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    War Diary: 141st Royal Armoured Corps - A Squadron

    Month and year: October 1944

    The 141st Royal Armoured Corps October 1944 A Squadron war diary covers the Squadrons advance from area around Calais to Heesch. Including taking part in operation "COLIN".

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/877

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    Page 1 of 2
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    1 - 3 OctA' Sqn regrouped following Operation 'UNDERGO' against
    Cap Gris Nez. They were still under comd 3 Cdn Div and this
    period was used for maintenance, rest and general preparation
    for further Ops.
    3 OctThe Sqn were placed at 4 hrs' notice by the Cdn Div and
    on 10 Oct they moved on tpters to MR 925348, the OPLOO area
    and were placed under comd of the 6 Gds Tk Bde and prepared
    for Ops towards VENRAIJ MR 779269.
    10 - 16On 10 - 16th Oct they remained under comd of Gds TK Bde in
    sp of 3 Brit Div without ever having been used.
    MR 58151016They were released from the Gds Tk Bde and came into 2 Army
    res and on the 17th they moved to harbour area at 581510 and
    there awaited instrs.
    18They were placed under comd of 12 Corps and on 19th
    MR 59651619moved to MR 596516 SW of GRAVE and were placed u/c 51st Highland
    Div.
    ST OEDENROIE MR 43331420On 20th Oct they moved to St. Oedenrode433314 under comd
    51st Highland Div for Op 'COLIN'. The Sqn were split into
    two pts - the first part under Capt Hall, Nos. 3, 4 and 5 tps
    and two comd tks in sp of 153 Inf Bde. The second part of the
    Sqn under Capt Bristow 1 and 2 tps and 3 comd tks were placed
    in sp of 152 Inf Bde.
    The attack commenced at 0001 hrs 23 Oct 44, aptly enough
    the second anniversary of El Alemain. 153 Bde's attack was
    in four phases. This was for 5/7 Gordons to attack Wijbosch
    MR 429379 and then for the 5th Black Watch to go through them
    and attack the South end of SCHIJNDEL413378. This attack was
    to be sp by Capt Hall's half Sqn. As soon as this was
    successfully done the 1st Gordons were to go through and
    attack the northern portion of SCHIJNDEL forming up at
    MR 412378 to MR 415379. Capt Hall's half Sqn were to assist
    them in this attack and first objectives were (a) Factory
    MR 409380 and (b) The Monastery MR 407382. Further to this
    the 1st Gordons were to go through and continue on up the Bde
    Axis, attack and hold SCHUTSBOOM MR 399390. Considerably
    less enemy resistance was encountered than was originally
    expected and in consequence Capt Hall's half Sqn was not employed.
    Simultaneous with this attack an attack was put in by 152 Inf Bde
    with in sp Capt Bristow's half Sqn. Their attack was from
    area MR 435365 north westwards to south of SCHIJNDEL linking
    up with the attack by 153 Bde. From there the 2nd phase was
    to turn south-west and attack the wooded area 3635 - 3836.
    Considerable resistance was encountered in this area and
    Capt Bristow's half Sqn was committed. The intention was to
    clear the OLLAND rd as far as the level crossing 378353 and
    to clear area north of River Dommel - PEGGIN HOEVE MR 393357,
    and north west along the line of the wood - rly MR 383357.
    No. 1 Tp under comd of Lt Griggs was in sp of 'C' Coy 5th Seafs
    on the rt flank and No. 3 Tp under Lt Saunders was in sp
    of 'B' Coy 5th Seafs along the Centre Line. 'B' Coy being
    sp along the main rd which formed a left axis by Wasps from the
    Inf Bn. No. 1 TP were advancing from the X-tracks 412313 to
    X-tracks 402434 when the leading tk struck three Teller mines,
    rendering it immobile but causing no cas to personnel.
    Page 2 of 2
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    Lt Grigge sent his other two tks fwd under Sgt Burkhill and
    they flamed the wood at MR 402343. The operation was entirely
    successful and resulted in the capture of 12 PW, a considerable
    number having been killed or having evacuated the area. From
    then onwards there was no further flaming by either tp although
    a certain amount of gun sp was given, fire being directed
    into the wooded area. The Inf went fwd and by nightfall all
    objectives had been taken. Two fatal casualties were caused
    to Lt Grigg's crew by an exploding Teller Mine as 9 veh passed
    their stationary tk. They were outside the tk endeavouring to
    repair the damage caused by the mine and the (explosion of another
    veh - a half-track - resulted in their deaths. The personnel
    killed were L/C Waite and Tpr Herbert.
    24The Sqn were switched to once again come under comd of 6 Gds
    Tk Bde in sp of 15 Scottish Div and were moved at 2030 hrs on
    the night of the 25th to an assembly area at St Oedenrode MR 431315.
    From there they were moved fwd by Gds Tk Bde on the 26th to area
    BEST MR 575264, on the 27th to OIRSCHOT MR 315255 and then to
    an area just South of TILBERG MR 187289. Tilberg was successfully
    taken by 15th Scottish Div and 6 Gds Tk Bde without action by the
    Crocodiles.
    Transcription note: suspect 575264 should in fact be 375264
    29The Sqn moved to area HEETSCH 4751 and concentrated with RHQ
    and 'C' Sqn and remained there until the end of the month.

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