65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment - 260 Battery War Diary: April 1944
The 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Anti Tank Regiment's 260th Anti Tank Battery
April 1944 war diary covers the units time in the UK based at
Kimberley Hall
National Archive Reference: WO 171/921
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Page 1 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall | 1st | 0600 | Battery left with skeleton representation, 6 Offrs & 43 ORs for exercise |
| "Shudder" at 1715hrs arriving concentration area at 1900 hrs. | |||
| " | 2nd | 0600 | First day of exercise "Shudder" under Comd of 1/7th Queens, approach march |
| to Swaffham and establishment of firm base at end of day. Exercise was held | |||
| in very heavy rain which continued nearly the whole day. Clean parade of | |||
| personnel left in camp but no Church Parade. | |||
| " | 3rd | 0600 | The B.C. Comd the Regt, 2i/c taking command of the Battery for the second |
| and last day of exercise. This time under comd 1/5th Queens. Exercise ended | |||
| at 1330 hrs. One M 10 of "J" Troop bogged trying to cross marsh ground for | |||
| C.R.A's experiment. The M 10 arrived in camp at 2130 hrs after salvage by | |||
| 22nd Armd Bde Workshops. | |||
| " | 4th | 0600 | Capt Gregory of R.Armd Corps unit maintenance inspectorate visited the |
| Battery and discussed M 10 problems with Troop Comds. B.C attended to C.Os. | |||
| conference at 0930hrs. |
Page 2 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall | 5th | 0600 | Waterproofing of "B" vehicle was proceeded with, and the Bty had the advice |
| again of Capt Gregory. A quite day otherwise. | |||
| " | 6th | 0600 | The B.C & 2 i/c attended 131 Bde conference at King's Lynn on exercises |
| "Shiver & Shudder". | |||
| " | 7th | 0600 | The B.C attended the 131 Bde T.E.W.T at Castle Rising (1241) North of King's |
| Lynn. A party fired Sten guns at Wicklewood. | |||
| " | 8th | 0600 | The Regiment was inspected by General Sir R.Gordon-Finlayson KCB, CMG, DSO, |
| Col Comd RHA in the morning. He said later "He was much impressed with | |||
| the smart turnout of men & equipment". The C.O spoke to all O.Rs who have | |||
| joined the Battery since Sept 1943. | |||
| " | 9th | 0600 | Declared holiday for Easter within the Division. |
| " | 10th | 0600 | The B.C and 2 i/c attended T.E.W.T. with 8th Hussars conducted by the Colonel. |
| Normal training for the Battery. | |||
| " | 11th | 0600 | A party u/c Lt J.Brewer.RA went to Thetford Rifle Ranges, approx 40 ORs. |
| Troop Comds attended 131 Bde T.E.W.T. at Castle-Rising |
Page 3 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall. | 12th | 0600 | The Bty started for concentration area for scheme "Kangaroo" Bivouac area |
| Frog Hill 3209. | |||
| " | 13th | 0600 | Exercise "Kangaroo" not a great success due to the enemy arriving in the |
| wrong place and not hurling themselves on to our firm base,as was laid on. | |||
| Own Troops 5th R.T.R, 4th C.L.Y, 1 R.B less 1 coy, 5th RHA, 259 & 260 Btys | |||
| 1 Tp 4th Fd Sqn RE, Bde HQ. Enemy Troops 1 RTR, C coy RB, CC Bty 5th RHA. | |||
| The Bty arrived home at approx 1645hrs. | |||
| " | 14th | 0600 | The Bty left for Foulness Ranges at approx 1000 hrs arriving 1630. Fine |
| weather and a good run. | |||
| " | 15th | 0600 | Firing on Foulness Ranges. The weather was good for visibility and the Bty |
| expended 360 rnds. Results were poor, due in some parts to sickness of | |||
| normal layers. The Fire discipline was below average and not withstanding | |||
| the above excuse results were disappointing. |
Page 4 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall. | 16th | 0600 | The Bty moved off from Foulness at 0730 hrs arriving back in Camp at 1230hrs. |
