National Archives catalogue number WO 171/4307.

Abbreviation

195495 AARR a/c Adm Adv Airfd Airldg A/L a/m Amb Amdt Arty Aslt A tk Att Bde Bks BM Bn Br Bty Cdo Civ / Civn CO Comd Conc Conf Coy CRA CRE Disposns Div DR DZ Ech EME Equipt Est Evac Fd Fm FOU Fwd G1 GOC Gd Gren Gds Hy Incl Indep Inf Instr IO KOSB LO NTR Offr O Group OO Op OR Pl Posn PW RAC Rd RE Recd Ref Regt S SAS SP Sqn Sup Tac Tk Tp Trg VP

Map Reference Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment Aircraft Administration Advance Airfield Airlanding Airlanding Aforementioned Ambulance Amendment Artillery Assault Anti-Tank Attached Brigade Barracks Brigade Major Battalion Bridge Battery Commando Civilian Commanding Officer Commander Concentration Conference Company Commander Royal Artillery Commander Royal Engineers Dispositions Division / Divisional Despatch Rider Drop Zone Echelon Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Equipment Established Evacuate Field Farm Forward Observation Officer Forward General Staff Officer 1 General Officer Commanding Guard Grenadier Guards Heavy Including Independent Infantry Instruction Intelligence Officer King's Own Scottish Borderers Liaison Officer Nothing To Report Officer Orders Group Operation Order Operation Other Ranks Platoon Position Prisoner of War Royal Armoured Corps Road Royal Engineers Received Reference Regiment Scottish Special Air Service Self-Propelled / Support (if lower case) Squadron Support Tactical Tank Troop Training Vulnerable Point

Month and year : March 1945

Commanding Officer : Brigadier J.H.N. Poett

1st March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde on leave.

2nd March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde on leave.

3rd March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde on leave.

5th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde Comd returns from leave.

6th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde Comd conference at Div HQ.

7th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Visit of CRE for discussion with Bde Comd.

8th March 1945

Place: Bulford

1800 - All offrs attended talk by Bde Comd.

9th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Draft OO No.1 issued.

10th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Normal day's training.

11th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Interrogation Course at Carter Bks.

12th March 1945

Place: Bulford

6 Airborne Div OO No.7 received.

13th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde Comd Conference at Div HQ for all COs.  BM to Co-ordinating Conference.  Visit of CRA.

14th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Co-ordinating Conference at Div HQ for Bde Comd.

15th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Party of Scots Guards visit Bde HQ.

16th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Normal day's training.

17th March 1945

Place: Bulford

5 Para Bde Base Adm Instr No.1 issued.  5 Para Bde OO No.1 issued.

18th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Adv parties move to Transit Camps.  5 Para Bde Adm Instr No.1 issued.

19th March 1945

Place: Bulford

BM attends sp Conf at Div HQ.  Visit of Lt Gen Brereton.  Addendum No.1 to 5 Para Bde OO No.1 issued.

20th March 1945

Place: Bulford

Bde moves to Transit Camps.  7 Para Bn to Wimbish.  12 Para Bn to Wimbish.  13 Para Bn to Shudy Camps.  Bde HQ to Shudy Camps.

21st March 1945

Place: Shudy Camp

General Briefing.  Amdt to 5 Para Bde Adm Instr No.1 issued.

0900 - Bde Comd addresses all tps at Shudy Camps.

1000 - Bde Comd addresses all tps at Wimbish.

1100 - BM briefing all offrs of Bde HQ.

1400 to 1600 - Briefing of Glider Pilots.

22nd March 1945

Place: Shudy Camp

GOC addresses all tps.  General briefing.

23rd March 1945

Place: Shudy Camp

0830 - Tps visit airfds to fit chutes and load containers.

24th March 1945

Place: Wethersfield

0700 - Took off accompanied by two War Correspondents.

1020 - Bde HQ dropped on DZ NW HAMMINKELN.  Casualties:- Killed 1 Offr 11 OR, Wounded 4 Offrs 6 OR, Missing 3 Offrs 10 OR.  573 PW taken by Bde on D day.  Disposns Bde HQ 195495, 7 Para Bn 189486, 12 Para Bn 198497, 13 Para Bn 186495 (Sheet No.42005 1/25000).

25th March 1945

Place: Hamminkeln

Disposns unchanged.  Contact made with 6 KOSB 0900 hrs.

1425 - Sqn RAC, Shermans, arrived in Bde area.

26th March 1945

1400 - Bde ordered fwd.

2030 - Bde in conc area 2448.

27th March 1945

0800 - Bde leaves area 2448 and ordered to take ERLE at 1600 hrs.  7 Para Bn meet enemy area 3449.

2200 - 7 Para Bn in posn and report rd clear.

2205 - 12 Para Bn pass through 7 Para Bn and take SOUTHERN half of ERLE.

28th March 1945

0700 - Bde HQ est in ERLE with 12 Para Bn in ERLE, 13 and 7 Para Bns astride rd WEST of ERLE.  Maj Gen R.N. Gale (Comd Airborne Corps) and Gen Ridgeway (US 17 Div) visited Bde HQ with Div Comd.

