War Diary: Inns of Court Regiment - D Squadron

Month and year: September 1944

The Inns of Court Regiment D Squadron September 1944 war diary covers the units actions during the month, moving from France through Belgium into the Netherlands

National Archive Reference: WO 171/854

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Page 1 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			D Sqn.
	1st Sept.		Sqn ordered to area RAINCHEVAL (2178). PUCHEVILLERS (1975)
			reached at 1230 hrs. About 40 prisoners captured. Sqn
			harboured at IZEL (3003).
	2nd Sept.		Sqn moved to area 6214.
	3rd Sept.		Sqn ordered to recce in front of 11 Armd Div on axis LENS -
			SECLIN - RENAIZ - WOLVERTHEM - ANTWERP. Two troops contacted
			enemy holding SECLIN, and, with the exception of 1 Armoured
			car and 1 Scout Car, all vehicles were casualties. Advance
			continued throughout the day with occasional contacts with
			retreating enemy columns. Sqn harboured at BRUGSAHEGM.
	4th Sept.		Sqn ordered to recce bridge at BOOM and N. of WAELHEM. Main

Page 2 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			br. at BOOM found blown but bridge to East was Intact and tanks
			enabled to cross. On the second route, enemy opposition was
			encountered at HEFFEN (6877) and the Canal was held by the
			enemy at MECHLIN (7174). Bridge at WAELHEM intact and tanks
			crossed at that point. Remainder of Sqn crossed at bridge E.
			of BOOM to recce two routes to ANTWERP. One troop reached
			centre of ANTWERP at 1630 hrs. Two troops were ordered to
			return and hold bridge at WAELHEM until relieved by 15/19
			Hussars at 2200 hrs. Remainder of Sqn in harbour at BIST(6485)
	5/6th Sept.		Moved to WILRYCH where Sqn remained until 7th Sept. Rear
			Link wireless closed down for 24 hours - the first time since
			the Sqn landed an 1st July
	7th Sept.		Sqn ordered to contact two troops of 15/19 Hussars and cross
			ALBERT CANAL in area OELEGHEN and ascertain strength of enemy

Page 3 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			holding the canal in that area. At LIERRE information was
			received from Belgian White Brigade that enemy were across
			Canal at VIERSEL and BONEVEL. Enemy encountered North of
			RAUST. Sqn HQ at VRENDE (7591).
	8th Sept.		Relieved by B Sqn.
	9th Sept.		Sqn ordered to lead advance of 159 Inf Bde and 11 Armd Div
			from ANTWERP to GENEBOSCH via MALINES, LOUVAIN, S. of DIEST
			and LUMEN and to send patrols as right flank protection to
			THIRLEMONT, ST TROND, and HASSELT. Bridge at GENEBOSCH
			reported blown. Sqn harboured night in area LINKHOUT.
			Standing patrols employed at STOCKROYE and Western exits of
			HASSELT.
	10th Sept.		Sqn ordered to cross DIEST - BERINGHEM rd to recce area
			STEELEN - VERLE - TESSENDERLOO - HULST with object of

Page 4 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			reporting whether enemy were infiltrating across canal and
			of maintaining O.Ps. Of all approaches to Canal. Area S. of
			Canal reported clear, but enemy activity was observed from
			other side of Canal S.E. from 1084.
			Sqn ordered to cross Canal at BERINGHEM and harbour in area
			HEUSDEN.
	11/13th Sep.		Sqn resting at HEUSDEN.
	14th Sept.		Sqn left HEUSDEN and standing patrols were maintained at
			NEERPELT (3994) LILLE ST HUBERT (4294) CAULILLE (4490) BOCHOLT
			(4988) BREE (5084) OPPITER (5381). One troop ordered to
			contact Americans at WATERLOOS (5579) . Sqn HQ at GROOT MONS
			FARM (419840). Patrol at LILLE ST HUBERT, CAULILLE and
			BOCHOLT reported small groups of enemy on S.W. side of Canal
			and considerable enemy activity on N.E. side. No. 6 Troop

Page 5 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			WATERLOOS held by enemy and contacted the Americans at
			NEERGLABEEK.
	15th Sept.		Situation as on 14th Sept with fewer enemy patrols across
			the river and increased mortaring of BREE, LILLE ST HUBERT and
			CAULILLE from 1700 hrs onwards.
			Sqn withdrew to harbour at ERPECOM (432829),
	16th Sept.		Sqn resting.
	17th Sept.		Sqn visited by Major General Roberts (G.O.C. 11 Armd Div.).
	18th Sept.		Sqn resting.
	19th Sept.		Sqn joined column consisting of Fife & Forfar Yeomanry and
			Hereford Regt and recce rd VORLE to LEENDE while remainder of
			column attacked ACHEL from the North and 9 Inf Bde attacked
			from SOUTH from their bridgehead at LILLE ST HUBERT.
			Column held up by Guards Armd Div traffic and 1 Troop with

Page 6 of 8

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	one troop of Fife & Forfar Yeomanry double banked along the
	route to recce rd from rd june 381019 to SHAFT (4002) to find
	a suitable route for tanks to follow. Bridge at 406025 blown
	and bridge at 899017 unsuitable for heavy traffic. Decided
	to harbour at VALKENSWAARD (4108) and attack from there on
	following morning.
20th Sept	Recce continued towards LEENDE which civilians reported to
	be held by enemy. At 1400 hrs this town was cleared by tanks
	and infantry and recce continued along route LEENDE -
	STERKSEL (5207) - ZOMEREN (5911) - bridge (602128). Sqn HQ
	moved North of LEENDE. Bridge at 602128 held and screened by
	enemy in ZOMEREN. One troop ordered to tap South on HEEZE -	-
	ZOMEREN rd reported the route unsuitable for a Div centre-line
21st Sept.	Sqn at 555115.
22nd Sept.	Sqn ordered to NUNEN (4822) to patrol line of canal excl

Page 7 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			ZON (4225) to incl ARLE (5425) excl HELMOND (5522) . Small
			pockets of enemy resistance encountered in area OVERBRUG (5423).
			Sqn harboured W. of HELMOND at 540218.
	23rd Sept.		Patrol continued. Sqn in harbour at GELDROP 4816.
	24th Sept		Sqn engaged in same task with harbour in same place.
	25th Sept.		One troop patrolled line of Canal from excl HELMOND to excl
			ZONEREN bridge (601138).
	26th Sept.		Sqn ordered to cross ZONEREN bridge and go to area GEMERT
			(5830).
	27th Sept.		Line of R. MAAS patrolled from incl rly bridge 760453 to
			incl VIERLINGSBEELE (8034). 61 Recce Regt contacted in area
			CUYLE (7149) . VORTUM (7837) and country to S.W. held by
			enemy making it impossible to patrol line of river South of
			SAMBEEK (774391),which point was later shelled by 50 Div Arty

Page 8 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			one troop acting as O.P.
			Sqn withdrew to WANROIJ (6741).
	28/30th Sep.		Sqn remained at WANROIJ.
			- - - -
			During the month of September, 1944 the following casualties
			were suffered by the Regiment:
			Killed.
			3 Other Ranks.
			Wounded
			Lt. R.E. Thirkettle Lt. E.B. Young
			2/Lt. C.S. Taylor 2/Lt. H.A. Pearse
			Lt. J. Scott and 12 other Ranks.
			Missing
			Lt. J.E.S. Briggs and one Other Rank.

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War Diary: Inns of Court Regiment - D Squadron

Month and year: September 1944

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