenburg |
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24 Mar 43 |
Lt Col |
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Commanding 8th KRI Hussars |
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Distribution List |
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Copy No 1 A Sqn |
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2 B Sqn | ||
3 C Sqn | ||
4 HQ Sqn | ||
5 Comd | ||
6 IO | ||
7 Sigs Offr | ||
8 QM | ||
9 Tech Offr | ||
10 File | ||
11-12 War Diary | ||
April 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Apr 43 | The main events of the month were two Corps exercises, TIGER and TOUGH. | |||
TIGER consisted in the move to, and occupation of, battle positions which will be manned in the event of an enemy invasion of the island. | ||||
TOUGH consisted of large-scale manoeuvres, lasting ten days, in the hill country in the western half of the island. | ||||
The end of the month found the Regiment still in Kondea | ||||
Strength
of unit: ORs
34 offrs and three att.
A Sqn
117
B Sqn
127
C Sqn
113
HQ Sqn 100
Det
Courses
27 (mainland)
Total
487 |
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Maj Gwyn and Lt Col Charlton, Arab Legion, who is on attachment to 8H for six weeks, attended discussion held by Corps HQ, on mountain warfare. | ||||
Lt Adams proceeded to mainland to take over Base Details at Abbassia from Lt McClintock. | ||||
2 Apr 43 | CO and Adjutant attended discussion at Corps HQ on the island defence scheme and the plan to defeat invasion. | |||
Regimental cadre class on 3ins infantry mortar finished one week’s course and gave demonstration of firing mortar. | ||||
5 Apr 43 | Maj Gen Moorhead DAG GHQ, accompanied by Corps Comd, visited unit. Various A matters discussed. | |||
Exercise TIGER commenced by receipt of codeword at 1440hrs. 8H less A Sqn moved to battle position at Waynes Keep, becoming part of the mobile armoured reserve known as CRUSADER FORCE. A Sqn remained Kondea, coming under comd 7th Div and forming part of Eastern striking force. | ||||
6 Apr 43 | Unit remained at Waynes Keep all day, vehicles under camouflage nets. | |||
7 Apr 43 | TIGER ended 1245hrs. Unit returned to Kondea. | |||
8 Apr 43 | CO attended comds’ conference at HQ 1st Ind Div on Exercise TOUGH. | |||
D-Day TOUGH. | ||||
9 Apr 43 | D+1 day TOUGH. | |||
Maj Dunne and 20 ORs arrived from mainland. Maj Dunne was wounded in Nov 41 and had only recently been medically graded A. | ||||
10 Apr 43 | D+2 day TOUGH. | |||
B Sqn moved off
after dusk to Akaki, coming under comd 10 |
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11 Apr 43 | D+3 day TOUGH. | |||
8H, less A and B Sqns, moved to concentration areas for TOUGH, after dark, as follows:- | ||||
RHQ area HQ 1st Ind Div Athalassa; C Sqn area Malounda; A Sqn came under comd 7th Div and remained Kondea until 12 Apr. | ||||
12 Apr 43 | TOUGH. Role of 8H, less A and B Sqns, with 9 Fd Coy under comd, Div res. Tasks: | |||
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Delay
any enemy movement across frontier on roads Palekhori - Malounda and Kato Moni - Malounda. |
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Patrolling on above roads as far West as Khandria and Kato Moni. | ||||
Role of 10 |
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Role of 7th Div with A Sqn 8H under comd: Capture Limassol and advance along coastal plain to capture Paphos. | ||||
14 Apr 43 | TOUGH. War declared 1800hrs. | |||
15 Apr 43 | TOUGH. C Sqn in contact with enemy all day Palekhori. | |||
16 Apr 43 | TOUGH. Enemy withdrew from Palekhori night 15/16. C Sqn followed up. Heavy rain on mountain roads made movement most difficult. | |||
B Sqn reverted to comd 8H and moved into res at Athalassa. | ||||
17 Apr 43 | TOUGH. One tp B
Sqn (Lt Preston) came under comad 10 |
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C Sqn, having cleared up situation in area Khandria during night 16/17 and early morning 17, came into res in area Athalassa. | ||||
18 Apr 43 | TOUGH. 8H, less A Sqn and one tp B Sqn, in res area Athalassa. | |||
19 Apr 43 | TOUGH. B Sqn moved out at first light to area Lefka. Role: prevent any attempt by enemy to debouch from area Lefka into Morphou Plain. | |||
B Sqn in contact with CVF (enemy) from 0900hrs until termination of exercise on 21 Apr. | ||||
20 Apr 43 | TOUGH. C Sqn moved out at first light. Role: Standing patrols on coast from Kyrenia westwards to observe any possible enemy landing. | |||
21 Apr 43 | TOUGH. 1100hrs. CEASE FIRE. | |||
RHQ and B Sqn returned to Kondea. | ||||
22 Apr 43 | A and C Sqns returned to Kondea. | |||
23 Apr 43 | Sqn leaders’ conference. | |||
Lt A F McClintock arrived by air from mainland. | ||||
24 Apr 43 | Demonstration by paratroops from mainland, landing on coast East of Larnaca. | |||
Brig Hackett (late OC C Sqn) comd paratroops, to lunch. | ||||
Following offrs and ORs proceeded to mainland:- | ||||
Capt Wagstaffe - To METC (sub-unit comd’s course). | ||||
Capt Harari - compassionate leave. | ||||
Lt Dill - To offrs selection board for permanent commission. | ||||
Four ORs - for OCTU selection board. | ||||
Leave season in island commenced. 45 ORs to Holiday Camp Famagusta for seven days. | ||||
28 Apr 43 | Rifle and LMG practices commenced on open ranges at Athalassa and Trikomo. | |||
30 Apr 43 | Strength
of unit:- |
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ORs
35 offrs and 3 att.
