In a file I posted from 1 Div about German tactics. Two British Officers were attached to the German Army in 1939 before the invasion of Poland and they said the Germans were astonished on the amount of training the British Army did at night as they did next to none as was evident in German tactics in France during May in 1940. Montgomery constantly trained his units to move at night during the 'Phoney War' in France and it standed them in good stead during the retreat to Dunkirk as most moves were ordered to be undertaken at night when the Germans consolidated their positions until dawn the following morning.
From Welsh Guards at War, Major Ellis, page 232: The following incident is told of another officer coming back from one of such long journeys in pursuit of stores. It was dark and many miles had been covered in silence; then - OFFICER: "I think we have gone wrong, Corporal Jones; turn round." (Pause, silence, no action) OFFICER (rather sharply): "Corporal Jones. Did you hear what I said? TURN ROUND!" (Another pause; then -) CORPORAL JONES: "Sir, you are driving, Sir."
The following is a diary account of the activities of the BSM of 236/76 HAA Regt in Italy after the regiment had been converted to a field role in July 1944 to support the US 5th Army, being located out on the Pisa plain. Visits to and supplying the batteries located there could only take place at night due to the roads being under observation during daylight hours by the Germans located in the mountains to the north. It seems it was not just the darkness that was a problem, but the dust as well. " My day begins at about 08.30-09.00hrs, depending on what time I get back o’nights. Usually I just lie in bed as I come in, dust, boots, and clothes still on. Consequently the first thing to do is to shake the dust out of my clothes and, if I’ve had time, to do laundry – only once in the last week – change clothes and set about removing a coating of dust, oil, and sweat from my person. Breakfast is usually a scramble to get salt bacon and tea down before we start. The morning goes quickly enough, dashing about all over the place, and then it’s dinner after which it’s a hell of a job to stave off 40 winks which disposes of the afternoon except for the stack of office work there is. The evening is just the maddest rush of the whole day ending in my getting the M/C out of her camouflaged stall and goading her on fresh excursions all over Italy. Rarely do I get back before the moon has gone down, and riding these roads without moon and without lights is a job that seems to pull the old eyes out of their sockets, and that ruddy dust doesn’t help at all. The roads were almost uncannily quiet, and I only passed one or two Jeeps humming along with their trails of white dust behind. Very difficult to discern vehicles in dark. One can reach a stage where one no longer feels tired – just a dull sort of numbness."
HAARA Ah ! That bloody dust !!!!! How we all ate it and hated it ! 70 years later I still have minor eye problems that my GP has diagnosed as Blepharitis but which, on reflection, I now put down to many years of traveling on ww2's dust-ridden roads. Ron
Some more Italy dust 'quotes' for you Ron, from the 76th HAA. " Then there are the beautiful bridges spanning streams and gullies, most of which Jerry has blown up necessitating detours or improvised bridges. Some of the towns are not passable by two lines of traffic and you may find a deviation taking you round lanes where dust turns the sunny day into a replica of a London pea-souper, and you emerge yellow with a coating of dust." " The telephone ceased to function and as all the linesmen were out on other jobs I went out in an endeavour to find the fault. Started about 18.00hrs and got back well into the night – I must say very browned off, having chased the line all over the country. Always lay these lines along the most appalling roads where passing trucks kick up clouds of yellow dust. " " I always seem to be behind a vehicle that kicks up clouds of dust looking like a smoke laying destroyer, and I can never risk going quite fast enough to overtake it. It’s necessary to wear a handkerchief around your mouth and nose so that you can breathe." " Dust and boulders had worked their way out of my eyes when I awoke. It works right through the glass of the goggles I’m sure."
HAARA I love it when my memories are confirmed ! We also used hankies sent from home as filters against the choking dust. Ron
Many years ago I remember the wartime veterans discussing convey discipline at night time.The practice was still with them when they had a social outing and travelled by car.They recalled in a works magazine that they had proceeded in military convey fashion to the venue.....that was 50 years ago when many were relatively young men. I would think that the approach to the ordered practice depended on the circumstances encountered by those in active and battlefield service. Reading about convey discipline,I am reminded about the excellent accounts of the BEF RAF and Army units' withdrawal to Western France for the evacuation for St Nazaire....these from survivors of the Lancastria....comprehensive accounts and a good insight to the geography of this region in France. One RAF HQ unit was based at Olivet about 5 miles south of Orleans which for a short time became the HQ of the short unified air arm in France,the BAAF....the British Air Forces in France.The main element of the BAAF HQ were detailed to move to Nantes early on Friday 14 June 1940.The clearing up party was the last to leave as they were detailed to destroy correspondence with the Air Ministry...carbon copies of letters regarding Honours and Awards.They eventually left as a first stage for the withdrawal to Nantes,an operation coded as "Panther" but with typical humour the order was unofficially dubbed "Rabbit" by those taking part. At 2345 on Friday night they left Olivet and by 0500 next morning,German Panzers rolled into Orleans just up the road. They had decided to get to Nantes by a route south of the Loire which was, from information available to them as being the safer route....arriving at 1800 on Saturday evening....the account of this convey journey by a Lancastria survivor is most interesting as the group made progress over 30 hours, covering night and day, to get into the Nantes assembly area....then the order to move on to St Nazaire at great speed....all to keep ahead of the advancing Germans.
