APPENDIX "A"
Exercise "TIGER"
"P" Composite Battery, 7th Survey Regiment, R.A.19.5.42 to 31.5.42.
Commanded
by, Major J.N. ALLEN, R.A.
A Tp
Capt. ARBIB, R.A.
A Tp Obs
Sec. Lieut HUGES, R.A.
A Tp Rng
Sec. 2/Lieut NOKES, R.A.
BHQ
Lieut L S
MICHIE, R.A.
C Tp (SR)
Capt G M HORNER, R.A.
X Tp (Svy)
Capt H.G. BENNETT, R.A.
Date time
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
May 18 1500 O.C., P Battery summoned to HQ, R.A. 12 Corps
orders to deploy F S Ober-
vation Sections along KENT-SUSSEX boundary.
1630 to cover enemy front. R V with
A Troop and B Troop Odrs at LAMBERHURST
(1155): Recce by Tp Ddrs A Tp right flank, B Tp left flank.
2000 Obs Posts established at
954576, 005580, 068589, 151509, 228458, 256437,
263384, 283315.
19 1900 A Tp Obs Sec HQ 093595: B Tp Obs Sec HQ
274449: Battery HQ RISEDEN,
215483,
One
15-cwt truck and 4 O.Rs. reported captured
2359 Frontiers closed.
19-24 1200 Continuous operation along the enemy front.
20 1700 "P" Comp. Bty. less A Troop
concentrated at RISDEN (2148)
22 1500 "P" Comp Bty Less A Troop moved to
hide in area 2357: A Tp Obs H.Q. moved
to
098605: then to 077617.
24 1200 "P" Comp. Bty. came under command
53 Div.
1900 "P" Comp. Bty. less
A Tp Obs Section moved to hide in area 1059.
A Tp
Obs Sec placed under command 133 Field Regt R.A. and moved to 086592
O.Ps.
remained at 954576 and 005580. "C" Troop (S.R.) was placed under
command 72 Med Regt R.A.
2000 "C" Tp S.R. deployed
on radio- link for locations and ranging by comparator.
Line of base 075615 to 145565: S.R. H.Q. at 108567: in action throughout
the
night; radio-link failed to operate; 2 microphones only gave 'breaks'.
Recce
Party of X Troop, Survey ordered to accompany Recce Group 81st Field
Regt
R.A.
25 0001 53 DIV started to advance across the border
1000 Tp Cdr X Troop (Survey) sent
for Survey pairs to link up 81st Field Regt R.A.
and
72 Med Regt R.A.
1500 "P" Comp Bty. Less A
Tp Obs Sec and C (S.R.) Tp moved to hide at 065548.
1600 Orders received for Survey
Recce Parties to reconnoitre probable gun areas
in
squares 0054, 0154, 0313, 0453, 0352, 0452, 0551. Survey Report Centre
to be
established at 027534.
A Tp
Ranging Section ordered to recce base with a view to co-operating with
83rd
Field Regt R.A. in area 0552.
1800 C (S. R.) Tp moved to hide at
085533.
1830 Recce Parties of Survey Troop
and Ranging Section (F.S proceeded to area
027534. Parties were captured at 027533. One officer escaped.
2000 Captives were released by
umpires and became 1st line re-inforcements.
2200 A Tp Ranging Sect moved H.Q.
at 045523.
2230 Accurate Regimental Areas were
received from C.R.A. Survey Troop ordered
to
put 81st, 83rd, 151st Field Regts and 72 Med Regt R.A. on
a permanent
bearing by 1000hrs 26.5.42.
2300 S.R. Troop moved to H.Q. at
057517 under command 72 Med Regt R.A. and
deployed on radio-link: no locations obtained. During the day of 25.5.42
A Tp
Obs Sec had one O.P. at 005580 and one O.P. in support 133rd Field
Regt.
R.A. This O.P. did not deploy: One O.P. was in reserve with Obs Sec
H.Q.
at 042584.
26 0800 Survey Troop moved to Report Centre at
045523. Data was supplied to all
regimental areas before 1000 hrs.
0900 A Tp Rgn Sec deployed ready
for Meteor Shoot.
0915 Successful shoot (Meteor) with
83rd Field Regt R.A.
1500 Tactical situation grave. 53
DIV prepare to withdraw behind their own
2015 frontier (KENT). "P"
Comp Bty concentrated at 068548.
2100 "P" Comp Bty
withdrew to a hide at 155648. D.R. reported missing, latter
found
to be a casualty at C.C.S. BENENDEN (2452)
27 1000 A Tp Rgn Sec in support of 2 Med Regt R.A.,
Obs Sec established short base
1400 at 228458 and single O.P. at
173482. Obs. Sec H.Q. 224484.
1600 B.H.Q. established 224482. 'B'
Echelon 256520.
1700 Enemy increased their
pressure: a general withdrawal was ordered to area.
Page 2/
N.E.
ASHFORD (4560) O.C. P Comp Bty conferred with C.R.A. 53 DIV at
GOUDHURST (1656).
2230 P Comp Bty, less A Tp Rgn Sec
and one Obs Sec in hide at 419682.
A Tp
Rgn Sec withdrew with 2 Med Regt R.A. to hide at 587647.
2330 P Comp Bty moved to a hide at
587686. No orders to deploy were received
that
night. O.C. P Bty ordered recce of probable areas of deployment to
be
carried out early morning 28.5.42.
May 28 0600 O.C. P Comp Bty had conference with B.M.R.A. 53 DIV and 2
i/c 2 Med Regt
R.A.
Orders given to S.R. Troop and A Tp Rgn Sec to deploy in support of
2 Med
Regt R.A.
0900 S.R. H.Q. established at
548634: a wired base was deployed along the line
5367
- 5161. No H.Bs located owing to no firing.
A Tp
Rgn Sec H.Q. at 542634. Meteor shoots carried out at 2000 hrs,
2359 hrs and 0400 hrs. A Tp Obs Sec
O.Ps. established at 512648 (double
post)
526622 to 526631.
1400 Survey Troop completed survey
of all regimental areas; moved to hide near
WALTHAM CROSS.
29 0800 Infiltration of enemy from the South:
personnel of all Troops and sections
manned road blocks and prepared all defensive measures . O.P. at 526622
1200 captured: Obs Sec H.Q.
surrounded but undetected: threat averted.
1600 A Tp Obs Sec moved to 534653.
2230 Orders to P Comp Bty to revert
under command C.C.R.A. all troops to close
down
but to remain in action positions.
30 0800 P Comp Bty. concentrated 536700.
1235 P Comp Bty moved to Regimental
hide 465665.
31 1800 P Comp Bty returned to billets in Regimental
convoy.