Thanks to The Airborne Soldier for this diary.
Abbreviations
|
2 I/C 677802 A'Borne Admin Adv A'Field Armd A/T Bde Bn Comd Coy CRE Div DZ Fd I/C Incl Indep Instr KOSB LMG MT OC "O" Gp OO OR Pdr Pk Posn RAP Rly RV Sdn SP SQMS Sqn Tac Tp Tpt Trp X roads |
Second in Command Map Reference Airborne Administration Advance Airfield Armoured Anti-Tank Brigade Battalion Commander Company Commander Royal Engineers Division Drop Zone Field In Command Including Independent Instruction Light Machine Gun Motor Transport Officer Commanding Orders Group Operational Order Other Ranks Pounder Park Position Regimental Aid Post Railway Rendezvous Squadron Self-Propelled Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Squadron Squadron Sergeant Major Tactical Troop Transport Troop Crossroads |
Month and year: September 1944
Acting Commanding Officer : Major A.J.M. Perkins, RE
1st September 1944
Place: Knossington
08.00 - Sdn. Loaded containers etc + prepared for Operation LINNET.
12.00 - O.C. visits Comd 4 Para. Bde. to discuss Operation LINNET.
Place: Glaston
16.45 - Genl. Urquhart, DSO. Comd 1st Airborne Div. visits unit.
2nd September 1944
Place: Glaston
0145 - Sdn. O.O. No.1 for LINNET issued. Sdn. Admin. No.1 for LINNET issued. Signal Instr. No.2 for C.R.E's net.
0900 - O.C. briefed Trp. Comds. for Operation LINNET. Final preparation by troops for Operation.
1700 - Troops briefed by respective comdrs.
2300 - Operation postponed 36 hours.
3rd September 1944
Place: Knossington
0900 - O.C. attended conference at H.Q. 4 Para. Bde. Op. LINNET cancelled. Warning order for another operation in the very near future.
2100 - O.C. attended "O" Gp. at H.Q. 4 Para. Bde. for new operation in area MAASTRICHT.
2300 - This Op. cancelled owing to Americans already having reached this town.
5th September 1944
Place: Moor Park
1000 - O.C. visited CRE at 1 Airborne Div. Tac. H.Q. Rough outline of tasks for Operation "FIFTEEN". This necessitated a change in glider loads.
Place: Glaston
1800 - Lt. Thomas + 6 O.R's from No.3 Trp. despatched in car 5 cwt 4x4 + trailer to Harwell airfield.
6th September 1944
Place: Moor Park
1000 - O.C. attended 1 A'Borne Div. Comd. "O Grp. for Op. "FIFTEEN".
1700 - O.C. attended 4. Para. Bde. Comd. "O" Grp. for Op. "FIFTEEN".
7th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0145 - Notes on O.C's. verbal orders issued.
0750 - Sdn. Admin. Instr. No.1 issued.
0900 - O.C. briefed Trp. Comds.
Place: Cottesmore
1000 - Trps. load containers on to D.C.47 aircraft.
Place: Glaston
1500 - Trp. Comds. briefed respective troops.
1730 - O.C. held final co-ordinating conference.
8th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0030 - Operation postponed for 24 hours.
2000 - Operation postponed for 24 hours.
9th September 1944
Place: Glaston
1130 - Comdr. 4 Para. Bde. visited Sdn. and outlined further developments of battle in Belgium + Holland.
2000 - Operation postponed for 24 hours.
10th September 1944
Place: Glaston
3 Trp. duty Troop for week ending 16th Sept. 44.
1000 - Operation "FIFTEEN" (COMET) cancelled.
12th September 1944
Place: Ketton
Training - 1 Trp. - Assault on Pillbox with flamethrowers + polecharges.
Place: Somersby
Training - 2 Trp. - Instruct 10.Bn in latest mines.
Place: Moor Park
1700 - O.C. attends Comdr. 1 A'Borne Div's "O" Grp. for Op. "MARKET".
13th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Training - 1 Trp. use of glider troughs to assist M.T. over 6' high banks.
