Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F. S. Regs. Vol. 1. Monthly War Diaries will be enclosed in A. F. C2119. If this is not available , and for Intelligence Summaries, the cover will be prepared in manuscript

WAR DIARY

Army Form C2118

                                         or                                                    Unit 7th Survey Regiment RA

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Month and Year.January 1941

                                                  (Delete heading not required)                                                                                                   Commanding Officer Lt Col K.F.McK.Lewis M.C. RA

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

SUTTON-VENY

  12.1.41

Formation

nr. Warminster

7th Survey Regiment, R.A formed in accordance with W.O.L.

20/Arty/5857 (A.G.6.a) o 23.12.40 on 12 January, 1941 at "B" Camp.

Sutton Veny. Nr. Warminster, Wilts

COMPOSITION.

Regimental H.Q and 1 Troop per Battery.

Total Intake - 14 Officers and 387 Other Ranks.

15.1.41

1 B.S.M and 2 Sergeants posted from School of Survey (To be RQMS, BSM,

Survey Battery, and BQMS, F.S.Battery.)

1 T.S.M posted from 1st Independent S.R.Bty R.A (BSM, S.R. Bty)

12.1.41

1 B.S.M. posted from 123 O.C.T.U. (BSM, F.S.Bty)

1 B.S.M. & 3 Sgts. " 3rd Survey Regt. ) Auth: Adm/XP/C/461

(R.S.M., BQMS, S.R. Bty. & 2 Sgts. )

13.1.41

OFFICERS

14 Officers posted under auth:of W.O.L. 112/Arty/710 (A.G.6.p)

Commanding Officer Lt Colonel K.F.McK. Lewis, M.C. R.A

2nd in Command Major R.A.V. Crawford, R.A

O.C., F.S. Bty Capt. T.N. Allen, R.A.

O.C., S.R. Bty Capt. L.G. Lewzey, R.A.

15.1.41

Capt. J.C.Dent R.A. (O.C., Svy.Bty) posted under auth: W.O.L. P/33332/12 (A.G.6.p) dated 14th Jan 41

B.S.M. E.G.Clark, R.A. posted to Regt. As Lieut. Q.M Under Auth:

WOUPT 112/Arty/8693 (A.G.6.p) dated 12th Jan 1941

20.1.41

2/Lt. B.J. Masterson, R.A. posted under WOUPT 112/Arty/710 (A.G.6.p) dated 24.1.41

3.2.41

VEHICLES

Position at 3.2.41

M.Cs. 15

Utilities 20

6 Seater 1

15 cwts 20

30 cwts 15

3 ton 4

Position at 12.5.41

M.Cs. 25

15 cwts 42

30 cwt Dodge 10

Rest as above

Sutton

22nd

EXERCISES

Veny

and

7th Survey Regiment, R.A. acted as Reserve to W.S.F.

23rd

attacking 1,000 enemy paratroops in possession of an aerodrome,

Feb

Attack successful, Reserve not in action

Weather conditions very bad.

March

7th Survey Regiment, R.A. handed over Striking Force Role to

8th Survey Regiment, R.A. on receipt of orders to move.

Sutton

OPERATIONS

Veny

WILTSHIRE STRIKING FORCE

OPERATION ORDERS FOR

Feb.

7th Survey Regiment supplied

W.S.F.

a) For V.P. Defence of Chilmark

3 Officers and 41 Other Ranks

b) For S.F. Reserve 13 Officers and 291 Other Ranks.

organised into a H.Q. of 50, 3 Infantry Coys. Of 67 and "B" Echelon.

March

Transport Riflemen carried in 15cwts.

3 Scout cars (Austin Utilities) per Coy.

Lt. Col K.F.Mc.K.Lewis, M.C., R.A. Commanded W.S.F. Central Reserve.

TRAINING

Sutton

Feb

FIELD TRAINING

Mar

Minor infantry tactics, field craft, use of ground,

Apr

small arms training carried out once a week for three months

SMALL ARMS

All men fired 20 rounds .303 on open range by

beginning of June, 1941

CHANGE OF STATION

SUTTON VENY

15.4.41

Regiment moved from SUTTON VENY to Trowbridge on 15.4.41. Details in

TO

accordance with S.C. letter No. SC.2/4727/Q(M) of 1.1.41

TROWBRIDGE

12.4.41

0900

Advance Party left Sutton Veny.

Strength 1 Officer & 43 Other Ranks.

16.4.41

0900

MAIN BODY 1st journey, Baggage convoy.

