1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

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David W
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1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#1

Post by David W » 12 Feb 2011, 14:05

Does anyone know where & when the 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion arrived in North Africa?

Tom from Cornwall
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#2

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 13 Feb 2011, 23:14

David,

Their middle east war diary seems to start in Nov 1940 according to the PRO catalogues - so I guess that indicates when they arrived.

Tom


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David W
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#3

Post by David W » 13 Feb 2011, 23:22

Excellent Tom!

Thank you. :)

Tom from Cornwall
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#4

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 17 Feb 2011, 20:04

David,
Correction to my last post :oops: - I was at Kew today and thought I would check the Tower Hamlets WD (WO169/367).

They embarked at Liverpool on 15 Nov 1940 and reached Suez on 28 Dec 1940 (leaving 4 riflemen in Durban! Which must have seemed like heaven after war-time UK 8-) ). After a transit up the canal, they reached Port Said at 15.30 on 31 Dec, and disembarked at 20.00 hrs.

So the 1940 date was correct, but only just. :lol: The final entry in the Dec war diary is that they entrained at 23.00 hrs, which seems a tad harsh after being at sea on Christmas Day as well. No parties for them...

Perhaps the war diary comes under Middle East Forces in Nov - Dec 1940 because they had been mobilised - it will be interesting to see if other units follow the same pattern, and what their war diary says for earlier in 1940. I have seen a reference to the two inf bns in 2 Armd Div as being "partly trained" in June 1940 and then "completely mobilised" by the beginning of Aug 1940 (in WO199/3186). I would not have thought that 6 weeks cooped up on a troopship would have helped their state of training either, was it March 1941 when they bumped into the Germans?

Regards

Tom

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David W
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#5

Post by David W » 17 Feb 2011, 20:15

Thanks Tom.
was it March 1941 when they bumped into the Germans?
The 31st I believe. So only just!

Tom from Cornwall
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#6

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 19 Feb 2011, 21:43

Does anyone know what happened to the other motor bn in 2nd Armoured Division - I have come across a reference to "The Rangers" but they don't seem to have made it to the Middle East. Another mystery!!

Anyone have an OOB for the 1st Tower Hamlets when they arrived in Middle East? Apparently they were renamed the 9th Bn The Rifle Brigade at some point, anyone have any idea of a date?

Tom

Alanmccoubrey
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#7

Post by Alanmccoubrey » 19 Feb 2011, 22:26

Tom, Did they not go to Greece and then Crete ?
Alan

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#8

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 19 Feb 2011, 23:14

Alan,

Cheers - definitely found references to them in Greece and Crete - the 2nd Armoured Division were really scattered to all over the place!

Regards

Tom

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David W
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#9

Post by David W » 20 Feb 2011, 02:04

1st Tower Hamlets Battalion were re-named as "The 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade" on January 15th 1941 according to my records.

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#10

Post by Alanmccoubrey » 20 Feb 2011, 13:53

David, Tom was asking about the other "rifles" battalion in the division which was 1st Bn, The Rangers. They went to Greece and then Crete while the Tower Hamlets stayed in the desert. The Rangers were also a London TA unit and were part of the KRRC, being renamed the 9th Bn, KRRC.
Alan

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#11

Post by David W » 20 Feb 2011, 17:59

Alan,
I didn't know about the Rangers being the second motorised battalion, until Tom mentioned them above.
Strange coincidence them both getting redesignated as the 9th Battalions. Or is there an explanation?

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#12

Post by Alanmccoubrey » 20 Feb 2011, 20:01

David, I guess that coincidences do happen.
Alan

Tom from Cornwall
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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#13

Post by Tom from Cornwall » 12 Jun 2012, 16:58

I thought the following details from the 1st Tower Hamlets Rifles War Diary (WO169/1742) from Feb 41 might be of interest:
1 February 1941 CAMP
Field Returns of Officers and O.Rs attached. Appx 1 & 2

2 February 1941
Battle practice on TAHAG Range. A Coy 0900 – 1300 hrs, B Coy 1400 – 1715 hrs. Mortar 2” fired by unit for first time.

3 February 1941
Arrival of remainder of unit vehicles, [diary??] sent from England, in Camp, collected from Alexandria. Appx 3

4 February 1941
Battle practice on TAHAG Range by C & D Coys. Appx 4

5 February 1941
Nil. Appx 5

6 February 1941
2” mortar practice by A, B, C, D Coys. Appx 6

7 February 1941
Nil. Appx 7

8 February 1941
Field Return of officers and O.Rs attached. Appx 8 & 9

9 February 1941
Nil.

10 February 1941
11 Ford 15-cwt trucks received, bringing unit up to strength in 15-cwt. Appx 10

11 February 1941
D Coy on 36 hours exercise in desert South of BILGEIS. Appx 11

12 February 1941
A Coy on 36 hours exercise in desert south of BILGEIS. Appx 12

13 February 1941
B Coy on 36 hours exercise in desert south of BILGEIS. Appx 13

14 February 1941 TAHA CAMP
Nil. Appx 14

15 February 1941
Verbal orders received that Bn was at short notice to leave 2 Armd Div in order to proceed to unknown destination. Field Return of officers and O.Rs attached. Appx 15 & 16

16 February 1941
Verbal orders received to move on 18 Feb.

17 February 1941
5 30-cwts taken over from N.H. Orders received to move by road to CYRENAICA (less carriers & crews) to relieve a motor bn of 7 Armd Div. Appx 17

18 February 1941
4 W.T. 15-cwt FORD trucks and 2 Water Trucks received.

19 February 1941 MENA
Bn move 1st stage to MENA. G.H.Q. (Movement Control) orders attached. Appx 18
Carriers move by train to MERSA MATRUH.

