View MapView MapThe 1st Battalion Buckinghamshire Regiment May 1944 including inspections by General Dwight Eisenhower, H.M. KING GEORGE VI, G.O.C., Gen RENNIE and Col. E.J. MONTGOMERY
The May 1944 war diary starts on the 20th the pages for the days before are missing from the original document.
National Archive Reference: WO 171/1269
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1500 | Gen DWIGHT EISENHOWER, Supreme Comd of the Allied Forces, inspected dets of | |
| Units in PETWORTH III CAMP. Before he left, he gave a short talk on the | |||
| forth coming invasion which created great confidence and enthusiasm. | |||
| 21 | 1100 | Conference of Coy Comds to discuss possible promotions, as a result of which | |
| 30 men were appointed ULC, and 4 ULCs promoted to A/Cpls. | |||
| 22 | 1530 | Representatives of all units in 6 Beach Gp, including the whole Bn which was | |
| formed up 6 deep, were inspected by H.M. KING GEORGE VI, who was accompanied | |||
| by the G.O.C., Gen RENNIE and Col. E.J. MONTGOMERY, MBE and the Gp Comd. | |||
| The following Officers and W. Os were introduced to His Majesty:- Maj. CARSE, | |||
| Capt. J.D.BICKNELL, Staff Captain, R.S.M. ROBEY, DCM and R.S.M. STEVENS, 245 | |||
| HQ Pro Coy., CMP. His Majesty also spoke to several others. His Majesty | |||
| was very impressed with the smartness of the turnout considering the conditions | |||
| in which the men were living, and the Sub-Area Comd added that he had never | |||
| seen such a smart ceremonial parade since the beginning of the war. | |||
| 23 | The C.O. sent the following message to the Mayor when AYLESBURY passed its |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 (cont'd) | target in 'SALUTE the SOLDIER' week in honour of this Bn, with the object of | ||
| paying for its equipment and transport to BERLIN. "Heartiest Congratulations | |||
| on passing your target. Will be able to travel Pullman now. Well done AYLESBURY!" | |||
| 24 | Normal trg. | ||
| 25 | Normal trg. | ||
| 26 | 0001 | All camps were sealed, and none allowed out except with a permit from U.S.O. | |
| 0700 | A memorial service in remembrance of the Battle of HAZEBROUKE 1940 was held | ||
| in the Cinema. | |||
| 0900 | Gp Comd, Staff and unit Comds attended briefing conference by Sub-Area Comd, | ||
| which lasted all day. Naval & RAF Senior Officers spoke on the air and sea | |||
| power to be used. | |||
| 27 | 0900 | Gp Comd briefed all officers in the Gp on Operation "OVERLORD". | |
| 1530 | Gp Comd briefed all officers of 5 Beach Gp who came under comd. | ||
| 28 | 0800 | Sub - Units commenced briefing, which lasted all day. | |
| 29 | 0800 | Sub - Units continued briefing. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0800 | Sub - Units continued briefing. | |
| 1730 | A det of A/TK Pl left to proceed to 'J' Marshalling Area. | ||
| 2030 | Gp Comd held conference of all Os.C. units in which all last minute | ||
| discrepancies were fixed, and the movement of the Gp to Marshalling Areas | |||
| was ordered. | |||
| 31 | 0800 | All papers and documents except those of operations necessity were destroyed. |
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