A Sqn 126
Att R Sigs 28
B Sqn 127
REME 15
C Sqn 123
ACC 10
HQ Sqn
98
Det
Courses
16 (mainland) Total 495 53 |
May 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1-8 May 43 | 43
Individual and troop training continued from Kondea until 21 May, when
unit commenced moving to new campsite at MS11 road |
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Musketry (Rifle and LMG) by all sqns at ranges at Athalassa and Trikomo. | ||||
Owing to certain moves on the island, 8H ceased to be under comd 10 Armd Bde and reverted to direct comd 1st Ind Div. | ||||
6 May 43 | CO and seven offrs attended Corps HQ indoor combined ops Exercise APHRODITE - two days 6 and 7 May. | |||
8 May 43 | Lt Col Charlton, Arab Legion, left unit after a six weeks attachment. | |||
CO issued training instruction dealing with individual and troop training. | ||||
10-15 May 43 | All sqns on troop training. Away from camp 2-3 days | |||
13 May 43 | Lt Hepburn and
Lt Lombard left for attachment to Household Cavalry Regiment (Armd Cs) on
mainland (Ninth Army - |
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15 May 43 | Lt Hepburn and
Lt Lombard left for attachment to Household Cavalry Regiment (Armd Cs) on
mainland (Ninth Army - |
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16 May 43 | Sqn leaders’ conference. | |||
17-20 May 43 | All sqns out on troop training, away from camp. | |||
20 May 43 | Maintenance of B vehicles inspection by UMI Ninth Army. Good report. | |||
21 May 43 | Movement to new camp, MS11, commenced. | |||
24 May 43 | Move to new camp completed. | |||
26 May 43 | Regimental TEWT to study the handling of an Armd C troop. All officers and troop sergeants attended. Directed by CO. | |||
27-31 May 43 | Troop training recommenced. Sqns away from camp | |||
29 May 43 | Lt Young rejoined unit after six months absence, most of the time in hospital. |
June 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Jun 43 | Troop and sqn training
continued during the first week of the month, the Regiment being located
at MS11 road |
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On 6 Jun a warning order was received that unit was to stand by at 48hrs notice to move to mainland any time after 9 Jun. | ||||
All vehicles, war equipment (except G1098 stores) and accommodation stores (except tents) were handed in between 7 and 10 Jun. As no movement order had been received, individual training in a number of subjects was restarted on 14 Jun, and continued until the Regiment moved on 21 Jun. | ||||
21-25 Jun was spent in travelling and on 25 Jun the unit arrived at Beni Yousef Camp. The remainder of the month was spent in drawing up vehicles and stores. | ||||
Strength state on 1 Jun: | ||||
ORs
A Sqn 106 Officers
36
B Sqn 111
C Sqn 115
HQ Sqn 103
Det
Courses
24 (mainland)
Total
473 Hospital 40 |
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On
1 Jun a regimental officers mess was opened. Through force of
circumstances, sqn messes had been the rule since Apr 1942. |
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4 Jun 43 | Regimental welfare meeting presided over by 2IC, met in St Patrick’s Club. | |||
5 Jun 43 | Capt Wagstaffe returned from Junior Commanders Course METC. | |||
6 Jun 43 | CO, Adjt and QM attended conference at XXV Corps and warned that the Regiment was under orders to leave the island any time after 9 Jun. | |||
7 Jun 43 | Sir John Woolley, Governor of Cyprus, lunched in the Officers Mess. | |||
CO spoke to whole Regiment on coming move and impressed on all ranks the vital importance of security. | ||||
8-10 Jun 43 | Handing in of all war equipment (except G1098 stores), amn, accommodation stores (except tents), Armd Cs and all B vehicles (except six) during these three days | |||
11 Jun 43 | Regimental TEWT conducted by CO, for all officers, troop sergeants and troop corporals, on the handling of an Armd C troop in roaded country after contact with the enemy. | |||
Organisation of troop: one Dingo; two Armd Cs; one 75mm gun. | ||||
Particular attention made to the use of 75mm gun for clearing the road ahead and allowing the troop to continue their advance. Also to a troop doing a standing patrol. | ||||
12 Jun 43 | GOC made an informal visit to the Regiment, to say goodbye to CO and sqn leaders. | |||
13 Jun 43 | Fire in officers lines which destroyed two 160lb tents and all personal kit of three officers | |||
14-20 Jun 43 | Individual training in unit lines | |||
15 Jun 43 | Lt Hepburn and Lt Lombard
returned from a three-weeks attachment to Household Cavalry Regiment (Lt
Col Gooch) in |
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18 Jun 43 | Regimental TEWT conducted by CO, for all officers, troop sergeants and troop corporals, on the handling of an Armd C troop, with particular reference to the use of the close recce section in giving troop leader local protection when getting into a position of observation, dismounted in broken country. | |||
20 Jun 43 | Movement order received from
XXV Corps ordering unit to proceed by rail to |
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21 Jun 43 | Regiment moved to FMA and embarked on HM minelaying cruiser. See 8H Mov Instr No 1 dated 21 Jun. Ship sailed about midnight. | |||
22 Jun 43 | Arrived |
|||
23 Jun 43 | Entrained at Beirut Station
in the evening. Train departed 2100hrs for |
|||
24 Jun 43 | In transit between |
|||
Detrained |
||||
CO proceeded to GHQ where he
was informed that Regiment would move to |
