War Diaries For 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars 1939

September 1939 Commanding Officer: Lt Col J.A.T. Miller
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1/9/39		Gloucester Order for embodiment received. AF E635 for all ranks despatched by post at 0330 hrs.
	2/9/39		19 officers and 369 ORs reported for duty at concentration stations:- Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tetbury.
	3/9/39		5 officers and 24 ORs reported for duty. Only 6 ORs not reported.
	4/9/39		Regiment up to strength. The duty of the Regiment is to aid the Civil Power in case of air raids, strikes etc.
	14/9/39		The Regiment proceeded to a concentration area at DUNSTER near MINEHEAD. Strength 24 officers and 397 ORs. The following equipment was taken:-1 light tank, 5 30cwt WD lorries, 10 rifles, 6 pistols.
			On arrival, HQ, F & G Sqns were billeted in empty buildings in the village. H Sqn was billeted in DUNSTER LODGE, ALCOMBE 1 ½ miles away.
	22/9/39		Regiment moves by road to ILFRACOMBE where all Sqns were billeted in hotels and boarding houses. The remainder of the 22nd Heavy Armd Bde were stationed as follows:-Brigade HQ - SAUNTON, 3rd County of London Yeomanry - ILFRACOMBE, 4th County of London Yeomanry - WOOLACOMBE.
	24/9/39		Letter received from Officer i/c Records giving new establishment of the Regiment as 30 officers and 606 ORs.
	25/9/39		All ranks were medically inspected and passed fit for service overseas, with the following exceptions:-16 Tprs Category B. 1 WO and 10 Tprs Category C. 2 Tprs Category D.
	30/9/39		EQUIPMENTThe following equipment was received during the month - 1 light tank (experimental) and 1 Rolls Royce Armd car.MESSINGUntil rations were issued, subsistence allowance for all ranks at a rate of 3/- per day was granted. The cooking was performed by Regimental cooks. The food was supplied by caterers.
			STRENGTH
			The strength of the Regiment on 30th September was as follows:-24 officers and 388 ORs.

October 1939 Commanding Officer: Lt Col J.A.T. Miller
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ILFRACOMBE	8/9/39		The issue of subsistence allowance ceased and rations were issued in lieu.
	23/10/39		2Lt MG Ling reported for duty from the Officers Emergency Reserve.
	27/10/39		2Lt JN Harper and 35 ORs of G Sqn were ordered to Bristol to provide guards for Bristol Airport. The party left by road on that day.
	31/10/39		Orders were received detailing the remainder of G Sqn to proceed to Bristol and join the detachment despatched on 27th Oct.
			STRENGTH DECREASE
			During the month 10 men were discharged to return to civil employment in key industries.
			TRAINING EQUIPMENT
			The following equipment were received during the month:- 2 medium tanks, 12 saloon cars for driving instruction.
			TRAINING
			Owing to the lack of equipment, training stores had to be improvised. All ranks were trained in the Morse code with flags. TEWTS were held for officers. Route marches were carried out in order to harden up the men and all ranks were made proficient at Foot Drill.
			On the arrival of the medium tanks, 2 3pdr guns and 6 Vickers guns were made available and Regimental classes in both weapons were held. Pending the arrival of equipment, intensive training of instructors for a Regimental Driving School was carried out, so that when the 12 saloon cars were issued, driving instruction was started at once.

December 1939 Commanding Officer: Lt Col J.A.T. Miller
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
BRISTOL	1/12/39		2Lt AH Snell reported for duty on first commission from the Inns of Court OTC and was posted to H Sqn.
	4/12/39		2Lts FE Adams and RN Moore-Stevens reported for duty and were posted to G Sqn. 2Lt RM Archdale reported for duty and was posted to HQ 22nd Heavy Armd Bde as Intelligence Officer from date of commission.
	6/12/39		Capt JA Midwood, 17/21st Lancers was attached for duty with the Regiment.
	7/12/39		68 recruits under command of Major FN Cross DSO, and a cadre of instructors were sent form Bristol to Ilfracombe and a Recruit Training Wing was formed there.
	12/12/39		The furlough period opened from this date until 13th January. All ranks were granted 7 days furlough during this period. A draft of 95 Militia men (age 20 years) was posted to the Regiment and was sent to the Recruits Wing at Ilfracombe for training.
	15/12/39		Information was received that 22nd Heavy Armd Bde was to form part of the 2nd Armoured Division. Other units forming the Division are as follows:
			1st Light Armoured Brigade:-1st Kings Dragoon Guards, 3rd Hussars, 4th Hussars.
			Support Group:
			2nd Regiment RHA (temporarily detached), Light AA and Anti-Tank Regiment (to be selected), 3rd Cheshire Field Sqn RE, 142nd Field Park Troop RE, 1st The Rangers, 1st Tower Hamlet Rifles.
			Divisional Troops:
			2nd (Middlesex Yeomanry) Armoured Divisional Signals.At the same time, orders were received that the Division would concentrate by 15th January 1940 in the Northern Command area.
	17/12/39		A billeting party of 10 ORs under Capt JA Midwood was sent to find billets for the Regiment in the WELBECK, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE area.
	29/12/39		Personnel of the Wireless Training and Recruit Training Wings left ILFRACOMBE by rail for the concentration area.
	31/12/39		The Regiment was relieved of its Vulnerable Point Duties at AVONMOUTH and WHITCHURCH by 44th Bn Royal Tank Regiment and 6th Somerset Light Infantry respectively, and entrained for the new concentration area on the night of 31st December 1939.
			EQUIPMENT
			light utility tractors and 9 No. 9 Wireless sets were received during the month.
			STRENGTH DECREASE
			Four men were discharged as medically unfit.
			STRENGTH
			The strength of the Regiment on 31 Dec 1939 was as follows:-37 officers and 634 ORs.

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