National Archive Reference: WO 171/864
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
EIJKEREIND | 1 | Lt. G. S. COOPER killed by a SCHUMINE while carrying out recovery of A Sqn tanks after ops on 30 Nov in area BROCKHUIZEN 9021, | |
2 | A Sqn released from 8 Corps for return to EIJKEREIND E 3405. Recce party explored WINTERSLAG K. 4267 as transit area for Sqns en route across | ||
R.MAAS for ops in sp 30 Corps in area GEILENKIRCHEN, Major J. H. BUCKINGHAM severely wounded by a SCHUMINE while carrying out | |||
trials with the CENTIPEDE. This device consisted of a number of small concrete filled rollers towed behind the tank to explode a/pers mines. It | |||
had been scrapped in England and was again found unsatisfactory. The mines broke the rollers and only 75% were blown. An unfavourable report was | |||
submitted. | |||
Sqn conduct trial of the Canadian Roller (pushed infront of the tank and covering tracks only) against Anti Pers Mines. This device had also | |||
been scrapped in England. | |||
3 | 0900 | Regt reverted to comd 30 Armd Bde. | |
4 | Lt. D.F INGRAM injured in a traffic accident. | ||
5 | Regt allotted in sp 43 Div - 30 Corps for Op 'SHEARS'. All 79 Armd Div | ||
units in sp 43 Div under comd Tac HQ W Dgns. These were:- W Dgns | |||
141 RAC 16 (Sqn (42 ARRE) | |||
Allocation to Brigades. 129 Bde C Sqn W Dgns and 16 ASRE | |||
214 Bde B Sqn in rea 130 Bde A Sqn W Dgns and two Sqns 141 RAC and | |||
B Sqn W Dgns in res if not required by 214 Bde. | |||
6 | 1000 | B and C Sqns left on transporters for WINTERSLAG K 4267 and echelons by half Sqns at the same time. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
EIJKEREIND | 6 | Tac HQ with Comd Offr, Sigs Offr, IO and LO moved to K 802590 near WAUBACH | |
7 | 1000 | RHQ and A Sqn moved to WINTERSLAG by tptr. | |
WINTERSLAG | 9 | 1015 | A Sqn with two RHQ tanks less B Ech moved on tracks to conc area K 8059 near WAUBACH. |
10 | B and C Sqns less B Echs proceeded to conc area. | ||
Award of MC to Lt. HALL for ops on OVERLOON area approved. Capt M.J. Crosthwaite took over appointment of RHQ Capt from Major H.P. | |||
Stanyon who assumed command of B Sqn in place of Major J. H. Buckingham, wounded. Lt. M.A. Sutton promoted Capt and remained in A Sqn for present ops. | |||
Lt. Leather returned from HQ 30 Armd Bd to join A Sqn with Lt. Swift (late 1 Lothians) to fill vacancies. Lt. Ingram returned to B Sqn after injury in | |||
a motor accident. One RAMC sub sec of one mot amb car and 3 orderlies allotted toneach Sqn. | |||
14 | Op 'SHEARS' cancelled and all 79 Armd Div tps transferred from comd 30 Corps to 12 Corps. | ||
16 | A, B,C Sqns and Tac HQ returned to WINTERSLAG. | ||
19 | 1100 | Bde planing conference held at RHQ. | |
20 | 0900 | Comd Offr and Lt Mackichan joined 43 Div to plan new ops. | |
1800 | Proposed ops cancelled and Comd Offr returned | ||
Trench crossing trials with Crab carried out. Crab found better than normal Sherman and crossed 6 ft in soft sand, | |||
22 | 0500 | Orders to move to area DOMMELEN E3908. | |
1100 | Tanks moved on tptrs and wheels by blocks of ten at 20 min intervals. | ||
1800 | Changed from comd 30 Armd Bde to 31 Tk Bde. No ops. | ||
24 | 1700 | Eleven 3 ton lorries called for to tow trailers for 141 RAC (Crocodiles) to area HASSELT. | |
25 | Anti paratp op instr issued. A recce tp of six Scout Cars and an 'infantry' force of one pl in two 3 ton lorries held at 30 min notice to op | ||
under orders HQ 31 Tk Bde. Award of Military Cross to Capt MA. Sutton approved by Comd in Chief. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
27 | 30 Armd Bde Wksps began changing volute springs in suspension units of certain tanks. | ||
29 | Jig for fitting WHYMAN lane markers received and fitting begun. |