War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: Febuary 1944

The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards February 1944 War diary starts with the unit in Tian, Scotland and covers their move down to Newmarket, England.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/838

The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.

All diaries for this unit:

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

« Return to war diaries

Page 1 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	1	B & C Squadrons are on leave. A Squadron arrived at LANGHOLM
		to-day by train from TAIN.
	2	The C.O. spoke to all ranks present with the regiment to inform them
		that we were to leave 27 Armoured Brigade very soon and go to
		the 8 Armoured Brigade (just back from M.E.): this would not involve any change in our role in the assault The reason for our leaving the Brigade with which we had served since its formation originally as the 1st Reconnaissance Brigade in June 1940 and as the 27 Armoured Brigade in December 1940 was that the reorganization of assaulting troops was to be made and we were the only regiment trained in our particular role and so available for transfer. The Staffs Yeo from the 8th Armoured Brigade were to take our place in the 27th, and we would be in the 8th Armoured Brigade under Brigadier J.H anstice D.S.O. the other two regiments in the 8th Armd Bde are the Sherwood Rangles (Notts Yeomanry) and

Page 2 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	2	24 lancer the latter in vice the 3rd RTR. The move was
		to take place on 13 Feb 44.
		The C.O. departed on leave in the evening.
	3	A Squadron went on leave so that now only HQ. Sqn are at
		LANGHOLM. Brigadier CUSTANCE D.S.O. (AFV Schools) called
		in the morning and lunched here with O.C. 148 Regt R.A C. (Lt Col.
		Simmons M.C.) after which he discussed with Major Barker,
		the adjutant and O.C. 148 problems & policy re courses.
	4	Nothing to record
	5	Personel of H.Q. Sqn saw a film on the German anti Personel
		Butterfly Bomb in the morning.
	6	HQ Sqn and details of A, B & C Sqns all under Major G.K. Barker
		attended a parade of the 8 Inf Brigade when General Sir Benard
		Montgomery K.C.B D.S.O., visited the brigade and made a short
		address: the General who was accompanied by Lt Crocker (Comd

Page 3 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	6	1 Corps) walked among the ranks, all personnel being allowed "to break ranks & crowd in to see him : there was no formal
		inspection. There were nearly 3000 men on parade and were
		formed up in three sides of square : the General made his address from the bonnet of a jeep everybody crowding closely around him.
	7	B Squadron returned from leave in the evening.
	8	No definite order yet available about our move except verbal ones that advance. Party should go on 10 Feb. This party was detailed to-day together with the rear party. all our tanks and three tonnes are to be handed over to the Staffs Yeomany here.
	9	Day spent in preparing vehicles for handover.
	10	Advance Party trains under Capt Abel, road under the Q.M. left to-day & proceeded to CHIPPENHAM Centre Camp NEWMARKET (the regiment was in the South Camp in summer of 1942).

Page 4 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	11	order received by telephone confirming our move on 13 Feb but giving no
		details of trains. a party from Staff Yeo took over nine
		Shermans and 2 A.R.V.s (the letter only arrived yesterday) and
		until our assistance loaded them on to Warwells at the station, the train departing in the evening all the organisation for the train & move was done for them by us. Seven three tonnes
	11	were also taken over by them. C Squadron returned off leave.
	12	Remaining 19 3-tonners were taken over by the Staff Yeo and the rest of our Shermans. all there vehicles appeared to be in very good condition and the handover went extremely well. The Staff Yeo officer i/c taking over party said he was well pleased with the vehicles.
		The Scout Cars were taken over in the morning and left by
		train in the evening.
		In the late afternoon Capt Abel rang up from