||||
Cars and equipment were to be issued commencing 30 Jun. CO requested another week to draw up new equipment etc before moving. | ||||
25 Jun 43 | CO to GHQ. Request granted. Unit to move 11 Jul. | |||
26 Jun 43 | CO to GHQ. Request granted. Unit to move 11 Jul | |||
27 Jun 43 | B vehicles drawn from 13 Veh Coy, Mena and Tel el Kebir. | |||
28 Jun 43 | CO to Armd C Wing. Interviewed S African officers and selected three to come to Regiment. | |||
29 Jun 43 | CO to MEOSB GHQ southern Maadi. Drawing of Armd Cs from Tel el Kebir commenced. | |||
Drawing of Armd Cs from Tel el Kebir continued. | ||||
Strength state: |
||||
ORs A Sqn
114
Officers
35
B Sqn
119
C Sqn
113
HQ Sqn
112
Rear party
15 (
Courses
23 (Abbassia) Total 496 |
July 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
||||
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Jul 43 | The beginning of the month
found the unit at Beni Yousef Camp under secret orders to move to |
|||
It was obvious, therefore, that the whole period until that date would be taken up with drawing up new vehicles, refitting and preparing to go into the field. | ||||
The Regiment was to be equipped as follows:- | ||||
Armd Cs
58
WE: 58
3-ton lorries
27
15cwt trucks
13
15cwt water trucks 4
15cwt WT trucks 4
Bantams
5
Staff cars
2
LAD:
15cwt truck
1
3-ton lorries
2
Breakdown tractor 1
Workshop
s lorry 1
Signals Troop:
8cwt trucks
2
15cwt trucks
3
10cwt trucks WT 1 3-ton lorries 2 |
||||
The Armd Cs were all Marmon
Herrington MkIIIs and had all recently been overhauled, or refitted with
new engines, at Tel el Kebir, from where they were drawn. In spite of
being old, they were all in quite good condition. 30 of them were fitted
with WT sets but, as a result of strong representations made by the CO, an
addition of ten No 11 sets were obtained. |
||||
These, in addition to the five sets held by the unit and brought from Cyprus, and a further four issued as ground stations, made it possible to equip 43 Armd Cs with WT and six ground stations. A total of 49 sets, plus one with R Sigs Troop attached, were taken into the field. | ||||
The Armd Cs had a mixed armament, twelve being without turrets and fitted with the Italian 47mm guns, nine had 20mm guns (Solathurn, Breda or KWK), the rest being fitted with the normal Boys A Tk rifle and Bren guns. | ||||
All the B vehicles, except the two staff cars, were either new or practically new, the majority being Dodge, with rear-wheel drive only | ||||
During these first days of
July the CO was extremely busy interviewing many people at GHQ and RAC Trg
Depot, regaining ‘touch’ after the unit’s six-month stay in |
||||
By the time the unit left Beni Yousef the majority of officers and men had had leave within the last three months, the exceptions being those key personnel who were required during this fortnight of re-equipment. | ||||
3 Jul 43 | CO left for short leave in |
|||
4 Jul 43 | Lt Preston and three ORs to Armd C Wing on WT instructors course. | |||
5 Jul 43 | SSM Clarke and SQMS Melson
posted to RAC Trg Depot to await passage to |
|||
Promotion of Sgt Burrows as SSM of B Sqn and Sgt Fleming as SQMS of HQ Sqn. | ||||
6 Jul 43 | CO returned from leave, late in the day. | |||
7 Jul 43 | Three S African officers, seconded to British Army, who had been selected by CO at a recent interview, joined the unit - Lts Rampf, Bennie and Mossop. Posted to A, B and C Sqns in that order. | |||
Also, the new EME arrived, Lt Best, as a result of an application made by the CO sometime previously. | ||||
8 Jul 43 | The Regiment was inspected by Maj Gen C Norman MGAFV GHQ. | |||
All Armd Cs were paraded in line on the desert ground South of the camp, with B vehicles behind in sqn packets. Men were dressed in front of their vehicles, in light battle order. The turnout was very good. | ||||
The General arrived at 1100hrs and the general Salute was given. The General inspected the men and vehicles, after which he gave a short address. The CO then introduced him to all the officers. | ||||
Points brought up by the CO were chiefly in connection with the Regiment’s future, combined with a protest at being given another semi-static role in a back area, and the impossibility of continuing training on the new lines with the equipment now given to the Regiment. | ||||
The General left at 1230hrs. | ||||
1800hrs | Preliminary verbal movement orders given to Adjutant at GHQ. | |||
9 Jul 43 | Six men selected for
exchange draft with personnel from |
|||
Orders re move to |
Appx D1/2 | |||
10 Jul 43 | Capt Firth posted to RAC Trg
Depot, not being medically fit to serve in the desert. Other officers to
be left behind: |
|||
Maj
Phillips Hospital Capt
WagstaffeHospital Capt
Robertson
METC Lt
Hurst
METC Lt
Wharton Hospital Lt Preston Course Armd C Wing. |
||||
11 Jul 43 | Move commenced as per
Movement Orders Nos 1 and 2. Road party left Beni Yousef 0730hrs. Rail
party loaded cars at |
|||
12 Jul 43 | Road party staged night 12/13 Jul at Matruh. | |||
13 Jul 43 | Rail party arrived Tobruk
evening. Staged night 13/14 transit |
|||
14 Jul 43 | OO No 3 issued for onward
move Tobruk - |
Appx D3 | ||
15 Jul 43 | Whole Regiment departed Tobruk 0700hrs. Staged night 15/16 Martuba. | |||
16 Jul 43 | Advance party reached Barce 0815hrs. CO called at HQ CYRDIST and met the District Commander, Maj Gen Collier CBE MC, who gave him his role: | |||
‘8H will constitute the
District mobile reserve available for employment anywhere in the District.
