War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment - 257 Battery

Month and year: December 1944

The 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Anti Tank Regiment's 257th Anti Tank Battery December 1944 war diary covers the units time in Holland, Belgium and Germany

National Archive Reference: WO 171/921

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Page 1 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in Text	1	Training and maintenance continue. The weather is difficult and rain is frequent. BC attends conference at RHQ at 1600 hrs and as a result we
		learn that we will be in our present location for at least another week. Training is to be conducted on a Bty basis. BC dines with 6 & 7 Bns Queens
		to-night - it is a farewell party as we learn that these two Bns are going back to England and are being replaced in 131 Bde by 9 DLI and
		2 Devons. We will miss the many friends with whom we have worked for so long.

as above	2	Training and maintenance continue. BC carries out an inspection of "C"
		Tp to-day. Weather still wet with a high wind blowing. We prepare a
		Bty Training Programe concentrating on the improvement of Gunnery in general. Visits from Major J Boag MC RA and Capt FW Brown RA.
as above	3	BC continues with his inspections and sees "B" Tp at 1000 hrs. We learn
		in the early afternoon that it is again probable that we will come under comd of 22 Armd Bde but nothing definite is heard. The inspection of "A"
		TP is postponed owing to bad weather and the fact that the BC is visiting HQ 22 Armd Bde. at 1430 hrs. It is learned that we will come under comd
		22 Armd Bde w.e.f. 1200 hrs 4 Dec. Capt PD Balfour and 1 Sgt attend short MT course which is organised at RHQ. A Regtl trial soccer match
		is held to select the Regtl side, the Bty has 6 representatives.

as above	4	BC and 2 IC visit the new area to-day and call at Bn HQ 2 RB which is situated at BORN (647719). One To Gun Area is found just West of
		NIEUSTADT (6873). We also visit a Bty of 21st A tk Regt RA (Gds Armd Div) and make arrangements to take over their accommodation when they evacuate
		the posns on Wednesday. Training and maintenance continue in the Bty. Today is dry, but extremely cold with a high wind blowing.

Page 2 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
as stated in text	5	2 IC and "C" Tp Comd - Lieut D BOGGIE visit new area and select rough Gun Areas. BC attends "O" Gp at 22 Armd Bde HQ. The whole Div is now
		under comd 30 Corps and Lieut-Gen HORROCKS visits the Regt and has a talk with all BCs. Movement orders arrive at 1900 hrs and it is found that
		out move will be an early one. "O" Gp is held at 1900 hrs and orders are issued for Reveille at 0615 hrs and move at 0730 hrs. 2 IC and TP Sgts
		are to proceed ahead to find leaguer area for Tps until Bty of 21 A tk Regt moves out.

as above	6	A successful move is completed via KINROY (6084) NEEROETEREN. (5778)
		DILSEN (5972) - LANKLAER (5870) - crossing the R MAAS and so again into HOLLAND at 618687 - X roads (635687) GRAAHEIDE (638709) and so into
		BORN (6471). Tac HQ is established in the houses about 652716. "C" Tp move off into their new area around NIEUSTADT (6872) at 1600 hrs. In the
		meantime "B" Tp Comd recces posns in the GERMAN village of MILLEN (7071) and TUDDERN (7071). Those two villages are not strictly in our area but
		259 Bty who are in sp of 131 Bde have a very wide area to cover so that "B" will be detached from our direct comd. Recce is completed and the
		Tp will occupy it's posns at last light to-morrow night (7 Dec). The inf will also effect a change over at thos time, 2 DEVONS relieving the WELSH
		Gds. The areas are quite quiet generally speaking. "A" Troop will
		remain in reserve for the time being. Arty fire from both sides during the night.
as above	7	"C" Tp are now in posn with only three guns committed in action. As the guns are isolated it is decided to increase the strength of the gun detachments
		and the crew of the fourth detachment is spread over the detachments of the guns in action. "B" Tp take their guns into the village at 1100 hrs but
		they will not be put into posn until last light. BC recces the two villages
		with Inf A tk pl comd (6-pr) at 1130 hrs and it is decided that four guns

