8th Infantry Brigade HQ War Diary: November 1944

The 8 British Infantry Brigade November 1944 war diary covers holding static positions south of OVERLOON along the River Maas. The period focused on extensive patrolling towards the river to locate enemy positions, and efforts to reduce a German-held castle at KASTEEL, reflecting a shift from the October offensive into a static winter defensive role

National Archive Reference: WO 171/611

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful, please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

All diaries for this unit

WO 171/611 8th Infantry Brigade HQ

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct Nov Dec

WO 171/611 LAD

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

War diaries referenced here

This diary mentions 6 units with war diaries for November 1944.

Browse all referenced war diaries

Page 1 of 11

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
OVERLOON 7631	2	8 British Infantry Brigade INTREP issued.	Appx 'A'
	3	Warning Order No. GO 66 issued.	Appx 'B'
	4	Brigade relieved 9 British Infantry Brigade. 1 SUFFOLK in area
		BRABANDER 7727 and 1 S LAN R area SPURK 7830, 2 E YORKS
		remained under command 11 Armoured Division.
	6	SITREP No, GO 83 issued.	Appx 'C'
	7	Brigade HQ moved to area immediately SOUTH of OVERLOON.
		SITREP GO 85 issued	Appx 'D'
		8 British Infantry Brigade Operation Instruction No.8 issued.	Appx 'E'
	8	Warning Order GO 92 issued.	Appx 'F'
	9	SITREP No. GO 96 issued. WAR	Appx 'G'
	10	2 E YORKS reverted to command of this Brigade, and moved to
		area OVERLOON.
	12	Church service held in HQ attended by Brigadier and other
		officers of HQ. Locations of Bn HQs as follows 1 SUFFOLK

Page 2 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	12		769299, 2 E YORKS763317, 1 S LAN R783284. Brigade in a
Map ref 767306			temporary defensive roll with 185 Brigade on right flank
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			and 9 British Infantry Brigade on left flank.
HOLLAND.	13	1500	Brigade Command to Division 'O' Group at 708352.
	14	0930	Brigade 'O' Group. 8 British Infantry Brigade Operation
			Instruction No.8 issued.	Appx 'H'
		1300	Brigade Command present at investiture at HQ 3 British Infantry
			Division to receive DSO from Field Marshal montgomery.
	15		Active patrolling only.
	16		First frost of year met in HOLLAND.
	17	1600	OsC 1 SUFFOLK and 1 S LAN R came to see Command who wished
			to discuss with them the possibility of their Battalions
			moving forward to the railway as a future operation.
	18	1200	33 Field Regiment in support this Brigade moved away and 7
			Field Regiment replaced it.

Page 3 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	18		1 KOSB (9 Brigade) and 3 Recce Regiment come under command
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			from 190900A and 2 E YORKS start relieving 1 KOSB at 191000A.
HOLLAND.	19	1430	2 E YORKS complete in new area HQ 773322.
			Brigade Command visited 1 SUFFOLK and 2 E YORKS.
	20	1000	Brigade Command visited three Battalions during morning and
			lunched at Divisional HQ, met Command 2nd Army.
	22	1200	Information from 2 E Yorks and confirmed by civilian from
		approx	SMAKT 8031 who came into their lines carrying white flag that
			Boche had pulled out of area EAST of 2 E YORKS to the SOUTH
			EAST In the early hours of the morning. Patrols from all
			Battalions were then sent forward to see if any enemy on their front
			towards R MAAS. No enemy was found up to including railway
			line on 1 SUPPOLK and 1 S LAN R front but mines were met and
			1 S LAN R suffered 2 Officer and 3 ORs casualty on SCHU mines.
			During afternoon and evening 2 E YORKS moved three coys forward

Page 4 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	22		into area HOLTHEES 8032 - SMAKT 8031 and 1 SUFFOLK moved
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			approx one coy to rd rly Xing 801301. 3 Recce Regt under
HOLLAND.			comd 8 Brigade moved up detachment to DEN BOSCH 8034.
		2130	O Group held and plans for clearing area between present
			held positions to SOUTH as far as 28 NORTHING and EAST up to
			R MAAS were made to be carried out in daylight tomorrow with
			3 Recce Regiment moving a Squadron from NORTH to SOUTH approx
			through the area first and given certain report lines. RE
			were required but could only get 3 sappers per Battalion as Div
			Sappers were all very fully employed with other two brigades
			who attack tomorrow.
	23		General patrolling by Brigade and 3 Recce Regiment towards
			R MAAS to find if any enemy still holding out anywhere. Only
			discovery was few enemy area KASTEEL 8329 otherwise slow
			progress due to mines and bad going for vehicles.

