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    War Diary: Westminster Dragoons

    Month and year: May 1944

    During the Westminster Dragoons May 1944 war diary the unit moving to embarkation camps and preparing for DDay including the issue of maps and aerial photos of the coast

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/864

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    Page 1 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    WEStrength
    Personnel State: Offrs3348
    ORs662>862
    PENERLEY2Assault echelon moved out to Ex FABIUS, a marshalling exercise, and return
    same day without embarking.
    THORPENESS212 Quick Fix Armour Shermans V collected from No.14 AFV Depot, St. Helens,
    Lancs. Driven back to Regt on their tracks. Originally intended as Pilot
    Roller Tks, then changed for use as comd tanks.
    PENERLEY3B Veh for ops began to arrive.
    4Recce carried out of possible bivourc area with ARE Sqns with which the
    assault is to be made. It was stated by 50 Div HQ that no further exercises
    would take place, and training might continue until further notice.
    THORPENESS4Two Sherman Vs taken over: allotted one to A Sqn, one to C Sqn
    PENERLEY9Order for concentration received.
    THORPENESS10Orders received to increase number of CRABS under comd 1 Corps from 10 to
    22, One Tp B Sqn and one Tp C Sqn which were to have been used previously
    now cancelled and replaced by all A Sqn Flail Tps. Allotment as follows:-
    under comd
    266 Fwd Del Sqn1 Tp (Lit. D.F. Ingram)
    27 Armd Bde2 CRABS as Sqn HQ (Maj B.A.Wallace and Capt C.B. Beaumont)
    2 Tp (Lt. R. H. W. Bullock)
    4 Tp (Lt. W.S. Hall)
    C Sqn 25 Cdn Armd Del Regt3 Tp (Lt D.S. Squirrell)
    One more CRAB taken over and issued to C Sqn
    11Information received that certain personnel from 43 R Tks were to be posted
    to 2 ARU and att to Regt for training w.e.f. 12 May 44.
    Appendix A
    Page 2 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    PENERLEY12Assault Echelon in Southern Command moved from PENERLEY to STANSWOOD in
    camp with 81 and 82 Sqns ARE
    THORPENESS12Initial order for move of A Sqn to concentration area issued.
    Five Sherman Vs takon over from
    Appendix B
    STANSWOOD13General Eisenhower addressed Assault Tps in Fwd location. Ten all ranks of
    this Regt attended.
    Waterproofing to Stage 1 ordered
    THORPENESS14Nine new Humber Mk.1 Scout Cars arrived by rail. Allotment: RHQ - 3
    A, B and C Sqns - 2 each
    This is different from WE but tactical use of following officers in RHQ
    make it necessary for one scout car to be withdrawn from each Sqn:-
    RTA RSO RSM
    STANSWOOD15Road convoy arrived from Rear Location with proportion of op amn and pet.
    50 (N) Div OO and Adm Order arrived.
    Regt is still deficient of almost all tech spares and certain waterproofing
    equipment.
    Seven CRABS collected from Liverpool and taken direct to concentration areas
    on transporters.
    STANSWOOD18One amn lorry each B and C Sqns left to concentrate near FELIXSTONE.
    Air photographs of the coast to be attached arrived, with maps omitting
    place names.
    All vehs and eqpt under comd 50 Div are now complete to scale except tech
    spares and deficiencies. The most serious deficiency is flail chains. No op
    type are available at all and so for one set per tank of the previous type
    is held.
    One CRAB of C Sqn "drowned" on its trial wade, water entering by air chute
    when the tank mounted the very steep exit ramp. Extent of damage not yet
    known.
    Page 3 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    STANSWOOD18One CRAB of C Sqn broke flail drive bevel box in traffic accident, but box
    replaced the same-day.
    THORPENESS18All fit SCORPIONS despatched on their tracks to No.8 AFV Depot Leicester.
    Total: 19. Remaining 5 are all unfit and will be disposed of as soon as
    transporters available.
    STANSWOOD19A higher proportion of 75mm A.P. than H.E. has hitherto been carried. An
    increase of HE is being considered.
    21Lt. Col. W. Y.Kington Blair Oliphant MC gave final address to tps in fwd
    location.
    W.e.f. 0900 hrs Reg is officially at 6 hrs notice. Waterproofing and loading
    complete, but no FAMTO is held and serious deficiencies in tech equipment
