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    War Diary: 8th Battalion Kings Royal Irish Hussars

    Month and year: November 1944

    The 8th Battalion Kings Royal Irish Hussars November 1944 War Diary covers the units time in the Netherlands and Belgium advancing towards Germany, including Operation Windsor.

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/843

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    WO 171/843 8 Kings Royal Irish Hussars
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Page 1 of 4
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    0634041Under comd 131 Bde. The morning was spent in
    maintenance and in preparation for the move to
    the new area. At 1330 hrs 8H moved and arrived
    at SPRANG 1444 at approx 1530 hrs, RHQ leaguered
    138845 with A Sqn on their immediate left, B & C
    Sqns on their right. Billets were found for men
    and offrs, and the regt settled down to a short
    rest in 131 Bde reserve. SPRANG was shelled
    during the morning but no further shelling took
    place after the regt's arrival.
    GSGS 2541 Sheet No. 5.
    1388452Under comd 131 Bde, in Bde reserve. During the
    morning the C.O. and all Sqn Leaders made a recce
    of 131 Bde fwd posns in the area WAALWIJK 1546 -
    CAPELLE 1047 - WASPIK 0747. Routes to be used if
    8H were called out were decided upon. Sqns
    spent the morning in maintenance and the after-
    noon was left free for recreation. 131 Bde
    reported enemy still NORTH of OUDE MAASJE R.
    but apart from occasional shelling in WAALWIJK
    our front was quiet.
    1388453Under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. Leave parties
    were sent to TILBURG. The remainder of the Regt
    spent the day in maintenance. Fitting of new
    tracks was continued. During the day the C.O.
    attended a confce at 131 Bde and on his return
    he issued verbal orders to Sqn Ldrs (See Appx)
    Sqn Ldrs then carried out a reconnaissance of
    battle posns.
    Appx DI: 8H O.O. No. 9 and confirmatory notes of Verbal Orders by Comd 131 Bde. 3 Nov. J.l.
    1388454Under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. The morning was
    spent in maintenance and in loading tanks
    with HE amn. Between 1500 hrs and 1530 hrs the Sqns
    moved to the area 1545 and took un battle posns.
    They were followed by RHQ consisting of two tanks
    and two scout cars. Phase I of the Operation
    commenced on time and several fires were soon
    observed on the AFWATERINGS ISLAND. There was
    surprisingly little counter-battery fire from the
    enemy, none landing in the 8H area. Phase II was
    postponed for 15 mins, but the fire programme
    carried out according to plan. RHQ & Sqns then
    returned to SPRANG. 8H fire op was referred to
    as "extremely effective" by the Comd 152 Bde
    51(H) Div. During the day Lieuts. Anstey,
    Jephson and Rampf, all of whom had been wounded
    in NORMANDY, rejoined the regt.
    1388455Under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. During the
    morning leave parties were sent to TILBURG. The
    Padre conducted a service in the local Church.
    Arrangements were made for the resumption of
    regtl courses which had been commenced at VEGHEL
    4737.
    To Sheet No. 2/......
    Page 2 of 4
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    1383456Under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. Courses recomenced
    and maintenance was carried out as usual.
    C Sqn were ordered to move into the
    AFWATERINGS ISLAND in sp of 5 Queens bn, who
    had commenced the relief of 51 (H) Div in this
    area. C Sqn set up their HQ, at 255467.
    GSGS 2541 Sheet No. 5.
    1388457Under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. The day was
    spent on courses and maintenance. C Sqn had
    nothing to report and the enemy was generally
    quiet on the Bde sector.
    13884588H less C Sqn under comd 22 Armd Bde. Course
    and maintenance continued as usual. Two offrs
    were granted 48 hrs leave to BRUSSELS. 8H was
    warned during the day of an impending relief by
    elts 4 Cdn Armd Div to be followed by a move
    to a new area MAESEYCK (Ref Map 1/100,000