Most probable task will be to deal offensively with any enemy paratroop
landings made in the area |
||||
CO requested that the
Regiment should be kept together. This was agreed and the area of Km20
road |
||||
1230hrs | Arrived HQ 93 Sub Area and met the Comd, Col Hillyard. | |||
Conducted to campsite by Staff Capt Q. The area had been in continuous use as a staging area and was found to be in a filthy condition. 9th Gurkhas were in camp on the area. They moved out the next day and handed over their tentage to the Regiment. | ||||
1830hrs | A certain number of
permanent structures were available and four ruined buildings beside the
main road were allotted, one to each sqn, as mess rooms, sqn canteens and
sqn stores. One stone hut in good condition was allotted to RHQ and |
|||
Accommodation stores were practically non-existent. | ||||
17 Jul 43 | Arrival of main body of Regiment. The move was completed with a minimum of breakdowns or accidents, only one lorry, which had previously given trouble, arriving on tow, and no accidents. | |||
On arrival in the field, the strength of the Regiment was as shown on AFs W3008 and W3009 Appx 1 | Appx 1 | |||
Present
Courses
Hospital
30 officers
Capt Robertson Maj Phillips
Lt
Lt Hurst
Lt Wharton
Maj Threlfall acting 2IC and PRI in absence of Maj Phillips. Capt Ames
acting OC A Sqn.
ORs
Present
Courses & Employed Hospital
Rear Party
at Base Depot
419 52 16 14 |
||||
18 Jul 43 | Cleaning up area and settling into new camp. One sqn to be kept in camp at 30mins notice, for use against paratroops if required. | |||
19 Jul 43 | Cleaning up area etc. CO went out on recce and contacted comds of units of RAF Regt etc. | |||
20 Jul 43 | Lt Kirkham joined unit. CO out on recce. | |||
21 Jul 43 | By this date sqns had practically settled into their areas and the whole camp presented a very different picture to the condition it was in when the unit arrived. The CO inspected the camp | |||
The ADMS and ADM visited the unit and agreed that conditions were now reasonably sanitary. | ||||
22 Jul 43 | Comd 93 Sub Area paid an informal visit to the unit, but the CO was out on recce. | |||
CO issued Operation Instruction No 1. Att at Appx D4. | Appx D4. | |||
25 Jul 43 | Warning received of possible
air raids by low-flying planes, as reprisal for RAF raids on |
|||
At a sqn leaders’ conference in the morning the CO warned them to keep the men on the alert, and a PAD scheme was issued. Appx D6 | Appx D6 | |||
26 Jul 43 | Week’s training programme attached at Appx J1 | |||
27 Jul 43 | Comd CYRDIST, Maj Gen Collier, paid an official visit to the unit, arriving 1200hrs. There was no inspection, but the General visited sqn areas and watched normal individual training. He stayed to lunch in the mess, and afterwards discussed various points put forward by CO. | |||
25 officers and senior NCOs
attended the GOC’s lecture on ABCA in |
||||
30 Jul 43 | Leave to Delta re-started. |
August 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
||||
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Aug 43 | Strength of the Regiment throughout the month is given in Appendices I 1-5 (3008 and 3009) | |||
The
Regiment remained in same location throughout the month, Km10 road
he policy throughout the month with regard to training was:-
(i) Field firing, for
which a battle practice run was made at
(ii) Tp and sqn training, on
which sqns, except the duty sqn, were away from camp two or three nights
each week (see Appx J1-5).
(iii) Regtl and base courses for both
offrs and men.
Leave to the Delta for all ranks continued throughout the month, also
leave parties to Derna. Lt Wharton and eleven ORs returned from Base. |
Appx J1-5 | |||
2 Aug 43 | Maj Phillips and Capt Wagstaffe rejoined from hospital and sick leave. | |||
3 Aug 43 | Orders received to send a detachment as guard to bullion in No 3 Technical Store at Derna; one tp of Armd Cs under Lt Scott was sent. | |||
Clear RT communication with No 19 Sets was maintained with this tp at Derna, a distance of about 160 miles across the Gebel, by use of endfed aerials. | ||||
Lt Hurst rejoined from junior comds’ tactical course at METC. | ||||
