View MapView MapNational Archive Reference: WO 171/869
The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.
All diaries for this unit:
Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.
Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted
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.
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 1 | Move to concentration area under 30 Corps continues. Bn wheels | |
| column leaves OPGLABEEK (K 4974) Sheet 3, 1/250,000). Tank column remains WATERSHEIDE (K 4568). | |||
| Date of inauguration of "QUI S'Y FROTTE, S'Y BRULE" Association; (Appx JI). | |||
| 2 | Bn wheels column arrives BRUNSSUM (K 6663). | ||
| 3 | 0130 | Tank column leaves WATERSHEIDE and arrives BRUNSSUM at 0630 hrs. | |
| Bn u/c 34 Tk Bde in Corps reserve. At four hours notice, prepared to take up defensive positions on right flank to hold back any | |||
| enemy penetration down WURM Valley. Corps Tps:- | |||
| R - 43 Inf Div with u/c 8 Armd Bde. 2 Bde and 2 regts 8 Armd Bde forward. | |||
| L - Gds Armd Div - all troops forward. | |||
| 8 | Bn moves to relieve 147 RAC who had taken over from 8 Armd Bde. | ||
| Bn in sp 156 Bde now u/c 43 Div disposed in holding role. (See Appx 'E' 1, 2 & 3). | |||
| A Sqn in sp 6 CAM with 2 tps & HQ at HOCKHEIDE 873667 (Sheet 5002, 1/25,000) and 2 tps in reserve BAUCHEM 8564. | |||
| B Sqn in sp 4/5 RSF - 2 tps forward RISCHDEN 8666 - remainder of Sqn NEIDERHEIDE 8665, | |||
| HQ with C Sqn in reserve at GILLRATH828662. For defensive layout see trace Appx J(I). | |||
| 9 | Following experiments carried out in BRUNSSUM with BEME, demonstration given of device fitted to CHURCHILLS for exploding SHU | ||
| mines - attended by Comd 43 Div. Completely successful. Device finally adopted consisted of a STEEL bar, at each end of which | |||
| were welded two steel plates drilled so that it could be attached to the eye of the hollybone drawbar. On the bar were threaded |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | two sets of manganese track plates separated by a distance tube. | ||
| Each set of plates had the spuds falling forward and consisted of a total of seven plates, the sixth being specially adapted by | |||
| welding to its spud three carrier universal track plates. The wheel guides of the carrier track plates acted as combs on the | |||
| ground and as the plates were welded so that on the side of the tank track itself there was an overlapd of four inches it was | |||
| possible to clear two lanes approx 5ft in width with an uncleared gap in the centre of approx 1 ft. | |||
| 10 | 214 Bde 'O' Group. 9 R Tks to sp 214 Bde, 43 Div, in operation "SHEARS". Role to begin a break out, with 43 Div and 34 TK Bde | ||
| followed by exploitation by 52 (L) Div, 8 Armd Bde and Gds Armd Div. | |||
| Task: To destroy enemy divisions disposed W of River ROER between ROERMAND (K 7990) and GEILENKERCHEN (K 8664). | |||
| 11 | Recces carried out to determine condition of ground for tank going. Reports not very favourable - (see Appx J 2, 2a and 2b). | ||
| 12 | Relief of 156 Bde by 157 Bde. See Appx E4. Role and defensive lay-out unchanged. | ||
| 15 | Op "SHEARS" cancelled all operational instructions burned following orders. | ||
| 16 | Relief of 157 Bde by 156 Bde still u/c 43 Div. Informed of C/A by 6 Panzer Army and 5 Pz Army on 1 US Army Front. Special | ||
| emergency precautions taken following operational instructions from 156 Bde - see Appx E5. | |||
| 19 | Informed that 34 TK Bde will remain under comd 43 Div who were to be withdrawn in order to undergo special training for "future | ||
| operations". Bn prepared to move to area TILBURG (E 1632, Sheets 2A & 3A). Present role handed over to 2 Sqn Grenadier Guards. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | Tracks begin road march to WATERSHEIDE (K 4568) where they were | ||
| to be picked up by transporters. Bn HQ move to BRUNSSUM to join wheels column - see Movement Orders | |||
| 9 & 10. Appx 'H' 1 & 2. | |||
| 20 | Orders cancelled on road march. 34 TK Bde to remain concentrated | ||
| area ASCH (K 4970) due to developments of German C/A on First US Army front. | |||
| 2030 | Orders to move to BILSEN (K 4355) where Bn is to remain in sp 214 Bde, 43 Div, at an hour's notice. (See Appx 'E'6 & 7). | ||
| 21 | Notifification received that the following awards had been made for personal bravery and devotion to duty during operations in the | ||
| battles for the SCHELDT :- Lt.T.C. Fawcett - M.C., Lieut. F.A. Critchley - M.C. | |||
| 3317551, Sgt. Tomney T. - M.M: 14241463, Tpr. Rees C.A. - M.M. | |||
| 14413698, Tpr. Lowe J.C.C. - M.M. | |||
| 23 | Informed that as from 1200 hrs Bn will be at 3 hrs' notice to move. | ||
| 25 | Verbal orders received that 9 R Tks will be detached from 34 TK Bde and become u/c 51 (H) Div now in reserve to First US Army. | ||
| C.O. reports to 51 (H) Div HQ at TILFF (K 4921). See Appx E8 & J3) | |||
| 26 | Bn moves area OUGREE (K 4525) S of LIEGE. | ||
| 27 | Flying bombs fall in A Ech area and destroy billets occupied by Recce Tp - no Casualties. | ||
| 28 | Following suggestion by Div Comd, Bn moves to area VILLERS AUX TOURS (K 4213). | ||
| A Sqn at HESTREUX - K 4214. C Sqn at LIMONT - K 4114. |
Found this useful?
If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.