Page 5 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	24		1 SUFFOLK to send coy plus carriers to find out about enemy
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			in KASTEEL (civilians reported 40 there) and if possible to
HOLLAND.			get rid of them and in addition to report if any enemy in
			surrounding country. Coy discovered enemy still there and
			artillery was put on to it. Two coys and Carriers stayed in
			that area eventually with view to operation tomorrow if after
			stonking they still remain. 1 S LAN R patrolled forward to
			woods to EAST in 8128 but found nothing.
			Brigadier visited Battalions. GOC visited HQ 8 Brigade twice
			during day.
		1530	Divisional O Group at HQ 9 British Infantry Brigade at VEULLEN
			782249. Representative GIII from this Brigade attended.
	25	morning	Planning far capture of 40 Huns still remaining in KASTEEL
			and recce of it for infantry attack by 1 SUFFOLK start time
			1430 hrs with one coy attack one coy fire coy together with

Page 6 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	25	morning	their 3 inch mortars and two sections Carriers. A preliminary
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			stonking by heavy, medium and divisional artillery 4.2 mortars
HOLLAND			and 1 SUFFOLK 3 inch mortars. 8 typhoons were to have
			attacked it as well but just as they arrived a rain cloud
			obscured view of it and red smoke put down could not be seen
			result could not go in. Attacking by infantry coy was held
			up by floods and MG fire and eventually called off in the
			evening. 1 SUFFOLK suffered casualties 2 OR killed 8 wounded.
		1830	Brigade Command went with GIII (Capt BJ Harris-St John) to
			see Divisional Command and plan what further can be done to
			get rid of these Huns.
	26	800	Lt.Col Smith OC 4 Tk COLDM GDS came to see Brigade Command
			reference being used to attack KASTEEL. He and Brigade Command
			went to see Lt.Col Goodwin OC 1 SUFFOLK to recce during morning.
		1415	Brigade Comma and and senior LO (Capt P GRAY) went to visit

Page 7 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	26	1415	2 E YORKS and to see what could be seen of KASTEEL from
SOUTH of OVERLOON,			MAASHEES 8231.
HOLLAND.		1800-	Planning Conference in Brigade HQ with Brigadier, OC 1 SUFFOLK
		2015	Lt.Col Col SMITH OC 4 Tk COLDM GDS and his Squadron Command, Lt. Col
			PEDDIE OC 76 Fd Regiment, attended object to decide how to
			attack KASTEEL what with and when.
	27		8 Typhoons with rockets were to have attacked KASTEEL but could
			not at last moment due to weather, Artillery both field and
			medium and 4.2 mortars fired at it during whole day. Much
			patrolling was done and sapper patrol in evening as regards
			bridges.
		1530-	Div O Group on re-allocation of line of river MAAS for defence
		1700	decision right 9 Brigade left 185 Brigade reserve at GEMERT
			5780 8 Brigade. 9 Brigade would commence taking over on 29
			Nov. 8 Brigade would capture KASTEEL with 1 SUFFOLK before

Page 8 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	27		handing over.
SOUTH of OVERLOON,		2000-	Further discussion with various commands including Major DUFFY
HOLLAND.		2300	OC C Squadron 141 RAC (crocodile flame throwing tanks).
	28	0900-	Brigade Command and SLO (Capt GRAY) went out to recce and
		1700	talk about KASTEEL plan.
		1405	8 Typhoons carrying one 1000 lb bomb each attacked KASTEEL
			in two waves and hit It, it is thought 3 times. Two medium
			guns of 53 Medium Regiment were taken forward to fire 100
			shells altogether from very close range direct at KASTEEL and
			did great damage to it as a result. Other weapons fired as
			well and an artillery deception plan was laid on twice during
			day by CRA 3 Division to find the enemy guns on EAST side of
			R MAAS for counter battery work.
			1 SUFFOLK sent out patrols in the evening one a fighting
			patrol to find out if enemy still KASTEEL and what strength.

Page 9 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Map ref	28		On approach verey light put up by Boche and DF fire brought
767306 SOUTH of			down and later several spandaus opened fire. They are
OVERLOON, HOLLAND.			unkillable these Boche.
		2100-	Further discussion of what to do by Brigade Command, Brigade
		2330	Major, OC 76 Field Regiment, OC 53 Medium Regiment, OC 4 Tk
			COLDM GDS.
			8 British Infantry Brigade Operation Order No. 10 issued
			to-day regarding future moves.	Appx 'I'
	29	1100	Tanks from area MAASHERS 8231 fired for an hour at KASTEEL.
			1200 has medium artillery from nearly same area.
		1445	Squadron Typhoons attacked KASTEEL.
		1700	Propoganda broadcast to Huns in KASTEEL.
		2145	Counter battery shooting on far bank of MAAS and deception
			plan by tanks firing from MAASHEES and moving on the road
			towards KASTEEL. Fire also by MMGS morters and artillery

Page 10 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Map ref 767306	29	2145	meanwhile platoon 1 SUFFOLK went forward to Church area SOUTH
SOUTH of OVERLOON			of KASTEEL with assault boats to try and cross about 200 ft
HOLLAND			of water and land in gardens. One stray Boche shell
			unfortunately hit the cluster of 6 boats hidden up nearby
			leaving only one fit to use. A further 6 had to be sent for
			and only reached them around 2400 hrs. Tank deception plan
			drew about 100 Boche shells into 2 E YORKS area and around
			the tanks.
		1715	Divisional Conference on moves to re-allot areas to Divisional
			Units.
			1 S LAN R moving to GEMERT area tomorrow head past SP NORTH of
			VENRAIJ at 0950 hrs.
	30	0100	Boats with man of 1 SUFFOLK started off for KASTEEL.
		0215	Party returned reporting no Boche there. Castle in ruins
			no casualties suffered. Plan of area attached	Attached plan of KASTEEL Appx 'J'

Page 11 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Map ref 767306	30	0950-	1 S LAN R moved to reserve area near GEMERT Battalion
SOUTH of OVERLOON		1100	HQs at 631328.
HOLLAND

Units Referenced in this war diary

The following units are mention in this war diary and have their own November 1944 war diary