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”