Thanks to The Airborne Soldier for this diary.

Abbreviations

918274 AA Admin ADOS Adv Airtps A/Ldg Amn Bde Br Coln Comd Conc Coy DAA & QMG DAQMG DDME DDOS Div Ech Eqpt Est ETA Fd Fwd Gd Gp GSO Hy Inf Infd Infm Instrs Int KOSB LO MR NAAFI OC Offrs Op Ord Pet Pk RA RASC Rd Recd Recon REME Reps Rfts RV SAA Sigs SP Sups Tac Tps Tpt Trg Veh Xrds

Map Reference Anti-Aircraft Administration Assistant Director Ordnance Services Advance Airborne Troops Airlanding Ammunition Brigade Bridge Column Commander Concentration Company Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General Deputy Assistant and Quartermaster General Deputy Director Mechanical Engineers Deputy Director Ordnance Services Division / Divisional Echelon Equipment Established Estimated Time of Arrival Field Forward Guard Group General Staff Officer Heavy Infantry Informed Information Instructions Intelligence King's Own Scottish Borderers Liaison Officer Map Reference Navy Army Air Force Institute Officer Commanding Officers Operation Ordnance Petrol Park Royal Artillery Royal Army Service Corps Road Received Reconnaissance Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Representatives Reinforcements Rendezvous Small Arms Ammunition Signals Start Point Supplies Tactical Troops Transport Training Vehicle Crossroads

Month and year: September 1944

Commanding Officer: Major R.D. Sellon K.O.S.B.

1st September 1944

Place: La Mine

0800 - Units arranging for probable move.

1300 - Information received Seaborne Ech would move first light 2 Sep to Conc area SOUTH of CISORS.

1330 - Conference called at Div H.Q. at which all movement details issued verbally.

1645 - Staff Capt 'Q' and small adv party each unit proceeded to new location.

2200 - Comd received orders from G.S.O.1 (Ops), 21 Army Gp to contact 30 Corps Rear H.Q. near PACY SUR EURES - SOUTH of the SEINE.

2nd September 1944

Place: Cisors

0800 - Adv party arrived new location, carried out recon for main body.

Place: La Mine

0530 - Comd proceeds independently to contact 30 Corps, but finds on arrival at M.R. given 30 Corps Rear left there 48 hrs before.  Obtained possible fwd location, some 100 miles further on, from H.Q. 43 Div - this was confirmed later at Field Marshal Montgomery's Tac H.Q. encountered by chance en route.  30 Corps contacted about 1730 hrs 10 miles SOUTH of AMIENS.  Made arrangements for sups, pet fwd move next day, probably to ARRAS area, from which Comp and party could go forward to contact Airborne Tps.

0530 - 1 Airborne Div and Polish Bde H.Q. on ground that night or early next day in LILLE area.  Comd proceeds 65 miles to Seaborne Ech in conc area and conference to arrange next day's move held.

0530 - Seaborne Ech (Main Body) move off from area LA MINE via by-pass BAYEAU - CAEN - LISEUX - EVREUX - VERNON - THILLIRURS - SUR EURES - CISORS.

Place: Cisors

2200 - Div H.Q. established CHATEAU of CISORS - only recently evacuated by German medical unit.  Whole of Ech under Comd 30 Corps.

2330 - Move completed - tps dispersed for night, mainly in an around local wood.  Party remained overnight prepared to move 0900 hrs, 3 Sep.

3rd September 1944

Place: Cisors

0600 - Comd proceeds independently to 30 Corps Rear H.Q. with Lt. Hopkins, A.P.I.S. and Lt. Drake, R.A.S.C. as 'G' and 'Q' L.Os.  On arrival at 0800 hrs, informed Operation LINNET cancelled.  - decided to remain in a temporary area 15 miles S. of AMIENS.

1015 - Staff Capt ‘Q’ and Gp reps proceed independently to recce temporary area for halt clear of rd about 15 miles S. of AMIENS from Seaborne Ech would be later called fwd to ARRAS area on orders issued by 30 Corps, when rds sufficiently clear.  As already stated above, owing to Operation LINNET being cancelled, it is later decided to stay over night.

1030 - Due to inability to obtain pet at F.M.C. ordered by 30 Corps to produce it, unable to proceed as arranged at 0900 hrs - move off postponed until 1200 hrs.

1130 - Move again postponed until 1500 hrs, as pet still not obtained.

1500 - Move on to area CREVECOEUR-CONTY.  Move completed by approx 2230 hrs- scattered elements arriving during night.

