National Archives catalogue number WO 171/4760.
Abbreviation
|
APO A.Tk Bde BHQ Bn Bty Cmd Comdg OR Pdr Tp |
Army Post Office Anti-Tank Brigade Battery Headquarters Battery Command Commanding Other Ranks Pounder Royal Artillery Troop |
Month and year : March 1945
Certificate
This is to certify that the War Diary for 1 - 23 Mar 45 was lost when the glider in which it was carried crashed on 24 Mar 45.
11 June 45
[Signed Elliot]
Major R.A.
Comdg 4 Airlanding A.Tk Bty R.A.
APO England
24th March 1945
Place: Hamminkeln
Battery landed E. of the Rhine. Only 2 x 6 pdrs, 2 x 17 pdrs had arrived at the end of the day. Capt Trease, Lts Hart and Robinson only officers who arrived. Capt Trease assumed command of Battery.
25th March 1945
Place: Hamminkeln
No move. Sgt Whittal complete with crew & 17 pdr came up having force landed near Bourg-Leopold: 2 extra 6 pdrs came under command the Battery.
26th March 1945
Place: Hamminkeln
Bty moved East of Hamminkeln with 5 Para Bde.
27th March 1945
Place: Erle
Advanced in support of 13 Para. to area West of Erle. Capt Elliot assumes command of the Bty & with him came 2 tps of 6 Bty, making 3 tps in all. Lt Hart becomes R.O.
28th March 1945
Place: Erle
No move.
29th March 1945
Place: Lembeck
Tp of guns & B.H.Q. came under command 3 Bty. Travelled in 3 Bde 'B' Echelon to area W. of Lembeck.
30th March 1945
Place: Lembeck
Bty moved with 3 Bde via Lembeck, Coesfeld, Altenburg to a concentration area W. of Greven.
31st March 1945
Place: Greven
One troop detached to protect Altenburg. Sgt Sherwood and 17 pdr arrived having travelled from Calais where they made forced landing.
Month and year : April 1945
1st April 1945
Place: Greven
One tp sent to defend Greven. B.H.Q. remains present location. Reinforcements of officers & ORs joined the Bty.
2nd April 1945
Place: Greven
No move.
3rd April 1945
Place: Greven
One tp crossed Dortmund-Ems Canal & took up position in Lengerich. B.H.Q. no move.
4th April 1945
Place: Greven
10 Reinforcement Jeeps arrived. No move.
5th April 1945
Place: Natrup
Bty with Capt. Elliot in cmd concentrated at Natrup.
6th April 1945
Place: Natrup
No move.
7th April 1945
Place: Natrup
No move.
8th April 1945
Place: Natrup
E & H tps crossed the Weser at Petershagen & harboured Raderhorst for the night.
9th April 1945
Place: Altenhagen
E & H tps supported 13th Bn in attack on Brinke & Scharpel. B.H.Q. moved up to area Altenhagen.
10th April 1945
Place: Altenhagen
[E?] tp with 8th to Bretlingen. H tp with Canadians to Helendorf. Bty now in support of 3 Para Bde.
11th April 1945
Place: Altenhagen
No move.
12th April 1945
Place: Altenhagen
No move.
13th April 1945
Place: Celle
B.H.Q. & all tps concentrated in Celle.
14th April 1945
Place: Celle
Tps. went to Bns of 5 Bde.
15th April 1945
Place: Celle
A Parachute tp under Lt Hart formed to go under command 5 Para Bde. E & H Tps came under cmd 3 Para Bde.
16th April 1945
Place: Celle
Tps still with 3 Bde.
17th April 1945
Place: Wappens
F at Molzen shot up enemy vehicles. Jeep & Trailer Quad. 17 pdr lost through enemy fire. B.H.Q. moved up to Wappens.
18th April 1945
Place: Wappens
No change.
19th April 1945
Place: Wappens
Ditto.
20th April 1945
Place: Wappens
Tps come under cmd 5 Bde once more, & back to 4 Bty.
21st April 1945
Place: Wappens
No change.
22nd April 1945
Place: Wappens
No change.
23rd April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
Bty moved in Regimental column to concentration area at Wessenstedt.
24th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
Bty reorganised with 2 x 6 pdr tps & 1 x 17 pdr tp. Parachute tp still away.
25th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
No change.
26th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
6 pdr tps. practiced loading jeeps & guns on small boats.
27th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
Parachute tp rejoined the Bty.
28th and 29th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
No change.
30th April 1945
Place: Wessenstedt
Moved to Volkstorf. Bty reformed with tps of 2 x 6 pdrs, 2 x 17 pdrs. Moved again at 23.50 hrs.
