National Archive Reference: WO 171/864
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices | ||||||||
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BOURNEMOUTH | 3 | 3 to each of B & C Sqns flailed live British Mc IV ATk mines in CRABS on | ||||||||||
Regtl Trg Area. 24 mines were exploded without failure. | ||||||||||||
4 | Exercise SMASH I | Appx A | ||||||||||
Postal Censorship imposed. Last day of mobilization B vehicles will not all | ||||||||||||
be received before 10 Apr 44. CRABS still arriving, at the same time as a number | ||||||||||||
of SCORPIONS. (VALENTINE flail tks) which are not operational vehs and | ||||||||||||
requests for disposal instrs are so far without result. | ||||||||||||
5 | Advance RHQ opened at BOURNEMOUTH, (CO & IO) W/Lt DGJ Millington (RAC) posted to 21 Army Gp I.U. | |||||||||||
6 | Exercise SMASH II | Appx B | ||||||||||
Min of Supply teams arrived to replace dogs on flail drive which were | ||||||||||||
insufficiently hardened, and in one case failed after 5 miles. In all, 18 | ||||||||||||
out of 25 were found unsatisfactory. | ||||||||||||
7 | 90 all ranks visited German Tanks and equipment at School of Tk Technology | |||||||||||
at CHOBHAM. W/Capt Buckingham J.H. (RTR) joined. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
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12 | Orders received for conc by 22 Apr of RHQ, B & C Sqns on reduced scales of | |||
personnel and equipment, preparatory to marshalling for the assault. Although | ||||
mobilization should have been completed by 4 Apr, no operational B vehs or | ||||
Cruiser tks, or Scout Cars have been received so far. Moreover the greatest | ||||
difficulty is experienced in discovering the precise composition of the | ||||
Assault Flight of the Regt, and who is responsible for moving it. This | ||||
appears divided between 50(N) Div and 30 Corps. | ||||
W/Lt K.A. Crosthwaite (RAC) posted to 30 Armd Bde. | ||||
17 | Advance Party moved to take over accn in conc area, consisting of tented | |||
camps at PENERLEY B4 U8024 | ||||
18 | Capt (Rev) Hislop (RAChD) posted to 2 Army Tps for att to No 25 Instr Gp Airfield | |||
Exercise SMASH III | Appx C | |||
20 | Capt (Rev) O'Neill T.J. (RAChD) joined. | |||
21 | C Sqn moved to LULWORTH for T and A, and calibration of guns directly after | |||
SMASH III. Exercise SMASH IV. Main body of Regt changed to APO address. | Appx D |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
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22 | C Sqn moved by transporter to conc area, and B Sqn fired for T & A and | |||
PENERLEY | calibration. RHQ Fwd moved from BOURNEMOUTH to PENERLEY, | |||
23 | B Sqn moved to conc area by sea in LCT, transporter not being available, | |||
Transporters caused ten CRABS to strike walls etc on the way, and ten bevel | ||||
boxes (flail drive) were rendered useless. | ||||
25 | Waterproofing kits for Exercise FABIUS issued, five days after latest date | |||
given by this Regt to allow completion. CO informed 50 Div vehs could only | ||||
take part dry shod, and no waterproofing for A or B vehs was to be done. | ||||
26 | (a) Lt Col Blair Oliphant again visited HQ 50 Div to co-ordinate landing | |||
tables, which differ considerable as issued by 30 Corps, 50 Div, and Bdes | ||||
within 50 Div. | ||||
(b) Waterproofing kits indents transferred to 50 Div from 79 Armd Div. | ||||
27 | Capt (Rev) O'Neil] T.J. (RAChD) posted to 22 Dgns; Capt (Rev) Rhymes D.A. | |||
(RAChD) joined. | ||||
Deficiencies of vehs and equipment for Assault Echelon submitted to ADOS |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices | ||||||||||||||
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50 Div, in order that they may be issued on whichever is the highest | ||||||||||||||||||
priority. | ||||||||||||||||||
29 | Order received to collect 12 Sherman tks for use as Pilot Rollers, and | |||||||||||||||||
68 Lorries 3-ton 4x4 GS during WE 6 May 44. B veh mob now also completed. | ||||||||||||||||||
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