War Diaries of D Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
1939
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August 1939 Commanding Officer: |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Abbassia | 23rd. | Battery strength. 2 Officers 123 Other Ranks. | ||
| Cairo | The CODE word "Umbrella" was received. The Battery proceeded to Mobilize. | |||
| 24th. | 1930 | The CODE word " FLIT" received. | ||
| 25th | 0530 | The Battery less "B" Troop left by road for War Station | ||
| Bivouac night 25/26th. at El - Alamein. "B" Troop remained in Abbassia to rearm with Bofors A/T guns. | ||||
| 26th. | 1500 | The Battery in wide dispersed Bivouac at the Fig Tree, 15 miles S.W. of Mersa Matruh, and at three hours notice to move. | ||
| 27th. | Eye shields ordered to be worn and all A.A. and anti- gas precautions taken. | |||
| 30th. | Eye shields ceased to be worn. | |||
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September 1939 Commanding Officer: |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Mersa-Matruh | 3rd. | War was declared- The Battery ordered to mobilise (this had already been done) but peace accounting was retained. | ||
| 7th. | The Battery at 6 hours notice to move. | |||
| 11th. | The Battery at 8 hours notice to move and A.A. and anti- gas precautions relaxed. | |||
| 13th. | Visit of King Farouk to British and Egyptian Troops in the Westerm Desert. | |||
| 23rd. | Battery moved into a peace camp at 11th kilo on the Sidi-Barrani Road with manoeuvre scale tentage. Slit trenches and A.A. posts were dugto which vehicles and personnel could disperse if required. | |||
| 29th. | 2 Lieut. W.T.L. Tanner R.A. joined the Battery from the Supplementary Reserve. | |||
| Troop and Battery training was carried out throughout the month. | ||||
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October 1939 Commanding Officer: |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Mersa-Matruh | 1st | The Battery took part in various exercises with the Light Armoured Brihade and Armoured Division | ||
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| 16th. | ||||
| 16th. | "B" Troop rejoined the Battery from Cairo | |||
| 19th. | "A" Troop returned to Cairo to re-equip with Bofors Gun. | |||
| 20th. | Lieut. P.W.G. Pope R.H.A. and "C" Troop proceeded Mersa Matruh to complete the defences inside the wire and came under command of "P" Battery R.H.A. | |||
| 27th. | Mersa Matruh Manning Exercise. | |||
| 28th. | Battery and Troop training continued. | |||
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November 1939 Commanding Officer: |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Mersa-Matruh | 6th. | Lieut. P.W.G. Pope R.H.A rejoined the Battery and 2 Lieut W.T.L. Tanner was attached to "P" Battery R.H.A. in Mersa Matruh. | ||
| 7th | 0700 | Battery Headquarters and "B" Troop returned to Abbassia by road bivouacing the night7/8th just short of the Alexandroa - Cairo road - "C" Troop remained at Mersa Matruh. | ||
| 8th. | 1330 | Battery arrived in Polygon Lines and "A" Troop rejoined | ||
| The Battery became Middle East Reserve. | ||||
| 15th. | B.S.M. Marsh and one Gunner attached to R.A. Base Depot Gymnasium Barracks Abbassia. | |||
| 20th. | "A" Troop carried out firing with Bofors Guns. | |||
| 27th. | A/Sgt Powell and A/L/Sgt Pratt, Gnr Mead and Gnr Hindle left the Battery on posting to the United Kingdom as Instructors. | |||
| Individual training commences on return to Cairo and throrough inspections and maintenance of al vehicles was carried out. | ||||
| 29th | Battery retained at 24 hours notice to move. | |||
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December 1939 Commanding Officer: |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Abbassia | 1st | Captain P.G. Hobbs confirmed in the Appointment as G.S.O.3 Armoured Div. and ceased to be on strength of the Battery. | ||
| Abbassia | 8th | 0700 | "B" Troop left for Mersa Matruh to relieve C Troop. | |
| Abbassia | 9th | Battery remained at 48 hours notice to move. | ||
| Abbassia | 11th | 1330 | "C" Troop arrived back from Mersa Matruh. | |
| Desert | 13th | "A" Troop took part in a three day scheme with 11th Infantry Brigade. | ||
| Desert | 18th | The Battery less "B" Troop too part in 4th Indian Division Exercise lasting three days. | ||
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