War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: April 1944

The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards April 1944 War diary covers the units training in the UK including the Exercise SMASH which resulted in the death of 6 men from C and B Squadron

National Archive Reference: WO 171/838

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
CHIPPENHAM	1	The Q.M. attended a short conference at Bde. H.Q. in the morning.
		"A" Sqn fired 17-pdr at HOLKHAM Range: shooting was held up for
		some time by a fire which broke out on the range.
	2	The Adjutant & Q.M. attended a conference at Bde. H.Q. at which
		accommodation in the new area was discussed. other units'
		Advance parties assembled in our and Notts Yeo camps in the
		evening preparatory to moving south to the SWAY area in the morning.
	3	The Advance party of "A" & HQ Sqns left in the early morning
		and journeyed down to NEW MILTON (Hants) by road.
		The Recce Tp and members of the Tank Tp fired 37 mm and 75 mm
		respectively at BOYTON Range
STUDLAND BAY	4	"B" & "C" Sqns took part in Exercise SMASH I with 50 (N) Div.,
		landing on STUDLAND Bay. Owing to a wind getting up with a
		strong sea six of the special craft were sunk, unfortunately
		resulting in the following becoming missing presumed drowned:-

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
STUDLAND BAY.	4	Lt. C.R.Gould, Sgt. Hartley, Cpl. Park '84, Tpr.Kirby and
		Tpr. Petty, all of "C" Squadron, and Cpl. Townson of "B" Squadron.
CHIPPENHAM	5	The Adjutant attended a conference at Brigade H.Q. in the
		evening to settle details for the forthcoming move to NEW
		MILTON, Hants.
		Lt-Col.L.E.Misa,DSO., arrived on a short visit to the Regiment.
	6	The C.O. returned from BOURNEMOUTH. The first two tank trains
		(conveying "A" Sqn tanks) left in the evening from NEWMARKET
		for BROCKENHURST (detraining station).
		The road party left for NEW MILTON.
	7	Two more tank trains ("A" & HQ Sqn) left for the south.
		An Army Film Unit tock pictures of the entrainment and
		departure of the trains.

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
NEW MILTONHANTS.	8	"A" Sqn are located at HIGHCLIFFE and HQ Sqdn & RHQ at about
		3/4 mile north of NEW MILTON. "B" & "C" Squadrons are still
		at BOURNEMOUTH. The 2 i/c and Adjutant visited "B" & "C"
		Sqns in the afternoon.
	9	Officers and other ranks of the regiment, the Brigade Commander
		and Brigade Major (Brigadier J. A. Craycroft and Major L.Biddle),
		and officers and other ranks of the 24th Lancers, attended a
		Memorial service held at BOURNEMOUTH for Lt. C. R. Gould,
		Sgt. V. Hartley, Cpl.A.J.Park, Cpl. V. N. Townson, Tpr.E.G.petty
		and Tpr. A.Kirby, who were drowned on 4th April, at the end
		of the Service (which was conducted by the Vicar - the Rev.
		Woods, and old member of the 7th D.G. - and the padre attached
		to the Brigade - the REV. Green) two trumpeters of the Regiment
		sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
	10	The C.O. and san. Leaders attended a conference on Exercise

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
NEW MILTON	10	SMASH I (in which "B" & "C" Squadrons participated).
	11-14	All Squadrons working hard waterproofing vehicles preparatory
		for exercise SMASH III - involving all Tide I vehicles.
	11	Postal censorship started: all letters to be censored by officers.
	12	The REV. Captain Davies joined the regiment for permanent
		attachment as our Padre (Church of England).
	13	The C.O. attended a conference at Brigade HQ in the afternoon.
		Major J.A.d'Avigdor Goldsmid lectured to all crew commanders
		and vehicle drivers on the organisation of the B.M.A. (Beach
		Maintenance Area) and showed what signs we would expect to
		see on landing and what they indicated.
		Major G.K.Barker went to Kings Lynn to attend a 7th Armd. Div.
		T.E.W.T.
	14	Tanks and vehicles taking part in SMASH III moved into the
		marshalling areas north of Southampton, vehicles coming in

