War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: November 1944

The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards November 1944 War diary starts with the unit in Winssen, Netherlands and covers their advance to Geilenkirchen, Germany

National Archive Reference: WO 171/838

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Page 1 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1		The Commanding Officer and Major S.R.M. Jenkins returned from
			leave in the afternoon. The S.R.Y. sent representatives to look
			at the Squadron areas at WINSSEN which they were to take over from
			us tomorrow.
			Q.M. attended a 'Q" conference at Bde.H.Q. at which among other
			things the forthcoming Ordnance inspectorate was discussed. The
			Commanding Officer interviewed 7 new Corporals posted to us as
			crew comds, and also saw all personnel who were on our strength at
			the 265 F.D.S.
	2		The Regiment moved out of WINSSEN - in the morning, crossed over
			the NIJMEGEN bridge on to the Island - once again. Owing to the
			possibility of the enemy being able to flood a large portion of
			the Island, only 95 vehicles of the Regiment were allowed over,
			this meant that "A" and "B" Sqns. only had 15 tanks, "C" Sqn.17
			and the A1 Echelon only 6 lorries. We took over duties from

Page 2 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	2.Contd.		S.R.Y. "A" Sqn. u/c 50 (N) Div. located at OOSTERHOUT - 50 Div.
			being responsible for the Eastern sector - N.E. of ELST - BEMMEL.
			RHQ at OOSTERHOUT again; "B" and "C" Sqns. u/c 101 U.S. Airborne
			Div. "C" Sqn. being located at ZETTENANDELST and having two tps.
			out on the "Western approaches", one u/c 327 Combat Team and one
			u/c 502 Combat Team. "B" Sqn. were located at HERVELD in Div.
			reserve liable to operate with 501 or 506 Combat Team to the
			North or North East.
			The relief was completed by 1200 hrs.
			The Commanding Officers and Adjutant visited Sqns. in their new
			areas and called at 50 Div. and 101 U.S. Airborne Div.H.Qs. In
			the afternoon the Commanding Officer went to "B" Echelon and
			organized the classes which were to be run in the Echelon to
			train tradesmen and tank comds: 2 gunnery, 2 D.&M. and 1
			wireless and 1 crew comds class were started. Capt. E. H. Frank

Page 3 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	2. contd.		was made supervisor of the schools. The Commanding Officer visited
			HQ 8 Armd Bde in the evening.
	3		Sqns had nothing to report. The Commanding Officer held a short Sqn
			Leaders conference in the morning and visited Sqn areas again in the
			afternoon calling at 101 US Airborne HQ in the early evening.
			Captain A.L. Berlow, Tech Adjt of the 2 N Y which had recently been
			broken un arrived on attachment with a view to taking over appointment
			as Tech Adth in the Regiment. It was announced today that the whole
			of BELGIUM had now been completely liberated.
	4		The Brigadier called in the morning. The Commanding Officer spoke to
			all ranks of "A", "B" & "C" Sqns in their Sqn areas in the morning,
			putting them into the picture as far as possible, and stressing the
			importance of doing everything we could to prepare for our next operation
			whenever it might be and outlining the policy of how we would deal with
			the civilians when in Germany.

Page 4 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
4 contd.		8 Armd Bde held a dance at NIJMEGEN, in the evening, to which a number of
		Officers were invited. A troop of "B" Sqn carried out a direct shoot
		at 3 suspected enemy OPs across the river from a position west of DRIEL.
5		The Padre held church services for Sqns during the day.
	0930	The Commanding Officer attended the service for HQ held in OOSTERHOUT
		Protestant Church in the morning.
	1100	The Commanding Officer gave his talk to all ranks of HQ Sqn who were
		on the "Island". Capt A.L. Barlow (ex 2 N Y) took over duties
		temporarily as Tech Adjt from. Capt C.T. Monckton who returned to "B" Sqn for duty.
6		"C" Sqn moved their location at ZETTENANDELST by 300 yds or so as some
		enemy shelling had been coming very near their harbour. The Commanding
		Officer visited Sqns in the morning and B. Echelon in the afternoon,
		later going on to 8 Armd Bde HQ and 147 Regt.
7		Sqns had nothing to report.

