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War Diary: 1st Assault Brigade HQ

Month and year: August 1944

The 1st Assault Brigade HQ August 1944 war diary mentions disembarking at Arromanches in Normandy, inspecting bridges, rafts and training

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1797

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Page 1 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
EASTBOURNE 1 0100 Bde HQ Pk Sqn and Sigs proceed by rd to Marshalling Area Camp T 5,
BECTON, LONDON.
2 Bde Comd and IO fly to FRANCE.
LONDON 3 Bde HQ embarks 1200 hrs on US LST 138 at VICTORIA DOCK.
6 0700 Bde disembarks ARROMANCHES-LES-BAINS.
ST GABRIEL 1300 Move to ST GABRIEL T 8979.
7 Bde Comd to watch operation TOTALISE S of CAEN.
8 Bde Comd visits Regts, Sqns and 50 Div HQ.
9 Bde Comd to 5 & 6 Regts.
ll Bde Comd, BM visit CE First Cdn Army. Recced rafting site on R ORNE for trg.
Conference with CE Second Army ref pending operation. Visited 5 & 6 Regts
at COURSEULLES rafting camp.
12 Bde Comd visited SNO OUISTREHAM, made arrangements to use a pt of CAEN
canal for rafting trg. Saw 5 & 6 Regts carrying out trg in close sp raft
at COURSEULLES br camp and inspected CL 40 raft site near BENOUVILLE with
Page 2 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
ST GABRIEL 12 CRE 5 Regt. Capt Martin-Siegfried FFL att this formation.
13 Bde Comd visited 5 Regt ref pending operation. Visited CE 2 Cdn Corps,
discussed employment of A R E sqns in pending operation. Saw Comd
30 Armd Bde ref same matter.
15 Bde Comd visited Br sites on ORNE and SEULLES.
16 Recced possible trg area N of CAEN. Visited 26 San and CRE 53 Div.
CRE agreed to take steps to release 26 Sqn.
17 DAA & QMG attended 21 A.Gp Bidding Conference.
New War Diary forms arrive will use next month
18 1300 Bde HQ, Pk Sqn and Sigs move to new location on R ORNE 7F/1/085714 -
LONGUEVAL LONGUEVAL. Bde Comd holds conference of CREs and Staff.
20 GOC 79 Armd Div visits regiments with Bde Comd.
22 Conference of CREs with Bde Comd.
23 1000 Visit of CE 21 Army GP.
26 42 Regt put at short notice to join 2 Cdn Corps for operation. Bde Comd
saw CE 2 Cdn Corps who did not now want Regt as opposition on R SEINE
was not sufficient.
Page 3 of 3
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
LONGUEVAL 27 Lt Green (LO 2) wounded by S mine - to hospital and subsequently to UK.
28 Bde Comd to UK to discuss policy for Armd RE.Appx J
29 BM and reps from Regts to recce new location Nr LOUVIERS.
31 Lt W. Russell from 557 Aslt Trg Regt RE appointed LO 3.
2300 Bde Comd returns from UK.