War Diary: 4 Coldstream Guards

Month and year: September 1944

The 4 Coldstream Guards September 1944 war diary covers the units movements from Flers to Eindhoven

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1251

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WO 171/1251 4 Coldstream Guards

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Page 1 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FLERS	1-5	The Battalion remained in its harbour area one mile South of Flers.
		Walking out was allowed in Flers, daily, and the monotony was further
		releived by ENSA Shows, films, and trips to LAVAL. Several Officers made
		trips to ANGERS and Mont St. Michel. Several expeditions were made to the
		area between TRUN and CHAMBORS where the Germans had abandoned quantities
		of equipment of all kinds. The Signal Officer came back with numerous
		field telephones and a wireless Staff car. The L.A.D. found an excellent
		welding plant. The most ambitious bit of salvage attempted was by Captain
		Tennent, I.O., E.M.E. and a number of fitters, who spent several days
		working on Panthers with a view to starting a Troop of Panthers in the Bn.
		The scheme was eventually abandoned on the 6th Sept. but only after Captain
		Tennent had driven one Panther half way back to Flers.
	4	The Battalion played Flers at football. A very large crowd gathered to see
		the Battalion best the Frenchmen by 4 goals to 1.

Page 2 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Flers	cont 4	The move of the entire Bde to the area MORGINY and FONTENAY, 20 miles
		East of the Seine - which was planned for the 5 Sep was cancelled as every
		available vehicle was required to carry supplies to our rapidly advancing
		armoured units. The Bn assisted in this vital work by providing nearly
		all its 3 tonners to carry petrol and ammunition forward. 3 mark VIIs
		arrived and were allotted to Squadrons.
	6	The move to the East of the Seine being temporarily impossible the Brigadier
		decided to move the Brigade without transporters another 40 miles further
		East.
	7	A' and 'B' Echs left at 2027 and drove throughout the night, arriving in
		new area at 0530 on the 8th Sept 44. No restrictions were placed on the
		use of lights. The tanks left at 0700 in blocks of about 22 tanks.
ALMENCHES		They arrived in their first harbour area at 1400 hrs near ALMENCHES.
VEREUIL	8	The tks continued on their journey at 0200 hrs and reached their second
		harbour area, en route to new location at 1000 hrs which was located near

Page 3 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
VEREUIL	cont 8	VEREUIL.
GRAVERON		The remainder of the Bn who had arrived spent the day settling in.
SOMERVELL	9	The tks arrived in new location and joined rest of Bn at a small village
		(GRAVERON-SOMERVELL) about 4 miles South of Le NEUBOURG. The Sqns. were
		mostly in and around farm buildings. HQ Sqn and Bn HQ. were very
		comfortably settled in an annexe to the Chateux belonging to the Marquis
		de Percival. The trucks were again sent off to form what were really RASC
		Platoons for the transporting of supplies to the forward formations.
	10	After a drive of nearly 50 miles it was decided to spend the day on a
		weekly parade in spite of it being Sunday.
		HQ Sqn Officers entertained the Marquis de Percival and his family to
		dinner, afterwards the party retired to the Chateux for Dancing and music.
		Captain J.G.H. Barton attached to 8 Corps to look after Corps HQ tanks.
	11-12	Normal activities.
	13	The Battalion made another move forward of about 40.. miles this involved

Page 4 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	cont 13		crossing the river URE at LOUVIRRS and the SEINE at Les ANDLEYS. Owing to
			the shortage of transport in the Brigade all trucks from the other Bns and
			services in the Brigade were pooled for the moving of each Bn in turn.
			HQ Sqn and Bn HQ were harboured in and about the farm building of a large
			farm just off the main ROUEN - PARIS rd between ECOUIS and GRAINVILLE.
			The other Sqns were about 1 1/2 miles away in village of VILLEREST. Good use
			was made of any empty cottages, farms or barns and No 3 were lucky enough
			to have their Officers' Mess in a farm house where electric light was
			installed and working.
	14-16		Normal routine and maintenance of tanks.
	17		church Parade. German classes started. Talk by Capt P. Fraser on current
			Ops.
	18		Capt C.G. Tennent attached to 8 Corps as L.O. to U.S. Army.
	19		Film show given to Bn.
	20-33		Normal routine. at last it appears we will soon be moving as it is roumered
			that Transporters are being found for us.

Page 5 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	23		Many Officers took part in a Boar Hunt, in the FORET de LYONS, using
			rifles. Major Morton bagged a hare and the honour of killing a very fine
			16 point Stag was claimed by at least 3 officers. The Band of the Life Guards
			gave a concert to the Bn during the afternoon. In the evening a Smoking
			Concert was held for the Sgts in a large barn, the Life Guards Band again
			played and with a fair quantity of beer obtained by Capt R.F. Norman it all
			seemed like"old times".
	24		An All Ranks Dance was held in the SALLE de FETE at LOUVIERS. About 900
			people were present. In spite of the language difficulty with the French
			girls a great many Guardsmen were observed to be "doing all right".
	25		At last we are on the eve of a move to a battle area. The advance party
			left for the Eindhoven area at 0900 hrs.
	26		Tanks loaded on to transporters prior to move next day. "B" vehs returned
			to Bn.

Page 6 of 6

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	27		Wheels and tanks left for new area.
	28		Wheels arrived new area in the outskirts of Eindhoven. The trucks were
			parked in the streets and all personnel were billeted in houses or schools.
			The Dutch people were more than willing to help and make us comfortable.
			The only trouble was the vast horde of children who clamoured round every
			vehicle whenever and wherever it halted.
	29		Tracks arrived at about 1800 hrs and continued to come in until about 2200 hrs
			they too were parked in roads near the houses in which the men were billeted.
			The tanks were re-routed for the last part of their journey and came up the
			main rd from HASSELT to EINDHOVEN as another unit was using the other rd.
			everyone was most comfortable and it was a great change for all to sleep
			in a real bed again.
	30		Our billet and general comfort was too good to last and today the whole
			Bn moved to St HUBERT and harboured in and around the village.