Page 5 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	12	NEWMARKET to say that be had seen a message from 2 Army to Corp saying that our move was postponed to 22 Feb. 3 Div were immediately asked about this, in the meantime the convoy number??? route etc, for the main road party came though, and later confirmed that the message was correct and no move was to be made. The
	13	road & rail party were cancelled therefore and arrangements then had to be made to get A Sqn who were coming back off leave on 14 Feb to return to LANGHOLM. a start had been made on loading baggage wagons but these were left loaded and later dispatched to NEWMARKET.
	14	Remaining Shermans were taken away by the Staff Yeo & loaded into warwells in the afternoon. all the vehicles and tanks take taken over by the Staff Yeo were in a very clean condition indeed and well maintained and the Stiff Yeo expressed their pleasure at taking over vehicles in

Page 6 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	14	such condition.
	15	The C.O. arrived from NEWMARKET in the evening where he had
		been visiting the advance party.
		The C.O. held a Squadron Leaders conference in the evening: main
		points discussed were :- our change over to 8 Armoured Brigade,
		mobilisation and training.
	16	Squadrons carried on with individual training such as mines training
		shooting personal arms, and I training.
	17	Parties of B Vehicle drivers and D.Rs left to go to V.R.D.s near
		GLASGOW to collect our complete War Establishment of new
		B' vehicles - less 2 - 15 cwt & half tracked which are coming from
		CASTLE DONNINGTON by rail to NEWMARKET.
	18	Regimental rest days. all the new 'B' vehicles and m/c s???, referred to
		arrived safely in the evening.
	19	all the old 'B' vehicles excluding utilities and one 15 or 30 cwt per

Page 7 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	19	Squadron (retained for driving instruction) were taken to GLASGOW to be handed into a V.R.D. to-morrow morning. Lt.W. Davis was i/c the party. a gunnery trade test for about fourteen gunners was held. Lt G.G.R. Moore conducting the test.
	20	The CO. held a Squadron Leaders conference at which training programme for coming week was outlined. Squadrons held games in the afternoon.
	21	The C.O. ran a T.E.W.T. for Squadron Leaders and captains in the afternoon which is to be broken down by Squadron Leaders & their troop leaders during the week. Squadrons carried on with various forms of individual training such as firing personal arms, grenade throwing, semaphore, mines, unarmed combat a young officers and N.C.O.s drill cadre under the adjutant and R.S.M. was started.
	22	C Sqn held a T.E.W.T. for toop leaders & crew commanders in the afternoon.

Page 8 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LANGHOLM	23	Nothing particular to report except that the loading of the baggage wagons for the move to NEWMARKET commenced.
	24	Nothing particular to record.
	25	The C.O. held a Squadron Leaders conference at 1000hrs Each Squadron (excluding HQ) sent a team of 3 out of their tank crews to 79 Armd. Div for a short course on "snakes".
	26	The main road party under Major I.G. Gill M.C. consisting of 70 vehicles departed for NEWMARKET in the morning: night 26/27 Feb.was staged it DONCASTER accommodation being in waterlogged tents on a very cold night: snow started to fall soon after the convoy started and roads were treacherous Doncaster was reached without mishap. In the evening the main train party under Major J.A.D'd Goldmid??? left from LONGTOWN travelling overnight to NEWMARKET.
	27	Main train arrived at NEWMARKET at 0815 hrs and was met by

Page 9 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
NEWMARKET	27	the staff Captain of the 8 Armd Bde. The road party arrived in the evening at about 1900 hrs.
CHIPPENHAM	28	The day was spent in unloading and settling in; the regiment is now in the centre camp at CHIPPENHAM PARK: the other two regiments in our new Brigade, the 24 Lancers and Notts Yeo (Sherwood Rangers) occupying the South and North camp respectively. A Sqn have then delivery of 18 Sherman IIIs (diesel) during the last two days. The C.O. held a Squadron Leaders conference.
	29	Individual training cadres in D&M, Gunnery & Wireless were started to train up those not yet tradesmen who me filling trademen's places on the W.E. and 1st line. The Brigade Comd (Brigadier J. H anstice DSO) and Brig. Major (Major L. Biddle M.C. -Notts Yeo) called and discussed training and other points with the C.O.

Layers

War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: Febuary 1944

Viewing map locations