National Archives catalogue reference WO 177/715

 

Abbreviations

A/C

Cdr

Div

O Gp

Op

RAMC

Tp

Aircraft

Commander

Division / Divisional

Orders Group

Operation

Royal Army Medical Corps

Troop

 

Note: The 133 Parachute Field Ambulance war diary for the period 17th - 25th September 1944 was lost during the fighting at Arnhem. As such this diary contains no reference to the role of the Ambulance at Arnhem.

 

Month and year: September 1944

Commanding Officer : Lt Col W.C. Alford RAMC

 

1st September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit plan formed.

 

2nd September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

2100 - Owing to British troops reaching our operational area ahead of schedule and owing to bad weather Operation 'Linnet' is cancelled.

 

3rd September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

0900 - Brigade Cdrs conference.  Unit to stand by at 36 hrs notice for another operation.

 

2100 - Bde 'O' Gp for new operation in area MAASTRICHT (HOLLAND).

 

2325 - American tp: (arrived) in MAASTRICHT.  Operation cancelled.

 

4th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Stand by at 36 hrs notice for further operation.

 

5th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Bde Cdrs 'O' for operation "Fifteen".

 

6th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit orders issued.  See App B.

 

7th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit briefing.

 

2400 - Op 'Fifteen' postponed 24 hrs.

 

8th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Operation 'Fifteen' postponed 24 hrs.

 

9th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Operation Fifteen postponed 48 hrs i.e. to night 11/12.

 

10th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Operation 'Fifteen' cancelled.

 

11th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

0815 - Debriefing of unit.  Containers removed from A/C and brought back to unit.  Troops [returned?] Unit standing by for a further operation.

 

12th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit assisted in local harvesting.

 

2100 - Bde Cdrs conference.  Fresh operation authorised.  Possibility of 4 days leave beginning 13 Sep and prior to the operation.

 

13th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

0940 - Leave suspended.

 

1200 - 24 hrs leave allowed.  To be completed by 2400 15 Sep.

 

14th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Bde Cdrs 'O' Gp for operation "MARKET".

 

15th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit operation orders issued.

 

16th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

Unit briefing.  All troops confined to barracks.

 

17th September 1944

Place: Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland

 

1150 - Div 1st lift took off.