Page 3 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in text	7	(cont)	/that four guns shall go into the area at MILLEN and two in TUDDERN,
			A reserve area is recced during the day for "A" TP. 2 IC and A Capt visit "B" Troop HQ in MILLEN at 1700 hrs and arríve to-gether with a mortar stonk.
			About 20 bombs fall in all and cause 2 cas to the Coy of DEVONS in the village. We find that the mortaring was caused by the movement of inf in
			the village and area. "B" Tp HQ is established in bldgs at MILLEN at 699712. "C" Tp has its HQ in a bldg at 680723. "B" Tp's occupation is
			successfully accomplished but during the night both MILLEN and TUDDERN are mortared, not heavily but sufficient to cause two cas in "B" Tp. Gnr
			HERRINGTON received a wound in the Right eye and Gnr ROBERTS in the face.
as above	8		The day dawns bright after a quiet night with NTR. BC visits "C" Tp and MILLEN area at 0800 hrs - 2 IC visits TUIDERN. RHQ establish a Tac HQ at
			LIMBRICHT (6670). CO calls upon us at 1240 hrs. Limited amount of shelling takes place in NIEUSTADT. The evening is punctuated with slight enemy
			shelling - probably CB on 5 RHA gun posns sited around the village.
as above	9		Generally quiet throughout the day. "A" Tp's guns are sited in an area N of BORN rather between BUCHTEN (6473) and HOLTUM (6573). Guns do not actually
			go on the ground, but work on the gun-pits has commenced. The evening is again noisy with arty fire from both sides but no apparent damage is done.

as above	10		About 1100 hrs shells begin landing in MILLEN, they made a very peculiar
			sound on landing - just a slight "phut" and at first we thought they were duds but they proved to be propaganda shells containing leaflets all of
			which were very amusing owing to their complete lack of understanding of the BRITISH mind. To- day it is decided that "A" Tp's guns shall be 50% manned
			in their areas on the ground, it is also decided to strengthen our defences in the MILLEN area. 1 of "A" Tp's guns is placed under comd of "B" TP and/

Page 4 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in Text	10 (Cont)	/under comd of "B" Tp and sited on the ground at MILLEN. Regtl 24 hrs leave scheme to BRUSSELS commences with two ORs from BHQ and two from "A" Tp
		leaving at 1200 hrs. CO visits our area during the morning and calls on all Tps. Shelling of a moderate nature occurs during the evening otherwise
		NTR.
as above	11	All tps spend a quiet day with NTR. CO visits Bty at 1500 hrs.
as above	12	Further party proceeds on Regtl 24 hrs leave to BRUSSELS. Very little activity over the front to-day with less arty fire than usual. All Tps
		visited by BC and 2 IC.
as above	13	Parties for the JERBOA CLUB at EINDHOVEN proceed at 0900 hrs to-day.
		Limited activity on the front again to-day. Small scale patrolling by the enemy took place last night and we had a "stand-to" of one hour's
		duration in the "C" Tp area, otherwise NTR.

as above	14	A fairly quiet day, slight shelling and mortaring only - mostly ours. BC attends conference at 22 Armd Bde HQ at 1600 hrs from which we learn
		that the Div front is to be shortened and held by one Bde. 131 Bde on out Right are to be relieved by a Bde of the Gds Armd Div on night 17/18
		Dec whilst 22 Armd Bde remain in the line holding the front from R MAAS to inclusive TUDDERN (7071). "B" Tp will therefore revert to our comd
		and 259 Bty will go out of the line with 131 Bde and concentrate in area SITTARD (6968). The Bty issues a challenge to the village of BORN to
		meet in a soccer match, the challenge is accepted and arrangements are completed to kick off on Sunday at 1430 hrs.