1000

Arrived Trowbridge

1500

2nd Journey, Troop Convoy

1600

Arrived Trowbridge

V.T.M. 10

M.I.H. 15

Authority for Move - S.P.A. letter No. 3/1201/q of 27.3.41

16.4.41

H.Q. opened at Old Council Chambers, Trowbridge at 1200 hrs. Tel:535.

SECOND TROOPS

Draft of 1 Sgt and 57 Other Ranks arrived on 15.4.41, posted under auth:

W.O.L. Bm.14386(A.G.6.d) of 3.4.41 Deficiencies on this posting order -

F.S. Bty 16 Svy Bty. 7

OFFICERS

Officers posted to complete 2nd Troops arrived 29.4.41 posted under auth:

W.O.L 112/Arty/1480 (A>G.6.p) of 8.4.41

PRACTICE CAMPS & EXERCISES

7.4.41

WESTDOWN PRACTICE CAMP

to

1 Troop each from F.S & S.R. Bty

20.4.41

F.S. Troop 3 Officers 3 Sgts. 92 O.Rs.

S.R. Troop 2 " 1 " 62 O.Rs.

DIV. & CORPS EXERCISES - LLANIDLOES

3.6.41

Survey Bty co-operated with 3rd Survey Regt. R.A Llamidloes in Div.

to

and Corps Exercises held in the Llanidloes area.

12.6.41

Nos. Officers Sgts. R&F. Vehicles M.Cs.

x Troop 4 3 45 13 3

Y Troop 4 3 45 13 3

B.H.Q 2 3 41 11 5

Trowbridge

24th

12 CORPS EXERCISES EXERCISE "BINGE"

to

Three officers of the S.R. Bty of this Regt. Attended the a/m

27th

exercise in 12 Corps area from 24th - 27th June.

June

EXERCISE - "MOREBINGE"

28.7.41

Authority for Composite Bty. Of this Regt. To take part in 12 Corps

Exercise in area MAIDSTONE received (Teleprinter message Hofor Trg. 125 dtd 22 July,)

COMPOSITION OF COMPOSITE BATTERY

O.Rs. Officers Vehicles M/Cs.

B.H.Q 8 2 4 2

F.S. Tp. 87 4 19 3

S.R. Tp. 60 3 14 3

TOTAL 39 3 12 11

Bty. To proceed to MOTE PARK - MAIDSTONE (bivouac area).

Period of Exercise 5 - 8th August.

30.6.41

SENNYBRIDGE PRACTICE CAMP

to

1 Troop each from F.S. and S.R. Bty

12.7.41

Officers Sgts. R & F Vehicles M.Cs.

A Troop 3 3 85 17 3

C Troop 2 2 63 12 3

Trowbridge

15.7.41

TRADE TESTS

29 Surveyors R.A. passed Class ll Trade Tests. 4 failures

15.7.41

LECTURE

An Officer of the S.R. Bty gave a lecture to the 67th Medium

Regt. R.A. at SEVENOAKS on SOUND RANGING

EXERCISES AND PRACTICE CAMPS

15.7.41

R.A. Practice Camp. West Down

TO

1 Troop each from F.S. & S.R. Btys. Attended practices of 69th Med. Regt. R.A.

22.7.41

Officers Sgts R & F Vehicles M.Cs.

F.S. Troop 3 3 76 15 3

S.R. Troop 2 2 56 11 1

Trowbridge

27.7.41

ATTACHMENT TO 12 CORPS

One Flash Spotting Troop complete with instruments attached to 12

Corps as from 27th July 1941 for surveying and manning of a permanent

base in the area of DOVER. Auth: SE/S/84/R.A. dtd 22.7.41

Troop released for period of Exercise "Morebinge". See above.

Trowbridge

31.7.41

COMPOSITE AND EXERCISE (BINGO)

An exercise of the Composite Bty of the 7th

Survey Regt. R.A. was carried out between 1000hrs and 1600hrs in the

BATH area.

The Bty. Consisting of 1 F.S., 1 S.R., 1 Svy

Troop and a B.H.Q. was deployed in support of Div. Arty. In the attack.

Troops were attached to an imaginary Medium Regt. For Counter Battery

Tasks on Divisional Front. Enemy Btys were represented by umpires

and gun cotton on the ground.

Trowbridge

2.7.41

POSTINGS OUT - OFFICERS

2/Lt. G.B. SLATER, R.A. posted to "attached" 3rd

reserve Med. Regt. R.A. in accordance with WOUPT 112/Arty/1662(A.G.6.p) dtd

30th June 1941 preparatory to proceeding overseas for service with R.A.

