War Diary: 102nd Anti Tank Regiment

Month and year: April 1944

The 102nd Anti Tank Regiment April 1944 war diary covers the unit receiving M.10s, water proofing vehicles and exercise Fabius

National Archive Reference: WO 171/929

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Page 1 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD	1	0930	Adjutant visits PAMPISFORD HALL (960673) to which we have been ordered to move and finds that, as was thought, the area is occupied.
		1100	Adv Party of 61st A/Tk Regiment arrives at "The Links" to take over from the Regiment. They are startled to find we are still here.
		1130	Telephone message from DAQMG 30 Corps. The Regiment is not to move to PAMPISFORD HALL but into the grounds of the house. These are already full of vehicles belonging to the unit in occupation. An added difficulty is that the water supply is insufficient for the unit already in possession.
		1200	CO (Lt-Col A.K. MATTHEWS ,R.A.) telephones CO 61st A/Tk Regt and explains the posn. He requests that the move of RHQ and one Battery 61st A/Tk. Regt be postponed for a few days until the muddle is cleared up.
		1430	CO visits HQ 30 Corps to find out what is happening. They are unaware that PAMPISFORD is already occupied.
		1500	CO 61st A/Tk Regt telephones. They must move into this area on 2 Apr.
		1530	CO returns from 30 Corps having obtained little useful information, As 61st A/Tk Regt have to come tomorrow it is decided that we will move the L.A.D. from DULLINGHAM (Sheet 85 1" - 1 mile 083765) and hand that accomodation over.
		1700	Telephone message from RA 30 Corps. Two new areas have been allotted to the Regiment - HILDERSHAM (9967) or SAINTFOINS (9169). These are apparently grass fields. A reconnaissance will be made tomorrow.
		1710	Telephone message from 61st A/Tk Regiment. Only RHQ of that Regiment will be moving to this area tomorrow. One battery will remain in its present location at BEACONSFIELD until Apr 6 or 7.
FIELD	2	1000	A telephone message from HQ 30 Corps. The two areas allotted to this unit yesterday have now been cancelled and an area at BABRAHAM (9670) is allotted instead. Adjutant decides with AQC CAMBRIDGE that the area will be inspected tomorrow.
		1430	CO 61st A/Tk Regt visits CO and discusses the problem. 61st A/Tk Regt are moderately comfortable in DULLINGHAM and PAMPISFORD, but they still have one battery to billet.
		1900	HQ 30 Corps send orders that "The Links" is to be clear of this unit by evening 3 Apr.
FIELD	3	1030	Adjutant inspects the proposed area at BABRAHAM (9760). AS a summer camp area it is better than the previous areas allotted and there is covered accomodation for officers and Regimental stores.
		1100	A signal from HQ RA 50 (N) Division which calls for a return of the strength of Adv Parties and main parties by road and rail for RHQ and two Batteries. This causes surprise because there has been no previous intimation that 107 Bty and 289 Bty are to leave this area.
		1200	Adjutant telephones SCRA to ask about the proposed move. SCRA has no information and is completely

