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National Archive Reference: WO 171/866
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HELMOND | 1 | 1000 | CO to Bde - re-organisation and trg. | |
| 1430 | CO's conference. Trg and future move. | Appx J.1. | ||
| 2 | 1430 | A Sqn move into HELMOND. | ||
| 3 | 0900 | D&M Cadre Course commences. | ||
| 1000 | CO addresses all ranks. | |||
| 1100 | C of E Service. | |||
| 1430 | CO to Bde to meet Corps Comd. | |||
| 2030 | Notes on Bde conference issued. | Appx J.2. | ||
| 4 | 0845 | IO to Bde for refresher I course. | ||
| 0900 | Tank Commanders' Course commences under Major N.H. Bourne, DSO. | |||
| 1000 | Bn Sig Offr to Bde Signal Conference. | |||
| 1130 | Movement Order No. 1 issued for driving at VALKENSWAARD | Appx J.3. | ||
| 1845 | Amendment No. 1 to Movement Order No. 1 issued. | App J.3. | ||
| 5 | 0930 | Adv party moves to VALKENSWAARD. 4 Offrs and 47 ORs to ANTWERP on short leave. | ||
| Major N.H. Bourne, Capt J.L. Ryder, and Lt W.D. Sullivan to Bde to meet Major Cashmore, Gunnery Wing, AFV Schools to discuss training programme. | ||||
| 1500 | Preliminary instructions issued for disposal of tanks. | Appx J.4. | ||
| 6 | 0930 | Informal visit from Bde Comd to inspect accn and trg facilities. | ||
| 1430 | CO and 2IC to Bde to meet Army Comd and discuss Leave. | |||
| 1600 | Further Instrs re disposal of tks issued. | Appx J.5. | ||
| 7 | 0800 | 14 Sherman Ics commence move to 254 Corps Del Sqn to be handed over. | ||
| 8 | 1000 | Preliminary instrs re move of tanks to new location issued. | Appx J.6. | |
| 1500 | Party given to 130 evacuee children from VENLO. | |||
| 1530 | Instr re disposal of 25 Sherman Vs issued. | Appx J.7. | ||
| 1600 | Movement Order No. 2 issued. | Appx J.8. | ||
| 1900 | B Sqn dance. | |||
| 9 | 1700 | Col G.J. Dean M.C., and Major McCabe visit Unit and stay night. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HELMOND | 10 | 1030 | RC Service. | |
| 1100 | CofE Service. | |||
| 1800 | Preliminary Instrs for move issued. | Appx J.9. | ||
| 1815 | Orders for move from VALKENSWAARD issued. | Appx J.10. | ||
| 11 | Normal routine. | |||
| 12 | 1100 | Movement Orders Nos. 3 and 4 issued. | Appces J.11 and12 | |
| 1730 | Movement Order No. 5 issued. | Appx J.13. | ||
| General preparations for move. | ||||
| 13 | Preparations for move. Amendment No. 1 to Movement Order No. 5 issued. | Appx J.13. | ||
| 14 | Preparations for move. | |||
| 14 | 2030 | Main Party formed up to move. | ||
| 2115 | Moved from HELMOND. | |||
| 2200 | Arrived Start Point. | |||
| 2215 | Left Start Point. | |||
| 15 | 0600 | Halt for breakfast. | ||
| 1220 | Arrived YPRES. | |||
| 1250 | Arrived POPERINGHE. | |||
| 1800 | CO's conference. Accn and trg. | |||
| POPERINGHE | 16 | Settling in. Vehicle maintenance. Training. | ||
| 17 | 1300 | Details of Tank Commanders' Course issued. Training. | Appx J.14 | |
| 18 | 1900 | Details of Instructors' Cadre Course issued. Training. | Appx J.15 | |
| 19 | Training continued. | |||
| 20 | 0140 | Telephone message from Bde. CO required to attend conference 0800 hrs. | ||