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
NEW MILTON	14		on Tide I only are to participate and some of those are going
			dryshod.
			C.O. attended another conference at Brigade H.Q. in the
			morning.
	15		A tragic accident occurred today when 2/Lt. R.H.Pillman of
			"C" Squadron was killed when he walked on a mine when playing
			golf at BARTON with his brother Lieut. C.H.Pillman and Captain
			Richards of "A" squadron: they were looking for a ball which
			had been driven off the fairway and unwittingly walked into
			a mined enclosure, the other officers were uninjured.
			All the tanks and other vehicles going Wetshod on SMASH III
			embarked today on to L.C.T's and L.S.T's (transport only) at
			Southampton: "B" & "C" with their DD's embarked at POOLE.
			The craft then tied up in Southampton Water for the night.
	16	1800	Craft put to sea for SMASH III.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
In the field	17	0700	H hour was 0700 hrs: "B" & "C" sans touched down on STUDLAND
			beach at H-5 having come in very well, but were a little
			bunched on arriving. "B" on the right supporting 6 Green Howards,
			"C" on left supporting 5 E Yorks, "A" Sqn (coming in at H + 60)
			supporting the reserve Bn. of the 69 Inf. Bde. - the 7 Green
			Howards. RHQ came in at H+60: most Shermans of "A" & RHQ
			had about a four foot wade which they all accomplished without
			any trouble at all. Tide I vehicles of the echelon scheduled to
			come in at H+4 1/2 hrs did not arrive until much later in the day
			off their L.S.T's
			Co-operation with the infantry worked well and Phase I consisting
			of capture of a road running parallel to the beach for about 1000 yds
			about 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile inland by "B" Sqn and the 6 G.Howards, and
			of the assault by 5 E. Yorks with "C" Sqn on the KNOIL House Hotel
			STUDLAND & WOODHOUSE was successfully completed. Meanwhile

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
In the Field.	17	0700	"A" SQn linked up with the 7 Green Howards and attacked a Howitzer
			position which dominated the 69 Bde's axis of advance: this attack
			was successful but there was some unnecessary "milling about" by
			certain "A" Sqn tanks when getting into their positions. End of
			Phase I. Phase II. "C" Sqn then rallied and replenished from
			Tide I POL lorries which had arrived: OC"C" Sqn contacted 9 DLI
			(151 Bde ) and prepared to support them in their attack on to
			STUBOROUGH (3507): this involved switching over the Sqn to the
			right (i.e. north west). "B" Sqn supported 6 Green Howards on to
			their objective - a further 1 1/2 to 2 miles inland in area WYTCH
			FARM reverting on conclusion of this to Regtl Command (this took
			place in the afternoon). "A" Sqn supported 7 Green Howards in the
			advance westwards on line NEWTON and railway running South west,
			and at conclusion of this rallied and joined RHQ in the afternoon
			in area HIGHER BUSHEY FARM (4003).

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
In the Fd.STUDLAND Bay Area.	17	1700	"B" & "C" Sqns tanks had to be reembarked at 1700 hrs on to LCTs
			to return to STANSWOOD BAY (new location) so as far as they were
			concerned the exercise was ended now. The Comdg Offr went
			forward in the evening and again contacted the Brigadier Knox
			of 69 Inf Bde and "A" Sqn and RHQ moved on through CORFE, "A"
			Sqn taking up position near the 7 Green Howards prepared to take
			on any counter attack about three miles east of CORFE Castle:
			they were in fairly close country with a long ridge of hills
			running east to west on their right flank. No counter attack
			developed and the night was quiet. RHQ spent the night in a
			field hear CORFE Castle and the echelon (i.e. those on Tide I
			and II - ammunition and petrol lorries) which came in off LSTs
			on Rhino rafts joined us in harbour.
CORFE Castlle Area.	18	0900	Exercise ended. "A" and RHQ dispersed to billets by road.
	19 & 20		Maintenance and de-waterproofing. "A" Sqn fired 17-pdr at LULWORTH

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
NEW MILTON	21	1000	Comdg Offr held a Sqn Ldrs conference at which the recent exercise
			was discussed.
	22		3 tanks RHQ and 7 from "A" Sqn moved to LULWORTH preparatory to
			firing 75mm to-morrow.
LULWORTH	23		"A" & RHQ gunners fired at LULWORTH on the Heath range: "Super"
			HE ammunition was used and results were good.
NEW MILTON	24		Sqns preparing all D Day vehicles for exercise FABIUS. They are
			to be completed by 28th April.
	25		Comdg Offr and Sqn Ldrs attended a conference at RINGWOOD on the
			last exercise. A draft of three O.Rs arrived - potential Dvr.
			Mechs A.F.V. and were posted 2 to "C" and 1 to "A" Sqn.
	26		Major J.A.d Avigdor Goldsmid and 2/Lt. O.L. Holmes attended a
			bombing demonstration at STUDLAND Bay in the afternoon.
	27		Marshalling for exercise FABIUS due to start - no orders received

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
NEW MILTON	28	2130	Orders received (via Bde from Movement Control) for marshalling
			of all vehicles taking part in exercise FABIUS II. All the
			transport concerned was scheduled to leave early on 29th April
			so orders to Squadrons had to be rushed out as quickly as possible
	29		same night. All parties got off to time.
	30		Tanks of "A" & RHq moved to marshalling areas for FABIUS II.
			Certain unaccompanied G.1098 stores for the operation (from
			Q.M. ) was sent to MILWALL to-day.

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War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: April 1944

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