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National Archive Reference: WO 171/867
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betts Covert | 1 | 2 Cromwell Command Tanks arrive | |
| 2 | CO goes on leave. Major R.B.Fleming assumes command of the regt. | ||
| 3 | Capt Bellamy-Brown posted to RAC Depot, Catterick | ||
| 18 Cromwell tanks arrive | |||
| 4 | No events | ||
| 5 | No events | ||
| 6 | 0830 | Party leaves Betts Covert under Lt Butler to collect 11 HONEY tanks from Slough | |
| 7 | 1700 | Lt. BUTLER returns from Slough with 11 HONEY tanks | |
| 8 | 2/Lt HARGREAVES posted to this unit. | ||
| 9 | Lt.Col. WILSON returns and re-assumes command of the regt. | ||
| 10 | CO's order re Exercise *SPRINGBOK" | ||
| 11 | 2/Lts CROCKER, ALLEN, ABRAM, and CLARKE posted to this unit from OCTU. | ||
| 2/Lt SABATINI leaves to collect "B" vehs from OXFORD | |||
| 1640 | Regt leave to take part in Exercise *SPRINGBOK" and harbour for night at MR 2322 Sheet 66 | ||
| 12 | 0800 | Regt leave harbour and Exercise "SPRINGBOK" begins. | |
| 1020 | Cpl WHITEHEAD, "C" Sqn, killed by smoke shell | ||
| 1620 | "SPRINGBOK" ends Regt harboured for night in FROGSHILL area (Sheet 76) | ||
| 1700 | co's conference re Exercise "KANGAROO" | ||
| 13 | 0745 | Exercise "KANGAROO" starts. | |
| 1525 | "KANGAROO" ends, Regt returns to BETTS COVERT. | ||
| Visit of Lt. Col.DENHAM-DREW to Regt. 2/Lt SABATINI returns to Regt with 6 "B" vehs. | |||
| 14 | CO on Div TEWT | ||
| 2/Lt HARGREAVES and 2/Lt HEYNES posted to "A" Sqn. 2/Lt CROCKER posted to "C" Sqn. | |||
| 2/Lt ALLEN posted to "B" Sqn. | |||
| Future address of regt- 5th Royal Tank Regt | |||
| A.P.O., England. CO attends Div TEWT | |||
| 7882672 AULC DOLBY posted to HQ Sqn from "A" Sqn | |||
| Transport holidays discontinue. | |||
| 16 | 1100 | Talk by CO to all offrs in RHQ mess, Subject:- Future Operations | |
| 1800 | "A" Sqn plus 2 "B" Sqn tanks leave by Tank train for WICKHAM MARKET. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betts Covert | 17 | 0400 | "B" Sqn leave by Tank train for WICKHAM MARKET. One tank fell off war flat during loading causing delay. |
| 2100 | "C" Sqn plus 2 Tanks RHQ leave by Tank train for WICKHAM MARKET "A" Sqn fire T & A AP practices at BOYTON Ranges | ||
| Lt.JANSEN posted to "C" Sqn from HQ Lt.MEDLAND posted from "C" Sqn to HQ and assumes duties of Wireless Offr | |||
| 18 | "B" Sqn fire T & A practice at BOYTON Ranges | ||
| 0630 | "A" Sqn leave for HONEYHILL Camp by road C of I regarding the death of Tpr WHITEHEAD. | ||
| 19 | "A" Sqn fire HE also Troop shoot on TITCHWELL Range "C" Sqn and RHQ fire T & A practice on BOYTON Ranges | ||
| 1700 | Bde Comd addresses all offrs in the DESERT RAT Theatre on Exercises, "SPRINGBOX" and "KANGAROO* | ||
| 20 | 0400 | "B" Sqn leave by train for DOCKING Major PATON takes over duties of Offr i | |
| Sgts Mess Accounts. | |||
| 21 | 0800 | "C" Sqn plus 2 HQ Tanks leave WICKHAM MARKET for DOCKING | |
| 1400 | "A" Sqn leave DOCKING by train for BRANDON "B" Sqn fire HE and troop shoot. "C" Sqn and 2 RHQ tanks fire HE and troop shoot "B" Sqn returns by train to BRANDON | ||
| 22 | 0900 | "C" Sqn plus 2 tanks RHQ return to BRANDON Promotions: 7882977 W/Sgt LYONS "C" Sqn promoted to SQMS 791143 0 AP/L/Sgt LUND, HQ Sq, promoted to AP/Sgt. 7884411 AP/L/Sgt FYFFE, C Sqn, promoted to AP/Sgt. 7904606 AP/L/Sgt ROBINSON, A Sqn, promoted to AP/Sgt. 786025 W/Cpl COOPER, B Sqn, to AP/L/Sgt 4200233 W/Cpl GORDON,HQ, to AP/L/Sgt 558597 W/Cpl ONIONS, B Sqn, to AP/L/Sgt | |
| 23 | 1400 | Visitation by Maj Gen Sir Chas Broad, KCB, DSO; Col Comd of RTR | |
| 24 | ) | ||
| 25 | ) No event | ||
| 26 | ) | ||
| 27 | 1430 | Regt visited by the Div Comd who addressed the Regt formed up at Betts Covert | |
| 28 | Officers inter Sqn postings: Lt Babbage, B Sqn, to HQ. Lt SABATINI, HQ Sqn to B Sqn. | ||
| Betts Covert | 29 | Awards: MID Sgt CAMPBELL, B Sqn, and APLC HAY, HQ Sqn | |
| 30 | 1030 | Regt Church Parade Service in DESERT RAT Theatre conducted by Rev A.H. DICKSON |