4 Aug 43 | At 1500hrs information was received from local Arabs that some Italians were lying-up in area between the camp and the sea to the NW. OC HQ Sqn, who was first in receipt of this news and to whom the Arab had reported this information, was ordered to despatch two Armd Cs from RHQ Tp at once, with an Arab as guide, and C Sqn were ordered to send out two tps, each with an Arab as guide. | |||
No information about enemy landings or paratroop activities had been received from higher formation, and it was therefore considered advisable to warn No 4 AA Practice Camp that Italian troops were reported in their vicinity. | ||||
1), where they were being pinned by local Arabs armed with rifles. Unluckily, the leading Armd C, commanded by Lt Dill, ran into a soft patch in a salt-marsh, the crew therefore dismounted and went forward on foot but, before they could reach the house, the patrol sent out by No 4 AA Practice Camp had already arrived, to whom the Italians, one offr and nine ORs of the San Marco Marines, surrendered. | ||||
A similar party of Italians also landed at Suani Et Terra and were captured by a patrol of SDF. These Italians had landed during night 3/4 Aug from a submarine, with sabotage as their object. The prisoners were handed over to a tp of C Sqn, who escorted them to HQ 93 Sub Area. | ||||
6 Aug 43 | B Sqn field firing at Sceleidima. CO accompanied the Sqn. | |||
7 Aug 43 | Capt Robertson, 2IC B Sqn, returned from sub-unit comds’ course at METC and a week’s leave. | |||
8 Aug 43 | CO to conference at 93 Sub Area. | |||
In accordance with instructions received by signal from GHQ, 30 ORs, trained Armd C crews, were posted to HQ X Corps as reinforcements for Armd C regts, and left the Regt on this day. | ||||
They included two sergeants (Macdonald and Budgen) and two corporals (McBride and Marks). | ||||
11 Aug 43 | B Sqn, accompanied by CO, left for four-days exercise and training in Gebel country East of Barce | |||
12 Aug 43 | Regt now under comd of 93 Sub Area for all purposes (Appx E1). | Appx E1 | ||
Capt Ladenburg on leave to Delta. Lt Case acting Adjutant in his absence. | ||||
C Sqn field firing at Sceleidima. Visited by CO. | ||||
16 Aug 43 | A Sqn field firing at Sceleidima. | |||
A most unfortunate accident occurred during the Sqn’s approach to Sceleidima, when an Armd C ran onto a minefield, involving the death of LCpl Kyle and Tpr Low, and serious injuries to Sgt Smith, the car comd, in his jaw and head. | ||||
Lt I M O Hutchinson, Fife & Forfar Yeomanry, joined Regt and posted to A Sqn. | ||||
17 Aug 43 | Capt Hall on leave to Delta, then to sub-unit comds’ course at METC. | |||
18 Aug 43 | Funeral of LCpl Kyle and Tpr
Low at |
|||
20 Aug 43 | CO visited GOC at CYRDIST. | |||
23 Aug 43 | Lt Brodie, 11th Hussars, posted to and joined unit, sent to B Sqn. | |||
24 Aug 43 | Maj Threlfall and Lt(QM)
O’Malley to |
|||
A Sqn commanded by Capt Ames. | ||||
Lts Dill, Anstey and Scott
also to |
||||
25 Aug 43 | One NCO and four men
provided for a bullion guard to |
Training
Programme for Week Ending 14 Aug 43 |
|||||
Date |
Sqn |
0700-0730 |
0815-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
Mon 9 |
A |
Sqn Baths |
Duty sqn. Sqn courses - WT,
gny, gas |
Maintenance |
|
B |
Footdrill |
???????
Maint |
Half holiday |
|
|
C |
PT |
???????
Gny & WT trh |
?????? trg. Out ni 9/10 |
||
HQ |
??????
trg. |
Half
sqn baths Main |
|||
Tues 10 |
A |
PT |
As for Monday |
Tool check. Maint |
|
B |
Sqn Baths |
Sqn
Baths. Prepare to move out |
Sqn moves to Barce loc N6817 |
||
C |
- |
Tp
trg. Return to camp 1230hrs |
Half
holiday |
||
HQ |
PT |
As
for Monday |
- |
||
Weds 11 |
A |
Footdrill |
As
for Monday ABCA |
Equip
check. Lecture by IO |
|
B |
|
To
trg area Barce |
- |
||
C |
PT |
As
for Monday |
Lecture by IO | A&B veh standstill | |
HQ |
Tp
trg. JD & recognition of tgts |
Gun cleaning | |||
Thu 12 |
A |
|
Tp ldrs parades. Lecture by MO | Half holiday |
|
B |
- |
Road
recces Barce - Tocra - ???????? & Barce - Cyrene - ??????? &
subsidiary tracks |
- |
||
C |
PT |
Sqn
Baths. |
Sqn
moves to Sceleidima |
||
HQ |
- |
Tp
trg. Armd C Tp out ni 12/13 |
Half holiday | ||
Fri 13 |
A |
|
Sqn
courses. Maint |
Area
cleaning & inspection |
|
B |
As
for Thursday. |
- |
|||
C |
Fd
firing all day Sceleidima |
||||
HQ |
Armd C tp returns 1200hrs |
|
|||
Sat 14 |
A |
PT |
|
Tp
ldrs parades |
|
|
B |
- |
Tp
trg |
Return
to camp 1600hrs |
|
|
C |
Footdrill |
Maintenance |
Bathing
parade. Maint. |
A&B
veh standstill |
|
HQ |
Gun
cleaning & inspection of all arms |
Maint.