| The weather was poor today and no firing could have taken place at Foulness | |||
| so we were lucky. 2/Lt Ugarte left at 1530 hrs for Holme Range Thornham | |||
| 194622 with 9 M 10s for Zeroing tomorrow. The Nos 1, layers & loaders leave | |||
| tomorrow morning. | |||
| " | 17th | 0600 | Nine M 10s Zeroed guns on Thornham Ranges, good quick results being obtained. |
| The Party then returned to camp. The BSM took the remainder to Wicklewood | |||
| Range for Sten practice. | |||
| " | 18th | 0600 | Normal training proceeded. With the help of 257 Bty instruction was carried |
| out on 17 pdrs, Breech-Buffer & recuperators etc. A Concert by the "Rocket | |||
| Concert Party" was held in the YMCA in the evening a good turnout and fair | |||
| entertainment. Battery Football Comp. BHQ nil V "J" Tp 6. | |||
| " | 19th | 0600 | Normal training. Miniature Range at Wicklewood inspected by B.C and approved |
| for M 10s with Bren attachment. Rain at night. Battery Football Comp "K"Tp 1 v "L Tp 3. | |||
| " | 20th | 0600 | Bty preparations for Exercise "Kelly's Eye". Moving at 1200 hrs for concentration |
| area (2733) Castle Area Troops taking part mainly 33 Armd Bde (Lackford) |
Page 5 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall. | 21st | 0600 | Exercise "Kelly's Eye". The exercise was really to practice the 3 Armd Regts |
| of an Armd Bde and the Bty had a very uninteresting time, as the exercise | |||
| was an advance and no defensive positions or tasks were allotted to us. | |||
| Practice was gained howerer in W/T proceedure etc. Camp was reached at 1700 hrs. | |||
| " | 22nd | 0600 | The C.O. took Trp Sgts on observation of fire on Sanctuary Range, Burnham |
| Norton 2962. D Bty 3 RHA provided the GPO and 1 25pdr. Capt Hill, Lt Brown | |||
| 2/Lt Ugarte also attended. | |||
| " | 23rd | 0600 | A Church Service (Voluntary) was held at Carleton Forehoe Church for |
| National Day of Prayer. Clean Parade held at 1000 hrs. Gnr Walsh played in | |||
| the Regtl Football Team who beat the RASC 12-0. | |||
| " | 24th | 0600 | Vehicle loading trials of G 1098 stores were held, which were very successful. |
| A Scissors (Turtle) Bridge demonstration was given by Lt Culver of Div Fd | |||
| Pk Sqn. All M 10 drivers, driving over the bridge. Capt Richardson of AFV | |||
| Inspectorate attached to the Regt from 22nd Apr to 26th Apr carried out | |||
| inspections of "K" Troops M 10s. |
Page 6 of 6
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberley Hall | 25th | 0600 | A start was made on M 10 miniature range at Wicklewood (5320) ."J" Troop |
| receiving quite useful instruction, other training for "K & L" Troops | |||
| including W/T procedure in the Kimberley Area. | |||
| " | 26th | 0600 | The Battery moved out on a half day scheme to training area near Honingham |
| (5831) good experience in siting of guns was obtained by Nos 1. 4 drivers | |||
| went to Lowestoft to practice sea wading. | |||
| " | 27th | 0600 | 4 more drivers proceeded to Lowestoft for sea wading in water proofed |
| vehicles. M 10 miniature range for "K" Troop. A football team of Officers & | |||
| Sgts lost to a team from 257 Battery 2 - 1. | |||
| " | 28th | 0600 | Normal Training. "L" Troop on miniature range. 4 more drivers to Lowestoft. |
| A.B.C.A in afternoon. | |||
| 29th | 0600 | B.C & 2 i/c sat on Regtl O.C.T.U. selection board. Maintenance and clean | |
| parade held for G.O.C's inspection next Monday. | |||
| 30th | 0600 | Quiet Sunday. The Regt played a football match V 525 Hvy S/L Bty, winning | |
| 3 - 0,Sgt Curling,L/Sgt Mitchelson, & Gnr Walsh played in the team. | |||
| Weather Fine & Warm. |
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