    BELGIUM Sheet 4) (See Appces).
    Appx E.1. - 7 Armd Div Op Instr No 16. Appx J.2. - 22 Arma Bde Warning Order 8 Nov.
    13884598H less C Sqn under comd 22 Armd Bde. Courses
    and maintenance continued during the morning
    and leave parties were sent to TILBURG. C Sqn
    returned to comd 8H and moved back to SPRANG.
    No Sqn was sent to relieve them owing to the
    impending move.
    138845108H under comd 22 Armd Bde. Courses and
    maintenance as usual. The C.O. attended a
    confce at 22 Armd Bde HQ (See Appx). 8H
    prepared to move on 11 Nov to the new area,
    having been relieved by elts 4 Can Div.
    During the night 10/11 Nov the order came that
    the regt would cross the Bde SP at 0930 hrs
    11 Nov.
    Appx J.3. - Confirmatory Notes on CO's Confce 10 Nov 44.
    13884511At Approx 0830 hrs 8H moved out. Order of
    March : RHQ, Recce Tp, A1, A, B & C Sqns.
    Route : SPRANG 1444 - LOON OP ZAND 1539 -
    X rds 1037 - br 1334 - rd junc 157333 -
    X rds 1430 - rd junc 1427 - POPPEL 1219 -
    MERXPLAAS 0010 - GIERLE 9900 - LICHTAERT 0295
    - CASTERLE 0697. At 072960, which was reached
    at 1145 hrs, the regt made a halt for lunch.
    The route continued to GHEEL 0888 - MOLL 1690 -
    LOMMEL 3194 - OVERPELT 3892 - NEERPELT 3994 -
    LILLE ST HUBERT 4294 - PETIT BROGEL. 4088 - PEER
    4084 - rd junc 4078 - MEEUWEN 4580 - X rds.
    5081 - GRUITRODE 4978 - NEERGLABBEEK 5178 -
    OPOETEREN 5476 - NEEROETEREN 5778 - MAESEYCK
    6379. RHQ and C Sqn entered the barracks at
    628795, A and B Sqns leaguered on the main rd
    slightly further East. At 1805 hrs 8H came under
    comd 131 Bde who had already relieved 53 (W) Div
    in the area of ITTERVOORT 6687.
    GSGS 2541 Sheets 5 & 3 GSGS 4336 Sheet No. 4.
    62879512Under Comd 131 Bde in Bde res. The day was
    spent in maintenance and rest in preparation
    for coming ops (See Appx).
    GSGS 4336 Sheet 4 Appx E.2. 7 Armd Div O.Instr 17.
    To Sheet No. 3/......
    Page 3 of 4
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    62879513Under Comd 131 Bde. Maintenance and rest in Bde
    res. The CO attended a confoe at 131 Bde HQ and
    he and Sqn Ldrs made their recce of the area
    WEST of WESSEM 7086 and the lock at 691879 (see
    Appx) At 1700 hrs the CO issued verbal orders
    for the operation WINDSOR I (See Appx).
    GSGS 4336 Sheet No. 4. Appx E.3. Bde O.O. No. 9. Appx D.2. 8H OO No. 10.
    628795148H under Comd 131 Bde. The morning was spent in
    loading tanks with HE amn and general preparation
    for the afternoon. At 1430 hrs C Sqn moved out
    to come under comd 7 Queens bn at THORN. The
    remainder of the regt moved out at times as
    ordered, and fire tasks were carried out. Enemy
    defensive and counter-battery fire was heavier
    than usual but no casualties were suffered by
    A and C Sqns. Direct observation of targets and
    of fire effect was difficult to obtain owing to
    extremely poor visibility and to smoke put down
    in front of the target area 6987 by the RHA.
    C Sqn with two tps fwd gave close sp to 7 Queens
    bn. As was later shown by P.W. reports the
    attack took the enemy by surprise and, from the
    start, sp fire was extremely accurate. Enemy
    D.F. and spandaus caused fairly heavy casualties
    amongst our infantry but none to 8H tk crews.
    Several tks were however bogged during the adv and
    going was extremely bad. By 1645 hrs C Sqn tks
    were up with the inf at the lock gates and the
    lock itself was found to be intact. Only 5 PW
    were taken and it was evident that the enemy
    who were known to be thin on the ground had made
    no serious efforts to hold un our adv. No A TK
    defences were encountered. Shortly after last
    light 8H less C Sqn withdrew to MAESEYCK. C Sqn
    remained fwd under comd 7 Queens bn as a mobile
    armd res., and two tps were left at the lock
    until the inf had finally consolidated their
    posn there.
    628795158H under comd 131 Bde. The day was spent in
    refitting and maintenance and W/T classes
    recommenced. C Sqn remained under comd 7 Queens
    bn in area ITTERVOORT 6687 with two tps fwd.
    There was hy shelling and mortaring by the