Field Regts. In India.

POSTINGS IN - OFFICERS

2/Lt. J.F.NICHOLAS, R.A. ) posted from 123rd O.C.T.U Catterick w.e.f

2/Lt. B.W.D. PAUL, R.A. ) 5 July, 1941. Auth: WOUPT 112/Arty/889

(A.G.6.P) dtd 26th June, 1941

End of

STRENGTH OF REGIMENT

July

29 Officers, 3 W.Os. 21 Sgts & L/Sgts. 488 R & F. Total O.Rs 514

Trowbridge

End of

MAJOR DEFICIENCIES - TRADESMEN

July

14 Surveyors R.A. for Flash Spotting Bty still deficient end of July

S.R. and Svy Btys. Within 2 of their establishment of Tradesmen

EQUIPMENT

7th Svy Regt. R.A. only able to put 1 troop per bty into the

field owing to lack of equipment.

VEHICLES

15 cars, 2 seater utility

8 trucks, 15cwt G.S. 4 Lorries 3 ton

Authorised for issue under H.F.4415/G(S.D) dtd 18 June 41 not arrived

by 31 July 41.

29/7

This Regt informed "Vehicles will be issued as soon as practicable", (S.C.Z/B168 (ORD.1) dtd 29.7.41)

TROWBRIDGE

2 Aug

The Regiment was ordered to produce a COMPOSITE BATTERY for 12th CORPS

exercise "MOREBINGE". Bty was formed of one troop from each of Flash-

Spotting, Sound Ranging and Survey Batteries. A Bty. H.Q. of one major and

one captain (the Adjutant in this case) was formed.

This was the first occasion when a composite battery from this

Regiment had taken part in an exercise with other troops.

Exercise lasted 4 days. The raped deployment in the mobile

phase produced many lessons. The C.O. took the role of Counter Battery

Commander under C.R.A. The Composite Bty. Was under command R.A. 43

Div. For the exercise

TROWBRIDGE

2 Aug

1200

Advance Party, 7th Survey Regimen, R.A. Composite Bty. Left Trowbridge for

12 Corps Exercise "Morebinge".

1300

Main Body Composite Bty. Left Trowbridge. Route : TROWBRIDGE - DEVIZES -

MARLBOROUGH - HUNGERFORD - NEWBURY - THEALE - PANGBOURNE.

1800

Main Body arrived STEATLY FARM (Pangbourne Staging Camp).

3

0700

Advance Party left Staging Camp

0800

Main Body left Staging Camp.

1430

Arrived bivouac area MOTE PARK - MAIDSTONE

4

2100

Composite Bty. (attached 43 Div.) moved to Divisional concentration area

EASTWELL PARK.

5

Composite Bty. Moved forward to TENTERDEN (3252). S.R. Base and two

F.S. posts deployed by 1900 hours.

6

Bty. Moved into "Shepherds" - fork road 3243. Three F.S.posts and S.R.

base in action on Div front.

7

F.S. and Svy. Tp in action. exercise completed.

TROWBRIDGE

7 Aug

Main body 7th Survey. R.A. changed station. TROWBRIDGE, WILTS. to

LINGFIELD, SURREY. Postal Address, 7th Survey Regt. R.A., C/O G.P.O.

LINGFIELD, SURREY.

LINGFIELD

8

Composite Bty. returned to Regtl. Area LINGFIELD, SURREY. Under Command,

H.Q., R.A. 4 Corps, East Grinstead.

11

1330

Composite Bty. moved into area STANSTEAD FOREST (1931) for R.A. 38 Div.

Exercise "BITTERN".

12

S.R. Base and 2 F.S. Posts in action. B.P.s in all gun areas by 1430 hrs

2000

Returned to Lingfield in two convoys.

12

1 officer, 30 O.Rs. Joined unit on completion of duty as rear party at TROWBRIDGE

15

1000

C.O. and Tp. Commanders attended conference at WORTHING on exercise "BITTERN".

18 )

19 )

R.A. 4 Corps. Night March

20 ) 21)

Composite or Observation Bty. Moved to area BRIGHTON - NEWHAVEN for

21 ) 22 )

R.A. 4 Corps Counter Bty. Exercise "GADFLY".

23 )

"X" Tp. Survey Bty. on 43 Div Exercise, "SALMON"

LINGFIELD

23 Aug

"SALMON"

23 )

B Tp. F.S. Bty. and D Tp. S.R. Bty. At WEST DOWN. R.A. Practice Camp for

to ) 27 )

R.A. 47 Div. Practice

25 )

"Y" Troop Survey Bty. Survey of Heavy Gun positions in Hailsham - Glynde -

to ) 27 )

Arundel areas.