Page 2 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD	3	1200	in the dark himself.
		1330	Capt OWEN 635 TD Bn U.S. Army arrives and is attached to the Regiment for a fortnight CO2 (Major D.J. Cowen) will proceed to 635 TD Bn on 6 Apr for a fortnight's attachment to U.S. Army.
		1400	SCRA telephones Adjutant. He can get no information about the proposed move except that it is in general direction of LARKHILL,
		1500	CO. 61 A/Tk Regt visits the Regiment to see if we have any further information. During the day the C.O. is in LONDON.
FIELD	4	0800	Signal rom HQ RA, which states the Regiment is not to move until again contacted by HQ.RA.
		0815	Main HQ 50 (N) Dic closes in Eastern Command and moves to BROCKENHURST, HAMPSHIRE.
		1800	Staff Capt 'Q' 30 Corps telephones to say that the movement order is firm and the Regiment
			less two Batteries will move to BABRAHAM tomorrow 5 Apr. No one quite knows how we are expected to move in a day.
		1810	CO (Lt-Col. A.K. MATTHEWS R.A.) telephones 61 A/Tk Regt and speaks to CO2 and it is arranged that we move as much as possible Thurs 6 Apr including half of each Bty and the remainder on Friday 7 Apr. Adv Parties of 61 A/Tk Regt will arrive 6 Apr while the Battery which is moving into our present location will move in on 7 Apr. This seems quite a satisfactory arrangement. Luckily 61 A/Tk Regt are shooting at HUNSTANTON until 7 Apr.
FIELD	5	0100	Telephone message from HQ 30 Corps. There are no tents available at BEDFORD and they must be collected from NORWICH.
		0800	Lorries are despatched to NORWICH to collect tentage. CO (Lt-Col A.K. MATTHEWS ,R.A.) leaves to attend to private affairs. During the day tents are collected and a large number pitched. We have been very lucky to obtain tents as on arrival at NORWICH the loading party found that all tentage was in process of being sent elsewhere and none was allotted tornis unit at all. However we have collected full scale.
		0930	S.C. 'Q' 50 (N) Division telephones to remind the Regiment that it is to be out of the present accomodation by tonight.
		1300	Staff Capt 'Q' 30 Corps telephones to give another reminder. He is questioned about the signals received on 4 Apr from HQ. RA. telling the Regiment not to move and replys that it must refer to the proposed move to LARKHILL area which is now off anyhow.
FIELD	6		During the day 107 Bty and 289 Bty move over to BABRAHAM and by the end of the evening have moved everything except Bty HQ and the stores of the M.10 Troops whose personnel are on leave.
		0930	CO2 (Major D.J. Cowen) leaves to join 635 TD Bn U.S. Army.
		1100	The Adv Party of 61 A/Tk. Regt arrives.

Page 3 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD	6	2000	Major R.G. BROWNE-SWINBURNE, recalled off leave, arrives and assumes command of the Regiment in absence of CO and CO2.
FIELD.	7	1000	The remainder of the Regiment which has not already left, leaves "The Links" NEWMARKET for BABRAHAM, leaving behind a small Rear Party under Lt(QM).
		1200	RHQ officially closes down at "The Links" NEWMARKET and the Adjutant leaves, RHQ opens at the same time at BABRAHAM, The day is spent in settling into the new location.
FIELD.	8		The day is spent on camp improvements. Nothing of importance occurs.
FIELD.	9	1030	Easter Sunday. 107 Bty and 289 Bty have a Church Parade in the Parish Church.
FIELD.	10	0930	SCRA 50 (NORTHUMBRIAN) Division telephones the Adjutant. He has little to say and merely wants to know how we are getting on with the disposal of surplus vehicles.
		1430	CO2 73 A/Tk. Regt RA telephones the Regiment. Two Btys of this Regiment are coming under our Command, when RHQ moves to join 99 Bty and 288 Bty in Southern Command. These two Btys of 73rd
			A/Tk Regt are moving on or about 14 Apr from their present location at FELIXSTONE. Adjutant
			replys that no orders to move have yet been received by this unit.
		1130	Col. HOWARD, A/CRA 50 (NORTHUMBRIAN) Div calls and looks round the area.
		1700	Telephone message from SCRA 50 (Northumbrian) Div - RHQ will move to LOWER HURSLEY CAMP (U8245) as quickly as possible although no dates are given. It is decided that the 'Q' Staff have too much to clear up to enable us to send an Adv Party tomorrow. The Adv Party is to leave on 13 Apr and RHQ will move on 15 Apr.
FIELD	12	0900	M.10 Troops move out to BRETTENHAM (884019) for training in the THETFORD Trg Area. It is intended to train in movement and also wireless communication within the troop.
		1945	CO (Lt-Col A.K. MATTHEWS ,R.A. ) returns.
FIELD.	13	0800	RHQ Adv Party leaves for LOWER HURSLEY CAMP.
		1000	CO2 (Major D.J. COWEN) telephones from 635 TD Bn U.S. Army to state that he will return on Sunday 16 Apr.
FIELD.	14	0800	Lt(QM) telephones from LOWER HURSLEY CAMP. It is evidently a most disagreeable place.
		1100	A communication received from the War Office to the effect that Lt. J.W. MOORE ,MM, an old officer of the Regiment has escaped from a Prisoner of War Camp and is back in this country. Would we like him back ?
FIELD.	15	0800	RHQ move to LOWER HURSLEY CAMP arriving in pouring rain to find the camp to be a long way from any satisfaction. NO organisation in the whole camp, impossible to get a telephone, so we are out of touch with the whole world, cannot even be supplied with a table for the Regtl Office. Accomodation is in American tents which is the only bright light in a very stormy outlook. No one wants us and no one cares about us. CO travels down later calling in LONDON.

