33 Beach Brick, R.A.F. Component

33 Beach Brick, R.A.F. Component H.Q. in Calabria, Italy, September 1943 (Operation “BAYTOWN”)

There is no Operations Record Book available for the R.A.F. Component of 33 Beach Brick but, according to the history of 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (1), when 33 Beach Brick was formed the R.A.F. Component was under the command of Squadron Leader Davies. This must have changed at some stage because there is an entry in the Operations Record Book of 36 Beach Brick, R.A.F. Component recording that on 5th November 1943 the unit was visited at Kabrit C.T.C. by “S/Ldr. Lovatt, late O.C., R.A.F., 33 BRICK”. (2)

The infantry battalion in 33 Beach brick was 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Brick was formed on 1st April 1943, embarked on ships at Port Said on 30th June and landed in Sicily with the 17th Brigade, 5th Infantry Division on 10th July (D-Day for Operation “HUSKY”). They landed near Cassibile, 10 miles south of Syracuse, on Beach 44, known as ‘George’ beach. The 5th Infantry Division was part of the 8th Army’s 13 Corps.

On 27th July, 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were ordered to move to the front line and the 1st Battalion Welch Regiment (from 34 Beach Brick) took over the running of 33 Beach Brick. However by mid August the Beach Bricks were being reassembled for their next operation and 33 Beach Brick was formed again with 1st  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders near Misterbianco (not far from Catania).

The next operation was “BAYTOWN” and 33 Beach Brick were again to land with 17^th Brigade of 5^th Division. On 3^rd September (D-Day for Operation “BAYTOWN”), 33 Beach Brick landed on the toe of Italy on the “How” beaches in a small bay north of the Torrente Torbido, near Reggio.

An R.A.F. officer talks to a soldier of the Argylls while Italian soldiers help to unload tins of petrol from an L.C.M.. 33 Beach Brick, Operation “BAYTOWN”

On the 19th September the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were again withdrawn, this time to be permanently reinstated as a fighting battalion. Once again, 1st Battalion Welch Regiment (from 34 Beach Brick) took over the running of 33 Beach Brick from the Argylls.

In November 1943 R.A.F. beach units in the Mediterranean were reorganised and 33 Beach Brick R.A.F. Component was disbanded.

See also the memoirs of Sgt. W. Sinclair MacLeod who served with 33 Beach Brick, R.A.F. Component. The photographs on this page are his and are included with the kind permission of his family.

⁽¹⁾ Graham (Lt-Col. F C C), “History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion (Princess Louise’s) 1939-1945”, Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. 1948

⁽²⁾ An entry, dated 31/8/43,  in the Operations Record Book of 31 Beach Brick, R.A.F. Component states, ‘F/Lt. C.W. Lovatt (131230) Equip branch promoted Temp Sqdn Ldr. wef 1/7/43. Auty. ME POR Ser. No. 879 Page 3 d/d 3/8/43’. Squadron Leader Lovatt later became the officer commanding No. 108 Beach Flight of No. 4 Beach Squadron for Operation “OVERLORD”.

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