7th Survey Regt. R.A. February 1944

Canterbury 1     X tp 53 Obs Bty RA completed operational survey of microphones
area 2      
Rye area 3 0800   Y tp 54 Obs Bty RA leave Wateringbury for East Guldeford 373398
373398   1010   Arrive at base and operational survey for microphones commenced
  4 2100   Y troop survey completed and returned to billets Wateringbury
Maidstone 4 0900   Detachment from 53 Obs Bty RA attend security film at Maidstone
Selmeston 5 0830   D tp 54 Obs Bty RA proceed to Frog Firle 9425, base wired at M1 931286
947258       M2 942280 AP1 923263
        M3 953273
        M4 964265
        M5 976255 AP2 948250
        M6 986248
Alciston 9424 5 0900   B tp left billets and proceeded to Alciston area 9424
    1230   Survey of long base commenced - method, traverse
    1630   Observations completed
    1800   Survey of base completed - E 592085.7 124797.1
        A 592107.5 124808.2
        F 593985.5 123001.6
        B 594026.6 122971.7
        G 597615.2 122176.0
        C 597638.0 122132.3
        H 593203.4 123630.3
        D 593255.4 123601.2
E Peckham 5/6     Z tp proceeded to Berwick Sta area 963267
  6 0900   D tp occupied above base and did 3 ranging shoots with 13 Med regt
    1500   D tp move to Tilton base 9325 - M1 949236
        M2 938242 AP1 961251
        M3 927250
        M4 916271 AP2 922271
        M5 916271
         
Alciston 9424 6 0900   B tp S/base established area 925243 for tgt registration and sound location
    0900   RO cards for long base checked and lines tested
    1630   Posts manned and ready to obsereve
    1900   Flash spotting commenced using HB boards- 7 activity locations obtained
    1920   5 confirmed accurate
    1920   Normal FSp procedure - 3 Locations obtained
    2020   Base closed down
963267 6 1200   Z tp did HAB shoot with 13 Med Regt
Alciston 7 0900   B tp returned to billets
Alfriston 7     A tp 53 Obs Bty RA cooperates with 3AGRA
Firle Beacon 8 1515   Shell identification shoot - observers and listeners from A, B, C, D, aand Z tps
    1700   guns firing 7.2, 5.5, 25pdr also 4.2" and 3" mortars
    2000   return to billets
Ashford area 8 0800   Y tp 54 Obs Bty RA proceed to Ashford area to carry out survey of Ashford East Base
    1000   Report Centre established 567772.
    2200   return to billets
Alfriston 10     A tp 53 Obs Bty RA returned to billets from Alfriston
Southborough 10 0830   A tp rifle ranges Southborough
Selmeston 11     C troop 53 Obs Bty RA returned from Selmeston.
         
Dover 13/16     Z troop- move to Dover to carry out calibration of 12 in How - arranged by
        CRA East Kent District.
Maidstone area 16 0800   B tp 54 Bty, Ex Gimble - O Post left billets.
    0900   A1 vehicle RV with leading bty OP of 81 Fd Regt at 213802
        HQ and A2 vehicle RV with RHQ 81 Fd Regt at 240312.
    0940   Single OP established 188793 to observe Aylesford Bridge - alternative short
        base position recced at 188773
    1200   Approach march continued.
    1205   HQ and A2 vehicle moved to 193794 with RHQ 81 Fd Regt RA.
    1330   Single Op established 137771
    1415   Approach march continued.
         
Maidstone 16 1450   Single OP established at 102768
area        
    1600   Approach march continued
    1610   HQ return to billets - A2 moved to forward RV
    1620   Post in hill at 083758
    1725   Commenced survey and digging of long base OP at 062738
        Short base established
    1740   A2 commenced to link to HQ
    1915   Survey observation and digging completed - post ordered to return to billets
    2130   Post arrived billets
Shoreham 17 0830   Z, C, tps and BHQ 53 at Shoreham Ranges
973814        
Chartham 18     D tp 54 Obs Bty RA surveyed 6 microphones miniature base - method: traverse
5573       and triangulation: M1 656391.6 173811.3 M4 656318.5 173342.3
        M2 656397.0 173651.6 M5 656302.0 133178.3
        M3 656378.4 173501.5 M6 656275.1 173015.2
E Peckham 19 0900   Personnel selection Tests, Z tp
115664        
Maidstone 21 0800   B tp 54 Obs Bty RA - E Post Ex Gimble ll
area       Post left billets
    0900   RV with Fd Regt OP at 213799
    0920   Advanced West to 187793
    1000   Single OP deployed
    1030   OP withdrawn to 187793
    1200   OP advanced to 127769
    1340   Further advance to 723773 - single OP deployed
    1430   OP moved forward to RV with forward battalion comd
    1500   Single OP deployed at 101768
    1600   OP moved to 064743
    1645   Commenced recce of short base in area 060738 to 063731
    1730   Main post at 062736 - commenced traverse to BP at 063735
    2200   Survey completed - commenced base consildation
    2300   A2 commenced wiring to 093722
  22 0200   Rigging and consolidation complete. Base ready for use at first light.
    0400   Wiring complete. Line good.
    0600   Attacked by enemy patrol using gas - attack driven off
    0745   First light
Maidstone        
area 21 0800   Base in action - checked on two points - 2 locations obtained
    0825   Base closed down and returned to billets
Chatham 22 0830   D tp survey of 6 microphone mimiature base - method traverse
5071       M1 650155.6 170412.9 M4 650215.2 170868.8
        M3 650175.6 170561.6 M5 650235.8 171007.4
        M6 650194.8 170710.3 M6 650256.8 171156.9
LamberHurst       Z tp survey scheme - stage 1, Divisional grid. Stage 2 - Permanent grid
116553 23 0830    
Barnjet   0915   Lecture to officers and NCOs on the Sicilian Campaign - 4 Svy Regt RA by
154727 24 /1230   Lt Col Whetton, CO 4 Survey Regiment RA
Ashford 25 0830   Regt exercise "Kanyev" :
area   1200   A tp deployed on escarpment NE Ashford
4560   1130   B tp deployed - OPs at E 409675
        F 426664 HQ 429676
        G 445666
        H 475673
    1500   D tp survey of 6 microphone base completed by Z tp:
        M1 428509 M3 403526 M5 376540 AP1 425533
        M2 415517 M4 390531 M6 363548 AP2 392551
    1540   D tp base in action on 5 Mice and wire
    1630   B tp base in action on permanent data and wire
         
    2330   Six microphones of D tp completed
         
  26 0930   base withdrawn - D tp
    1200   base withdrawn - B tp
    1300   Ex Kanyev finished