Page 5 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in Text	15	Reasonably quiet day with some Arty and mortar fire from both sides. We switch some detachments around to enable some to come into the reserve area
		of "A" Tp, whilst the detachments holding these posns will go fwd. Visits of 24 and 48 hrs leave to BRUSSELS continue. An extremely heavy frost
		occurred last night.
as above	16	The whole day is very noisy with our guns firing counter-battery tasks. The enemy guns remain silent and do not reply.
above	17	Slight mortar activity in village of MILLEN between 0915 and 1000 hrs.
		Two enemy jet propelled AC fly at roof-top height over TUDDERN at 1015 hrs. Over SITTARD they run into one of our fighter sqdns as a result of which a
		dog fight takes place and one of the enemy AC are shot down. The other plane drops some bombs the outskirts of SITTARD, between that town and
		LIMBRICHT. Some cas are caused to personnel travelling in a 3-tonner on the LIMBRICHT - SITTARD road. The afternoon is quite but at 1730 hrs
		enemy AC are heard in our vicinity. The sounds of bombs and AA fire are heard and believed to be in the area of SITTARD. AA and searchlights
		are in action for the next 30 mins or so. At about 1830 hrs several planes fly over BORN and a few moments later one drops a stick of four
		bombs the last of which lands about 12 yds away from the Offrs Mess. Fortunately it was of the smaller of bombs but Capt PD BALFOUR
		RA was wounded, having five small punctures in his back, buttocks and leg.
		Dvr SIMPSON was also wounded more seriously in the back and head. Both are taken to the Regtl A.P. and Gnr SIMPSON is evacuated to the MDS.
		Capt BALFOUR stays at duty. Aerial activity continues throughout the night in the Div area.

Page 6 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in Text	18	Aerial activity continues throughout the night and did not abate until
		about 0800 hrs in the morning. The morning is spent in clearing up from "our bomb" We visit the Tos at about 1100 hrs and find that they also
		had a disturbed night *butterfly bombs" were dropped in "C" TP area. No damage or cas were reported. To-night we are to carry out HF tasks on
		the road between SUSTEREN (6875) and SCHILBERG (7079). Gun posns are recced just North of BORN. One gun from "A" Tp and one gun from "C" Tp
		are moved into posn at 1630 hrs under comd Lieut HONEYMAN, "A" Tp. 12 rds HE (LV) per gun per hour are to be fired. The shoot is successful
		and terminates at 1745 hrs. At 2300 hrs we have a general "stand-to" after a report from 22 Armd Bde that "100 Black objects have been sighted flying
		towards the Div area". At 2345 hrs we stand down as the danger is considered to have passed.
as above	19	The remainder of last night was quiet so far as we were concerned, although
		enemy AC were again active in the Div area. Christmas NAAFI arrived to-day and includes tinned turkey, mince meat, plum pudding, apples, oranges
		and pears plus and extra spirit issue. The day is quieter than of late with NTR. BC attends CO's conference at 1600 hrs held at 258 BHQ as a
		result of which we learn that the defences are to be thickened up against the possible attack by the enemy to start a pincer movement to join up
		with his winter offensive on the 1st and 9th US army areas. We also learn that 131 Bde is to go back into the line with 259 Bty in sp and that 259
		Bty will take over the village of MILLEN and TUDDERN from us. This will mean that each Bty will actually have two Tps in the line and will be able
		to carry out reliefs for each Tp in turn. We may also have the assistance of 258 and 260 Bttie to thicken up our defences and give depth to them
		so that we will be thicker on the ground. 259 Bty will probably take over the villages of MILLEN and TUDDERN on night of 20/21 Dec. The evening is
		noisy with out gunfire - no reply. Capt PD BALFOUR evacuated to 10 CCS.

