LINE of COMMUNICATION INFANTRY

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  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    LINE of COMMUNICATION INFANTRY

    There was always a need for infantry to protect the Lines of Communication, and
    increasingly all the fully operational battalions were needed at the fighting front. Line of
    Communication Battalions were not as fully equipped as the normal battalion. There was
    also a need for Garrison Battalions. Later battalions were formed from redundant artillery
    personnel and used as security troops.



    LINE of COMMUNICATION INFANTRY

    Line of Communication Battalion. War Establishment XIV/1110/1. October 1944.
    Infantry Battalion Type B (any arm). War Establishment XIV/1111/1. February 1945.
    Infantry Battalion Type C. War Establishment XIV/1112/1. April 1945.
    Garrison Battalion Overseas (any arm). War Establishment III/ 32F/2. October 1944.


    The Line of Communication Battalion was intended for use on the long lines of communication which stretched from the combat zone to the base areas and ports. The base areas and ports themselves needed defending from both enemy attacks and from sabotage.

    The troops on the Lines of Communication needed to be mobile but were not as fully equipped as the normal front line infantry battalion. It was always possible that an enemy offensive would be launched against the Lines of Communication and base areas and this is something that every army past and present needs to guard against. In NW Europe the German Ardennes Offensive was intended to cut the Lines of Communication to the ports, and perhaps even capture the ports and base areas themselves.

    It is not easy to tell which battalions were on the Lines of Communication establishment and which on the Type B establishment. Some battalions were provided to protect the beach areas in Normandy while others were battalions raised from the Royal Marines and the Royal Artillery.

    The Royal Marines had formed a division earlier in the war. For the D Day landings the Royal Marines were retrained as landing craft crews, apart from some who manned the Centaur 95mm howitzers of the Royal Marine Artillery batteries. When the Royal Marines were no longer required to man the landing craft they were reformed into two infantry brigades and used as Line of Communication troops. Royal Marines do not appear in the Army establishment tables but were generally organised as for army units.

    The demand for more infantry coincided with a decline in demand for Anti Aircraft artillery and so many Royal Artillery units were converted to infantry and used on the Line of Communication. These were organised on the Line of Communication establishment. Many artillerymen were also redrafted into existing infantry units as replacements.

    There were eight Garrison Regiments formed from Royal Artillery personnel. These were on a lower establishment and were intended for the defence and policing of base areas.

    Eventually units were raised in Belgium and the Netherlands using local volunteers. These were not fighting troops but were armed and uniformed and employed on local defence duties.

    All the above measures left the fully trained infantry units for employment in the front line.
    The following units are known to have been provided but it is not clear which were Infantry Battalions Type B. Certainly some were standard battalions and remained at full strength and capable of being used as front line infantry. Some were fully trained and equipped but intended for rear area defence.

    The following battalions spent some time on the Lines of Communication. Some were initially assigned to beach groups and then to Line of Communications. Some were on the Lines of Communication while waiting to be assigned to formations. Some were replaced in formations and then served on the Lines of Communication. They were on the standard infantry establishment and were fully operational.
    5 Kings Regiment
    8 Kings Regiment
    6 Border Regiment
    7 E Yorks. Regiment
    2 Herefordshire Regiment
    1 Bucks. Battalion
    18 Durham Light Infantry
    4 Northants Regiment
    5 Royal Berkshire Regiment
    3 Monmouthshire Battalion

    The following were converted from Royal Marine landing craft crews.
    116 Royal Marine Brigade
    27 Royal Marine Regiment
    28 Royal Marine Regiment
    30 Royal Marine Regiment
    117 Royal Marine Brigade
    31 Royal Marine Regiment
    32 Royal Marine Regiment
    33 Royal Marine Regiment