| 0800 | CO to Bde. Possibility of move. | |||
| 0830 | Ordered to be ready to move by 1200 hrs. | |||
| 1100 | Verbal orders to move at 1500 hrs. To collect tanks at 256 Army Del Sqn. | |||
| 1430 | Orders cancelled by phone, but being checked. | |||
| 1445 | Ordered to move as soon as 2 FF Yeo are clear of YPRES. | |||
| 1530 | Bn, less Rear Party left to hold accn, and spare crews to continue trg, | |||
| moved out. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2130 | Arrived ZELLICK. Stopped for night. | ||
| 20 | 2230 | Orders Group. Own tanks have not arrived. A Sqn has biggest allotment | ||
| of tanks from Army Del Sqn. They move first to 256 Army Del Sqn LAEKEN. | ||||
| LAEKEN | 21 | 0700 | Regt re-equipping at LAEKEN. | |
| 0830 | Orders Group. Enemy reported at MARCHE. Own Tps. Amer 7 Armd Div and Inf reported holding ROCHEFORT (2076) and | |||
| CIERGNON. (1077). Rly br NORTH of DINANT watched by one section of Recce Tp. Bde under comd 30 Corps and 53 Div. | ||||
| Role. To prevent enemy from crossing R. MEUSE. | ||||
| 0900 | CO to R. MEUSE on recce. | |||
| 1100 | A Sqn advance to R. MEUSE. | |||
| 1130 | Remainder of Bn advance to R. MEUSE. | |||
| ONHAYE | 1900 | Bn harboured at ONHAYE (9486) less A Sqn at DINANT (9788). | ||
| 22 | 0800 | CO and OC C Sqn recce posns for delaying actions EAST of R. MEUSE. | ||
| 1030 | C Sqn moved to EAST of bridge. CO reported MARCHE clear. Tac HQ established at SORINNE. | |||
| 1830 | Bty 53 Med Regt RA att. | |||
| 1830 | Orders Group. Infm. Enemy has reached BASTOGNE. Own Tps. 84 Amer Inf Div in area MARCHE - HOTTON. 3 Amer Armd Div to NE. | |||
| HCR patrols NAMUR - CHALREROI. 53 Div LOUVAIN - ORTIGNE. Intention. 3 R Tks will delay vigorously any enemy attempt to cross | ||||
| R. MEUSE at DINANT. Method. C Sqn will delay enemy at the ACHENE posn (0989), then withdraw | ||||
| to BIOUL (9296). Recce to withdraw to ANHEE (9695). A Sqn will delay enemy at SORINNE (0488) and withdraw to SOSOYE (9293). G Coy 8 RB will | ||||
| hold DINANT crossing and help A Sqn withdrawal, then revert to own comd. B Sqn to move up to posn WEST of DINANT and withdraw (after A and C have | ||||
| gone through to ST GERARD (8898). RHQ to move to ST GERARD. | ||||
| 2200 | Orders from Bde cancelling previous orders. River must now be held at all | |||
| costs. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 2200 | Enemy half track reported 5 mls SOUTH of C Sqn posns. Capt N.F.F. Kent accidently injured by American veh and evacuated. | ||
| 23 | 0800 | CO and 2IC to Tac HQ at SORINNE. | ||
| 1100 | B Sqn move to EAST of DINANT bridge in posn to protect A Sqn's SOUTHERN flank. | |||
| 24 | 0200 | Jeep manned by enemy tried to run through RB posns but was stopped by mines 2 German SS killed: one wounded and taken PW. | ||
| 0600 | Enemy reported in CELLES (0584). | |||
| 1000 | Mk IV Special knocked out by C Sqn SOUTH of ACHENE. C Sqn pulled back | |||
| NORTH of A Sqn posts at SORINNE. 1 Sc car temporarily abandoned (subsequently recovered) as unable to start. | ||||
| 1100 | Two PANTHERS knocked out by 3 Tp A Sqn at SORINNE. | |||
