I'm sorry if this has been asked before I've done a couple of searches and couldn't find an answer. My question is this: what was the lowest level of organisation in Infantry units required to keep war diaries, was it at Battalion or Company level ?. My particular interest is in the 8th (renumbered 30th in December 1941) Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment company U from June 1940 to May 1942 Thanks Pete
I've never seen anything lower than an infantry battalion/field regiment R.A level diary. I have a nagging suspicion the the Royal Engineers may do some recording by company, but that might just be a variation in nomenclature.
I think that it varies on how significant the sub-unit was. My expertise is with Canadian Army war diaries. I have war diaries for Reconnaissance Squadrons, Anti-Tank Companies, Aerodrome Defence Platoons and even the 1st Canadian Armoured Train. In the Canadian Army, there are many Royal Canadian Artillery Battery diaries, though many were discontinued when they became part of a regiment, but this was not the case in all circumstances. Even though the Pictou Highlanders had its own infantry battalion war diary, there were separate war diaries for two company sized sub-units of the Pictou Highlanders, N Force in Nassau, Bahamas and B Force in Bermuda. The Engineers, either Canadian or British, war diaries included companies since that is the major organization for an engineer unit as is battalion for the infantry and regiment for the armor/cavalry and artillery. As with anything, there are usually more exceptions than rules.
During my research into 92nd LAA Regiment, I found that each battery - three in all - kept a separate war diary. This was in addition to the regimental war diary. But I don't know if this was the norm.
I researched two RA Regts and found war diaries for all their btys at The National Archives. I also researched 30 Group Pnr Corps and 5 CRE Wks (Aerodromes) and found war diaries for all their companies. When searching four inf bns, I only found war diaries for the bns. The only exception was an indep inf coy which did maintain its own war diary. So, the system appears to vary between different types of units.
Regarding "unofficial War Diaries" (many of which were published just after the war) I know all four companies within 8th Btn. The Rifle Brigade published a separate "War Diary" just after the war (see attached thumb nails for two of them). Although I always keep an eye open for them, I have never encountered such publications on this level by other formations below the Batallion level. Although not official Diaries you might take a look at Amazon or Abebooks for the unit you are interested in.
For infantry units you get the odd Company Diary but 99.9% will be at Battalion level. A significant number of those will have reports contained in them written at Company level.
Many thanks for your replies chaps very helpful and it confirms what I suspected I'm afraid. Doing a search the only diary I came up with for the 8th Battalion Royal Norfolk's was for 1942 when they are renumbered as the 30th, I'm only interested in the first 4 months of that year. I particularly hoped for something covering May 1940 to Dec 1941 but nothing comes up on a search I'm afraid if anyone has any leads I would be very greatful. Pete
My father was in the Royal Engineers. His platoon was detached from its company for a while and the platoon's war diary for that period is in the National Archives in the same file as the company's diary.
The 8 Royal Norfolk war diary up to Dec 41 is here INFANTRY: 8 Royal Norfolk Regiment. | The National Archives (Found via my war diary search engine www.arcre.com/wdsearch ) Lee