Place: Crevecoeur

Scattered parties Germans rounded up and handed over to Pro Coy for onward transmission to nearest P.O.W. Cage.

2000 - Div H.Q. est in building CREVECOEUR – M.R. 918274 (previously occupied by Hitler Youth Movement).

2100 - Conference held at Div H.Q. to arrange local admin.

2115 - Message received from Comd, Seaborne Bodies, Air tps (new title decided on S.D., 21 Army Gp), originated at 1730 hrs, that Ech not now under Comd 30 Corps, but under 2nd Army (through him) for Op Comd and 2nd Army Tps direct for Admin.  No move from present (CONTY) area for 24 hrs after arrival.  Second line tpt required for work of exceptional importance (100 3-ton lorries of 93 Coy, R.A.S.C. and units) to be off- loaded and ready to move 0800 hrs, 4 Sep.

2300 - Message received instructing no move for 48 hrs, day spent on veh maintenance and settling in.

4th September 1944

Place: Crevecoeur

Div settling in area sub-allotted to them.

1100 - Message from Div L.O., 30 Corps (Lt Hopkins) instructing Ech to move NORTH of VITRY- M.R. 6304, route via DIAMOND to ARRAS and then via CAVRELLE and FRESNES (30 Corps H.Q. located S.W. of LILLE. M.R. 6425).  In view of message from Comd, Seaborne Bodies no action taken.

1200 - Lt. Hopkins arrived and in accordance with instructions remained at Div H.Q.

5th September 1944

Place: Crevecoeur

Location Statement issued Attached at Appx ‘A’.

1600 - All units warned possible move BRUSSELLS area evening 7 Sep, more likely morning 8 Sep (to be completed in 2 days).  R.A.S.C. tpt details for 6 Sep cancelled.

2115 - Units informed move starts 0600 hrs, 77 Sep.  Adv recce parties move BRUSSELS 6 Sep.

1800 - Dance and Reception for Div Tps held iin local garage, many local inhabitants and F.F.I. attend.  F.F.I. caused a scene by turning out all girls at pistol point, who had anything to do with the Germans during their occupation.

6th September 1944

Place: Crevecoeur

0045 - Gps informed move put fwd.  Shortt move to area N.E. of AMIENS not before 1300 hrs, 6 Sep.  Long move to BRUSSELS area, 7 Sep.  Normal recce parties report Staff Capt 'Q' outside LAAKEN Palace, BRUSSELS, at 061545 hrs. to meet Comd, Seaborne Bodies for instrs.  Recce parties for short move report Comd, Seaborne Ech x-rds N.1561, 1400 hrs.  Airborne Corps Tps under comd for move purposes only.

0900 - Staff Capt 'Q' and adv party proceed tto BRUSSELS area.

0930 - Conference held Div H.Q. when all moveement instrs issued verbally.

1030 - Main body adv recce parties for short move proceeded to are N.E. of AMIENS.

1300 - Main body, Seaborne Ech move off - S.PP. - x-rds ROSSIGNOL 053416 - turn left ST. SAUFLIEU-HEBICOURT - DURY - AMIENS - D.P. x-rds 116583 (on rd from AMIENS to ALBERT)

2000 - Div dispersed for night-Div H.Q. est ffarm cottage M.R. 5344.

7th September 1944

Place: Amiens

0530 - Move scheduled to start at 0600 hrs - owing to refuelling difficulties, move postponed until 0900 hrs.

0900 - Main body moved off - AMIENS - ALBERT - BAPAUME - ARRAS - DOUAI - ORCHIES - TOURNAI - ARTH - ENGHEN with D.P. at x-rds 4039..  Div H.Q. est at cottage N.W. of HAL.

Place: Enghen

2230 - Whole Ech (except scattered vehs) pastt D.P. and in temporary locations N.W. Hal.

8th September 1944

Place: Hal

0800 - Seaborne Ech move off by-passing BRUSSSELS, 1200 hrs - Ech parked temporarily on roadside outside LOUVAIN, and orders received to move into bivvy area S.W. of LOUVAIN

Place: Louvain

1500 - Ech commenced dispersing to area LOUVAAIN - MOORBEEK - OVERYSSCHE - LOONBEEK 7950 - TERVUEREN - 7543.

1610 - Div H.Q. est at TERBAN MONASTERY, J.84456.

1800 - Conference held Div H.Q.

2000 - Return requested of missing vehs and llist of vehs requiring local repair and those requiring replacement. 