| 1200 | 1 Tp A Sqn at BOISSELLES (0385) knocked out 1/2 track and one other vehicle. | |||
| Capt J.D. Rosser to 2 Amer Armd Div as LO. A B and C Sqns close in on br head. New posns: A - GEMECHENNE - (0189) | ||||
| B - Bridge at 0088: C - LOYERS (0191). | ||||
| 1400 | Major General E.L. Bols, DSO, GOC 6 Airborne Div called and stated that | |||
| one of his Bdes would be on the ground in our posn by Tuesday (26th) am. | ||||
| 1415 | Bde Comd visits CO. | |||
| 1500 | Heavy medium stonk on BOISSEILLES. | |||
| 1600 | RAF ALO reported to Tac HQ and functioned over rear link net. | |||
| 1830 | A Sqn (less 1 Tp) pulled back to ONHAYE in anti-paratroop role. 1 Tp in DINANT. | |||
| 2130 | Orders received from Bde that Bn is to advance tomorrow. Objective - 084887. Enemy is suspected to be running out of petrol. 53 Div to take | |||
| over our posns. | ||||
| 25 | 0800 | B Sqn move towards SORINNE and occupied village. Sub units cleared FOY | ||
| NOTRE DAME and in conjunction with pl RB took about 40 PW. C Sqn with pl RB and Recce Tp advanced towards BOISSEILLES and occupied it, destroying | ||||
| 1 arnd car, 1 1/2-track. 1 Jeep and 1 truck. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1600 | Major J.D. Dunlop, MC, wounded by sniper when dismounting from sc car. | ||
| 26 | RHQ at SORINNE. A and B Sqns move fwd to take up posns on high ground EAST | |||
| of FOY NOTRE DAME facing EAST and SOUTHEAST. C Sqn and Recce Tp (leas one sec) at BOISSEILLES. A Sqn and one sec Recce Tp at CELLES. Thyphoons | ||||
| called in to attack enemy tpt on road SSE of CELLES. | ||||
| 1700 | A Sqn to withdraw to SORINNE for night: B to GEMECHENNE, B Sqn brewed up two PANTHERS which were found in running order but out of petrol. | |||
| 1730 | Enemy paratroops reported dropped near GIVET. | |||
| 27 | 0800 | A Sqn and sec Recce Tp move to posn on high ground EAST of SORINNE. | ||
| 1200 | Genral White (2 Amer Armd Div) visited CO. | |||
| A Sqn report bag in wood EAST of FOY NOTRE DAME was 2 Mk IV tks, 4 1/2-tracks 2 MC, 10 cars, 1 105mm fd gun, 3 88mm A tk 3 LAA guns. | ||||
| 28 | 0800 | Orders from Bde to send Harbour Parties to FINNEVAUX to recce new area. | ||
| 1000 | Parties left under 2IC. Orders Group. Bn to move to new area FINNEVAUX. | |||
| 1400 | RHQ, Recce Tp and A Sqn located FINNEVAUX: B Sqn - FESCHAUX: C Sqn - WIESME G Coy 8 RB - MESNIL EGLISE. B Sqn to be ready to move at 290745. | |||
| 29 | 0900 | RAP and Recce Tp move to FESCHAUX for better accn. Defensive posns arranged in area. 1 Tp B Sqn sent to WANLIN to contact | ||
| 53 Div. Sec of Recce Tp also sent out. | ||||
| 1315 | CO on recce as far as road WANLIN 1371. | |||
| 1615 | CO returned and tied up defensive posns with sqn comds. | |||
| 30 | 30 Corps taking up posns on WEST of GERMAN salient whilst 1st and 3rd | |||
| American Armies attack from NORTH and SOUTH. | ||||
| 1130 | CO conducts ballot for privilege leave to UK. | |||
| Tp of A Sqn in contact with 53 Div. | ||||
| 31 | Tp of C Sqn in contact with 53 Div. Recce Sec - NTR. |
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