    The following were converted from Royal Artillery units
    301 Royal Artillery Brigade
    616 Royal Artillery Regiment
    617 Royal Artillery Regiment
    619 Royal Artillery Regiment
    305 Royal Artillery Brigade
    622 Royal Artillery Regiment
    624 Royal Artillery Regiment
    639 Royal Artillery Regiment
    306 Royal Artillery Brigade
    626 Royal Artillery Regiment
    628 Royal Artillery Regiment
    636 Royal Artillery Regiment
    307 Royal Artillery Brigade
    623 Royal Artillery Regiment
    635 Royal Artillery Regiment
    631 Royal Artillery Regiment
    308 Royal Artillery Brigade
    627 Royal Artillery Regiment
    629 Royal Artillery Regiment

    The following were garrison regiments formed from Royal Artillery units
    43 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    46 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    49 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    58 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    61 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    65 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    67 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment
    68 Royal Artillery Garrison Regiment



    LINE of COMMUNICATION BATTALION
    War Establishment XIV/1110/1. October 1944.
    This battalion consisted of
    a headquarters
    a headquarters company
    support platoon with
    3” mortar section with 4 X 3” mortar
    mobile reserve section with 9 X light reconnaissance cars
    4 X company with
    4 X platoon


    Personnel
    Lieutenant Colonel
    Major second in command
    4 X Major
    Captain Adjutant
    6 X Captain
    19 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    5 X Company Serjeant Major

    5 X company quartermaster serjeant
    intelligence serjeant
    serjeant clerk
    provost serjeant
    pioneer serjeant
    medical serjeant
    sniper serjeant
    transport serjeant
    serjeant technical storeman
    sniper serjeant
    23 X serjeant
    13 X lance serjeant
    54 X corporal
    69 lance corporal
    604 X private

    Attached
    Medical Officer RAMC
    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    2 X vehicle mechanic REME
    armourer serjeant REME
    5 X officers cook ACC
    5 X corporal cook ACC
    15 X cook ACC

    Trades etc
    bricklayer
    6 X carpenter and joiner
    9 X clerk
    10 X driver mechanic
    4 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    mason
    storeman, technical
    2 X vehicle mechanic
    27 X batman
    6 X batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    4 X corporal driver
    51 X driver
    corporal intelligence dutyman
    3 X intelligence dutyman
    lance corporal medical officers orderly
    15 X 3” mortarman
    48 X 2” mortarman
    27 X orderly
    postal dutyman
    6 X pioneer
    6 X regimental police
    rangetaker
    5 X sanitary dutyman
    3 X corporal signalman
    14 X signalman
    6 X signaller orderly
    corporal sniper
    6 X sniper
    8 X storeman
    corporal stretcher bearer
    19 X stretcher bearer

    28 X bicycle
    19 X motorcycle
    6 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    6 X light utility
    1 X car 4 X 4
    26 X 15cwt GS
    5 X 15cwt personnel
    6 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 15cwt water
    11 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    10 X light reconnaissance car
    5 X 10cwt 2wheel trailer GS
    4 X water trailer.

    21 X Bren lmg
    20 X PIAT
    23 X 2” mortar
    4 X 3” mortar


    Headquarters
    Lieutenant Colonel
    Major second in command
    Captain Adjutant
    Subaltern

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    intelligence serjeant
    serjeant clerk
    provost serjeant
    medical serjeant
    sniper serjeant
    2 X clerk
    batman
    3 X batman driver
    driver
    corporal intelligence dutyman
    3 X intelligence dutyman
    lance corporal medical officers orderly
    6 X regimental police
    corporal sniper
    6 X sniper

    Medical Officer RAMC

    4 X bicycle
    8 X motorcycle
    1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 4
    3 X 15cwt GS


    Headquarters Company
    Headquarters
    Captain
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    corporal
    clerk
    batman driver
    driver
    orderly
    storeman
    4 X stretcher bearer

    1 X light utility
    1 X 15cwt GS

    Support platoon
    Captain
    6 X serjeant
    vehicle mechanic REME
    10 X driver mechanic
    4 X driver operator
    rangetaker
    batman
    2 X orderly
    6 X driver
    6 X corporal
    6 X private
    15 X 3” mortarman
    storeman

