6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion. WAR DIARY. September 1943.

6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion.

WAR DIARY. September 1943.

Month and Year: September 1943.

Commanding Officer: Lieut – Colonel. J.A. Goodwin.

Place: Kairouian [Tunisia]

1 September 1943.

Bn carried out exercise ‘RELIEF’ in KNEIS area. Exercise involved taking over Bn defensive position, holding for one day and then handing over to another Bn.

Lt. E.D. Jones promoted Acting Captain w.e.f.

5 September 1943.

0200 hrs. Bn received orders to be ready for embarkation by 0600 hrs 6 Sep 43.  See Appx No 1.

All training outside Bn area cancelled. All ranks pack.

6 September 1943.

2100 hrs. Orders that embarkation postponed 48 hours.

7 September 1943.

2000 hrs. Bn moved by M.T. [Motor Transport] to BIZERTA for embarkation.

Place: BIZERTA.

8 September 1943.

1000 hrs. ‘B’ & ‘C’ Coy’s, Adv Bn HQ, Mortar & MMG Pln’s embark on H.M.S. Abdiel for Taranto.

‘A’ Coy, Rear Bn HQ & A-Tk Pln remain behind at Transit Camp, ready for embarkation later.

Place: TARANTO.

9 September 1943.

2330 hrs. H.M.S. Abdiel struck mine off Taranto Harbour. Many killed and missing, survivors transferred to H.M.S. Howe.

10 September 1943.

Investigation shows that, of the Bn personnel who embarked on H.M.S. Abdiel, 5 Off’s + 209 O.R’s survived & were picked up at Taranto.

1 Offr + 19 O.R’s were identified killed. 6 Off’s + 46 O.R’s missing.

4 Off’s + 13 O.R’s evacuated in Hospital Ships. 13 O.R’s evacuated by Royal Navy to Bizerta. Survivors were accommodated in Taranto under command Lt. Pearson, pending re-equipment.

11 September 1943.

Remainder of Bn embarks at Bizerta on PRINCE LEOPOLD.

12 September 1943.

Remainder of Bn arrived Taranto & disembarked.

13 September 1943.

Bn moves to concentration area 3 miles out of Taranto.

14 September 1943.

Survivors join the Bn in concentration area & reorganisation commences. Total strength = 16 Offr’s + 398 O.R’s.

Among the killed or missing were, Lt-Col. Goodwin, Major Trevor Evans, Capt Mathias, Capt E.D. Jones, Lt. Watkins, Lt. Egmore & Lt. Radford. Major P.J.R. Davies temporarily assumes command of Bn.

15 September 1943.

Lt. Col V.W. Barton, late of 10th Para Bn, assumes command of the Bn. Major Lloyd-Jones, M.C. is posted from 1st Bde. Reorganisation of personnel to equalize all three Rifle Coy’s: checking of all weapons & ammo: as far as possible, re-equipping up to full strength.

16 September 1943.

Bn received orders to be ready to move into 2 Para Bde area on evening of 15th, to take over positions from 2 Para Sqn, R.E.

17 September 1943.

At 1930 hrs Bn moves up by march & M.T. route to positions covering Palagiano (sketch attached).  See Appendix 2. Take-over from R. Engineers completed by 0330 hrs, 18 Sep 43, when Bn was reported in position: no enemy activity. See Appendix 3.

18 September 1943.

All Coy’s send out recce patrols to within sight of Laterza. Little enemy activity: only small rear-guards of 1 [German] Para Div appear left behind.

At 1900 hrs, orders were given for 2 Pln’s of ‘B’ Coy under Major Lloyd-Jones to report to 4th Bn for a joint attack the following morning on Laterza 3628 Sheet 201 (Italy), held by an enemy rear-guard. The two Pln’s reported to 4th Bn at 2100 hrs: one was given the task of occupying a position of a 4th Bn Platoon while the latter was out on a fighting patrol: the other with the O.C. Coy was to protect the 4th Bn mortars and a Bty [Battery] of Italian arty [artillery] during a shoot on known enemy positions at 0600 hrs the following morning. Both these tasks were carried out.

19 September 1943.

The shoot was successfully accomplished, and Major Lloyd-Jones & the Adjt of the 4th Bn proceeded in a Jeep to the bridge at 380304, which they found demolished. 11 Pln was ordered to be ferried up to the bridge, and meanwhile those two officers drove on to Laterza where the population gave them a terrific welcome. Soon afterwards 11 Pln, ‘B’ Coy marched into the town and were likewise enthusiastically acclaimed. During the morning, 11 Pln were withdrawn, & the town was occupied by ‘C’ Coy + units of the 4th Bn, the whole force under the command of Lt. Col. Dene of the 4th Bn.

20 – 21 September 1943.

The Bn, with the remainder of 2 Para Bde, was withdrawn by rail and march route into a Diviasional Reserve area in Taranto: its positions were taken over by 1 Para Bde.  See Appendix 4.

21 September 1943.

Reinforcements of 1 Officer (Lieut Powell-Davies) & 36 O.R’s + some M.T. arrive from Sousse.

22 September 1943.

1500 hrs. Bn ordered to stand by at 4 hrs notice for a move up to its previous positions, to take over from 1 [ Para] Bde.

23 September 1943.

At 1100 hrs, the Bn, moved up by rail to positions just outside Aquaviva, 3960 Sheet 189 (Italy), where 2 Para Bde (now under command 5 Corps) was concentrating preparatory to a further move North in the direction of the withdrawing enemy.  See Appendix 5 & 6.

27 September 1943.

Bn moved up by road and rail Northwards to CERIGNOLA 5898 Sheet 37 (Foggia), when 2 Para Bde was ordered to hold the town as a firm base which would, with FOGGIA (held by Air Landing Bde) cover the concentration of 78 Div in BARI area 4285 (Sheet 18). See Appendix 7.

28 September 1943.

Coy’s moved out to battle positions (as in att sketch). See Appendix 9.

Bn has in support 2 Batteries, 132 Fld Regt, & under command 1 Tp, 2 A/L A/Tk Bty. See Appendix 8.

In order to make complete W.E. [War Establishment], the following officer appointments have been made:

Capt. Fitzroy-Smith to be A/Major.

Lieut. N.M. Boys to be A/Captain.

Lieut. J. Awdry to be A/Captain.

Lieut. G.B. Jones to be A/Captain.

Lieut. G.L. Pearson to be A/Captain.

Lieut. C.A.R. Crosland to be A/Captain and Adjutant.

29 September 1943.

No enemy activity on Bn front. Occasional Italian reports of Germans in the vicinity always turned out on investigation to be false.