Page 5 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
7.contd.		The Commanding Officer held Sqn Ldrs conference about various domestic
	1145	matters and outlined plan for evacuation from the "Island" in case the
		Hun breached a dyke and flooded it.
		A representative from the 30 Corps A C C. adviser called in the afternoon
		and discussed replacement of two cooks in "A" Sqn with the Commanding
		Officer.
	1300	Two Spitfires machine gunned an A.1 Echelon 3-tonner taking petrol to
		"C" Sqn at ZETTENANDELST and brewed it up; the driver escaped injury.:
		a similar incident had recently occurred to the 43 Recce Regt and it was
		suspected that the planes were piloted by the enemy.
8	0930	The Commanding Officer attended "O Group." at 8 Armd Bde HQ and returned
		later bringing back the Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldrs and other officers
		of the Fort Garry Horse (our affiliated Canadian Regt) who came to
		recce our area: they were going to take over. from us on 11 Nov 44. The
		officers lunched at RHQ before going round to the Sqn areas. The Fort

Page 6 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
8		Garry Horse belong to the 2 Canadian Corps and the last contact we had
		made with them was in 1941 when their then Commanding Officer (Lt Col
		Moreton) visited us at EDGCOTE. Their Commanding Officer now was
		Lt Col Wilson.
	1730	The Commanding Officer held an "O Group" outlining our move on 11 Nov 44
		when we were to go with 8 Armd Bde to new area (u/c Corps still)
		NE of MAASTRICHT. 2 Canadian Armd Bde were to come here with the
		Fort Garry Horse to our own area on the "Island". Orders for recce
		parties to leave under the 2nd-in-Command on 9 Nov 44 were issued, final
		details not arriving from Brigade till 2220 hrs. Main move would be on 11 Nov 44.
		Quite a lot of enemy shelling fell on the "Island" during night including
		some salvoes from a "Moaning Minnie" (Nebelwerfer)
9		Some shelling occured during early hours of the morning cutting lines in
		"B" Sqn area: none fell in any of our immediate localities.

Page 7 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
9.contd.	0730	Recce party under 2nd-in-Command left for new area N E of MAASTRICHT.
	p.m.	The Commanding Officer visited B Echelon.
10	p.m.	"B" Sqn sent a troop up south-west of DRIEL and carried out an indirect
		shoot on to enemy localities on the north of the lower Rhine, having an
		O P with observation from the dyke south of the river.
11		At 1100 hrs the Adjutant officially handed over-in the absence of the
		Commanding Officer who had to go to the MAASTRICHT area early - our
		duties on the "Island". The Colonel arranged with Lt Col Wilson (Commanding
		Officer of the Fort Garry Horse) to have a pennant made with their flag
		on one side and ours on the other. Sqns took the opportunity of this
		fortifications and happy meeting with our affiliated Canadian Regiment to be
		the excuse for some celebrations.
	1440	The Regiment left OOSTERHOUT on the island, crossed by the NIJMEGEN road
		bridge and moved to area BRUNSUM (S W of SITTARD. and N W. of AACHEN)
		travelling on tracks some 129 miles. Route was via GRAVE-EINDHOVEN,

Page 8 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
11.contd.		JOE's Bridge, BOURG LEOPOLD - BEERINGEN - ASCH - GELEEN and AMSTENRADE.
		Meal was served by cooks lorry during long halt 1800-1900 hrs (near
		EINDHOVEN). The drive lasted all night, the Regiment coming into Sqn
		areas at BRUNSUM early 12 Nov 44. Some tanks and lorries were left en
		route with mechanical troubles and fuel stoppages but by evening 12 Nov 44
		most were in. 5 tanks had to go into L A D or Workshops as a result
		of the drive.
12	0830	The Regiment in 43 Div area at BRUNSUM, "A" Sqn being located furthest
		away at RAAT two miles from RHQ. BRUNSUM area about 2 miles from the
		German border. The Commanding Officer spent most of the day on O Group
		at 43 Div. HQ and recce of ground over which the Regiment would be operating
		north west and north of GEILENKIRCHEN, Sqns rested.
13	0900	The Commanding Officer held an O Group. See Appendix "A" for orders
		issued. The Regiment was to support 214 Bde in a limited attack due
		east from GILLRATH, "A" on right with S L I having NEIDERHEIDE

