War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment - 260 Battery

Month and year: March 1944

The 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Anti Tank Regiment's 260th Anti Tank Battery March 1944 war diary covers the units time in the UK based at Kimberley Hall

National Archive Reference: WO 171/921

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Page 1 of 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Kimberley Hall	1st	0600	Normal training. 17 Pdr. Gun Drill etc. 4 M10s drawn from 258 Battery,
"	2nd	0600	Normal training. 17 Pdr. Gun Drill etc.
"	3rd	0600	Visit of ABCA expert. Weather:- Snowed hard.
"	4th	0600	Inspection of Billets etc. by Capt P.D.Balfour.
	5th	0600	Voluntary Church Service. 15 O.Rs. Attended. Weather:- Fine spring day.
"	6th	0600	Normal training. Drivers proceeded to Mock - up LST at night to practice
			loading and unloading. Weather:- Fine.
"	7th	0600	Normal training. P.T. in the afternoon. 8 M10s received. Weather:- Fine.
"	8th	0600	Busy day cleaning and maintaining the new M10s. B.C., Tp Cmds and all drivers
			took 3 M10s to Mock - up. Weather:- Fine,
"	9th	0600	Normal training and cleaning of M10s. 27 Reinforcements received making
			our strength 153. Weather:- Fine.
"	10th	0600	Normal training Driving and Gun Drill on M10s. 8 Reinforcements received
			making our strength 161.
⑉	11th	0600	Normal training.

Page 2 of 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Kimberley Hall	12th	0600	Church Parade. Service at Carlton Hoe Church. 15 O.Rs. attended.
"	13th	0600	Normal training. Officers attended TEWT. given by the Colonel.
"	14th	0600	Normal training.
"	15th	0600	Normal training. 12 Officers and O.Rs. attended a very interesting lecture
			by Capt J.Hardy D.S.O. M.C. Subject:- "Escape".
	16th	0600	Visit by M.G. R,A. Maj - Gen M.E. Dennis 21 A. Gp. at 1530 hrs. Advance
			Party left for Foulness Ranges under Capt Hill at 1700 hrs. Battery Main
			Party left at 1000 hrs arriving Foulness at 1600 hrs approx. Total party
			5 Officers and 80 O.Rs.
"	17th	0600	Firing on Foulness Ranges. 8 layers per Troop fired 246 rounds on moving
			cross targets at a speed of 6 M.P.H. 225 hits - 91.5 % Also 2 rounds per
			layer (48 rounds) at stationary targets. 2 M10s provided by Ranges, old type
			sight M51. C.O. was present and expressed his satisfaction at results obtained.
"	18th	0600	Battery returned to Camp leaving Working Party of 15 O.Rs. for 258 Battery.
"	19th	0600	Battery clean parade inspected by B.C. Church Service at Carlton Hoe- Voluntary.

Page 3 of 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Kimberley Hall.	20th	0600	Training as per programme. BC attended FGCM at Fakenham as President.
			Weather:- Wet.
"	21st	0600	One M.10 Troop representing the Battery left for concentration area 205944
			of 131 Bde "Shiver" Exercise. Conference with 1/7 Queens attended by BC
			at Concentration Area.
"	22nd	0600	Remainder of Bty not on Scheme went to Ranges near Thatford and fired
			.303 Rifles, Bren and Sten Guns. 10 rds per man fired. 1/7 Queens "Shiver"
			Exercise continued. 260 Bty, less two Trps, cmd by BC. 1/7 Queens
			cmd by 2 i/c - Major Jessop. Many lessons in deployment and control of
			a Troop to be learnt by us.
"	23rd	0600	BC returned from "Shiver" Exercise direct, to recce for 5 RTR Scheme
			at Hillborough (280188) 2 i/c took over cmd of Bty for 1/6 Queens Exercise
			Major J.Mason, 2 i/c 1/6 Queens cmd the Bn and supporting arms.
			Bty returned to camp at 1800 hrs.

Page 4 of 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Kimberley Hall	24th	0600	Training films on A/tk Gunnery were seen by the Battery at Wymondham cinema
			in the morning. Battery on maintenance in the afternoon. Officers went to
			see ground for 5 R.T.R. Scheme.
"	25th	0600	2 I/C went to Weeting Hall (2307) near Brandon, Regts new location, to attend
			to administrative details of the move. Maintenance occupied the Battery's
			time all the morning.
"	26th	0600	Voluntary Church Parade attended by 18 members of the Battery at Carlton
			Forehoe. The Battery moved out on Exercise with 5 R.T.Rs. at 1700 hrs. All
			three Troops were out, led by B.C.plus 2/Lt Ugarte on B.H.Q.
"	27th	0600	Battery took part as enemy against 2 Sqns. of 5R.T.Rs As visibility at first
			light and during the morning was poor, the Battery had a good time as the
			enemy, and "K" troop claimed 8 tanks K.Od. Battery returned in the afternoon
			for maintenance etc,
"	28th	0600	The Battery did not move to new location, Weeting Hall, as the C.O. is awaiting
			a decision from 21st Army Group. The training programme continued, although

Page 5 of 5

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Kimberley Hall	28th	0600	somewhat disjointed by change of plans. The Signals officer at R.H.Q.,
			Lt J.Hayley, took the officers on Field Gunnery, Initial Orders etc.
"	29th	0600	The C.O. took the officers on Sanctuary Ranges 294637, North of Fakenham.
			Observatian of fire was explained by the C.O. and shoots were conducted by
			the B.C., 2 I/C., Capt Q., and Troop Commanders, with assistance of G.P.O. and
			one gun supplied by 3 R.H.A. Good morning for observation. No final decision
			on move to new location yet. Weather broke down in the afternoon - raining.
"	30th	0600	Training and maintenance as usual. A start was made using mine detectors
			and a small dummy mine field was laid out. Weather becoming much colder.
"	31st	0600	Map reading exercise in the morning resulted in obtaining good practice for
			Nos. 1. Capt Hill and Lt Brown recced in "Shudder" area.

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War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment - 260 Battery

Month and year: March 1944

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