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War Diary: 3rd Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: November 1944

The 3rd Bn Royal Tank Regiment November 1944 war diary covers the units time in the Netherlands in the area around Deurne.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/866

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WO 171/866 3rd Bn Royal Tank Regiment
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Page 1 of 4
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
761236 1 0545 Reveille.
0600 A Sqn move to new area. Task counter attack force in event of GERMAN
tank attack - 756234.
Day quieter than usual. Still receiving enemy stonking.
0830 RC Service.
761236 2 0545 Reveille.
1730 B Sqn move to take over from C Sqn - 766233.
A fairly quiet day. Rocket and buzz bomb reports sent to higher formation.
761236 3 0545 Reveille.
Intermittent exchange of shelling throughout the day.
761236 4 0545 Reveille.
0700 Received call over air from GERMAN station. Reported to Bde.
1400 40 unsuitable personnel posted to CRC.
761236 5 0545 Reveille.
Minefields laid area 768236 EAST of B Sqn.
1600 Coldstream Guards take over from 8RB
2200 Raid on B Sqn area. 2 NCOs and 2 ORs of Coldstreams taken PW.
761236 6 0545 Reveille.
Intermittent enemy shelling and mortaring throughout day. Minefield laying
continued. Trip flares not completed.
761236 7 0500 1 Coldstream wounded and taken PW in B Sqn area.
0545 Reveille.
Usual intermittent shelling and mortaring.
761236 8 0545 Reveille.
Quiet morning.
1325 Very heavy enemy shelling and mortaring in VEULEN area.
Remainder of day reasonably quiet.
761236 9 0545 Reveille.
A Sqn relieve B Sqn at SCHEI. Changeover completed by 1830 hrs.
761236 10 0545 Reveille. Intermittent shelling and mortaring of fwd areas during day.
Page 2 of 4
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
761236 11 0545 Reveille.
Coldstreams relieved by 8RB. Changeover completed by 1330 hrs.
1430 B Sqn move to HELMOND.
761236 12 0615 Reveille.
0800 C of E Service - Holy Communion.
1100 RC Service 23H area.
761236 13 0615 Reveille.
Quieter day than usual. Exchange of shelling continues.
1 NCO to UK for special Gunnery Course.
761236 14 0615 Reveille. Usual shelling.
761236 15 0615 Reveille. Usual shelling throughout day.
Capt C.G. Dear leaves to proceed on D&M Course in UK.
761236 16 0615 Reveille. Fairly quiet day.
761236 17 0615 Reveille.
1415 CO to Bde for conference. Subject - next operation.
761236 18 0615 Reveille.
0630 Net.
1700 CO's conference. Preliminary orders re next operation. The Bde will attack
and take high ground 7919. 3 R Tks will be relieved in this area by 3 Brit
Inf Div. 29 Armd Bde will conc area DEURNE Order of march of 3 R Tks to
new area RHQ, B, A, C to follow later in day. Wheel party will leave 0900.
761236 19 0615 Reveille.
0630 Net.
0800 RHQ, A and B move to new Locations:- A: 661215 B: 662220
679219 1030 CO to Bde conference on forthcoming operation known as "Nutcracker".
1700 C Sqn move from SCHEI to now area. 672222
679219 20 0730 Reveille.
1000 Brigadier calls on CO: discusses next operation.
1800 29 Armd Bde OO No. 25 received.
Lt H.P. Brookshaw and 3 NCOs leave for Special Gunnery & D&M Courses in UK.
Page 3 of 4
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
679219 21 0730 Reveille.
1000 CO to Bde.
Heavy rainfall continues to make ground almost impassable.
679219 22 0730 Reveille.
1030 CO's conference. Approach march to AMERIKA to be made by A Sqn carrying
a coy of 3 MONS. Time: before first light tomorrow, 23 Nov.
As soon as A move RHQ and B Sqn will be on three hours notice.
1930 Signal received cancelling move tomorrow, Move postponed indefinitely.
679219 23 0730 Reveille.
Weather remains bad.
679219 24 0730 Reveille.
679219 25 0730 Reveille.
679219 26 0730 Reveille.
0930 C of E Service.
Notification received of following awards,
MAJOR W.H. Close, Bar to MC. Lt H.P. Brookshaw, Lt J.F. Langdon, Lt W.F. Yates
MCs., Sgt Kite, 2nd Bar to MM, L/Sgt Woodward, Bar to MM, Sgt Cooper, MM.
1100 RC Service.
679219 27 0730 Reveille.
0930 Tank Commanders' Course commenced under direction of Major N.H. Bourne, DSO.
1400 50 to ENSA show, HELMOND.
1430 80 to Cinema, HELMOND.
1700 10 to Rembrandt Theatre, EINDHOVEN.
2 NCOs to UK for Special Gunnery Courses.
679219 28 0730 Reveille.
0830 Fatigue Party of 45 to DEURNE - AMERIKA road to help sappers clearing
demolitions.
1000 Recce parites from Sqns to HELMOND to take over billets from 4 KSLI.
679219 29 0730 Reveille.
Page 4 of 4
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
679219 29 1100 Lt Gen Sir Richard O'Connor, KCB, DSO, MC., Corps Commander, gives farewell
address to officers and ORs of 29 Armd Bde, in Cinema DEURNE.
30 0730 Reveille.
679219 1400 B & C Sqns move to HELMOND. Move complete by 1600.
Tank Commanders' Course postponed until Monday 4 Dec 44.

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