Page 7 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in text	20	A quiet day. BC and 2 IC visited all Tps. Some shelling in evening by our guns. NTR.
	21	A quite night with NTR. A heavy mist is present until 1130 hrs and there
		is a general stand-to. During the afternoon enemy are observed off "B" and "C" Tp's area but are dispersed by arty and small arms fire.
		It is believed that these tps are new to the area and are wandering about in places which were treated with more respect by the previous tps.
		To add to this belief there was a lot of noise behind the enemy's lines during the night leading us to believe that a change was taking place.
		Arty activity during the evening is noticeably increased and there is also some air activity but not in our area.
as above	22	Arty activity during the night on an increased scale. We learn that 131 Bde are to come back into the line and that 259 Bty will be under comd and
		will have Dtt of their three Tps committed, we will not therefore be able to have one Tp out of the line in turn as we had hoped. RHQ move from
		BORN to area GELEEN to-day and 5 RTR move into LIMBRICHT with recced posns between BUCHTEN and LIMBRICHT which will be occupied if the situation
		demanded it. This will be a considerable help to us and will thicken up the defences considerably. The day is quiet with spasmodic arty activity from
		both sides. Capt BALFOUR returns from 10 CCS but needs rest as he has a small piece of bomb in his ankle. CO visits the Bty and explains
		alterations to be made in dispositions of the Regt. The BC meets GOC at 1045 hrs.
as above	23	Another night of intensive arty fire - predominantly ours but with single
		enemy guns. Quite strong enemy patrol approached "C" Tp's area during the night, this being preceeded by a strong stonk - from enemy standpoints -
		on and around the village of NIEUSTADT. This patrol was beaten off and all was quite quiet again by 2300 hrs. We receive warning to expect a severe frost of 12°. There is a severe drop in the temperature.

Page 8 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in Text	23 (Cont)	Many of the locals can now be seen skating. A quiet day with very little activity along the whole front. A Rest Centre for the tps is opened in A Ech
as above	24	Another night of Aircraft both enemy and ours. Arty fire, again mostly
		ours, but some enemy guns carrying out harassing shoots. About 2300 hrs the boche were heard to be singing carols to the accompaniment of an
		accordian - a stonk was brought down on the area from where the carolling apparently came - no more carolling or accordians were heard.

	25	The first visitor of the day is Comd 22 Armd Bde who arrived at about 0915
		hrs. He visited the Rest Centre and had a word with all the fellows present. BC visits "A" & "C" Tps during the morning returning here about 1230 hrs.
		CO calls at 1245 hrs and visits the Rest Centre. BC and 2 IC help to serve dinner to Tac and "A" Ech. BC visits "B" Tp at 1400 hrs where he finds
		a very excellent Christmas Dinner about to be consumed. He assists in the serving and partakes of dinner there at the conclusion. Despite the fact
		that we are in the line and alcoholic restrictions are necessarily severe it is considered a very successful Christmas Day with the chaps in good
		heart. The whole day is quiet with NTR.
as above	26	At 0545 hrs the enemy attacked GEBROEK which is comparatively lightly held by 11 H plus two guns of 260 Bty. The attack was not made in any
		great strength but was preceeded by quit a heavy stonk from guns and mortars. The two SPs of "K" Tp under Lt AYLING did very well indeed and shot up at least
		12 GERMANS before a short withdrawal was ordered. At 1000 hrs the village was counter-attacked and re taken. The remainder of the front was quite with NTR
as above	27	Another night of arty fire mostly harassing tasks. The day proves uneventful. "B" Tp report having seen three vapour trails in the sky between
		0300 hrs and 0900 hrs. Those are believed to have originated from V2 launching sites and are reported to Higher Authy. Otherwise NTR. The CO
		visited "A" & "C" Tps during the morning. The day is reasonably quiet with less than the usual amount of Ar?????e.

Page 9 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
As stated in text	28	A quiet night. Slight mortaring from enemy heavy mortars in MILLEN about
		1530 hrs - about 10 mortar bombs landed. Remainder of front quiet with only very slight patrol activity.
as above	29	Slight shelling of TUDDERN and mortaring in MILLEN during the night. One
		of "B" Tps Quads received a slight hole in the radiator but there is no real damage or casualties reported. The day is quiet with NTR.
as above	30	Quiet night. Slight shelling forward of BUCHTEN (6573) at about 1100 hrs.
		but remainder of day NTR. We are still very much on our toes in this sector since the enemy may try a large scale offensive owing to the
		lack of success in the ARDENNES area.
as above	31	More shelling than usual during the night by enemy single guns but ours
		were very active during the early hours of the morning. The day is generally quiet with nothing of importance to report.

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War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment - 257 Battery

Month and year: December 1944

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