    3 X motorcycle
    6 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    10 X light reconnaissance car


    Signal Platoon
    Subaltern
    serjeant
    batman driver
    3 X driver
    batman driver
    3 X driver
    17 X signalman
    storeman
    6 X signalman orderly

    6 X motorcycle
    1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    2 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt personnel


    Administrative platoon
    Subaltern
    Quartermaster
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    transport serjeant
    serjeant technical storeman

    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    vehicle mechanic REME
    armourer serjeant REME
    officers cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    3 X cook ACC

    Trades etc
    bricklayer
    6 X carpenter and joiner
    2 X clerk
    equipment repairer
    mason
    storeman, technical
    2 X vehicle mechanic
    2 X batman
    batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    8 X driver
    postal dutyman
    6 X pioneer
    6 X regimental police
    rangetaker
    5 X sanitary dutyman
    storeman

    2 X motorcycle
    1 X light utility
    1 X 15cwt water
    7 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    5 X 10cwt trailer


    4 X Company each
    Headquarters
    Major
    Captain
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    clerk
    2 X batman
    9 X driver
    2 X orderly
    storeman
    4 X stretcher bearer
    officers mess cook
    corporal cook
    3 X cook

    2 X bicycle
    1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X light utility
    5 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X water trailer


    4 X Platoon each
    Second Lieutenant armed with a revolver
    serjeant with a Sten gun
    platoon commanders batman with a rifle
    orderly with a rifle
    2” mortar group consisting of
    lance corporal. Mortar group leader with rifle
    mortar No1 with 2” mortar
    mortar No2 with rifle
    Mortar group leader and No2 carried 12 mortar bombs. No1 carried 6 mortar bombs.

    1 X bicycle

    Section 1
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle

    Section 2
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle

    Section 3
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle




    INFANTRY BATTALION TYPE B (ANY ARM)
    War Establishment XIV/1111/1. February 1945.
    The Infantry battalion type B had a reduced establishment compared with the standard battalion, and had some changes to the organisation.
    Headquarters
    Headquarters Company
    Headquarters
    Signals Platoon
    Administrative Platoon
    Support Company
    Headquarters
    Medium Machine Gun Platoon with 4 X MMG
    3” Mortar Platoon with 6 X mortar
    Anti Tank Platoon with 6 X 6pdr guns
    Assault Pioneer Platoon
    3 X Rifle Company each
    Headquarters
    3 X Platoon of 4 X section.

    The overall strength of a Battalion Type B was 744 all ranks compared with 821 in a standard battalion. The actual rifle strength was maintained although there were only three rifle companies. This was achieved by adding a section to each platoon. There was also a reduction of six officers.

    Lieutenant Colonel
    Major second in command
    4 X Major
    Captain Adjutant
    7 X Captain
    14 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    5 X Company Serjeant Major

    5 X company quartermaster serjeant
    intelligence serjeant
    serjeant clerk
    provost serjeant
    pioneer serjeant
    medical serjeant
    transport serjeant
    serjeant technical storeman
    sniper serjeant
    21 X serjeant
    12 X lance serjeant
    53 X corporal
    60 lance corporal
    530 X private

    Attached
    Medical Officer RAMC
    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    2 X vehicle mechanic REME
    armourer serjeant REME
    officers cook ACC
    2 X serjeant cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    9 X cook ACC

    Trades etc
    4 X carpenter and joiner
    9 X clerk
    15 X driver mechanic
    equipment repairer
    corporal storeman
    storeman, technical
    corporal vehicle mechanic
    vehicle mechanic
    20 X batman
    8 X batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    5 X corporal driver
    32 X driver
    corporal intelligence dutyman
    5 X intelligence dutyman
    6 X corporal gun number
    21 X gun number
    lance corporal medical officers orderly
    4 X corporal 3” mortarman
    20 X 3” mortarman
    7 X 2” mortarman
    7 X orderly
    postal dutyman
    2 X corporal assault pioneer
    6 X assault pioneer
    3 X regimental police
    3 X rangetaker
    4 X sanitary dutyman
    3 X corporal signalman
    23 X signalman
    7 X signaller orderly
    corporal sniper
    6 X sniper
    8 X storeman
    4 X corporal machine gun number
    12 X machine gun number
    motorcycle orderly
    corporal stretcher bearer
    19 X stretcher bearer