Page 9 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	13 contd.		their objective, "C" in centre with 5 D C L I with HOCHEIDE and BRUGGERHOF
			as their objectives and "B" Sqn on the left with 1 Worc having RISCHDEN
			and TRIPSRATH as their objective, Attack dependent upon 84/US.Div gaining
			high ground south and south east of GEILENKIRCHEN first and designed to
			push out enemy holding GEILENKIRCHEN and cut their escape route N E.
	14		Nothing to report from Sqns. Nost officers were engaged on recces,
			visiting Bn Comds etc. In a defence plan now formulated by 43 Div we
			had 1 Sqn put u/c 214 Inf Bde and Regiment (less "A" Sqn) u/c 130 bde.
	15		The Commanding Officer visited 214 Inf Bde HQ in the morning. Lt.J.H.G.
			Ford while out on a recce just north east of GILLRATH was wounded in the
			back by enemy mortar fire. He was not however evacuated.
			The Brigade Comd (Brig G.E. Prior Palmer) visited Sqns in turn and gave
			the men an informal talk outlining the plans for the moment - 8 and 12
			Corps offensive just started in VENLO sector, Americans under General
			Patton fighting for METZ, another big American push to start any day now

Page 10 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
15.contd.		south of 30 Corps sector, and 30 Corps with 84 US Div also u/c to start
		soon afterwards with our own show in GEILENKIRCHEN sector and then
		WALDENRATH (we making things nice and tidy for the Gds Armd. Div to start!)
		He also spoke about the coming winter, warning us that it will be hard:
		leave was not on but all the Brigade would have had a go at the Bde Rest
		camp at LOUVAIN (near Brussels) by 29 Nov 44.
		In the evening it became known that the Brigadier had been awarded the
		D.S.O.
		More rain but barometer rising.
16	1000	The Commanding Officer attended O Group at 214 Inf Bde. Weather much
		better today - blue sky and R A F were able to fly: American offensive
		south of 30 Corps sector started.
	1400	The Commanding officer held an O Group for operation

Page 11 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
17		American advance reported going satisfactorily. commanding
	1200	Officer held final tying up "O" Gp. orders issued for actual
		move to assembly areas see Appx "B".
18		The Regt. moved out in accordance with orders as issued,
	1230	7 SLI with "A" Sqn. crossed the start line at GILLRATH with
		"B" Sqn. on their left giving covering fire. This went well to
		start with, and the enemy re-action was surprisingly slow.
	1300	S.L.I. and "A" Squadron reached woods just East of NEIDERHEIDE
		and "B" Squadron fire support was therefore stopped.
	1340	Report that 6 Tigers withdrawn from HOCKHEIDE. 5th Troop "A"
		Squadron reached first house of NEIDERHEIDE, and first P. of W.
		were coming in.
	1350	1 Worcs and "B" Sqn. in support crossed start line and the Inf.
		successfully pushed on through NEIDERHEIDE to RISCHDEN
		establishing themselves on their objective. The mud was now