ABCA |
||
Regtl
Classes: (i) D&M Instructors 2nd week. (ii) WT Elementary 1st week. |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field |
|
|
|
(Sgd)
C Gouldburn |
|
?? Aug 43 |
|
|
|
Lt Col |
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding 8th KRI Hussars |
Training
Programme for Week Ending 21 Aug 43 |
|||||
Date |
Sqn |
0700-0730 |
0815-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
Mon 16 |
A |
Sqn Baths |
Prep
for fd firing |
Leave camp 1500hrs. Out ni 17/18 |
- |
B |
Footdrill |
Sqn
Int Economy |
ABCA |
Duty sqn for wk |
|
C |
PT |
Fd
firing conf. Gun & arms inspection |
Sqn baths |
||
HQ |
PT. Rifle drill |
Maintenance |
Swmiing. Lecture by MO |
||
Tues 17 |
A |
- |
Fd firing Sceleidima |
Out ni 17/18 |
|
B |
Sqn Baths |
Maintenace |
JD |
||
C |
PT |
Leave camp for sqn ex area Barce |
Out ni 17/18 |
||
HQ |
As for Mon |
Armd C Tp fd firing Sceleidima |
½ sqn baths. Maint |
||
Weds 18 |
A |
- |
Fd
firing Sceleidima |
Out
ni 18/19 |
B veh standstill |
B |
PT |
Crew control & fire orders |
Gny instr on en wpns | ||
C |
- |
Sqn ex area Barce |
Out ni 18/19 | ||
HQ |
- |
As for Tue |
Maintenance | ||
Thu 19 |
A |
- |
Return to camp. Gun cleaning & maint | Half
holiday
- |
|
B |
PT |
Gny
instr on en wpns |
|||
C |
PT |
Sqn
exercise. |
Return to camp 1500hrs |
||
HQ |
- |
Tpt
Tp B Ech exercise |
Tpt Tp out ni 19/20 | ||
Fri 20 |
A |
|
To trg | Out ni 20/21 |
|
B |
PT |
Firing 47mm. Maint |
Lecture by IO | ||
C |
Swimming |
Car
comds & DOs trg |
ABCA | ||
HQ |
PT |
Armd C Tp trg. B Ech ex |
B Ech return to camp |
||
Sat 21 |
A |
- |
|
Maintenance |
B
veh standstill |
|
B |
PT |
|
JD |
|
|
C |
Footdrill |
Tool check. Veh inspection |
Half holiday |
|
|
HQ |
Gun
cleaning. Arms inspection |
ABCA |
||
Regtl
Classes: (i) D&M Instructors 3rd week. (ii) WT Elementary 2nd week. |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field |
|
|
|
(Sgd)
C Gouldburn |
|
15 Aug 43 |
|
|
|
Lt Col |
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding 8th KRI Hussars |
Training
Programme for Week Ending 28 Aug 43 |
|||||
Date |
Sqn |
0700-0730 |
0830-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
Mon 23 |
A |
Sqn Baths |
Sqn
Baths. Maint |
TSMG trg. Gun cleaning |
|
B |
Footdrill |
Gas & Mine lifting - WT sets; Guns. ABCA |
Sqn baths |
||
C |
PT |
WT;
Gny; Mine lifting |
Maintenance |
Duty
sqn for wk |
|
HQ |
Armd
C Tp trg. Out ni 23/24 |
Swimming. ABCA |
|||
Tues 24 |
A |
Footdrill |
Sqn int economy |
TSMG Firing |
|
B |
PT |
TSMG
Firing. Maint as per Mon |
Instr in RT code |
||
C |
Early
Bfast |
Sqn
baths. As per Mon |
Lecture by IO |
||
HQ |
PT |
Armd
C Tp return 1200hrs |
Sqn baths. Maint |
||
Weds 25 |
A |
|
Sqn moves out to area Barce to carry out tp recces |
Out ni 25/26. ABCA |
MT Standstill |
B |
Sqn
moves to Agedabia |
Out ni 25/26. |
|||
C |
PT |
As
for Mon. ABCA |
Maintenance | Dvr mech trade test | |
HQ |
Rifle
trg. Main |
JD & indication of tgts ABCA |
|||
Thu 26 |
A |
- |
Tp recces Gebel area | Out
ni 26/27 |
|
B |
Sqn
ex Agedabia |
||||
C |
PT |
As
per Mon |
Maintenance |
||
HQ |
Armd
C Tp trg |
Half holiday | |||
Fri 27 |
A |
- |
Tp
recces Gebel area |
Out
ni 27/28 |
|
B |
Fd
firing Sceleidima |
||||
C |
Mine lifting |
Maintenance | |||
HQ |
Armd C Tp trg |
Sqn baths. Maint |
|||
Sat 14 |
A |
- |
Return to camp 1200hrs |
MT
standstill |
|
|
B |
Fd
firing. Return to camp 1700hrs |
|||
|
C |
Footdrill |
Sqn int encoomy. Do trade test |
Half holiday |
|
|
HQ |
Sqn
int encoomy. |
- |
||
Regtl
Classes: WT
Elementary 3rd week. |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field |
|
|
|
(Sgd)
C Gouldburn |
|
22 Aug 43 |
|
|
|
Lt Col |
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding 8th KRI Hussars |
Training
Programme for Week Ending 4 Sept 43 |
|||||
Date |
Sqn |
0700-0730 |
0830-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
Mon 30 |
A |
PT |
Maint.
Resp & gun inspection |
Maintenance |
|
B |
Footdrill |
406
inspection Maint |
Sqn baths |
|
|
C |
PT |
Baths. Mine liftiing demo. Maint. 406 inspection |
Regtl
kit inspection |
||
HQ |
TSMG
instr. Maint |
||||
Tues 31 |
A |
PT |
Sqn Baths. ABCA |
Maintenance |
|
B |
406 inspection Maint. Gun
Cleaning |
Half
holiday |
|||
C |
As for |
Monday |
|||
HQ |
ABCA | ||||
Weds 1 |
A |
PT |
Tool
check. Fire orders |
Armd C Inspection |
|
B |
Arms
& Resp inspection. Gas frill |
Kit inspection | |||
C |
Footdrill |
Maint.