    18 X bicycle
    15 X motorcycle
    5 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X car 4 X 4
    20 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt office
    1 X 15cwt water
    17 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 with winch
    10 X carrier universal
    3 X carrier 3” mortar
    2 X carrier MMG
    1 X 10cwt 2wheel trailer GS
    1 X water trailer.

    50 X Bren lmg
    3 X MMG
    17 X PIAT
    18 X 2” mortar
    6 X 3” mortar


    Battalion Headquarters
    The battalion headquarters had the same number of personnel as the standard battalion but there was no Universal Carrier for the CO.

    Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer
    Major, Second in Command
    Captain, Adjutant
    Subaltern, Intelligence Officer

    Regimental Serjeant Major

    Medical Officer
    medical officers orderly/driver
    medical serjeant
    corporal stretcher bearer
    19 X stretcher bearers.

    sniper serjeant
    corporal sniper
    2 X lance corporal sniper
    4 X sniper

    6 X bicycle
    5 X motorcycle
    1 X Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep)
    1 X Car 4 seater 4 X 4
    2 X 15cwt GS truck
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 personnel
    1 X 15cwt office truck


    Headquarters Company
    Headquarters
    Captain
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    clerk
    batman driver
    storeman

    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS

    Signals platoon
    The signals platoon was responsible for communication from battalion headquarters to companies.
    There were two more signallers than for a standard battalion.
    Subaltern
    serjeant
    batman
    driver
    26 X signalman
    7 X signal orderly
    storeman

    4 X motorcycle
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS


    Administrative platoon.
    This provided supply and maintenance for the battalion.
    The administrative platoon was similar to that of a standard battalion but modified for three companies.

    Subaltern
    Quartermaster
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    transport serjeant
    serjeant storeman
    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    armourer serjeant REME
    officers cook ACC
    2 X serjeant cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    9 X cook ACC
    2 X clerk
    equipment repairer
    corporal storeman, technical
    storeman, technical
    corporal vehicle mechanic
    vehicle mechanic
    batman
    batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    2 X corporal driver
    12 X driver
    postal dutyman
    4 X sanitary dutyman
    storeman

    2 X motorcycle
    1 X Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (Jeep)
    1 X 15cwt GS truck
    1 X 15cwt water truck
    12 X 3ton 4 X 4 lorry GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 with winch


    Support Company
    The Support Company differed from that of the standard battalion in the following
    A Medium Machine Gun Platoon was added
    The Carrier Platoon was deleted
    The transport for the Mortar Platoon had a reduced number of Carriers
    The Pioneer Platoon had a reduced number of tradesmen.

    Headquarters
    Captain
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    2 X vehicle mechanic
    clerk
    batman
    driver
    orderly

    1 X Car 5cwt 4 X 4 (jeep)
    1 X 15cwt truck GS

    Medium Machine Gun Platoon
    Subaltern
    3 X serjeant
    2 X driver mechanic
    batman
    3 X driver
    2 X rangetaker
    4 X corporal machine gun number
    12 X machine gun number
    motorcycle orderly

    1 X motorcycle
    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    2 X Carrier MMG
    4 X MMG

    Anti tank platoon
    This had much reduced mobility compared with that of the standard battalion.
    Captain
    4 X serjeant
    7 X driver mechanic
    batman
    3 X driver
    6 X corporal gun number
    21 X gun number
    4 X orderly
    storeman

    2 X motorcycle
    1 X 15cwt
    2 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    7 X Carrier Universal
    6 X 6pdr AT gun