Lt Col. K.F. Mc.K. Lewis

Commanding 7th Survey Regt R.A.

1 Sep

Regiment was located as follows

SURVEY BATTERY in billets at Tower House and Ray Lodge, Lingfield.

Battery H.Q. at Ray Lodge 1" sheet 125 (817636)

SOUND RANGING BATTERY in billets at Felcourt. Battery H.Q. at Felcourt.

1" sheet 125 (822605)

FLASH SPOTTING BATTERY. Battery H.Q. and one section in billets at

Ford Cottage 1" sheet 125 (846617)

"A" TROOP attached to 12 Corps manning a permanent base in the DOVER area.

Auth: SE/5/84/RA dated 22 Jul 41.

H.A.B. SECTION "B" TROOP operating with 43 DIV at WEST DOWN.

POSTING IN - OFFICERS

LIET. J.B. ROBINSON, R.A. posted to Regiment Auth: W.O.L. 112/Art/1802 (A.G.6.P) dated 19.8.41

and interposted to SOUND RANGING BATTERY

STRENGTH OF REGIMENT 31 officers 5 W.Os. 22 S/Sgts. & Sgts. 503 O.Rs.

1 Sep

C.C.R.A. BRIG. R.H. STUDDERT. D.S.O., M.C. Visited Regiment.

2

POSTINGS - O.Rs. 16 Surveyors R.A. posted from R.A. School of Survey

Interposted as follows : - F.S. Bty. 10 S.R. Bty. 2 Svy. Bty. 4.

M.T. Regiment took delivery of 16 NORTON 500 cc M/Cs.

Distribution - R.H.Q. 5 F.S. Bty. 5 Svy. Bty. 3 S.R. Bty. 3

4

D TROOP conducted a demonstration S.R. shoot to G.P.Os. Of 38 DIV at R.A.

PRACTICE CAMP, WEST DOWN.

B Troop H.A.B. Section returned from R.A. PRACTICE CAMP, WEST DOWN

LIEUT. J.M. TASKER posted from S.R. Battery H.Q. to R.H.Q.

6

MAJOR GENERAL O.M. LUND, D.S.O. visited the Regiment

LT. COL. K.F.McK. LEWIS M.C., R.A. attended conference at SCHOOL of ARTILLERY,

LARKHILL. MAJOR LEWZEY, R.A. Joined OBSERVATION BATTERY COMMANDERS COURSE

in FLASH SPOTTING at R.A. SCHOOL OF SURVEY, LARKHILL, Capt. P.R. MARRACK, R.A.

taking command of S.R. BTY.

7 Sep

47 DIV. EXERCISE EXERCISE "UBIQUE" commenced

1 OBSERVATION BATTERY under MAJOR T.N. ALLEN, O.C., F.S. Bty. moved to

concentration area WITLEY PARK, SHEET 124 map square 3658. (Composition of

Bty. - "B" Tp. "C" Tp. & "X" Tp.) UMPIRES - Lt. COL. K.F.McK. LEWIS, MC., R.A.

LIEUT. G.M. HORNER, R.A. 2/LIEUT. L.S.MICHIE, R.A.

8

EXERCISE "UBIQUE"

9

OBSERVATION BATTERY returned to billets LINGFIELD.

10

Lt. COL. K.F.McK. LEWIS, MC., R.A. attended conference in cloth model of

EXERCISE "UBIQUE" at H.Q. 12 Corps.

11

"B" TROOP relieved "A" TROOP at DOVER BASE.

"D" TROOP returned to billets from R.A. PRACTICE CAMP, WEST DOWN. "C" TROOP

Moved to R.A. PRACTICE CAMP, WEST DOWN. C "Y" TROOP (3 Officers 29 O.Rs.

carried out operational survey in areas. RIPE Q 9428, LAUGHTON Q.9331,

FRAMFIELD Q.9330, EAST HOATHLY Q.9534. B.Ps being fixed in these areas.

12 Sep

"A" TROOP, H.A.B. SECTION moved to R.A. PRACTICE CAMP, WEST DOWN to operate

with 43 div.

"Y" TROOP returned to billets at RAY LODGE, LINGFIELD

14

MAJOR L.G. LEWZEY, R.A. returned from R.A. SCHOOL OF SURVEY, LARKHILL and

resumed command of S.R. Battery.