ABCA |
Maintenance | ||
HQ |
PT |
Arms
drill. Maint |
Judging distance | ||
Thu 2 |
A |
|
Tp trg - varous subjects | Half holiday |
|
B |
PT |
Prep for ex |
Leave camp on sqn ex Away ni
|
||
C |
- |
Scheme
with B sqn |
|||
HQ |
PT |
A
Ech WT trg. B Ech 2pd instr3 |
Half holiday | ||
Fri 3 |
A |
|
As
for Thu |
412/3 inspection reports |
|
B |
- |
Sqn
exercise |
Away ni |
||
C |
|||||
HQ |
As for Thu |
|
|||
Sat 4 |
A |
PT |
|
Maint |
|
|
B |
- |
Return
from ex. Maint
|
||
|
C |
||||
|
HQ |
Footdrill |
Int
economy. Main |
||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field |
|
|
|
(Sgd)
J A G Ladenburg |
|
29 Aug 43 |
|
|
|
Capt, for Lt Col |
|
|
|
|
|
Commanding 8th KRI Hussars |
September 1943 Commanding Officer: Lt Col C Goulburn |
||||
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
1 Sep 43 | Strength of the Regiment throughout the month is given at Appx I 1-4 | Appx I 1-4 | ||
Location remained unchanged
- Km18 rd |
||||
Towards the end of the month the Regiment began re-equipping with modern Armd Cs - Humbers MkIV, armed with 37mm gun and coax Besa 7.92mm MG. T | ||||
he unit had to provide its own personnel to collect the Armd Cs from vehicle park at Geneifa, bringing them to unit by rail to Tobruk and thence by road. By the end of the month 32 cars were in the possession of the unit, the remaining 26 being expected to arrive the first days of October. | ||||
Of the old equipment, 29 Marmon Herringtons were driven in convoy to Tel el Kebir and the remaining 28 were handed to 9 Mot Bn SDF (one having been blown up on a minefield on 16 Aug). Total - 58. | ||||
There were a number of inter-sqn exercises held during the month in the Barce area and two regtl sigs exercises in the Soluch area. | ||||
The remaining of the
training was individual, the latter part of the month being devoted
specially to maintenance of the new cars and instructional courses on the |
||||
Programmes attached at Appx J 1-3. | Appx J 1-3 | |||
One sqn continued to stand by at 30mins readiness throughout the month at No 3 Technical Stores Tocra. | ||||
Leave was suspended towards the end of the month, owing to the number of men away in the Delta drawing cars. | ||||
2 Sep 43 | B Sqn concentrated in area Barce and C Sqn in area Driana - Benina in preparation for inter-sqn exercise on the following day. | |||
Lts Walker and McClintock left for Delta to attend gas course (METC) and D&M Instructors’ course (ACW) respectively. | ||||
3 Sep 43 | B/C Sqn exercise directed by CO and 2IC commenced at 0630hrs and terminated at 1700hrs, C Sqn advancing, B Sqn withdrawing (Appx J4). | Appx J4 | ||
4 Sep 43 | B and C Sqns returned to camp. | |||
5 Sep 43 | 93 Sub Area Rifle Shooting
Competition at |
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6 Sep 43 | Regtl sand table exercise for all officers and tp sgts, directed by CO and conducted by Capt Ames and Lt Hurst. Subject ‘Advance to Contact’. | |||
Sub area comd, Col Hillyard, paid an informal visit and inspected accommodation, cookhouses etc. | ||||
7 Sep 43 | Orders received at midnight from HQ 93 Sub Area for one sqn to be at an hour’s notice to move to 99 Sub Area, probably starting at first light 8 Sep (Appx E1). B Sqn was detailed for this duty. The standby lasted several days before being cancelled. | Appx E1 | ||
This emergency was due to the possibility of Italian aircraft arriving at Derna in accordance with armistice terms. B Sqn were to take over Italian crews and escort them to Tobruk. No aircraft arrived. | ||||
8 Sep 43 | Lt Preston rejoined unit after completing WT Instructors’ course at ACW. | |||
First batch of seven Humber MkIV Armd Cs arrived. | ||||
9 Sep 43 | A Sqn left camp for five days’ training in the Gebel round Barce. | |||
10 Sep 43 | A Sqn carried out an exercise set by the CO. Advance to contact and the co-ordination of movement without WT (Appx J5). | Appx J5 | ||
A Sqn concentrated for night 10/11 in area Si Dachil, in preparation for inter-sqn exercise the following day. | ||||
C Sqn proceeded to concentration area Abiar el Meletania S4994, in preparation for exercise vs A Sqn on 11 Sep | ||||
11 Sep 43 | A/C Sqn exercise directed by CO. See general idea Appx J6. | Appx J6 | ||
12 Sep 43 | C Sqn returned to camp. A Sqn remained out at Tocra. | |||
14 Sep 43 | B Sqn moved to concentration area Barce in preparation for exercise vs C Sqn on 15 Sep. | |||
15 Sep 43 | A/B Sqn exercise directed by CO. See general idea Appx J7. A Sqn tapping-in on a MT column; B Sqn acting as flank guard. Exercise terminated at 1400hrs when wireless silence was enforced. Both sqns, then in area El Abiar, proceeded to camp that afternoon. | Appx J7 | ||
18 Sep 43 | 29 Marmon Herrington Armd Cs under comad Capt Wagstaffe left unit in convoy for Tel el Kebir, with the intention of handing-in to VRP the MHs, and drawing up from Geneifa 26 Humber MkIV Armd Cs. | |||
Maj Dunne and Lt Newman left the unit in the field to attend unit comds’ and sub-unit comds’ courses, respectively, at METC. | ||||
Capt Hall, on sub-unit comds’ course at METC admitted to No 12 Gen Hosp (Sarafand), having severed a nerve in his right arm. Return to unit unlikely. | ||||
20 Sep 43 | Regtl sigs exercise area Driana - Benina - Soluch, with all available Armd Cs, ie 28 MH and seven Humbers (Appx J8). | Appx J8 | ||
25 Sep 43 | 25 |
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Five reinforcements arrived to replace men who left on exchange draft REEFER scheme (vide war diary 9 Jul 43). The sixth man was admitted to hospital, en route, at Tobruk. | ||||
27 Sep 43 | Regtl wrls exercise, same area as exercise on 20th (Appx J9). | Appx J9 | ||
Maj Phillips left for Delta, to attend camouflage course and one week’s leave. | ||||
29 Sep 43 | Maj Threlfall returned to unit from leave and unit comds’ course at METC, and Lt(QM) O’Malley from adm course at METC. |
Message by |
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From: 93 Sub Area
Ref 0.1078 Date 8 Sep 43 |
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To : 8 Hussars
TOO 1030hrs
THI 1035hrs |
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Priority: Emergency Ops |
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WARNING ORDER. ONE SQN TO BE AT ONE HOURS NOTICE FROM 1100HRS TODAY TO MOVE TO 99 SUB AREA. ACK |
Training
Programme for Week Ending 11 Sept 43 |
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Date |
Sqn |
0700-0730 |
0830-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
Mon 6 |
A |
Footdrill |
Regtl sand table ex. Maint.