    Mortar platoon.
    Captain
    4 X serjeant
    3 X driver mechanic
    batman
    4 X driver
    4 X corporal mortarman
    20 X mortarman
    2 X orderly
    rangetaker


    2 X motorcycle
    4 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    3 X Carrier 3” mortar
    6 X 3” mortar
    Pioneer platoon
    Subaltern
    Pioneer serjeant
    Fitter
    4 X carpenter and joiner
    8 X pioneer
    batman driver

    1 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 1ton trailer

    3 X Rifle company
    Headquarters
    Major, company commander
    Captain, second in command
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant
    corporal clerk
    driver mechanic
    batman
    batman driver
    2 X driver IC
    storeman

    1 X bicycle
    1 X motorcycle
    2 X 15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    1 X Carrier Universal

    3 X Rifle platoon.
    Subaltern
    serjeant
    batman
    3 X 2” mortarman
    4 X corporal
    36 X rifleman

    There were four rifle sections in a platoon whereas the standard infantry battalion had only three.
    The section of ten men was the basic unit of infantry.

    4 X Rifle section
    corporal
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men



    INFANTRY BATTALION TYPE C.
    War Establishment XIV/1112/1. April 1945.
    This battalion is clearly not intended for front line duty since the final note states that all personnel may be of low medical category. There is also a note to say that when the personnel are not infantry they will keep the equivalent rank or trade of their arm. Coming so late in the campaign these units are probably intended for security in the occupied parts of Germany.

    Battalion Headquarters
    Headquarters Company
    Headquarters
    Support Platoon of 10 X LRC
    Signal Platoon
    Pioneer Platoon
    Administrative Platoon
    4 X Rifle Company
    Headquarters
    3 X platoon each of 3 X section.

    Lieutenant Colonel
    Major, Second in Command
    4 X Major
    Captain, Adjutant
    5 X Captain
    16 X Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    5 X Company Serjeant Major

    5 X company quartermaster serjeant
    intelligence serjeant
    serjeant clerk
    provost serjeant
    pioneer serjeant
    medical serjeant
    transport serjeant
    17 X serjeant


    Attached
    Medical Officer RAMC
    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    vehicle mechanic REME
    armourer serjeant REME
    officers cook ACC
    5 X corporal cook ACC
    10 X cook ACC

    Trades etc
    bricklayer
    6 X carpenter and joiner
    9 X clerk
    10 X driver mechanic
    4 X driver operator
    equipment repairer
    mason
    corporal storeman, technical
    corporal vehicle mechanic
    vehicle mechanic
    2 X plumber and pipefitter
    23 X batman
    6 X batman driver
    butchery dutyman
    4 X corporal driver
    30 X driver
    corporal intelligence dutyman
    7 X intelligence dutyman
    lance corporal medical officers orderly
    24 X 2” mortarman
    10 X orderly
    14 X PIAT number
    postal dutyman
    4 X assault pioneer
    6 X regimental police
    4 X sanitary dutyman
    5 X corporal signalman
    10 X signalman
    5 X signaller orderly
    7 X storeman
    corporal stretcher bearer
    15 X stretcher bearer

    40 X bicycle
    21 X motorcycle
    1 X car 5cwt 4 X 4
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2 saloon
    20 X 15cwt GS
    1 X 15cwt water
    11 X 3ton 4 X 4 GS
    1 X 3ton 4 X 4 with winch
    10 X Light Reconnaissance Car
    4 X water trailer.

    Battalion Headquarters
    Bicycle 1
    intelligence personnel
    Bicycle 2
    intelligence personnel
    Bicycle 3
    intelligence personnel
    Bicycle 4
    intelligence personnel

    Motorcycle 1
    regimental policeman
    Motorcycle 2
    regimental policeman
    Motorcycle 3
    regimental policeman
    Motorcycle 4
    regimental policeman
    Motorcycle 5
    regimental policeman
    Motorcycle 6
    regimental policeman

    Motorcycle 7
    intelligence serjeant
    Motorcycle 8
    provost serjeant

    Car 4 seater, 4 X 2 Saloon
    Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant, batman, driver IC
    Car 5cwt 4 X 4
    Major, batman driver

