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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM PARK Newmarket | 1 | B&C Squadrons each took delivery of 3 Valantine Mk X fitted with 75 mm guns & 7.92 mm Besa MG. Thet are for training purposes only. A Sqn took 4 Shermans to TITCHWELL Range (65 miles away) by road, & the selected gunners and commanders in preparation for firing to-morrow. The regiment went over to day on to Field Documentation: owing to this the Orderly Room Sergeant Major Q.M.S. L Graver - who has been nearly 25 years with the regiment and 17 years in the Orderly Room, left to-day to go to Second Echelon where he carries on there as 4/7 R.D.G. representative. | |
| 2 | A Sqn fired at TITCHWELL on the H.E. Range (Sanctuary Range) B Sqn sent selected gunners and commanders to TITCHWELL in the evening preparatory to shooting to-morrow on the HE range. | ||
| 3 | B Sqn fired on the Sanctuary Range & A Sqn on the A.P. range at TITCHWELL: the Valentines with 75 mm guns were used and fired well |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| TITCHWELL | 3 | A Sqn returned from TITCHWELL in the evening their place being taken there by C Squadron. | |
| 4 | B Sqn fired on the A.P. Range is the afternoon & C Sqn on the HE Range: AP shooting was quite good. Shooting was interfered occasionally by snow storms. | ||
| CHIPPENHAM | 5 | B Sqn returned to CHIPPENHAM in the morning and C Sqn fired on the AP. range. HQ??? Sqn??? held a church parade in the morning under the command of Capt P. G. Verdin and attended divine service at CHIPPENHAM church: the service was conducted by the Padre attached to the 24L. | |
| 6 | C Sqn returned in the morning. The CO accompanied by the 2 i/c Messing Officer, M.O., Q.M. and R.S.M. made an inspection of the camp in the morning. | ||
| 7 | The C.O. attended a conference at Ads. Bde. HQ in LONDON in | ||
| the morning. The adjutant proceeded on leave | |||
| 8 | Lt. Col. J Anderson D.S.O. who has just taken over command of the | ||
| Notts Yeo called. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 8 | a regimental board sat # & interviewed candidates for O.C.T.U. | |
| 9 | 0900 | The CO. went to Birgade HQ in the morning & met the Army Commander (General Dempsey). | |
| 1200 | The Messing officer staged a demonstration for all officers, SQMSs & cooks of the new cooks lorry, of which each Squadron has one. | ||
| 1600 | The CO held a Squadron leaders conference to discuss training. | ||
| 1730 | A discussion for all officers on "Recovery" was held by the C.O. | ||
| 10 | 1000 | The C.O. A/adjutant (Lt P.G.D.Aiglewood & the Signal Officer (Lt C.W.P.Hampton took part in a Signal Exercise at Brigade HQ. the use of the Slidex Code was practised. The second in Command took the regiment out on a short signal exercise (mounted) | |
| 0800 | The advance Party of B&C Sqns. left for Bournemouth where B & C are to carry out special training at ??? |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 11 | The C.O. held Squadom Leaders conference in the morning. | |
| The regiment lost at football to the 24 L by 2-3 goals. | |||
| 12 | C Squadron held a church parade and attended Divine Service at CHIPPENHAM parish church | ||
| 1200 | The CO held a Squadron leader conference to tie up plans for the move of B & C Sqns. | ||
| 13 | The CO was at Bournemouth to-day. The Brigade Major (Major L.A.Biddle M.C.) called to settle any difficulties we might have over the move. | ||
| 14 | The CO returned and held a Squadron Leaders conference in the evening. | ||
| 15 | The recently arrived Sherman V(c) (mounting a 17 pdr) went TITCHWELL to fire. Major General Erskine (G.O.C. 7 And. Div.) lectured at all officers of the Brigade on "The Armoured Division" |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 15 | The main party of B & C Sqns left for Bournemouth The regiment beat the 24 L at football 3-0. | |
| 16 | A Sqn trained on the South west Thatford Training area the C.O. and some members of the S.T.C. Cambridge went out to watch. a draft of our 1st line Reinforcements under 2/Lt. G.T. Thompson went to the 265 Fwd Delivery Squadron (accommodated in the north camp in CHIPPENHAM Park),these pesonel remain on our strength. The 17 pdr Sherman was fired at TITCHWELL by A Sqn crews it was satisfactory. | ||
| 17 | St. Patricks Day - a whole holiday The Officers played the Sergeants at footballs & drew 3-3 after a very spirited game. | ||
| 18 | Brigadier J.H. Anstice D.SO. who is relinquishing command of |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 18 | this the 8 Armoured Brigade called to say "goodbye". | |
| The adjutant returned off leave. | |||
| The CO visited B & C Sqn at Bournemouth. | |||
| 19 | A Sqn held a church parade in the morning attending the | ||
| service at CHIPPENHAM church. | |||
| The Recce Troop have now got 10 Honeys they | |||
| are not in a very good state & require a lot of work doing | |||
| on them. | |||
