View MapView MapNational Archive Reference: WO 171/921
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 1 | Locations:- RHQ 502398; 257, 259, 260 conc near RHQ; 260 444339. | |
| All Btys less 258 are under comd RHQ. 257 and 259 move into posn today. Weather again wet at times and cold. | |||
| 2-3 | Nothing of interest to report. Continued wet and cold weather. | ||
| 4 | CRA visited 257 Bty and inspected guns which are in posn. He was well pleased. | ||
| 3 X 3-tonners were sent yesterday to collect rfts from an RHU, the other side of BRUSSELS. 2 of these trucks returned today with some 20 rfts. Lt | |||
| VGP STAMP rejoined and is posted to 258 Bty. Lt FW BROWN rejoined and is posted to 260 Bty. | |||
| 5 | 260 Bty conducted a shoot by one Troop designed to remove the spire from | ||
| DOORNHOEK Church in square 3845. Gun posns were taken up at 0530 hrs and the Adjt attended as a spectator. Bad visibility with a ground mist prevented | |||
| the guns firing until 0945 hrs. During the whole shoot visibility continued poor. The range was 3800 yds and 40% hits were obtained. The tower, though | |||
| considerably damaged did not collapse. 116 rds were fired. | |||
| 6-7 | No change in locations and nothing of interest to report. | ||
| 8 | Adjt visited Main HQ SECOND ARMY in order to ascertain details of certain compassionate leave cases in the Regt. RHQ played 260 Bty at hockey in the | ||
| afternoon. 2 x 3-tonners were despatched to collect wine and beer from BRUSSELS and REIMS. | |||
| 9 | CO held a conference of BC's at RHQ at 1700 hrs to discuss future trg, welfare, etc. | ||
| 10 | Weather wet and cold. Locns unchanged. 1 x 3 tonner returned from BRUSSELS | ||
| WITH BEER FOR THE Regt. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 11-16 | Remained in same locn. Nothing much to report for this period, which has | |
| been very static from the point of view of the front. Harrassing fire has been tried and several times by night, laying with lights for line and Fd Clinometer | |||
| for elevation. Baths, cinema shows, football and hockey have been very useful and provided some recreation. Weather has been cold and wet on the whole, | |||
| with an occasional break with good sunshine. On 13 Oct, Capt JA HILL of 260 Bty was accidentally killed and was buried | |||
| in the churchyard at DINTHER. Capt HILL had been with the Regt since early 1942 and his loss is a blow to the Regt. | |||
| 17-20 | Lt AE ORFORD RA (A/Adjt) attended a 3-day course for Regt IOs at ST | ||
| NICHOLAS near ANTWERP. 7 ORs were sent to BRUSSELS for 48 hrs leave. | |||
| 20 | CO held an 'O' Group at 260 Bty HQ for BCs. A small adv to a line some 2000 yds short of 's HERTOGENBOSCH is to be made by the Div, commencing before | ||
| first light on 22 Oct. 258 Bty is under comd 1/6 Queens for the op and 257 is in 131 Bde Reserve. 259 and 260 Btys are under Regt comd under comd CRA; | |||
| and are to do a certain amount of harrassing fire during the op. | |||
| 21 | TAC HQ moved from present area at 1400 hrs to VOSTENBOSCH 487418. Main 131 Bde are also in this village. Capt DG PAGE RA evacuated with jaundice. | ||
| 22 | At 0200 hrs CB fire commenced and at 0430 hrs the ground adv started. | ||
| During the day some 3000 - 4000 yds was completed and a number of PWs taken. RHQ MAIN remained in present locn. During the last few days a great deal of | |||
| rain has made the track by RHQ MAIN almost impassable for most vehs and in fact two-wheel drive vehs dare not go out. | |||
| 23 | Further advs today brought the Div to their final ojective. Adjt visited all | ||
| Bty HQs during the day. Hitherto, the LAD att this Regt has been organised with a main body centralised at RHQ B Echelon and a sec with each SP Bty. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 23 | This is now being changed in order to make the LAD more of a Wksp, by drawing the | |
| SP secs into the main body. | |||
| 24 | The Div is now concentrating preparatory to crossing over to 51 (H) Div Front. 257 are still in the LOOSBROECK area NORTH of DOORNHOEK, 259 | ||
| NISTELRODE and 260 still at 491401. TAC HQ moved back to join Main during the morning. 260 Bty placed under comd 22 Armd Bde today, and move in the | |||
| afternoon to the area WYBOSH 4337. Maj JJ BARCLAY MC RA, 2 IC is to comd 260 during the absence of Maj JH BOAG MC RA who is to go to BAYEUX Area to give | |||
| evidence in a FGCM. Lt R KNOWLE'S RA joined the Regt as a rft and is posted to 260 Bty. | |||
| 25 | In the evening the Regt less 260 Bty and 1 Tp 257 Bty concentrated in the | ||
| area LOOSBROECK. The whole Div is moving to the area BOXTEL 3235 and north- wards where part of 22 Armd Bde is in contact. | |||
| 26 | Regt less 260 and 1 Tp 257 moved at 1230 hrs to a new conc area in Sq 3237 | ||
| which was recced by a rep from each sub unit. This area is very crowded as nearly all 131 Bde is conc in this one square. We do not expect to remain | |||
| very long. | |||
| 27 | 260 remained under comd 22 Armd Bde. All other Btys remained in area 3237 all day. Two days ago a DUTCH Army Officer was sent to the Regt as an | ||
| interpreter. He is attached to RHQ and has already proved of great value in the way of billeting and general liaison with civilians, even to producing eggs | |||
| for breakfast and chicken for dinner in the offrs mess. | |||
| 28 | Remained same location. Weather last night wet and cold, but today has been beautifully sunny and exhilarating. During the afternoon a Regt Hockey | ||
| Team played the local DUTCH Team. A good game with a drawn result; 3 - 3. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 29 | Orders for move received early in morning. Adjt with a recce party from 257, 258 and 259 recced area-and Regt moved at 1330 hrs. Route BOXTEL 3335 | |
| - BEST 3626 - MOERGESTEL 2230 - OISTERWIJK 2234 - X rds 2236 to areas as follows: RHQ 197346, 257 193341, 258 203339, 259 203355. B Ech who always | |||
| move with 131 Bde B Echelon, are now at 234335 | |||
| 30 | Orders issued for 260 Bty to join the remainder of the Regt and conc in | ||
| area occupied by remainder. Whole Regt will then remain conc in that area for an unknown length of time. | |||
| 31 | RHQ moved slightly to better billets at 1400 hrs. New location 202352 | ||
| 260 Bty concentrated at 168954. Remaining subunits still in same location. Telephone lines laid to Btys during the afternoon and generally preparations | |||
| are completed for a stay of a few days in the area. |
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