20 February 1941 AMARYA
Bn move 2nd stage to AMARYA. In laager by 1700 hrs. Appx 19

21 February 1941 MATRUH
Bn move 3rd stage to MERSA MATRUH. In lagaar by 1800 hrs. Carriers & SC Pls arrived MATRUH by train. Appx 20

22 February 1941 SIDI BARRANI
Bn move 4th stage to SIDI BARRANI. SC Pls join in march. IN laager by 1700 hrs. One O.R. killed in laager by mine. Appx 21

23 February 1941 BARDIA
Bn move 5th stage to BARDIA. In laager 5 miles outside BARDIA at 1630 hrs. Appx 23
1 rifleman killed by “Thermos” Bomb on journey.

24 February 1941 TOBRUK
Bn move 6th stage from BARDIA to TOBRUK. Bn in laager East of TOBRUK by 1500 hrs.
Field Return of Officers and O.Rs attached. Appx 24 & 25

25 February 1941 DERNA
Bn move continues. In laager East of DERNA 1800 hrs. All Coys report vehicles complete to establishment at end of 7th day of march. Appx 26

26 February 1941 CIRENE
Bn move 8th stage to CIRENE. DERNA hill badly blocked reckless and inconsiderate driving of 1 AUSTRALIAN CORPS moving EAST. Minor casualties to unit vehicles caused by this destructive and selfish use of the road. All unit vehicles arrived at CIRENE. A and B Coys in laager at CIRENE, C and D Coys in laager at crossroads 3 kilos EAST of CIRENE at 1900 hrs. Bn HQ opposite AUBERGO CIRENE. Preparation made to take over from 51 Field Regiment R.A.

27 February 1941 CIRENE
A and B Coys move at 1430 hrs to GIOVANNA BERTA and BEDA LITTORIA respectively to take over from 51st R.A. Security silence orders attached. Appx 27
C and D Coys remain in laager.

28 February 1941 CIRENE
C and D Coys move to BENGASI [sic]. Bn HQ moves to HOTEL CIRENE. Conference held at hotel at 1600 hrs by O.C. [regiment?] with Chief Superintendent of Police, Political Officer, A.P.O. O.C A and B Coy. Local problems of harassment [?] and administration discussed.
Field Returns of officers and O.Rs attached. Appx 28
Appendix 18
G.H.Q., MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER No. QM3/222.
Issued in conjunction with Movements and
Customs Instructions 137, SD/41966 of
16th Feb. 1941 and SD.42018 of 16th Feb. 41
Copy No...7..
CR/ME/10899/Q(M).
18 February, 1941.
1. MOVE.
(a) 1 TOWER HAMLETS and L.A.D.
(b) DET 2 Support GP Coy R.A.S.C.

Will move by road to CYRENAICA.

2. DATE OF MOVE.
(a) (b) will depart TAHAG 19th February 1941
arriving TOBRUK 24th February 1941
See Appendix ‘A’

3. STRENGTHS.

Officers. O.Rs. Vehicles.
(a) 33 665 158
(b) - 17 8
Unfortunately there are no diaries for March and April 41, but I will see what May says over the next couple of days.

Regards

Tom

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#14

Post by Fatboy Coxy » 13 Jun 2012, 19:30

Thank you Tom, very interesting to read
Tom from Cornwall wrote:

22 February 1941 SIDI BARRANI
Bn move 4th stage to SIDI BARRANI. SC Pls join in march. IN laager by 1700 hrs. One O.R. killed in laager by mine. Appx 21
23 February 1941 BARDIA
Bn move 5th stage to BARDIA. In laager 5 miles outside BARDIA at 1630 hrs. Appx 23
1 rifleman killed by “Thermos” Bomb on journey.
Regards
Tom
Are these losses due to the British troops being "green" or clever Italian booby traps, or are these losses a norm for advancing troops.

Steve
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Fatboy Coxy

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Re: 1st Tower Hamlets Battalion

#15

Post by Fatboy Coxy » 13 Jun 2012, 19:35

Tom from Cornwall wrote:

26 February 1941 CIRENE
Bn move 8th stage to CIRENE. DERNA hill badly blocked reckless and inconsiderate driving of 1 AUSTRALIAN CORPS moving EAST. Minor casualties to unit vehicles caused by this destructive and selfish use of the road. All unit vehicles arrived at CIRENE. A and B Coys in laager at CIRENE, C and D Coys in laager at crossroads 3 kilos EAST of CIRENE at 1900 hrs. Bn HQ opposite AUBERGO CIRENE. Preparation made to take over from 51 Field Regiment R.A.
Regards
Tom
I say chaps, this really isn't on, someone should have a word with these Australian chappies, where do they think they are, Alice Springs? 8O :lol:

Steve
Regards
Fatboy Coxy

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