| a travelling "Personal Selection Board" who test all men | |||
| for intelligence on the matrix system started their | |||
| examination of the regiment. | |||
| Bournemouth | 20 | 8 crews each from B & C Sqn went to B Wing 79 Armd Div. | |
| School for training in Shermans for their special role. | |||
| CHIPPENHAM | 21 | Major G.K. Barker conducted a T.E.W.T. for all officers of A&HQ Sqns | |
| & A Coy 12KRRC involving problems on an advance guard of its |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 21 | armoured regiment and a motor battalion. | |
| The CO returned from Bournemouth in the morning. | |||
| 22 | 1700 | The CO attended a tactual discussion at Brigade H.Q. in the evening : the 8 Armd Bde is now commanded by Brigadier J.B Cracroft R.T.R | |
| 23 | The C.O. attended a conference at Brigade HQ on the forthcoming 7 Armd Div. exercise "KELLYS EYE I" & held a briefing conference for all new crew commanders in the evening. | ||
| 24 | The regiment consisting of A Sqn, RHQ (less intercoms??? tp) and A1 echelon vehicles of A & HQ Squadron moved up to concentration area north west of SWAFFHAM - near NARBOROUGH for the 7 Armd Div. exercise. all vehicles reached harbour without any breakdowns | ||
| The CO attended two Brigade conferences, at 1600 & 1800 hrs & |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the field | 24 | gave out his orders to the 'O' Group at 1900hrs: Summary of orders: - (a) intentions: to seize bridge at BRANDON destroying all enemy en route (b) Method - one ups??? two sections Recce TP leading, Troop A Sqn with F.O.O. (147 Fd Regt. R.A. - Essex Yeo) of A Bty (under comd) A Sqn 4/7 R.D.G., A Coy 12KRRC (under comd) RHA???, A Bty 147 Fd.Rgt. A.A.T/4???/7 R.D.G. B Sqn, C Sqn A1 echelon, Section Fd. ambulance. (c) our lead to cross start line at 0830hrs. - 8H to be in front of us. (d) Intercoms??? regimental net. | |
| 25 | 0830 | Head of Regimental group passed start point three miles south of NARBOROUGH : our route to BRANDON was in the main the right hand Corps boundary. Rear link set broke down on two occasions during the day resulting in touch being lost for a short time with Brigade HQ. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the field | 25 | 0930 | First report of enemy received from 24L (on our left flank moving on parallel road) MkIII & IV Tanks. |
| Reports of enemy increased several S.P. on 24L front. | |||
| 1020 | A Sqn report slight opposition. | ||
| 1030 | A Sqn held up by Panther & Tiger tanks & one troop was lost C.O. went forward to recce attack planned with O.C. A Coy, Bty Comd & A Coy Comd 12 KRRC. The enemy were holding BOTANY BAY FARM area in some strength. C.O. decided to attack 2 Squadrons up from left (ie east) flank supported by A 147 Fd.Regt the gunners were to put down five, 1140 -1150 hrs. | ||
| 1130 | Before this attack materialised the enemy withdrew and the CO. decided to follow up and try to overrun: gunner support was quickly obtained on the Farm area 1135-1145 hrs | ||
| and the regiment moved on quickly in an effort push through | |||
| to the next bound which was the river line at DIDLINGTON | |||
| a section of the recce Tp actually crossed the bridge but had |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the field | 25 | to promptly withdraw. Panzer Grenadiers and Tigers were in DIDLINGTON Park and it was not possible to find another way across. | |
| 1230 approx | The Brigadier visited our sector. An attack by the Motor Coy was planned on the every position and this was to go in on the left flank (ie east of the park) at then juncture the exercise was ended and the regiment returned to CHIPPENHAM Camp in the evening, leaving four tanks at Brigade workshops to have extra Armour plating ("Quickfix Armour") put on them. | ||
| 26 | The CO. attended a conference at Brigade HQ in the morning. | ||
| 27 | The C.O. 2 i/c & Oc.C. Sqn attended a 7 Armd Div. conference on the recent exercise in the morning at HQ. 22 Armd.Bde. In the evening the CO. went through points in connection with the exercise with all crew commanders and operation. The standard of operating on the exercise was not good, netting & |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIPPENHAM | 27 | wireless discipline being poor. | |
| 28 | Tile first 15 cwt 1/2 track for the regiment arrived: each sabre Sqn | ||
| is supposed to have one and H.Q Sqn. four. | |||
| 29 | The C.O. left for Bournemouth where he is going on an exercise with | ||
| Band C Sqns. The 2 i/c adjutant Q.M. & Capt. Stirling Major L G | |||
| Gill Mc. attended an all day sandtable demonstration at Brigate | |||
| HQ on the various administrative services and organisation of | |||
| the echelons: the demonstration (run by the DAA & OMG 8 Armd | |||
| 30 | Bde) lasted for one and a half days (ie 29 & 30 March) | ||
| A Sqn moved out on the Thatford training and with Recce | |||
| Tp to stand two nights out in the field. | |||
| 31 | Nothing to record. |
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