6: January-March, 1944
<< 5: October-December, 1943 || 7: April-June, 1944 >>
Jan 12 - Usual camp duties for all companies in the morning. Afternoon Bn troops went
to Blandford Garrison Theater to see training film.
Jan 13 - Usual camp duties - Movies for the troops in the NAAFI building. (My Heart
Belongs to Daddy).
Jan 14 - Usual camp duties for Bn in the morning. Afternoon Bn went to Blandford
Garrison Theater to see training film.
Jan 15 - Usual camp duties.
Jan 16 - Church services in the morning. Gen Montgomery spoke to troops in Dorchester.
Speech lasted for 15 minutes. Troops returned to base camp at 1300 hours. Church services
in evening.
Jan 17 - Holiday for troops. Believed to be for the Sunday formation.
Jan 18 - Usual camp duties.
Jan 19 - Usual camp duties. Lt Col Daniels visiting Bn.
Jan 20 - Usual camp duties for the Bn. Men from 16th & 18th Regt atchd to the 3rd
Bn to go to the Div communication school. (17 EM) Movies in the evening for the troops in
the NAAFI building.
Jan 21 - Usual camp duties for the Bn.
Jan 22 - Usual camp duties for the Bn.
Jan 13 - Church services in Blandford.
Jan 24 - Rainy day schedule for the bn except for Company "I". Co
"I" in Wymouth for a problem on street fighting.
Jan 25 - Usual camp duties for the bn. Co "L" in Wymouth for a problem in
street fighting.
Jan 26 - Usual camp duties.
Jan 27 - Companies hiking. Inspecting General checking stock records, orderly room
books. Co firing on the range.
Jan 28 - CPX problem for communication platoon. Gen Wyman visiting Bn attended school
on "Assault on Fortified Positions". USO show in Blandford for the 3rd Bn
troops. Show was called "GI Gang". Usual camp duties for all other companies.
Jan 29 - Saturday morning inspection of bks. Usual camp duties.
Jan 30 - Church services in Blandford.
Jan 31 - Companies I, K, M, & Hq Co - Usual camp duties. Co "L" on combat
problem at Okeford - Fitzpaine Range. W/one section of heavy machine guns from Co
"M". Col Seitz visiting combat problem.
Feb 1 - Co "K" in Wymouth far problem on street fighting. Usual Camp duties
for all other companies.
Feb 2 - Division overseas eighteen (18) months today. Boxing matches in Swanage. Men
left by truck to see boxing matches. 26th Inf Band was there also American Red Cross
serving doughnuts and coffee. Co "L" at Wymouth for problem in street fighting.
Feb 3 - Gen Huebner visiting Bn. Gen well pleased with the Bn in how they are training.
One thing he thought Companies should do is more training in Creeping and Crawling. Usual
camp duties. Men firing for qualification on St. Nicholas range. Movies in the NAAFI
building for the troops in the evening.
Feb 4 - Bn hike and problem with one platoon of Cannon Co & AT platoon. Companies
following usual camp duties in the afternoon. Qualification firing on St. Nicholas Range
for men who have not as yet qualified.
Feb 5 - Saturday mornings inspection of barracks.
Feb 6 - Church services in Blandford.
Feb 7 - Usual camp duties.
Feb 8 - Usual camp duties.
Feb 9 - Mobile intel. group from the ETO had a demonstration on different types of
German uniforms. Also, a small field problem showing how Germans look in an attack.
Feb 10 - Usual camp duties.
Feb 11 - Bn problem by companies. Rehearsal parade for tomorrow. Men who are going to
receive awards met Capt Hughes on Parade grounds. 3rd Bn dance at the Corn Exchange,
Blandford, for EM only.
Feb 12 - Bn parade - Award of Silver Stars and one Soldiers Medal. 26th Inf band played
for the parade. Gen Gerow from Corps HQ, Gen Wyman & Gen Huebner attended the
ceremonies.
Feb 13 - Church services in Blandford.
Feb 14 - Usual camp duties.
Feb 15 - Usual camp duties.
Feb 16 - Usual camp duties. Col Seitz visiting Bn. Officers meeting at 1500 hours and
Col Seitz attended.
Feb 17 - Usual camp duties. Companies going through the gas chamber.
Feb 18 - Bn problem - Practicing Bn in attack. March approx. 15 miles.
Feb 19 - Saturday mornings inspection by Co. comdrs.
Feb 20 - Church services in Blandford - 21 men atchd to the 3rd Bn for attending the
Div supply school in Blandford. School only lasted 3 days.
Feb 21 - Usual camp duties for Hq, K, L, & M. Co "I'' leaving for a 36 hour
problem at 2000 hours. Assault School on fortified position. One squad per platoon. A
& P platoon & Co "C" of the 1st Engrs. Men firing pistols on 1000 inch
range.
Feb 22 - Usual camp duties - Co "I" still on problem. Co "K" at
Swanage Range practicing Co in attack with live ammo.
Feb 23 - CPX problem for Bn Hq Co. Co "I" returns from the 36 hour problem.
Co "L" at Swanage Range practicing Co in attack with live ammo. Co "M"
on 1000 inch range firing crew served weapons. All other companies having usual camp
duties.
Feb 24 - Co "I" at Swanage Range practicing Co in attack with live ammo. All
other companies having usual camp duties.
Feb 25 - Maj Hafermatz inspecting Co "I" for shortage of equipment. Usual
camp duties. Close order drill, calisthenics, sprint hikes for all companies.
Feb 26 - Saturday morning inspection by Co Comdrs. Films in NAAFI building for all
drivers and assistant drivers. (Water proofing of vehicles).
Feb 27 - Church services in Blandford.
