38 (Irish) Brigade – September 1943
1st September – TINDARI.
Brigade Section Leaders Course No 1 commenced at Brigade Battle School under Lieut White 2 LIR.
3rd September – TINDARI.
Army Commander’s Personal Message to all ranks received.
7th September – TINDARI.
Brigade Section Leaders Course No 1 ended.
8th September- TINDARI.
Brigade Section Leaders Course No 2 commenced.
9th September – TINDARI.
Lt M Webb-Bowen 38 Brigade HQ and one officer from each battalion attended malaria course.
10th September – TINDARI.
Brigade Commander attended demonstration at Galbato (826534) of rifle coys in an assault landing and the setting up of a bridgehead.
12th September – TINDARI.
38 Brigade W/T diagram issued.
13th September – TINDARI.
Appreciation of the Italian situation issued.
14th September – TINDARI.
Brigade Commander attended demonstration by Divisional Royal Artillery on engaging an ‘U’ target and also a demonstration of 4.2” mortars by 1 Kensingtons.
Permission granted by Division to use part of Patti as a street fighting area from 14-16 September.
Brigade Section Leaders Course No 2 ended.
15th September – TINDARI.
Brigade Platoon Commander’s Course commenced at Brigade Battle School.
Leaders Course No 3 commenced.
17th September – TINDARI.
38 Brigade Admin Order No 5 issued.
38 Brigade Movement Order No 4 issued.
18th September – TINDARI.
38 Brigade Movement Order No 5 issued.
38 Brigade Battle Patrol Training ended.
19th September – TINDARI.
38 Brigade Movement Order No 6 issued.
38 Brigade Movement Order No 7 issued.
Conference at Brigade HQ regarding move of Brigade personnel and transport.
20th September – TINDARI.
38 Brigade Movement Order 8 issued.
Platoon Commander’s Course ended. Brigade Battle School closed.
Instructions for distribution of Brigade transport for moving 11.36 and 38 Brigade troops issued.
21st September – TINDARI.
Brigade letter reference 38 Brigade Movement Order No 6 issued.
Brigade letter cancelling paras 2 and 3 of Brigade letter on moving troops.
Amendment No 1 to 38 Brigade Movement Order No 8 Appendix A issued.
38 Brigade Movement Order No 9 issued.
22nd September – TINDARI.
Miscellaneous instructions regarding move of 38 Brigade to Italy issued.
23rd September – ON ROUTE FOR ITALY.
0330 Brigade HQ closed. Recce parties of Bttns and Bttn Commander, IO, SC, LO left Brigade HQ.
0400 Brigade Group MT column left Tindari for Messina via Olivieri (C9247) , Falcone (C9447) Barcellona (D0650), Spadafora (D2059), Bauso (D2660).
0750 Recce party arrived Reggio.
0830 MT column arrived in staging area Messina (D3655).
1500 MT column left staging area Messina for docks. Informed that column would be ferried over to mainland in two separate parties at 2330hrs, and 0330hrs 24 Sept.
1800 Recce party arrived Crotone (Z7057) via south coast route Pellaro (D4437), Melito (D5626), Bova (D6827), Bianco (D8745), Locri ((D9663), Siderno (E0165). Bocello Ionica (E1073), Monastrerace ((E25856), Soverato (E2314), Cutro (E5653).
2330 First party of MT column embarked on ferry Messina for Reggio.
24th September.
0200 First party MT column disembarked Reggio and proceeded to staging area D4453.
0330 Second party of MT column embarked on ferry Messina for Reggio.
0600 Recce parties left Crotone (Z7057) for Taranto. Second party of MT column disembarked at Reggio (D4547).
0900 MT column assembled in staging area (D4453).
1015 MT column left staging area D4453 for Catanzaro (Z2537) via Scilla (D5063), Bagnara ((5867), Palmi (D6714), Rosarno ((D7289).
1430 MT column halted for lunch between Rosarno and Mileto.
1515 Column resumed journey via Mileto (Y7903), Vibo Valentia (8310), Pizzo (Y8717).
1730 Recce parties arrived at 5 Corps HQ Taranto.
1830 Owing to bad diversions and darkness over River Amato (R0636), CMP control stopped further progress and column harboured for night approximately 5 miles west of Marcellinara at Z0837. Total mileage for day 94 miles.
25th September – ITALY.
38 Brigade marching personnel embarked at Milazzo (D0859).
0830 MT column resumed journey via Marcellinara (Z1740), Tirioli (Z1742), Catanzaro (Z2436) coast road to Crotone (Z7057).
1000 Brigade Commander and IO visited 78 Division TAC HQ at Barletta (J9104).
1700 MT column harboured for night Crotone (Z7057). Total mileage for day 69 miles.
2000 Brigade Commander and IO returned to 5 Corps HQ. Marching personnel arrived Taranto. Carriers arriving slowly from various ships.
26th September – ITALY.
Clocks set back one hour. Recce parties waiting at Taranto for Brigade Group to concentrate.
0630 MT column resumed journey via Rocca (Z5801), Strongoli (Z6378), Cariati (U5305).
1200 MT column halted for lunch U 2315.
1300 MT column resumed journey via Corigliano (U1613), Trerisacce (U1643), Sibari (U1130).
1700 Arrived staging area Sibari (U1130). Total mileage for day 99 miles. Marching personnel disembarked Taranto.
27th September – ITALY.
Recce party waiting at Taranto for Brigade Group to concentrate.
0700 MT column left staging area Sibari for Bari taking north toad 12km west of Taranto (cross roads P5817) via Gioza Del Colle ((P4748), Cassamassima.
From Bari, column proceeded by coast road via Giovanazzo ((P2491), Molfetta (P1743), Bisceglia (P0996) to Trani (P0301).
1800 MT column arrived Trani and harboured for night off road Trani – Corati, 1 ½ miles north of Trani
28th September – ITALY.
Brigade Commander visited 78 Main HQ with Brasco (Acting Staff Captain).
Brigade Group less Brigade HQ concentrated area Taranto and orders by move of transport by road, personnel by rail issued.
0900 BTO and Camp Commandant left concentration area to recce Brigade area after receiving orders from 78 Division.
Brigade Commander visited area and Brasco joined BTO and Camp Commandant on recce.
1430 Brigade HQ established 1 ½ miles north of Andria (J9296) in the house of the Ceci family.
Bttn locations 6 Innisks (J9297), 2 LIR (J9300), 1 RIrF ((9298).
29th September – ITALY.
1400 Brigade Commander, IO, Signals Officer arrived at Brigade HQ from Taranto.
30th September – ITALY.
Marching personnel arrived in Brigade concentration area by rail.
Extract from 78 Division draft: Admin Order No 7 dated 29 Sept 43 issued.