Place: Ketton
Training - 2 Trp. assault on Pillbox with flamethrowers + polecharges.
Place: Glaston
1900 - Sdn. Glider Element return from Keevil.
14th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Squadron on 24 hour pass.
0900 - Glider Element maintain stores + transport.
Place: Knossington
1100 - O.C. attended Comd. 4 Para. Bde's. "O" Group.
15th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0700 - Sdn. Glider Element proceeded to Keevil A'Field for Op. "MARKET".
Place: Keevil
1400 - Gliders loaded with transport & equipment.
Place: Knossington
1800 - O.C. visited Bde. Comd. to discuss Operation "MARKET".
Place: Glaston
0900 - Training for No.1 Trp. fieldcraft. No.2 Trp. use of glider troughs to assist M.T. over 6' high banks.
2200 - Sdn. O.O. No.1 issued for Operation "MARKET".
16th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0900 - Trp. Comdrs. briefed by O.C. for Operation "MARKET".
1330 - All Sqn. personnel confined to billets.
17th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0720 - Sdn. Adv. Party {Lt. K.C. Evans, L/C Johanson, Spr. O'Donnell} proceeded to H.Q. 4 Para. Bde.
0800 - Sdn. Admin. Instruction No.1 issued.
Place: Barkston Heath
1100 - Sdn. Adv. Party took off in Bde. H.Q. Aircraft.
Place: Glaston
1730 - Sdn. moved to Spanhoe to "bomb up" aircraft.
18th September 1944
Place: Glaston
0900 - Sdn. moved to take off airfield Spanhoe.
Place: Spanhoe
1145 - Sqn. took off on Operation "MARKET".
1210 - Sqn. Parachute Element took off from Spanhoe airfield.
Place: W. of Arnhem
1420 - Parachute Element dropped on D.Z. West of Arnhem. O.C. Major Perkins dislocated his shoulder and 6 ORs were casualties. Capt. Thomas assumes command. Slight opposition from ground forces at R.V. No casualties. Lt. Evans + 2 ORs of advance element rejoined Squadron. Majority of containers were lost on D.Z.
1700 - Sqn. moved off from D.Z. R.V. to R.V. 1 mile south of railway line where it took up defensive position for night. 1 Troop moved off in support of 156 Para. Bn. east along railway in direction of Arnhem. Glider Element joins Sqn. 1 O.R. casualty.
19th September 1944
Place: Wolfhezen
0800 - Sqn. less 1 Troop moved off to WOLFHEZEN. Major Perkins rejoins Squadron.
1100 - Straffed by enemy F.W. 190s.
1130 - Move to X roads in woods 677802. Sqn. took up defensive position.
1430 - (677802) Supply drop and Polish Glider Element lands.
1500 - (677802) No.1 Tp rejoins Sqn from 156 Bn. 1 O.R. wounded.
1600 - (687799) O.C. attends Bde. Comdrs "O" Gp. Sqn ordered to get all Bde Glider Borne Transport to S. side of ARNHEM-WOLFHEZEN rly line.
1700 - (WOLFHEZEN) 1 Tp at Level Crossing guided part of Bde Transport over. (672801) 2 Tp at Tunnel defending S. side. E ½ 3 Tp assisting part of Bde transport thro' Tunnel. (677800) F ½ 3 Tp assisting part of Bde tpt incl. 17 pdrs. A/T guns over rly line and embankment.
Activities of 1 Tp and F ½ 3 Tp APPENDIX I.
1800 - Sqn less 1 Tp + F ½ 3 Tp move to SONENBURG, and came under enemy mortar fire during move. Lt. G.S. HARRIS RE, SSM + 8 ORs missing. Lt. W.H. SKINNER RE + 3 ORs Fd Pk Coy missing.
Place: Sonenburg
Night - 1 Jeep, E half 3 Troop, 2 Troop, + element H.Q. take up defensive positions. O.C. Major Perkins i/c party.
20th September 1944
Place: Ommershol
0700 - Contact made between O.C. and 2 IC. 2 ORs missing.