Feb 28 - Gen Walker from 8th Div in bn area watching troops training. Co "I"
in mock area - amphibious training. Co "K" at Wymouth for practicing in street
fighting. Co "L" leaving for 36 hour problem at 2200 hours.
Feb 29 - Co "I" in Wymouth for street fighting. Co "K" in mock area
practicing amphibious landings. Co "L" still on problem.
Mar 1 - Co "L" returns from 36 hour problem. Co "K" in Swanage
range practicing separate platoons in attack. Co "M" firing on 1000 inch range
with crew served weapons. Bazooka firing of all companies. All companies having usual camp
duties.
Mar 2 - Usual camp duties for all companies except Co "M". Co "M"
firing crew served weapons on 1000 inch range.
Mar 3 - Training film in NAAFI building for all the companies.
Mar 4 - Saturday mornings inspection. Individual arms firing on 1000 inch range for men
who have not fired during week. Blinker test of all Officers and Plat sgts. Dance at the
Corn Exchange for men who wanted to attend. Sponsored by British.
Mar 5 - Church services in Blandford. Cath & Prot services.
Mar 6 - Cal 50 range firing on Okeford-Fitzpaine Range. Co "I" firing on 1000
inch range. (5 rounds per man). Also Co "L" firing on 1000 inch range
-.Amphibious training for I & L. Voice radio procedure and blinker school of all
Officers and plat Sgts in Co "I" mess hall. Usual camp duties for other cos.
Mar 7 - Sniper firing at Okeford - Fitzpaine range. Hq Co firing on 1000 inch range -
five rounds per man. Co "M" firing on 1000 inch range. 5 rounds per man. All
other companies having usual camp duties.
Mar 8 - Voice radio Procedure school in Co "I" mess hall. Co "K"
practicing amphibious training in mock area. Usual camp duties for all other companies.
Mar 9 - Sniper firing at Okeford - Fitzpaine Range. Co "M" firing on 1000
inch range - 5 rounds per man. Also 81mm mortar firing at Swanage.
Mar 10 - Voice Radio Procedure school for all officers and plat sgts in Co
"M" "I" mess hall. Usual camp duties for all other companies.
Mar 11 - Saturday mornings inspection. Men firing on 1000 inch range who haven't fired
during the week - five rounds per man.
Mar 12 - Church services in Blandford.
Mar 13 - Usual camp duties. Preparation for move.
Mar 14 - Preparation for move to Swanage.
Mar 15 - Move to Swanage to 1st Bn buildings. lst Bn moving to Blandford camp. Reveille
at 0500 hours. Companies eating breakfast at 0530 hours. Troops rolled equipment and
packed equipment. Col Corley inspecting all the barracks at 0700 hours. Troops boarded
trucks at 0725 hours. Hq Co & Co "L" left town Down House Camp at 0744 hours
and crossing IP at 0747 hours. IP was Co "M" area. Route of travel Beri, Regis,
Wareham and Swanage. Arrived in Swanage at 0850 hours. Distance traveled approx. 22 miles.
Companies fixing buildings for sleeping.
Mar 16 - Col Seitz visiting bn. Usual Garrison duties. Companies still preparing
billets.
Mar 17 - Usual garrison duties.
Mar 18 - Lt Col Corley inspecting buildings.
Mar 19 - Church Services in Swanage. Chaplain Andrews.
Mar 20 - Lt Col Corley left for 6 day leave. Maj Carvey acting Bn C.O. Col Seitz
visited Bn. Dental survey for all the companies. Arty observer school - lecture - All
officers attended. Usual garrison duties for the companies.
Mar 21 - Vehicles from the first Recon troop in bn area showing new types of Armored
vehicles. Companies on sprint hike in afternoon. Usual garrison duties.
Mar 22 - "L" firing on Ballard Down Range. Co "L" firing on Home
Guard range. (5 rounds per man). CPX problem from 1430-1630 hours for all 300 SCR &
536 SCR in the Bn. Usual Garrison duties for all other companies.
Mar 23 - Tank indoctrination course for the Bn
.
Mar 24 - Gen Wyman & Col Southerland visiting Bn. Usual camp duties for all the
companies.
Mar 25 - Maj Carvey inspecting kitchens of the bn. Saturday mornings inspection by co.
comdrs.
Mar 26 - Fire at Hq Co building (Victoria Hotel) doing little damage. Col Corley
returning from leave of absence. Church services in Swanage.
Mar 27 - Col Seitz visiting Col Corley at 1455. Companies having usual duties in the
morning. Men who have not qualified for record on M-1 firing on Ballard Down Range. Co
"I" firing on 1000 inch range. Five rounds per man. Also Co "K" firing
individual arms - five rounds per man. Other companies having usual camp duties.
Mar 28 - Co "L" firing five rounds per man on Home Guard Range. Afternoon Co
"M" firing HMG on Home Guard Range. Hq Co, "I", & "K" -
usual garrison duties.
Mar. 29 - BAR firing of "K" & "L" Co.s on Home Guard Range -
Usual Garrison duties.
Mar. 30 - Bn parade. Gen Huebner presented the awards to men receiving the Awards. 15
awards were awarded. Chaplain Chase receiving the Medal of Honor. Bn problem - Companies
crossing IP (I Co. orderly. room) at 1935 hours and marched to Church Knowl (Approx. 8
miles). Bn in defense. Companies dug fox holes in defense against tanks.
Mar 31 - Col Corley leaving the problem to attend a Court Martial. Maj Carvey acting
Comding Officer. Maj Carvey and Capt Hughes inspecting companies positions. Problem called
off at 1000 hours. Companies filled in the fox holes they dug and had fatigue to noon.
Noon meal at 1130 hours. Bn marched back to base camp starting at 1345 and arriving at
1630 hours.
<< 5: October-December, 1943 || 7: April-June, 1944 >>