Page 4 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Hour, Date, Place. APRIL 1944.			Summary of Events and Information.	Remarks and references to appendices.
FIELD.	16	0900	We try our hardest to improve the Camp even obtain a couple of tables for Regtl Office and the promise of a 'phone but everything far from satisfactory.
		1100	Major G.W. DUNKERLY M.C. (OC 99A/Tk. Bty) visits RHQ with a list of questions as long as a week - after a long debate we send him away happy. Two more visitors are the B.C's from the two Batteries of 73 A/TK Regt which are under our Command.
FIELD,	17	0900	Still no sign of our promised phone, ,nothing exciting happening, as if it could in a dump like this.
1500			CO arrives after calling on his way down at School of Artillery,LARKHILL. When shown round the camp, he seems to show the same opinion of the place as everyone else, naturally the only view any sensible person could take.
1700			CO2 arrives back after his visit to our American Allies - he is most silent on his views of the new camp.
FIELD	18	0800	T/Adjt and E.M.E. go back to BABRAHAM - most sensible people (NEWMARKET Meeting 18 - 19)
		1000	CO is visited by the 2 B.C's of the attached Btys of 73 A/Tk. Regt R.A.
		1200	Major G.R. BALFOUR, MC (OC 288 A/Tk. Bty RA) admitted to hospital with Malaria.
	19		Nothing to report but orders and counter-orders received.
	20	0900	On demand, CO visits B.M. at HQ. ,RA., finds BM is not moved back to BROCKENHURST, so waste of good petrol and time.
	21		No thing to report except M.O. relieved of all duties presumably because he complained of mosquito breeding water in our lines. Camp M.O. takes over.
	22	1000	Instructions received that CO, CO2, Adjt, and BC's will attend Briefing Conference of FABIUS at Div on Sunday 23.
		1200	Major R.A. BARNETT and Major R.G. BROWNE-SWINBURNE, (Osc 107 and 289 Btys ) arrive from BABRAHAM to meet C.O. and attend FABIUS Conference.
		1600	Times of briefing changed three times and place twice, then goes back original one.
FIELD.	23	0900	Capt D.A. KOMROWER admitted to hospital with Malaria. "C" Bty now minus BC and Bty Capt and one subaltern.
		1000	CO's Conference attended by Major Cowen, Major R.A. Barnett, Major Browne-Swinburne, and Major G.W. Dunkerley, M.C., also Capt. J.C. Gaye, and Lt(QM.
		1500	CO, CO2, Major Browne-Swinburne, Major Barnet, Capr Bryant, Lt. Miller, and Lt. J.D. Marriott attended Briefing Conference at Div. After 3 hrs conference we learn very little.
		1430	Capt. J.C. Gaye attends 231 Inf Bde Briefing Conference. Major G.W. Dunkerley M.C. attends 69 Inf Bde Briefing Conference.
FIELD.	24	1200	Major R.G. Browne-Swinburne and Major R.A. Barnett return to BABRAHAM,with a sense of relief.

