Thanks to John Howes for a copy of this diary.
Abbreviations
|
Admin Air Ldg ATk Bde Bn Col Div LAD L of C M/C Mort RASC Regiment |
Administration Airlanding Anti-Tank Brigade Battalion Column Division / Divisional Light Aid Detachment Lines of Communication Motorcycle Mortar Royal Army Service Corps Regiment |
Month and year: September 1944
1st September 1944
0900 - RASC lorries returned to unit. Conference at Bde & received warning order to be prepared to move on 2 SEPTEMBER.
2nd September 1944
0615 - Moved as Div Col to Chappelle Le Vexin via Bayeux-CAEN-EVREUX-VERNON. Arrived destination 2100 hrs conference at Bde 2230 hrs.
3rd September 1944
1215 - Moved as Div Col to LIHUS near AMIENS arrived at 2200 hrs. Conference Bde 2230 hrs.
4th September 1944
0700 - Despatched 5 RASC lorries for work on 2nd Army L of C.
1100 - Despatched one unit 3 tonner for work on 2nd Army L of C.
5th September 1944
0700 - Maintenance & Admin day.
1730 - Scouting party under Lt Dunlop sent to search wooded area for enemy stragglers in woods around LIHUS and HETOINESNIL.
6th September 1944
1400 - Moved to area NE of AMIENS & stayed night at BAIZEUX.
7th September 1944
1600 - Moved to area S.E. of BRUSSELS & stayed night at LOTH.
8th September 1944
0600 - Moved to LOUVAIN area and stayed in MEERBREEK.
9th September 1944
Maintenance & Admin day.
15th September 1944
0600 - Moved to area HUESDEN-LILO-HELCHEREN (BELGIUM).
20th September 1944
0600 - Started on final journey to link up with Bn. Owing to presence of enemy at SON bridge N of EINDHOVEN could only reach VALKENSWAARD and parked for night on roadside.
22nd September 1944
2000 - Moved to St ODENRODE at 1600 hrs remained there till 2100 hrs 23 sept 44.
23rd September 1944
2100 - Reports of enemy breaking through Column at St ODENRODE. Div Col split by breakthrough. Ordered to return to South of EINDHOVEN which was reached at 0400 hrs 24 Sep 44.
24th September 1944
Remained at VALKENSWAARD south of EINDHOVEN to permit 43 Div & 50 Div to pass through.
1900 - Moved at 1900 hrs to woods at BERGENDAL south of NIJMEGEN, arriving there 1000 hrs 25 Sep 44 where contact was made with remainder of Div Column.
1630 - Ordered to send two NAAFI packs to Bde HQ - done.
25th September 1944
1700 - Prepare for reception of Div at NIJMEGEN. Personnel of all units started coming in at 2300 hrs and continued through the night.
26th September 1944
1700 - Returned all personnel other than 1st Airlanding Bde to own Unit and received remainder of 1st Air Ldg Bde from other Units.
27th September 1944
0900 - Left NIJMEGEN for GRAVE airstrip with Advance Parties. No flying and returned to Unit at NIJMEGEN.
28th September 1944
0945 - Moved from NIJMEGEN to LOUVAIN.
29th September 1944
1230 - Left LOUVAIN for BRUSSELS Airfield. Units emplaned at BRUSSELS 1415 hrs departed 1430 hrs and arrived Woodhall Spa 1700 hrs. Share barracks with 1/ Border Regt.
Order of March
|
1. Staff Car |
L/C Willets |
Capt Davies, Pte Jones |
|
2. Jeep, ATk Gun (Bren) |
Pte Riley |
Pte Watson, Pte Burton, Cpl Young (M/C) |
|
2(a). Private Car |
Pte Mantell |
Pte Sallis |
|
3. Jeep (SABOT) |
Pte Beech |
L/C Langman |
|
4. Jeep |
Pte Pearsall |
Pte Johnson |
|
5. Jeep |
Pte Worthington |
|
|
6. Jeep |
Pte Davey |
Pte Trudghill |
|
7. Jeep |
Pte Hickman |
Pte Taylor |
|
8. 15 cwt (Bren) |
L/C Harrison |
Pte Michael |
|
9. Jeep |
Pte Malpass |
C/S Pateman |
|
10. Jeep |
Pte Hudson |
L/C Creaser |
|
11. 15 cwt |
Cpl Dudley |
Cpl Barton |
|
12. 15 cwt |
Pte Nicholls |
Pte Duffy |
|
13. 3 ton |
Pte Rushforth |
Sgt Yates |
|
14. 3 ton |
Pte Pagett |
Cpl Stevens |
|
15. Jeep (PIAT) |
L/C Martin |
Cpl Horlock |
|
16. P.U. |
L/C Teesdale |
CSM Dumphie |
|
17. 3 ton A Coy |
RASC Dvr |
C/S Smith, Pte Flaherty |
|
18. 3 ton C Coy |
RASC Dvr |
C/S Colclough, Pte Woods |
|
19. 3 ton D Coy |
RASC Dvr |
C/S Hudson, Pte Carr |
|
20. 3 ton S Coy |
RASC Dvr |
Cpl Hincks, Pte Gunton |
|
21. 3 ton Mort |
Pte Reynolds |
Pte Williams |
|
22. 15 cwt (Bren) |
Pte Sawyer |
L/C Osbourne |
|
23. 3 ton (German) |
Sgt Rudd |
|
|
24. 3 ton B Coy |
RASC Dvr |
C/S Cullen |
|
25. Jeep & Binned Trailer |
Pte Leeland |
|
|
26. Private Car |
Capt Ashburnham |
|
|
27. 3 ton (German) (Fitters) |
L/C Selvey |
Pte Watts |
|
28. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
29. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
30. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
31. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
32. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
33. L.A.D. |
|
|
|
34. Jeep, ATk Gun & Bren |
Pte Blanchard |
L/C Crossman, Pte Astbury, Cpl Halliwell (M/C) |
|
35. Jeep & Trailer (SABOT PIAT) |
Cpl Fagg |
Pte Richards, Pte Chesher |
MCs - C/S Gregge, Sgt Scholey, Sgt Mees, Cfn McIver, Pte Burdett, Pte Hardley, Pte Handley, Pte Wall, Lieut Dunlop.
Commanders of Vehicles
|
35 to 27 |
Capt Newby |
|
26 to 17 |
Capt Ashburnham |
|
16 to 10 |
CSM Dumphie |
|
9 to 2 |
C/S Pateman |