    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 1
    Intelligence Officer, Regimental Serjeant Major, batman driver
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 2
    Medical Officer, medical serjeant, medical officers orderly/driver
    This vehicle fitted with side tents.
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 3
    serjeant clerk, 2 X clerk, batman driver

    The following have no place allotted in the transport and will march
    4 X intelligence personnel
    16 X stretcher bearer

    Headquarters Company
    Car Light Utility
    Captain, batman driver

    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    Company Serjeant Major, clerk, orderly, driver IC

    Company quartermaster serjeant and storeman are carried in the transport of the administrative platoon.

    Support Platoon
    Motorcycle 1
    serjeant
    Motorcycle 2
    orderly

    Light Reconnaissance Car
    Subaltern, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No19.

    15cwt 4 X 4 GS
    batman, driver
    Carries ammunition and stores

    Section 1
    Light Reconnaissance Car 1
    serjeant, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No19.
    Light Reconnaissance Car 2
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Caries a PIAT
    Light Reconnaissance Car 3
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries a 2” mortar

    Section 2
    Light Reconnaissance Car 4
    serjeant, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No19.
    Light Reconnaissance Car 5
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Caries a PIAT
    Light Reconnaissance Car 6
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries a 2” mortar

    Section 3
    Light Reconnaissance Car 7
    serjeant, driver mechanic, driver operator
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries Wireless set No19.
    Light Reconnaissance Car 8
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Caries a PIAT
    Light Reconnaissance Car 9
    corporal, driver mechanic, private
    Carries a Bren lmg
    Carries a 2” mortar

    Signal Platoon
    Motorcycle 1
    signaller orderly
    Motorcycle 2
    signaller orderly
    Motorcycle 3
    signaller orderly
    Motorcycle 4
    signaller orderly
    Motorcycle 5
    signaller orderly

    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 1
    serjeant, driver IC
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 2
    corporal signaller, 12 X signaller, driver IC
    15cwt 4 X 4 GS 3
    2 X corporal signaller, storeman, driver IC

    Pioneer Platoon
    3ton 4 X 4 GS
    pioneer serjeant, driver IC
    Carries pioneer stores

    6 X carpenter and joiner, a bricklayer, a mason, 2 X plumber and pipe fitter and 4 X pioneer have no place in the transport and march.

    Administrative Platoon
    Motorcycle 1
    Transport Officer
    Motorcycle 2
    transport serjeant

    Car Light Utility
    Quartermaster, batman driver

    15cwt 4 X 4 water
    driver IC

    3ton 4 X 4 GS 1
    storeman, equipment repairer, shoemaker, batman, driver IC
    Carries a PIAT
    Carries reserve ammunition
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 2
    corporal technical storeman, serjeant vehicle mechanic, vehicle mechanic, driver IC
    Carries MT stores
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 3
    clerk, 2 X vehicle mechanic, driver,
    Carries petrol
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 4
    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant, serjeant armourer, postman, sanitary
    dutyman, clerk, storeman, driver IC
    Carries QM stores
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 5
    2 X cook, driver IC
    Carries officer mess cooking equipment and rations
    3ton 4 X 4 GS 6
    company quartermaster serjeant, 3 X cook, butchery dutyman, driver IC
    Carries cooking equipment and rations

    3 X Company each
    Bicycle 1
    orderly
    Bicycle 2
    orderly

    Motorcycle
    Captain
    Light Utility
    Major, batman, driver IC

    15cwt 4 X 4 1
    company serjeant major, batman, corporal driver IC
    15cwt 4 X 4 2
    storeman, sanitary dutyman, driver IC
    15 cwt 4 X 4 3
    clerk, driver IC

    3ton 4 X 4 GS
    company quartermaster serjeant, 3 X cook, driver IC
    Carries rations and cooking equipment
    Tows a one ton trailer.