Page 12 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
18.contd.		beginning to take a serious form, and a number of "B" Squadron
		tanks became bogged and two were mined. The enemy shelling
		became heavier and RHQ who were moving just S. of HATTERATH
		were heavily shelled by 88 mm though fortunately no tank was
		hit directly. By 1700 hrs. RHQ set up at the W. edge of
		NEIDERHEIDE just off the main axis,
	1530	approx. DCLI with "C" Sqn. in support crossed their start line
		near NEIDERHEIDE and pushed on successfully to their objective
		at HOCKHEIDE the DCLI establishing a road block on the main rd,
		NE from GEILENKIRCHEN - BRUGGERHOF. Meanwhile the Worcs. although
		successfully reaching RISCHDEN and later TRIPSRATH were having
		their advance slowed up, and it later transpired that their
		leading elements were preceded into RISCHDEN by TSM.Parkin's
		Troop ("A" Sqn.)
	1700	23 tanks of the Regt. were now bogged and the Tech. Adjt. and

Page 13 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
18.Contd.		the Bde.E.M.E. were on the spot working very hard to extricate
		them. work of recovery went on during the night and by next
		morning a number had been removed. Sqns. were established for
		the night- "A" Sqn. - NEIDERHEIDE, "B" Sqn. RISCHDEN,
		"C" Sqn. - HOCKHEIDE, and RHQ by edge of wood just W. of
		NEIDERHEIDE. During the night there was considerable enemy.
		shell fire and mortaring took place.
19	0920.	Report received that portion of the Worcs who were in TRIPSRATH
		were surrounded and that enemy counter attack was coming in from
		KRAUDORF on to TRIPSRATH. This was successfully beaten off
		largely due to fine support given by "A" Sqn. TPs. "A" Sqn.
		K.Od one panther, and *C" Sqn. had some good shoots from the
		high ground on to enemy concentrations in the valley. By 1100
		hrs. counter attack had subsided although the position of our
		Inf. in TRIPSRATH was by no means secure as the woods to the

Page 14 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	19.Contd.		W.of RISCHDEN running Northwards had not been cleared nor had the
			Northern part of TRIPSRATH, and there were definitely enemy in
			these areas and about six S.Ps just N.W. of TRIPSRATH. All our
			positions were shelled quite considerably during the day and every-
			body remained in their tanks. "B" Sqn. sent 5 tanks down to
			TRIPSRATH in the eurly hours of the morning, and before they
			could take up suitable positions these tanks became involved in
			the enemy counter attack. Four were brewed up (two by Bazooka)
			between RISCHDEN and TRIPSRATH, Lieut.E.R.Thomas, Tprs.Kyte and
			Fyles being kill ed and some 12 others being wounded.
	20		An account of the GEILENKIRCHEN battle is attached at Appx."C".
			Brigadier G.E.Prior-Plamer, DSO visited RHQ in the morning.
			Despite mad and continued rain all the Sqns. were replenished
			during the day, ARVS and turretless Honeys ferrying supplies up to
			"A" sqn. where a dump was made. The road S. of RISCHDEN up

Page 15 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
20.contd.		through BAUCHEM - NEIDERHEIDE Was made passable in the
		afternoon
21		Little enemy air activity in the morning - two F.W.190s which
		did some strafing but not actually in our own area. Again
		there was considerable enemy shelling of all areas. One P.of W.
		surrendered to "A" Sqn. (belonging to 14 Coy.351 Volksturm
		Grenadier Regiment.).
	1400	RHQ moved back just E. of GILLRATH and set up shop in the
		Brickworks, "B" Sqn. were withdrawn from RISCHDEN in the
		morning and went back to A1 Echelon at STAHE and fitted end
		connectors to their tracks. These connectors would give
		better performance in mud and to-morrow "B" Sqn. were to
		support 5 DCLI with two Tps. in an advance NE from BRUGGERHOF.
		"A" Sqn. were prepared to support 1 Worcs. from RISCHDEN area
		if required.