Place: Sonenburg
0945 - Enemy tank sighted. Small arms fire commenced, mainly against own troops.
1110 - Lieut. Thomas sent to CRE and Capt Thomas to find out situation. 6 ORs wounded.
1515 - Lieut. Thomas returns and reports situation at OMERSHOL.
1600 - Resupply from air.
2000 - Lieut. Thomas + 4 ORs collected containers from No Mans Land.
2330 - Capt. Cormie + 4 ORs sent on night patrols.
21st September 1944
Place: Sonnenburg
0730 - Major Perkins visits detachment at OMMERSHOL, is wounded and taken to R.A.P.
0915 - Very heavy mortar fire. Capt. Cormie detailed by C.R.E. to assume command of Squadron.
1100 - Enemy attack but were beaten off by LMGs and 36 grenades, losing about 20 men.
1715 - Still under heavy small arms and mortar fire. Men well dug in. Mortar fire continued throughout night. Enemy attacked just before dusk but were again beaten off.
22nd September 1944
Place: Sonnenburg
0910 - Enemy tanks attacked using flamethrowers.
1115 - Tanks driven off. 1 tank put out of action by Sappers using Hawkins mines. 5 ORs casualties.
1136 - 1 Tank sighted using flame throwers crippled by P.I.A.T.
1610 - Enemy attacked again but were driven off by 6 Bren LMGs.
23rd September 1944
Place: Sonnenburg
0710 - Mortar fire and shell fire commences and continues very heavy throughout day. Troops magnificent. 5 OR killed, 4 OR wounded.
1315 - Enemy attack but were driven off. Heavy mortar fire ensued.
24th September 1944
Place: Sonnenburg
0700 - Quieter during morning but shell and mortar fire commenced later in day.
1900 - Enemy tried to overrun positions but were beaten off with casualties. 2 enemy wounded brought in as prisoners.
25th September 1944
Place: Sonnenburg
0700 - Mortar and shell fire continues fiercely all day.
1400 - Sqn. received orders from Major Winchester for withdrawal to river at 2115.
2115 - Lieut. Thomas takes main party leaving Capt. Cormie with small covering party. Very heavy shell fire.
2120 - Capt. Cormie's party moves out.
Place: Oostebek
2215 - Lieut. Thomas & party reach river. Several O.Rs. missing.
2230 - Capt. Cormie & party reach river. Several ORs missing. Contact made with Capt. Smith.
26th September 1944
Place: Oostebek
0030 - Complete party evacuated across river by assault boats.
0400 - Sqn. in bits and pieces were fed and moved to NIJMEGAN.
Place: NIJMEGAN
0700 - Sqn. put in one house. After sleep, moved to barracks.
28th September 1944
Place: Nijmegan
1045 - Sqn. parade ready to move to new location.
1200 - Sqn. move in Div troops convoy to LOUVEN.
Place: Louven
1900 - Arrive St. Marton Barrack LOUVEN. Contact Sea borne tail.
29th September 1944
Place: Louven
1300 - Move to airport near BRUSSELS.
1600 - Emplane.
Place: Barkston Heath
1900 - Arrive Barkston Heath airfield.
2100 - Move to CONINGSBY.
Appendix I
by Captain J.J. McCormie
19th September 1944
Place: Ommershol
1800 - 693792 F ½ 3 Tp under Capt. H.F. Brown RE took up defensive posn.
1900 - No.1 Tp under Capt. J.G.A. Smith RE joined F ½ 3 Tp and all under comd. Capt. N.B. Thomas RE in support of 21 Indep. Para Coy. Dug in defensive posn 692793.
20th September 1944
Place: Ommershol
0800 - Attacked by approx 1 Coy enemy using 2 ½ tracked armd. vehicles. Attack broken up.
1000 - Heavily mortared. Capt. N.B. Thomas RE + 2 ORs killed Capt H.F. Brown RE saw him dead. 4 ORs wounded and evacuated to RAP. Attacked continuously until 1500 hrs. All attacks beaten off.
1800 - Lt. K.C. Evans took patrol to rly line. Saw enemy collecting containers from re-supply drop. Shot up party of 8 enemy. Reported enemy in approx Coy. strength across rly.