    3 X platoon
    These were non standard as follows
    Subaltern
    serjeant
    batman with bicycle
    2 X 2” mortarman with one 2” mortar
    2 X PIAT man with one PIAT

    3 X section
    corporal
    11 X riflemen



    A GARRISON BATTALION OVERSEAS (ANY ARM)
    War Establishment III/ 32F/2 with an effective date of October 1944.

    Garrison battalions were formed to release infantry battalions for front line combat service. Most, if not all, in 21 Army Group were formed from redundant Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiments. In this case the ranks were those used in the Royal Artillery (gunner, bombardier etc.) Eventually they were supplemented by Belgian and Dutch units.

    These battalions were without heavy weapons and almost without transport.

    Headquarters
    Lieutenant Colonel, Officer Commanding
    Major, Second in Command
    Captain, Adjutant
    Subaltern

    Regimental Serjeant Major
    Intelligence serjeant
    serjeant clerk for orderly room
    provost serjeant
    serjeant (medical section)

    2 X clerk
    4 X batman
    driver IC
    6 X intelligence personnel
    2 X orderly
    corporal regimental policeman
    6 X regimental policeman
    corporal stretcher bearer
    10 X stretcher bearer

    Attached
    Medical officer RAMC

    Transport
    2 X motorcycle
    1 X car 4 seater 4 X 2


    Headquarters Company
    Company Headquarters
    Major
    Company Serjeant Major
    company quarter master serjeant

    clerk
    batman
    driver IC
    storeman

    8 X bicycle
    2 X 15cwt GS

    Signal Platoon
    Subaltern
    Serjeant
    Batman
    Driver IC
    7 X orderly
    26 X signaller

    4 X motorcycle
    1 X 15cwt GS

    Employment Platoon
    Serjeant
    Driver IC
    Corporal
    9 X private
    orderly

    1 X 15cwt GS


    Pioneer Platoon
    Pioneer serjeant
    5 X carpenter and joiner
    2 X bricklayer
    2 X plumber and pipelayer
    painter and decorator


    Administrative Platoon
    Subaltern
    Quartermaster

    Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant
    serjeant storeman, technical

    2 X clerk
    butchery dutyman
    driver IC
    2 X officers mess servant
    corporal storeman
    storeman
    5 X sanitary dutyman
    postman
    water dutyman

    Medical Officer RAMC
    corporal shoemaker RAOC
    serjeant armourer REME
    serjeant vehicle mechanic REME
    2 X officers mess cook ACC
    serjeant cook ACC
    corporal cook ACC
    11 X cook ACC

    2 X 15cwt GS
    2 X 3ton 4 X 2 GS
    1 X water trailer


    4 X Company each
    Company Headquarters
    Major
    Captain

    Company Serjeant Major
    company quartermaster serjeant

    clerk
    batman driver
    batman
    driver IC
    orderly
    storeman

    8 X bicycle
    2 X 15cwt GS



    Rifle platoon.
    headquarters
    Second Lieutenant armed with a revolver
    serjeant with a Sten gun
    platoon commanders batman with a Wireless set No 38 and a rifle
    mortar No1 with 2” mortar
    mortar No2 with rifle
    orderly


    There were four rifle sections in a platoon whereas the standard infantry battalion had only three.
    The section of ten men was the basic unit of infantry.

    Rifle section
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle

    Rifle section
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle

    Rifle section
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle

    Rifle section
    corporal, section commander with a Sten gun
    Rifle group of six men armed with rifles.
    Bren group of three men
    lance corporal, Bren group leader with rifle
    bren No1 with Bren gun
    bren No2 with rifle


    3 X platoon
    Each platoon had four sections instead of the more usual three.

    Subaltern
    serjeant
    batman
    2 X mortarman
    orderly

    section
    corporal
    9 X private

    section
    corporal
    9 X private

    section
    corporal
    9 X private

    section
    corporal
    9 X private

    Total Weapons
    52 X Bren lmg
    13 X PIAT
    12 X mortar 2”
     
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