DOs class |
Tp ldrs disposal |
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B |
- |
Regtl sand table ex. Maint. |
Sqn baths |
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C |
Regtl sand table ex. Sqn baths. Gny, Mines & WT classes |
Half holiday |
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HQ |
PT |
Regtl sand table ex. Maint. Gny |
Maint | ||
Tues 7 |
A |
- |
Sqn Baths. Tp ldrs disposal |
Half holiday |
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B |
PT |
Crew control & fire orders. JD |
Org sport |
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C |
Gny, mine, WT classes |
Maint | |||
HQ |
Gny. Maint | ½ sqn baths. Maint | |||
Weds 8 |
A |
PT |
Prep for moving out |
Move to area Barce |
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B |
Intro Number MkIV |
Org sport. En AFV recogn | |||
C |
Footdrill |
2Tp to Sceledima for fd firing. Remainder - Gny, Mines & WT classes in camp. ABCA |
Maint | ||
HQ |
PT |
Arms
drill. Gny. Maint |
JD | ||
Thu 9 |
A |
- |
Sqn Ex No 1 area Barce (wrls working hrs 0200-1300) | Sqn Ex |
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B |
Arms insp |
Gny, D&M. WT classes |
Half holiday |
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C |
- |
2Tp
fd firing Remainder as for Tue & Wed. |
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HQ |
PT |
Gny 2 pr. Armd C Tp out for ni |
Half holiday | ||
Fri 10 |
A |
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Sqn Ex No 1 area Barce (wrls silence ends 1300hrs) |
Move to conc area |
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B |
PT |
As for Thu |
Unarmed combat. Gas drill |
Out ni 10/11 |
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C |
- | Move to conc area for inter-sqn ex | |||
HQ |
PT |
Armd C Tp ret to camp. Maint |
½ sqn baths. ABCA discussion |
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Sat 11 |
A |
- |
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Wrls working hrs all day |
Out ni 11/12. Ret camp Sun |
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B |
PT |
As for Thu
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ABCA discussion | |
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C |
- |
Inter-sqn ex vs A sqn. See above |
Ret camp Sun | |
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HQ |
Footdrill |
Int
Econ. Gny |
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Field |
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(Sgd) C Goulburn Lt Col |
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5 Aug 43 |
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Commanding 8th KRI Hussars | |
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Training
Programme for Week Ending 25 Sept 43 |
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Date |
Sqn |
0700-0750 |
0900-1230 |
1400-1600 or 1730-1930 |
Remarks |
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Mon 20 |
A |
Regtl Sigs Ex |
Leave camp 0800hrs |
Ret camp 1700hrs
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B |
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C |
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HQ |
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Tues 21 |
A |
PT |
Maint. TAB inco |
Maint |
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B |
Baths | ||||||
C |
As forPT |
Maint |
Half
holiday |
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HQ |
PT | Maint. Sqn courses | Swimming. maint | ||||
Weds 22 |
A |
Footdrill |
Sqn |
Sqn courses. Maint |
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B |
PT | Sqn courses | |||||
C |
Musketry prelims |
Sqn courses. Maint. 1100
hrs ABCA |
Sqn courses. Maint | ||||
HQ |
PT |
Sqn courses. |
ABCA | ||||
Thu 23 |
A |
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Sqn
courses.
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Half holiday |
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B |
Footdrill |
Sqn courses. |
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C |
Musketry prelims |
Sqn courses. Benina Ranges (rifle, Bren, TMG) |
Benina Ranges for Staff employ & B Ech pers | ||||
HQ |
PT |
Sqn courses. |
50% baths. Half holiday | ||||
Fri 24 |
A |
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Sqn courses. Map reading. 1100hrs. ABCA |
Sqn courses. Maint |
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B |
Footdrill |
Sqn courses. |
Sqn courses. |
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C |
Musketry prelims | Sqn courses. Maint | Sqn courses. Maint | ||||
HQ |
PT |
Sqn courses. |
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Sat 4 |
A |
PT |
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Maint |
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B |
Arms Inspec |
Sqn courses. 1100hrs ABCA |
Half holiday | |||
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C |
Footdrill |
Sqn courses., Maint. Int Econ |
Sqn courses., Maint. | |||
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HQ |
Int Econ |
Maint | ||||
Regtl Courses: | |||||||
(i) WT Beginners (7th week) (5) | |||||||
(ii) WT Beginners (2nd week) (7) | |||||||
(ii) Bty Chg (3) | |||||||
Sqn courses | |||||||
A Sqn | B Sqn | ||||||
(i) D&M Humber (6) | (i) D&M Humber (9) | ||||||
(ii) 37mm & Besa (6) | (ii) Gnr Ops (5) | ||||||
(iii) Gnr Ops (5) | |||||||
(iv) WT Refresher (7) | |||||||
(v) Fitters Humber (4) | |||||||
C Sqn | HQ Sqn | ||||||
(i) D&M Humber (5) | (i) D&M Humber (3) | ||||||
(ii) D&M Humber (5) | (ii) 37mm & Besa (7) | ||||||
(iii) 37mm & Besa (7) | (iii) WT Refresher (6) | ||||||
(vi) 37mm & Besa (5) |
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(v) WT Refresher (10) | |||||||
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Field |
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Sgd) C Goulburn Lt Col |
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22
Aug 43 |
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