2030 - Units warned - no move before 0900 hrss, 10 Sep.

9th September 1944

Place: Louvain

Rest Day throughout Div, except for local veh maintenance.

1430 - Civil Reception for British tps held aat LOUVAIN.  Offrs attended opening ceremony.

1515 - Notification - At Unit Comds discretioon 50% personnel may proceed to LOUVAIN or nearest village (NOT BRUSSELS).

2100 - Statement fwd to Comd, Seaborne Bodiess of vehs requiring replacement.

2245 - Verbal message vis Comd. Seaborne Bodiies L.O. - No move under 48 hrs.

1430 - Reps REME and ADOS proceeded to contacct Comd, Seaborne Bodies at HQ 30 Corps, to arrange veh replacements on AFG.

1043 - Being unable contact Comd, Seaborne Boodies, information passed to REME and ADOS, 30 Corps.

10th September 1944

Place: Louvain

0700 - All Gps informed - No move 48 hrs.&nbssp; Veh maintenance will continue.

0915 - All Gps informed - In view of written message 'No move before 1100 hrs 10 Sep' notification of message orientated at 0700 hrs must be held in abeyance pending confirmation.  All Gps placed at 4 hrs notice.

1500 - All Gps informed no move before 0600 hhrs 12 Sep - at 6 hrs notice from 2359 hrs 11 Sep.

1500 - NAAFI rations to be drawn 11 Sep.

11th September 1944

Place: Louvain

1300 - Gps informed no move probable before 00600 hrs 13 Sep - six hrs notice to move from 2359 hrs 12 Sep.  50% offrs and men allowed out nearest village or LOUVAIN (No recreational tpt).

1307 - Gps informed Flannagan and Allen, Florrence Desmond, and Kay Cavendish will give show at Div HQ 1530 hrs - 100 Each Gp may attend.

1530 - ENSA show given in grounds Div HQ.

1830 - Gps warned improbable any move for 3 oor 4 days.  Six hrs notice cancelled.  Trg to commence gp arrangements.

12th September 1944

Place: Louvain

1030 - Permission obtained for limited amountt recreational tpt to BRUSSELS, 12 13 and 14 Sep.  Throughout Ech, 22 lorries allowed daily, for period 1500 to 2300 hrs.  50% offrs and men allowed out of div.  Area at any one time, including local village, LOUVAIN and BRUSSELS.  Pro to provide patrols in BRUSSELS and LOUVAIN, to check turnout, behaviour, and passes.

1030 - Owing to grave shortage jerricans, emppties to be collected and return to Pet Pt forthwith.

1745 - Amn Depot located at FORET DE MEERDAELL M.R. 8650.  RA Gp detailed provide gd for night, to await relief from 30 Corps.

13th September 1944

Place: Louvain

1630 - Informed and Gps warned - No move befoore 0600 hrs 15 Sep.  Gps at 6 hrs notice w.e.f. 2359 hrs 14 Sep.

1700 - At request 30 Corps, detailed list of eqpt, bedding, clothing etc submitted to Comd Seaborne Bodies, including kit coming airborne and that carried seaborne for both airborne and seaborne parties.

1800 - Visit by Col Loring (DDOS) and Col. Shhorrock (DDME) HQ Airtps.

2000 - Major Geneeral Urquhart, Comd 1 Airborne Div, Lt-Col Loder-Symonds, Maj D.J. Madden G2 (Air) together with pilot arrived by plane and stayed night.

2005 - OC REME Workshops and OC Ord Fd Pk insstructed to report DDME and DDOS respectively at airfield LOUVAIN 1000 hrs 14 Sep.

2055 - Gp Comds informed RV Div HQ 0845 hrs 114 Sep to meet Gen. Urquhart.

2227 - Comd Corps Tps also infd meet Gen. Urqquhart - 0845 hrs 14 Sep.

14th September 1944

Place: Louvain

0900 - Gp Comds and Staff offrs addressed by Maj-Gen Urquhart - Conference Room Div HQ.

0930 - Maj-Gen Urquhart and staff offrs left Div HQ.

1200 - Gps warned - usual recce parties reporrt Comd Seaborne Bodies, at 30 Corps REAR (N of DIEST) 1500 hrs - Kits to be taken.  Los to report same place 0900 hrs 16 Sep.  Movement conference Div HQ 1700 hrs.  DAA & QMG 1 A/Ldg Bde report this HQ 1500 hrs owing alteration order of march.

1430 - Staff Capt (Q) left Div HQ in charge rrecce parties. 