    are still outstanding. Only 50% AV battledress is held.
    22H.M.King George VI inspected one CRAB of the Regt under comd 27 Armd Bde and
    saw a flailing demonstration.
    First lorry was despatched to Chilwell for deficient items of tech eqpt.
    THORPENESS22Op Instr No.2 issued giving orders for op role of Residual Party of Regt
    still in Thorpeness.
    Appendix C
    STANSWOOD23One Sherman cruiser in transit from RHQ Rear to Adv HQ on transporter was
    involved in accident and was written off. Replacement expected 25 May but
    unwaterproofed and without second set.
    A second lorry, sent to Derby, for deficiencies and tech eqpt. 100% chains
    plus 100% spare are now held but only of the obsolencent WELLING BAR type. The
    op bob weight type have yet to be seen.
    Electric welders are in constant demand and are quite inadequate for the
    work of modification necessary.
    Collar badges on Battle dress adopted.
    STANSWOOD25Adv HQ and assault ech B and C Sqns were addressed by Maj Gen P. G. S. Hobart
    Full establishment of flail chains up to 200% spare were delivered
    Page 4 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    STANSWOOD25Camp perimeter "sealed" at midnight.
    2650 Div Comd briefing conference, attended by Lt. Col. W. Y.K. Blair Oliphant and
    Major S.P. M. Sutton and Capt H.P. Stanyon.
    Date for marshalling into Craft Loads issued as 30 May 44
    Replacement of tk damaged on 23 May has not yet been released,
    Flail FAMTO arrived but Sherman still outstanding.
    On orders of Maj Gen P. G. S. Hobart commanding 79 Armd Div, 25 more rounds HE
    75mm per tank has been ordered, to bring total of rds per tk up to 100 incl
    8 rds smoke and 37 rds APCBC. There is no provision for stowage of more than
    76 rds.
    Sealed packets of maps issued to Craft Load Commanders to be opened on craft.
    All work up to time of opening these is on "bogus" maps with false names and
    co-ordinates, for which a conversion table from bogus to real co-ordinates
    will be issued. The Commanding Officer decided to land on foot shortly after
    H hour, leaving his tank to follow at H + 18
    Nominal rolls of personnel under 50 (N) Div, a total of 14 officers and 206
    ORs, have been sent today to 2nd Echelon.
    Officers are as follows:-
    RHQ - Lt. Col. W. Y. K. Blair Oliphant MC
    Capt EastwoodRTA
    Lt. M. J. EedyIO
    Lt. M. A. SuttonLO
    Lt. A. F. GouldRSO
    Rev. D. .RhymesCF (C of E)
    B Sqn - Capt Stanyon
    Capt B.Taylor
    Lt. C.Potter
    Lt. R.Towmsend_Green
    C Sqn - Maj S.P. M. Sutton
    Capt .F. Bell
    Lt. B.M S.Hoban
    Lt. B. H. Pear
    Page 5 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    STANSWOOD26No detail of plans or op orders are incl under this date for reasons of
    security.
    AV Battle dress issued to 100%
    27Regt under 50 (N) Div is now ready except for Sherman FAMTO and the tech
    deficiencies of which a considerable list is still outstanding, and the tank
    damaged in transit is still NOT replaced in spite of requests direct to 50
    Div, 30 Armd Bde, 79 Armd Div, 2 Army and B Marshalling.
    Information about the enemy is very complete and 1/5000 area overprints and
    large annotated vertical and oblique air photos are available down to tps.
    The Adm arrangements laid down in great detail by HQ 21 Army Gp have worked
    very well.
    THORPENESS27Orders for move of i offr and 6 ORs of 1st Rfts to join 264 Special Del Sqn.Appendix D
    28Orders issued for postings of all Offrs and ORs surplus to WE and 1st RftsAppendix E
    29Lt G.C.A. Hales posted to the Regt from HQ Sqn 79 Armd Div and despatched
    to 2 ARU as surplus to WE plus 1st Rfts. Officers and ORs posted from the
    Regt to 2 ARU are to be held as Rfts to replace those used from 264
    Special Del Sqn when ops begin.
    30Bde Comd visited Residual Party of Regt and addressed all ranks on coming
    offensive and the part they are to play.
    Orders received, late evening, to begin waterproofing all op Shermans and
    CRABS of residual party.
    TANK STATE
    Crab's56
    Shermans26
    Scorpions26
    Scout Cars13
    ARVs3
    PERSONNEL STATE
    WEStrength
    Officers3338
    ORs662747

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