1900 - Attack lasting 1 hour repulsed. 1 OR killed.
21st September 1944
Place: Ommershol
0700 - Attacked spasmodically all day.
0800 - O.C. Major AE.J.M. Perkins RE arrived to see position.
0900 - Major AE.J.M. Perkins RE, Lt K.C. Evans RE wounded and evacuated.
1530 - Attacked by enemy infantry with 88mm SP gun in support. Lt M.C. Eden RE killed 3 ORs wounded. L/Cpl Flannery knocked out S.P. gun with PIAT. Capt H.F. Brown RE saw Lt Eden dead.
1800 - Enemy propaganda machine asked for our surrender. Morale among all troops very high.
1830 - Detachment K.O.S.B. withdrew into our positions. 1 6 Pdr A/T Gun came under command.
22nd September 1944
Place: Ommershol
0130 - Received orders to move into 4 Para Bde area.
Place: 695784
0400 - Move completed. Now under comd 4 Para Bde. Dug in defensive posn. as reserve for Bde or use by CRE. Capt. N.B. Thomas RE, Lt M.C. Eden RE + 2 ORs buried at Ommershol 693791. Come under intermittent mortar fire all day. 1 OR wounded.
1945 - Capt. H.F. Brown took 24 ORs + Lt D. Stores RE toward 694768. Ferried approx 35-40 Poles from S to N Bank of river.
23rd September 1944
Place: 695784
0630 - Returned to Bde location.
0730 - Very heavy shelling & mortaring. 8 ORs wounded. Mortared during night.
24th September 1944
Place: 695784
Heavy shelling and mortaring. 2 ORs wounded.
1600 - Stood by for reinforcement role to 21 Indep. Para Coy.
25th September 1944
Place: 695784
Shelled & mortared all day.
1500 - Bde Comdrs "O" Gp. Orders for withdrawal issued.
2045 - Vacated positions moved to river.
2215 - Entire party arrived by boats.
26th September 1944
0030 - Entire party across river. 1 OR wounded.
Place: Nijmegen
0300-1000 - RV with remainder of Sqn.
Residue - 4th Parachute Squadron RE
Commanding Officer: 2/Lt Dalton.
19th September 1944
Place: Glaston
2/Lt Dalton O½ Residue. Residue clearing billet area. 2nd Seaborne Lift packing + loading up vehicles.
1500 - 2nd Seaborne Lift ½ SQMS Gisborne moved off for Coningsby to join other Div Seaborne Elements. Residue all accommodated in billets at Glaston House.
20th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Residue emptied + cleaned up billets at "Three Horse Shoes". Took delivery of 1 x 3 ton lorry + 1 x motor cycle.
21st September 1944
Place: Glaston
Residue cleaned up billet area of Glaston House.
22nd September 1944
Place: Glaston
Residue cleaned up billet area of Bisbrook Hall.
23rd September 1944
Place: Glaston
O½ Res. attended co-ordinating conference at 1 A'b Div H.Q. Residue cleaning up billets at Bisbrook Hall.
24th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Rest day for residue. O½ Res. attended conference at H.Q. 4 Para. Bde. regarding concentration of Residue.
25th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Residue continued cleaning up billets at Bisbrook Hall.
27th September 1944
Place: Glaston
This and proceeding two days occupied with the concentration of squadron + barrack stores into convenient places and the cleaning up of billets. 2/Lt DALTON attended conference at H.Q. 4 Para Bde regarding return of Airborne personnel from operations.
28th September 1944
Place: Glaston
2/Lt Dalton attended A.Q. conference at A'B Div. H.Q.
29th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Residue continued cleaning up billets.
Place: Coningsby
Airborne personnel returned from operations moved into billets at CONINGSBY. Capt. CORMIE takes over command of Squadron + Residues.
30th September 1944
Place: Glaston
Sqn office moved to Coningsby. Rear party under 2/Lt Dalton left at Glaston to complete cleaning up of billets.
Place: Coningsby
Troops resting and re-kitting.
