July
| PLACE | DATE | HOUR | WEATHER | SUMMARY OF INFORMATION | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Chine School | 1 Jul 42 | a.m. | Fine. | R.M. Cdo concentrates. | Crushed conditions - Army rationing, more suitable owing to Army service available. |
| 1700 | All Officers briefed for Operation Rutter. | ||||
| Upper Chine School | 2 Jul 42 | a.m. | Fine | Street Fighting. Briefing of N.C.O's. Issue of Amn. | During this period, lectures and demonstrations given by subaltern from 3 Cdo who fought in Vaagso raid. |
| p.m. | Fine | Final checking of all stores. | |||
| H.M.S. Locust | 3 Jul 42 | 0830 | Dull changing to rain. Windy. | Cdo H.Q., A. Coy, 10 Pl.(X.Coy), 3 Pl, and No. 1. Demolition party embark in H.M.S.Locust for Operation Rutter. B. Coy X.Coy less 10 Pl, NO's 2 & 3 Demolition parties due to embark at 1700 hrs. | H.M.S. Locust 700 Tons armed 2 - 4" Pom-Poms. |
| 1110 | Dull changing to rain. Windy. | C.C.O. (Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten) address ships coy and R.M. Cdo ranks in LOCUST, says that operation cannot take place as arranged owing to weather preventing adequate fighter protection. | |||
| p.m. | Rain | Cdo ranks in 'Locust' very crowded. Efforts made to return to camp at Shanklin which is secure. | |||
| Shanklin | 4 Jul 42 | 1000 | Cloudy Rain | Cdo details in 'Locust' return to Shanklin. | Disappointment of all ranks. |
| Shanklin | 5 Jul 42 | 0900 | Fair | Cdo details as above embuss for Cowes | |
| 1015 | Decision to postpone operation Rutter further 24 hrs as weather still unfavourable for fighting cover. | During this period Cdo is living in large Girls School but in crowded conditions, although far better than in a ship for exercise but not for victualling. | |||
| 1200 | Arms inspection. | ||||
| 1700 | All ranks 40 mins P.T. followed by Pay. | ||||
| 1800 | Operation Rutter postponed till Tuesday 7 July at earliest. | ||||
| Shanklin | 6 Jul 42 | 0900 | Fair but windy. Low clouds. | Cdo route march in loose order 10 miles. | |
| p.m. | All Magazines emptied ammunition and mags oiled. | ||||
| 2100 | Coms O Gp1. Operation Rutter amended. To be completed in one tide i.e. shortened by 4 hrs R.M. Cdo task approximately same except speed even more essential. | ||||
| Shanklin | 7 Jul 42 | 0915 | Fair, Windy Low Clouds | ADMA force embuses for Cowes and embarkation in Locust. | |
| 1030 | Order is given to cancel Operation Rutter completely. | ||||
| 1400 | ADMA force disembarks. Returns to Shanklin. | ||||
| p.m. | Preparations for leave begun. Coys disperse to lodgings in same locations as before occupied. | ||||
| Shanklin | 8 Jul 42 | a.m. | Fair, Windy | Stores and amn collected. Leave arrangements completed. Mne.D.Mcleod awarded 96 hrs detention. | As leave was due to unit this has enabled great disappointment to be over come and has prevented any large reaction or staleness. |
| Shanklin | 9 - 20 Jul 42 | a.m. | Fair. Only rain. | Adm. Rear parties left. Trg in S.A. of ranks ex Aux Bn, carried out. Arrangements for F.G.C.M. of Mne. John Darwin eventually completed. F.G.C.M. to take place 27 days after arrest. | Capt. A.D. Comyn commands during absence of C.O. |
| Shanklin | 21 Jul 42 | a.m. | Windy high clouds. | Capt. A.D. Comyn goes on leave. Second leave party goes no leave. | Lt.J.W.E.Bradley Acting Adjutant. |
| Shanklin | 22 Jul 42 | p.m. | Dull & cloudy with high wind and rain. | "O" Gp regarding future moves and trg. | |
| 1800 | Lecture by 2nd i/c to all officers on "Battle Procedure" | ||||
| Shanklin | 23 Jul 42 | p.m. | Windy low clouds | Demonstration Battle Procedure conducted by C.O. | |
| Shanklin | 24 Jul 42 | p.m. | Cloudy and Dull | C.O. confers with B.M. 214 Bde regarding 3 days exercise for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Aug. | |
| Shanklin | 25 Jul 42 | a.m. | Windy and dull with spasmodic rain | Court Martial takes place at Eastney Barracks. Mne.Darwin guilty. | |
| Shanklin | 26 Jul 42 | a.m. | Rain with high wind | "O"Gp at Yaverland Range Ref.OS142 054052 for Coy advance under fire with dive bombing using soot as token bombs. Also making preliminary arangements for R.M.Cdo's operational role in defence of the I.O.W. | |
| Shanklin | 27 Jul 42 | a.m. | Rain all forenoon. Fine in the afternoon. | Sigs exercise to test communication for the above mentioned scheme. | |
| p.m. | C.O. to 9.Inf.Bde. making arrangements for 3 day exercise. | ||||
| Shanklin | 28 Jul 42 | a.m. | Sunny & | Coys adv. under fire. | Good value to tps. Exercise marred by aeroplace accident. No hits more practice required. |
| Cloudless | Drogue Firing | ||||
| Shanklin | 29 Jul 42 | p.m. | Rain | Court of Inquiry held by R.A.F. personnel on the place accident at yesterdays exercise. C.O. watches pl. in attack exercises observing standard of battle procedure in pls. | |
| Shanklin | 30 Jul 42 | a.m. | C.O. & Capt. J.C.Manners to an "O" Gp at R.A.F. Station Ventnor with regard to a future night exercise. | ||
| p.m. | Court of Inquiry on Aeroplane accident continues. C.O. carries out recce on the ground for 3 days exercise now know as exercise 'PORT' prepared. |
Capt. A.D. Comyn. R.M. commands 9/20 July 42.