15th September 1944

Place: Louvain

0700 - Main body move off via DIEST - BEERINGGEN - to conc area LIAO - HELCHTEREN Sheet 3 K37.  Move completed by approx 1145 hrs.

Place: Helchteren

1210 - Tac HQ est at CAPE map ref 3575.

1210 - Infm recd from Comd. Seaborne Bodies tthat further elt Corps Tps now moving in our coln placed under Seaborne Ech forthwith.

16th September 1944

Place: Helchteren

1545 - Gps infd no further move to-day. ; 8 hrs notice wef 0600 hrs 17 Sep.  Ech split up into 3 colns for further moved fwd - details at Appx 'B' attd.

2315 - All Units concerned issued with Seriall Nos for movement purposes – see Appx 'C' 

17th September 1944

Place: Helchteren

1000 - Gp Comds A plus selected offrs Coln 2 and 3 met Comd Seaborne Bodies at HQ 30 Corps Rear when preliminary instrs given verbally.

1145 - Offrs attending conference 1000 hrs waarned to meet same location 1730 hrs to receive detailed orders.

18th September 1944

Place: Helchteren

0745 - Adm Instrs issued by Comd Seaborne Boddies concerning move distributed to Unit level - no spare copies held this HQ.

0935 - No move for Coln A before 1500 hrs - hhalf hrs notice from 1430.

1027 - Report centre of move to Ech SP will bbe est at x-rds HELCHTEREN at H - 20 mins.

1320 - Gps informed no move before 1600 hrs -- unlikely to take place before first light 19 Sep.  Coln A to be formed up on side rd and tracks by 1500 hrs.  Tps confined to bivvy area.

1507 - No move before 1800 hrs.

1657 - Gps informed no move Coln A before 12000 hrs 19 Sep.

1735 - Int Summary No.1. issued. 

19th September 1944

Place: Helchteren

1150 - Code names throughout op issued to alll Gps.

1150 - Int Summary No.2 issued.

1235 - Gps informed no move A before 1700 hrss.  Executive order probably extremely short notice.  No official halts from during night or if held up.  Normal recce parties report Div HQ 1700 hrs.

1515 - Gps notified no move to-day.  Proobable move first light tomorrow.  Recce parties need not now report 1700 hrs.

1940 - Message from Comd Seaborne Bodies 'Be prepared to move 0600 hrs 20 Sep'.  Rfts Corps Sigs ETA tomorrow (50 vehs 235 personnel) will now move coln B.

2000 - Instructed Cp Comds Coln A to be readyy to move 0600 hrs 20 Sep.  Normal recce parties will r.v. Tac HQ 0545 hrs.  Comds colns B and C informed of ETA Sigs and to make all arrangements.

1900 to 2303 - Definite move order.  Comd Gp leaves location 0550 hrs 20 Sep passing Div HQ 0600 hrs.  Other gps follow as arranged.  No move coln B daylight 20 Sep.  Probable no move Coln C before 22 Sep. 

20th September 1944

Place: Helchteren

0550 - Col A moved off via 30 Corps SP map ref 355961 and was instructed to park temporarily 5 miles NORTH of ESCAUT CANAL on rd to EINDHOVEN.

0800 - Gps warned verges of rd N of CANAL nott clear of mines.  Mine detection parties to be provided before verges unstable.

0810 - On instrs at Corps SP that crashed gliider located about 1 m fwd, party proceeded to salvage amn etc reported there.  Mortar and .303 SAA collected from Horsa glider LH 956 and party rejoined coln.

1100 - Coln infd held up due to enemy mortariing small br in EINDHOVEN.  Armour going fwd to clear way before coln moves on.

1220 - Gps informed remain present location ffor night - 43 Inf Div passing through to clear rd ahead.  Comd Seaborne Bodies visiting Gps 1230 onwards to discuss defence arrangements.

21st September 1944

Place: On the rd about 5 mls North of Dutch Frontier

0600 - The Order of March of the Seaborne Echhelon is now as follows:

(a) Coln A halted on rd HETCHEL - EINDHOVEN with its tail just NORTH of the DUTCH frontier.

(b) Coln B Left behind in HETCHEL area, but moved up in rear of coln A on evening 21 Sep.

(c) Coln C Left behind in HETCHEL area.

0600 - Gps placed at 1 hours notice to move.<

1945 - Coln A moved off along route EINDHOVENN - ST ODENRODE - UDEN - GRAVE Bridge - NIJMEGEN.  This was a very difficult night move at high density with no head or side lights and much traffic congestion on the rd, particularly at EINDHOVEN, so bad that to get through at all it was necessary to double and even treble bank.  There was considerable enemy activity and shelling quite close on each flank from EINDHOVEN on wards. 