Page 5 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD.		2000	Adjutant, (Capt. C.S. SPENCE) returns from leave.
		0900	CO. (Lt-Col. A.K. MATTHEWS R.A.) goes to LONDON to visit HQ 21 Army Group and also the War Office in an attempt to obtain reinforcements. We are still 48 Driver Mechanics and 18 Driver Operators under establishment.
		1600	CO2 (Major D.J. C OWEN) and Adjutant attend a conference at Movement Control. This refers to the marshalling of vehicles for Exercise "FABIUS" which commences on 2 May and is mainly a Movements Control Exercise involving the loading of craft. RHQ is hardly involved.
		1700	Capt. A.W. TRIPPIER, MC joins.
FIELD.	26	1000	CO visits H2. ,RA., 50 (Northumbrian) Division, 69, 56 and 231 Bdes HQs and "C" Bty.
		1100	CO2 attends a further Briefing Conference. Two vehicles of RHQ appear to have been forgotten by the authorities on this exercise - the CO's carrier and Jeep.
		1245	This Camp is suddenly, and without warning, sealed. The telephone is cut off which causes considerable inconvenience. All vehicles in and out of camp have to have a pass
			signed by Camp Commandant. One B.C. has the greatest difficulty in getting back to his battery.
		1600	We are informed that we are to get M.10s from the 73rd A/Tk. Regt R.A. These have done a small mileage and are being replaced by M.10X, i.e. M.10 carying 17pdr guns. Unfortunately the
			waterproofing kit that we possess will not go onto these SP guns.
		1705	Message from ADOS 50 (Northumbrian) Div containing orders to collect waterproofing kit for exercise "FABIUS". Luckily we have been able to waterproof with other training stores as the Movement for "FABIUS" commences tomorrow.
FIELD.	27	0930	CO visits HQ. ,RA. 99 and 288 Btys and HQ 151 Bde. Capt A.W. TRIPPIER M.C. is attached to 288 Bty as the B.C. (Major G.R. BALFOUR ,MC) and Captain 'G'
			(Capt. D.A. KOMROWER) are both in hospital with Malaria. Malaria is taking a great toll of the Regiment. Approximately 40 are in hospital.
		1400	A posting order received from O2E 21 Army Group. We are to receive 19 Driver Mechanics 8 Driver Operators, 2 Unit Clerks and 1 Technical Storeman. A welcome addition if they arrive.
FIELD.	28	1100	Lt-Col PERRY (OC 73 A/Tk. Regt RA) calls.

Page 6 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FIELD.	28	1630	OC 73 A/Tk. Regt. R.A. calls. They have nine Driver Mechanics which they are prepared to give us.
FIELD.	29	0930	CO visits SOUTHAMPTON.
		1400	Orders received from HQ.,RA., 50 (NORTHUMBRIAN) Division that we are to shoot and zero M.10's at LARKHILL on 11 and 12 MAY.
		1700	Capt. J.K. BOAG (Capt 'Q' 107 A/Tk. Bty) arrives from BABRAHAM CAMP, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, As the telephone is still disconnected he has many problems.
		1800	After strenuous efforts the telephone is again connected and the Regiment is once more in touch with the outside world. Further, personnel who are NOT briefed for exercise "FABIUS" are allowed out on a pass signed by the Camp Commandant. This improves the spirits of the troops.
		1900	Reinforcements of 6 Driver Operators arrive.
FIELD.	30	1000	CO goes to LARKHILL. CO2 attends a further briefing conference at Movement Control.
		2000	Further reinforcements arrive.

			At the end of the month there are still so many loose ends, so many unanswered questions, so many deficiencies that it is difficult to predict when we will be ready; still it is interesting to read that GERMANY rather expects us at 0428 tomorrow.

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War Diary: 102nd Anti Tank Regiment

Month and year: April 1944

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