    enemy on this sector but no attempt at a counter-
    attack was made, the enemy being fully occupied
    by the adv SOUTH and EAST of 53 (W) Div on our left.
    628795168H under comd 131 Bde. Maintenance and courses
    were continued until 1100 hrs when the CO gave
    a talk to A and B Sqns on the general situation
    of German forces in the WEST and on the
    significance of the ops begun 15 Nov by 2nd Army.
    The progress SOUTHWARD across our front by 53(W)
    Div and the consequent withdrawal of the enemy
    from the WEERT CANAL relieved C Sqn from its role
    of mob res. C Sqn returned to MAESEYCK and
    reverted to comd 8H. Lt. Pott joined the regt
    and was posted to B Sqn.
    628795178H under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. Maintenance and
    courses as usual. At 1200 hrs the CO repeated
    his lecture of 16 Nov to C and HQ. Sqns.
    To Sheet No. 4/......
    Page 4 of 4
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    628795188H under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. The CO held a
    confce on training during the morning. In the
    afternoon 8H played 11H at football and won 3 - 0.
    The Regt received complimentary tickets to visit
    the local cinema where a Belgian resistance film
    was showing. Before the performance the CO was
    presented with a bouquet of flowers in token of
    the gratitude of the people of MAESEYCK.
    GSGS 4336 Sheet No. 4.
    628795198H under comd 131 Bde in Bde res. The padre held
    a Church service in the morning. In the after-
    noon an 8H football team played MAESEYCK winning
    3 - 2. A Regtl dance was held in the evening at
    a local dance hall. Lt. Gould joined the regt and
    was posted to C Sqn.
    628795208H under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. The
    Tk Comds course commenced at SPRANG was continued
    and D & M courses recommenced. Sqn courses on
    gunnery and enemy weapons were begun and regtl
    wireless class continued as usual.
    628795218H under comd 7 Armd. Div in Div res. Courses &
    Maintenance as usual. A leave party of Offrs
    and men was sent to BRUSSELS for 48 hrs.
    628795228H under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res, Courses
    and maintenance as usual.
    62879523Under Comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. Courses and
    maintenance during the day. An HQ. Sqn dance
    was held in the evening.
    62879524Under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. Courses and
    maintenance continued.
    62879525Under Comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. Courses and
    maintenance continued during the morning. At
    1430 hrs the new Div Comd, Maj-Gen LYNE, paid
    an informal visit to the unit. A B Sqn dance
    was held in the evening.
    62879526Under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. The Padre
    held a Church service in the morning and the
    remainder of the dav was spent in internal
    economy and recreation. In the evening A Sqn.
    held a dance.
    62879527Under Comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. Approx one
    half of the Offrs of 8H attended a talk by Maj-
    Gen LYNE. A SHERMAN D & M course commenced and
    other courses continued as usual.
    62879528Under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. At approx
    0900 hrs MAESEYCK and the area SOUTH of the
    barracks was shelled by 105 guns from across the
    R MEUSE. A leave party of Offrs and ORs went to
    BRUSSELS. Courses and maintenance continued as
    usual.
    62879529Under comd 7 Armd Div in Div res. During the
    morning the CO attended a confce at Div in connection
    with the coming move of the Regt EAST of the R.
    MEUSE, the Regt commenced preparations to move
    on the night 30 Nov.
    62879530At 0900 hrs CO attended a confce at Div HQ. A move
    that night appeared unlikely & it was eventually
    postponed until the night 1/2 Dec. The remainder of
    the Offrs attended a 2nd talk by Mai Gen LYNE. During
    the morning a test of the CHALLENGER & its tendency
    to throw tracks again proved.

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