22nd September 1944

Place: On the rd about 5 mls North of Dutch Frontier

0300 - Comd Medical and RASC amn Gps managed to get past all obstructions and halted at about 0330 hrs with head at TCP at ESCHAREN, about two miles SOUTH of GRAVE Br, having sustained a few veh casualties through accidents en route, (one or two of these vehs were subsequently destroyed at VEGHEL by enemy action).  RA Gp and remainder of Coln A however got held up in EINDHOVEN behind a Hy AA Regt and moved up behind them.  Coln A was split.  The AA Regt was attacked by German Tanks at VEGHEL and considerable number of vehs destroyed, but fortunately the head of the RA Gp was just SOUTH of the CANAL at VEGHEL, and they, and the remainder of the coln, escaped attack in the enemy break - through on the route.

Place: South of Grave Nijmegen

1400 - Staff Capt and recce parties proceededd to recce S.E. of NIJMEGEN.

1545 - Comd Medical and RASC amn Gps proceedeed via GRAVE Br to the concentration area allotted, only 600 yds from the German frontier.

1800 - HQ established ERICA HOTEL (740598).&nnbsp; Rest of coln still held SOUTH of enemy break-through at VEGHEL.

23rd September 1944

Place: South of Grave Nijmegen

1830 - RA Gp, followed by remainder of Coln AA and Coln B reach concentration area S.E. of NIJMEGEN.

2300 - Concentrations of Colns A and B compleeted.

24th September 1944

Place: South of Grave Nijmegen

0900- Major HODGES, DAQMG, 1 Airborne Division arrives at HQ at ERICA HOTEL, having crossed the lower RHINE from the battle WEST of ARNHEM.  He and Capt COVENTRY go forward that evening to DRIEL on the SOUTH bank of the LOWER RHINE to supervise the despatch of subs and NAAFI Packs in DUKS, to the pressed airborne personnel.

25th September 1944

Place: South of Grave Nijmegen

0900- Major SELLON sent to a conference at Airborne Corps HQ to decide on adm arrangements for the withdrawal of the survivors of the Division from ARNHEM.  Arrangements have to be made to feed, re-clothe and house about 2,000 survivors, and for this purpose two large buildings are taken over; the larger a school which could cater for approx 1200, and the smaller, a school building known as "The Pagoda" for approx 800.

1500 - Extra rations, rum, blankets, stretcheers and clothing are obtained from 30 Corps resources, and the two "hotels" are staffed and organised.  Major JESSOP, 1 Para Bde and Major EYLES, DAA & QMG 4 Para Bde, Seaborne Echelon at the school, and Major BALMER, DAA & QMG 1 Airldg Bde with personnel from 1 Airldg Bde at the Pagoda.

2200 - All arrangements are complete for receeption of survivors, including preliminary documentation to find out the names and units of survivors.

2330- First survivors begin to arrive.

26th September 1944

Place: Nijmegen

0600 - Last survivors arrive.  Owing to the number exceeding the estimate of 2,000 given, it became necessary to take over another building, a Police Barracks, which is staffed by seaborne personnel of RA Gp.

1700 - Geneeral BROWNING see survivors on parade.  Normal Div HQ Staff assume control of survivors and Seaborne Echelon which, however, keeps it separate identity in view of its future move back to U.K. by sea.

2100 - Coln C arrives concentration area and Polish Para Bde Seaborne Echelon ceases to be under command.

27th September 1944

Place: Nijmegen

In concentration area SE of NIJMEGEN.

28th September 1944
Place: Louvain

0700 - Seaborne Echelon moves to a new concenntration area in and around LOUVAIN, followed later in the day by airborne survivors.  HQ established at MON CRESOR Monastery.

29th and 30th September 1944
Place: Louvain

In concentration area in and around LOUVAIN.  All personnel survivors and some seaborne personnel required urgently in U.K. fly home from BRUSSELS Aerodrome, leaving the bulk of Seaborne Echelon personnel and all vehs to come home by sea.  Orders got out P.M. on 30th for move on 1 Oct by road to ARROMANCHES, the "Mulberry" port on the coast of NORMANDY NORTH of BAYEUX.  This would involve a 3 days road move.  Later however orders are received NOT to move on 1 Oct as it is probable that embarkation will be from OSTEND instead.