1st Suffolk Battalion HQ

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by AndyBaudrey, Oct 6, 2012.

  1. AndyBaudrey

    AndyBaudrey Junior Member

    Hi,

    My uncle, George Baudrey was in the intelligence section, battalion HQ of the 1st Suffolks at D-Day. I have started to try piece together what happened and was hoping if anyone has any information of the movements of the HQ, and if they have any information on what the intelligence section would have been doing!

    Thanks for your help!

    Best Regards

    Andy Baudrey
     
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  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  3. AndyBaudrey

    AndyBaudrey Junior Member

    Thats brilliant, thank you!
     
  4. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    The Battalion Landing Table, which is an appendix to the War Diary has considerable detail and shows the Intelligence Section landing in three parts.

    The Intelligence Officer and two intelligence numbers land at H+60 minutes with the Commanding officer and Battalion Headquarters.

    The Intelligence Serjeant and two intelligence numbers land at the same time with the Second in Command and the alternate battalion headquarters. All headquarters land in two sections in case one craft is lost.

    The two remaining numbers land later with the intelligence section 15 cwt.

    The role of the Intelligence Officer and intelligence section is given as
    Receiving and collating information from divisional headquarters and other sources.
    Maintaining situation maps.
    Keeping a record of events and messages.
    Advice the Commanding Officer on intelligence matters.

    Mike
     
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  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I would highly recommend the above book regarding what info you are after-There's a fair bit of info on 'Overlord' and I also suspect Paul Reed's latest publication may be of interest to you ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Ran an intelligence cell for awhile - summing up in plain language - gather - (information) collate (tie all the loose ends together) analyze (pick out the immediate) disseminate (send out the immediate to those that need to know first) a simplistic explanation - as it also involves signals and other agencies. All had to be logged and recorded with some signals being logged -in my time in the MoD 102 - secret communications. Without doubt the most stressful job I ever had, whilst those that you had been with before talked of admiring the shine on the ass of ones lightweight trousers and holding up an SLR (Rifle) - 'when you have an hour I'll run through this with you'. Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo - Oscar FF was the reply.
     
  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

  8. Joe Brown

    Joe Brown WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dear Andy,

    I was a battalion Intelligence Officer and have recorded a section in my War Memoirs (Second World War Memoirs of JOE BROWN) detailing the kind of work we did and the responsibilities of Intelligence Section for the operation of the Battalion.

    When going into battle, we generally had a Tactical Headquarters in addition to the Battalion HQ. At the Tac HQ with the Battalion Commander would be the I.O. and two of his section along with a signaller. The remainer of the Intelligence Section would be back with Bn HQ and possibly one NCO or man would be left out of the battle as a replacement in the event of heavy casualties and with his training and experience help rebuild the Intelligence Section. At Tac HQ their work was to keep a record of the progress of the battle and all the decisions and orders given by the Bn CO during the course of the battle. They were of course, infantrymen and had to be prepared to defend an attack on the Tac HQ. by using their rifle or sten gun.

    Tac HQ was usually well forward to command and the direct the course of the battle. Bn HQ with the Second-in-Command and Adjutant would read the battle by listening in on wireless communication links and the Second-in-Command be prepared to rush forward to take over if the Bn CO was wounded or killed. Intelligence Section personnel would accompany him if replacements were necessary, such as the Intelligence Sergeant to replace the wounded I.O.

    When you have read my Section in the War Memoirs, please get in touch if you have questions. Be assured that the work of the Intelligence Section was important, involving your Uncle in work at the very heart of the Battalion's command and operation.

    With regards,

    Joe Brown.
     
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  9. AndyBaudrey

    AndyBaudrey Junior Member

    Thanks everyone for the information, its brilliant! I have ordered "th suffolk regiment" and am now reading through the links. Joe - thank you so much for the link! :)

    Thanks again!

    One more question.....would there be a list of who was in the battalion at dday?
     
  10. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Andy,

    The short answer is that officers are listed in the War Diary but other ranks are not. Lists of other ranks are sometimes found as appendices but it is not common. Such lists were usually weeded out before the records were stored in the archive.

    Mike
     
  11. Micklong

    Micklong Junior Member

    Hello, I was happy to read about the intelligence officers. My great uncle, Lt. Patrick Keville was an intelligence officer in the first Suffolks on D -Day. He died soon after taking Hillman I think. I was able to find some interesting details in "Swordmans" draft book on D-Day and the First Suffolks. He was killed along with a Signaller and the CO was injured. I was wondering if there are any bits of information about "Paddy" Keville, and what he may have done there. Micklong.
     
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  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  13. Joe Brown

    Joe Brown WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dear Micklong,

    That was the risk that your Great Uncle faced as Battlion Intelligence Officer. At Battalion HQ the Adjutant was the C.O.'s staff officer. Once the C.O. left Bn. HQ to position himself as far foward as possible to allow him to command and lead his Battalion, he relied on the Bn I.O. who became his aide to act for him in relaying orders and receiving situation reports and work closely with him in determining the progress and outcome of the battle. The C.O. would not normally have a protection section during an attack, preferring to travel light and be manouvrable, relying on his small team of I.O., signaller, intelligence personel and C.O.'s runner who were all basically-trained infantrymen.

    In a defensive position it was different, in case of enemy ambush. The C.O. with the I.O. would normally have a protection section from the Carrier Platoon or from a reserve rifle company, consisting of a Corporal, six riflemen and a Bren Machine-gun team of three men.

    Being I.O.was a great job to do, requiring you to be always at the centre of things.

    Joe
     
  14. Micklong

    Micklong Junior Member

    Thanks Joe for that. Thanks also Drew. I will see about getting that book. Happy Christmas. Micklong.
     
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    With my very dear old (But late) friend Richand Harris. Some years ago, at a meeting of the Normandy Veterans at Corfe Mullen in Dorset. I met with several members of the Suffolks. Mates of my dear departed mate Dick Harris... One of lifes genuine gentlemen, I miss him and the meets we had for lunch at the Red Rose cafe at Sturminster Newton.

    Somewhere in the house, I have a description of the death march of a Suffolks POW...
     
  16. Micklong

    Micklong Junior Member

    I received a copy today of Nicholson's The Suffolk Regiment. Wonderful. There is a picture of my great uncle, and some information on his situation at D-Day, where he died.
     

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