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    30th Armoured Brigade War Diary: September 1944

    The 30th Armoured Brigade September 1944 war diary covers the advance from the Seine to Belgium, with headquarters moving through Boos, Étainhus, Yébleron and Blendecques to Zevergem near Ghent. The period focused on planning and carrying out Operation ASTONIA against Le Havre and supporting the Boulogne and Calais attacks, ending with planning for Operation INFATUATE from Bruges

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/628

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    WO 171/628 30th Armoured Brigade
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
    Oct
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    WO 171/628 A & Q
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    WO 171/628 Rear HQ
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    Page 1 of 3
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    R. 1449201Main HQ moved to R. 144920.
    Op FUSILADE against DIEPPE cancelled owing to
    fall of town. 1 Lothians across the SEINE.
    30 Armd Bde Op Summary No. 22.
    30 Armd Bde Movement Order 28/4827/G.
    BOOS. M. 2650802Main HQ moved to M 265080.
    22 Dgns and residue W Dgns began crossing river
    SEINE.
    30 Armd Bde Ops Summary No. 23.
    Freld Return Serial No20
    "3Tac HQ moved to 8E/831350 to join 1 Brit Corps
    for Op ASTONIA for which the following will be
    required:- 22 Dgns, 1 Lothians, A & C Sqns
    141 RAC.
    30 Armd Bde Ops Summary No. 24.
    30 Armd Bde Movement Order 28/4919/G.
    LE BOCAGE 8E/8313504Main HQ joins Tac HQ at 8E/831350.
    30 Armd Bde Ops Summary No. 25.
    30 Armd Bde Op Instr No. 19.
    30 Armd Bde Movement Order 28/4984/G.
    115Tac HQ moved to ETAINHUS 8E/6433.
    22 Dgns, 1 Lothians, 141 RAC less B Sqn,
    42 Aslt Regt RE now under comd. 284 Aslt Sqn
    of 6 Aslt Regt RE available.
    30 Armd Bde Ops Summary No. 26.
    L66540660930Conference on Op Astonia at Bde HQ attended by
    all COs and 2 ICs, Sqn Ldrs and 2IC Sqns.
    Summary No. 27.
    30 Armd Bde Op Instr No. 20.
    30 Armd Bde Adm Instr to Op Instr No. 20.    		Y
    "7Planning for Op ASTONIA.
    Op Summary No. 28.
    "8Planning for Op ASTONIA.
    ETAINHUS 8E/64339Planning for Op ASTONIA.
    Main HQ joined Tac HQ at ETAINHUS 8E/6433.
    Field Return Serial No. 21.
    "9Op Summary No. 28.
    30 Armd Bde Op Instr No. 21.
    Addendum No. 1 to Op Instr No. 21.
    " No. 2 " " " No. 21.
    Amdt No. 1 to 30 Armd Bde Adm Instr to OP Instr
    No. 20.
    Signal Instrs to Op Order No. 21.
    Page 2 of 3
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    ETAINHUS 8E/6433101745H hour for Op ASTONIA.
    Addendum No. 3 to Op Instr No. 21.
    Tac HQ with 56 Inf Bde.
    "11Op ASTONIA continues.
    Op Summary No. 30.
    "12Op ASTONIA completed. Units commenced to
    withdraw and conc NE of BOLBEC 8E/7533.
    Op Summary No. 31.
    ""2015Op Instr No. 22.
    "130900Conference at Bde HQ on Op ASTONIA attended
    down to Sqn Ldrs (See report dated 18 Sep 44).
    "13003030 Armd Bde Op Instr No. 23.
    30 Armd Bde Adm Instr to Op Instr No. 23.
    Op Summary No. 32.
    30 Armd Bde moves Ref 28/5524/G.
    11131800Rear Bde HQ moved to YEBLERON 8E/L813404.
    CO 141 RAC and 1 Lothians to 79 Armd Div
    for conference on planning of BOULOGNE attack.
    YEBLERON 8E/L813404140815Main Bde HQ moved to YEBLERON 8E/L813404.
    1 Lothians and 141 RAC commenced to move to
    BOULOGNE area under command 31 Tk Bde.
    "15Op Summary No. 33.
    BM visited 79 Armd Div at ST OMER H 1550 and
    warned of likely employment for attack on
    DUNKIRK.
    "160830Adv Tac HQ (less Bde Comd) moved to BLENDECQUES
    H 1549.
    Bde Comd unwell.
    Field Return Serial No. 22.
    "17Comd unwell. BM to Div and ordered to remain
    at Bde Tac HQ. DUNKIRK Ops cancelled policy
    to hold. Next Ops expected R SCHELDT.
    1 Lothians began Ops at BOULOGNE (WELLHIT) under
    31 Tk Bde.
    "18Tac HQ (less Bde Comd) moved to BLENDECQUES
    H 155493.
    Bde Comd unwell. No planning. Comd W Dgns
    ordered to Tac and arranged move of W Dgns less
    B Sqn to area of B Sqn in ARRAS on 20-23 Sep.
    30 Armd Bde (Moves) Ref 28/5824/G.
    Bde Comds Notes on Op ASTONIA.
    Page 3 of 3
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    YEBLERON 8E/L8134041922 Dgns and one Tp 284 Assault Sqn RE
    ordered in sp of 31 Tk Bde for ops at
    CALAIS (UNDERGO) by transporters.
    284 Sqn RE (less one tp) to move under
    Div Comd on tracks.
    "19200030 Armd Bde Op Instr No. 24.
    30 Armd Bde Adm Instr to Op Instr No. 24.
    BLENDECQUES200830Maine Bde HQ joined Tac HQ at BLENDECQUES.
    Op Summary No. 34.
    "20/21C Sqn 22 Dgns and one Tp Assault RE moved
    to area BOULOGNE-CALAIS under command
    31 Tk Bde.
    "21Movement ordered of Bde HQ 23 Sep 44 to
    area SE of GHENT. BM recced new area.
    30 Armd Bde (Moves) Ref 28/5928/G.
    "220800Adv party moved to new location CHATEAU
    J 155721.
    Move postponed until 25 Sep 44 owing to
    slowness of BOULOGNE Ops and CALAIS not
    yet started see 30 Armd Bde (Moves) ref
    28/5960/G.
    "23Field Return Serial No. 23.
    30 Armd Bde Ref 117/4/5997/A Subject
    Postings ORS - Re-org.
    "24Move postponed until 26 Sep 44.
    30 Armd Bde Adm Instr No.4 (A).
    "2530 Armd Bde (Moves) Ref 28/6085/G.
    SEVERGEM J15572126Main Bde HQ moved to CHATEAU J155721.
    "27Rear Bde HQ joined Main Bde HQ.
    "26/2922 Dgns less 'C' Sqn moved on tracks
    to area J 1568.
    "2830 Armd Bde Adm of Units in GHENT area
    Ref 102/2/6301/A.
    "29NTR
    "30Tac Bde HQ moved to HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN,
    BRUGES to commence planning for Op INFATUATE.
    "30Field Return Serial No. 24. 30 Armd Bde Op
    Summary No. 35.

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