Page 16 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	22		Rain again. "B" Sqn. sallied forth to support 5 DCLI on to
			their objective which included E. of TRIPSRATH and Village called
			HOVEN This operation was to have been dependant on U.S. Forces
			moving up N.E. parallel to the road GEILENKIRCHEN - RANDERATH.
			However, U.S. Tps were unable to get further than SUGGERATH.
			This meant that the main road could not be used to supply the
			5 DCLI in their forward area and therefore supplies could only
			be sent up on foot through woods and through the bottle neck as
			well. Two Tps of "B" Sqn. gave particularly effective support
			from the RISCHDEN area. During the day the Commanding Officer's
			tank moved and set up RHQ on main road just S. W. of BRUGGERHOF
			moving back to Brickworks at nights The Commanding Officer
			stayed night at HQ. 214 Inf.Bde. at BAUCHEM. "B" Qqn. were
			permitted to withdraw to BAUCHEM for the night also.
			Casualties to-day - NIL. End connectors definitely showed

Page 17 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	22 contd.		their worth except they did not prevent one Tp. being bogged.
	23		"B" sqn. sent two Tps. at first light to same position in
			RISCHDEN area. Counter attack developed approx. 0945 hrs.
			Thanks largely to the fire put down by "B" and "C" Sqns. Tps.
			on the forming up Troops, the counter attack never really
			developed properly and the situation was largely restored by
			1100 hrs. 4 Wilts. relieved 5 DCLI. "B" Sqn. Tp. of tanks
			still in the bog. Rain again. In the evening RHQ moved to
			BAUCHEM.
	24		During night certain amount of shelling in Sqn. and RHQ areas.
			Otherwise nothing to report in the front. 13/18 H relieved
			the Regiment with 129 Inf.Bde. at 1330 hrs. Sqns. coming out in
			turn and moving back - "A" and "C" Sqns. to GILLRATH,
			"B" Sqn. (less 1 Tp. staying out in the bog) and A1 Echelon to
			area STAHE, RHQ to NEIDERBUSCH. In new location the Regt.

Page 18 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	24.contd.		remained under comd. 43 Div. and were in support of the 130 Inf. Bde. with counter attack role with the forward Bns. holding the
			line from KRAUDORF - BIRGDEN - HATTERATH. Gds.Arnd.Div. were
			on our immediate left, 129 Inf.Bde. remained on our right with
			the 84 U.S.Div. on their right N.E. of GEILENKIRCHEN.
	25		Nothing to report. The Commanding Officer visited Sqns. in the
			morning. Little shelling in all Sqn. areas during the day.
	26		Nothing to report. Little shelling in A1 Echelon area No
			casualties or damage. padre visited Squadrons and held
			Services during day. Otherwise nothing to record.
	27		Nothing to report except Brigadier G.E.Prior-Palmer DSQ called
			in the morning and visited Sqns. in company with the Commanding
			Officer. RSM. Cheal returned to duty.
	28		Commanding Officer and Adjt. visited Bde. HQ. in the morning and
			also "B" Echelon. during the night Regimental Fitters and REME

Page 19 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	28.Contd.		personnel succeeded in pulling out the three tanks of "B" Sqn.
			which had been lying in a bog S. of TRIPSRATH.
	29		Nothing to report.
	30		The C. in C. 21st Army Group (Field Marshal sir Bernard Montgomery
			K.C.B., D.S.O., M.C.) decorated certain Officers and ORs of
			8 Armd.Bde and 43 Div. at an investiture held at TREBEK in the
			morning. No. 7902643 Sergt.Wilcox W. "B" Sqn. was the 4/7th
			RDG man to receive an award - the M.M. for gallantry at RAURAY
			(in the Normandy beachhead) when serving with the 24L. The
			Commanding officer, Adjutant, Major S.R.M. Jenkins, the RSM.
			and a number of other ranks of "B" squadron attended as
			spectators. Among others to receive awards were
			Brigadier G.E.Prior-Palmer (Comd.8 Armd.Bde) - the DSO. Before
			the investiture a programme of music was played by the Life
			Guards Band. A2 and B Echelon were moved to a transit area

Page 20 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	30 Contd.		near BRUNSSUM in the afternoon, very little details were made
			known about this move by higher formation and it was done at
			short notice necessitating a speedy "pack up".

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War Diary: 4th - 7th Dragoon Guards

Month and year: November 1944

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