29th March 1945

0800 - Bde HQ left conc area near ERLE and moved off with COESFELD as objective.  Bns left, 12 Para Bn mounted on Churchill tks of 3 Gren Gds with tp 146 SP A tk Bty and 6 Airldg A tk Bty in sp, 7 and 13 Para Bns by march route.

1800 - Bde HQ est at farm 595701 area COESFELD with 12 Para Bn in posn on SW outskirts of town.  By 2000 hrs 13 Para Bn was in posn on NW outskirts of town and at 2330 hrs 7 Para Bn moved into WESTERN outskirts.

30th March 1945

0900 - Div Comd visited Bde HQ and issued orders to Bde Comd.  Bde HQ left fm 5969 near COESFELD.  Bde ordered to adv, embussed to objective at GREVEN on river EMS.  12 Para Bn held up by hard going in woods NW of COESFELD and Bde HQ following 12 Para Bn remained in COESFELD area all day.  At 1600 hrs 13 Para Bn moved SOUTH of COESFELD to conc EAST of town.  By 2100 hrs 12 Para Bn had reached OSTERWICK.  12 and 13 Para Bns ordered to conc in their areas and move at first light to ALTERBERGE.

31st March 1945

0300 - Bde HQ left area of COESFELD and moved with 7 Para Bn for ALTENBERGE.  Orders received during move, whole Bde to conc area GREVEN.

1100 - Tac Bde HQ est at GREVEN.  By 1200 hrs all bns had arrived in area.  7 Para Bn conc WEST of river EMS and at 1300 hrs 12 and 13 Para Bns took over area from 8 and 9 Para Bns EAST of river EMS.

1900 - Div Comd and G.1 visit Bde HQ.

Month and year : April 1945

Commanding Officer : Brigadier J.H.N. Poett

1st April 1945

Place: Greven

1030 - Bde Comd holds O Group.  PW captured during day 2 Offrs 30 ORs.

2nd April 1945

Place: Greven

0715 - Bde moves to secure ground WEST and overlooking OSNABRUCK.

1600 - Bde reaches LENGERICK without contacting enemy.  Order of march 3 Sqn Gren Gds, 12 Bn, Adv Bde HQ, 7 Bn Main Bde HQ 13 Bn.

1700 - Bde debusses and moves fwd by march route.

1835 - 12 Bn and Gren Gds mop up SP gun at 120008 and resume adv.

2300 - Bde HQ est 117007.

3rd April 1945

Place: Osnabruck

0600 - 12 Bn reach objective at 1504.

1700 - 13 Bn reach objective at 1808.

1900 - Bde HQ est at 182073.

2045 - 7 Bn reach objective at 1909.

2200 - 12 Bn move to area 1908 through strong enemy resistance.  PW taken during day 2 Offrs 330 ORs.

4th April 1945

Place: Osnabruck

0600 - Snipers active near Bde HQ.

1005 - 1 Cdo Bde passes through Bde area mopping up town.

1315 - All sniper activity ceased PW taken during day 75.

5th April 1945

Place: Osnabruck

1300 - 7 and 12 Bns and 3 Sqn Gren Gds move off embussed for Bde concentration area FRIEDEWALDE 7618.

1350 - Bde HQ and 13 Bn follow embussed.

1900 - 13 Bn comes under comd 6 Airldg Bde.

2000 - Bde reaches concentration area FRIEDEWALDE.

2100 - 13 Bn ceases to be under comd 6 Airldg Bde.  First signs noticed of Nazi feeling among civilians.

6th April 1945

Place: Friedewalde

1130 - 7 Bn march to PETERSHAGEN 8420 to take over from 6 Airldg Bde.

7th April 1945

Place: Friedewalde

0745 - Bde leaves embussed for area NEUSTADT.

0815 - Adv gd, 12 Bn and 3 Sqn Gren Gds one hour late in crossing start line.

0915 - Adv Gd held up at ROSSENHAGEN 9223.

0945 - Resistance cleared, 2 Offrs 24 PWs taken.

1830 - 12 bn and Sqn Gren Gds take br at BORDENAU 1830 now called "grenadier & Yorkshire Bridge".

2000 - 7 Bn adv to airfd 1432 meet hy opposition from 20 mm flak and MG capture airfd with 19 ME 109 4 FW 109 2 JU 88, 2 JU 52 and much other valuable equipt.  Airfd buildings cleared by 13 Bn.

2100 - 7 Bn adv to clear NEUSTADT and capture br.  Bde HQ est 147319.

2330 - NEUSTADT br blown by enemy when two pls of B Coy 7 Bn are crossing 2 Offrs and 10 men remain on enemy side of br until first light.  20 killed and 17 wounded in explosion.

2400 - Bde in area NEUSTADT PAGGENHAGEN, BORDENAU.  PW 10 Offrs 450 ORs.

8th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

0255 - 7 Bn received aslt boats and evac casualties from EAST bank of R LEINE.

0630 - Br at BORDENAU and br at NEUSTADT firmly held.  Patrols sent fwd.

1135 - FRENCH PW reports no British PW area 3738.

1430 - 3 tks with inf reported by civs to be SS moving NORTH from BLUMMENAU later seen at RICKLINGTON.

2000 - Report asked for by Div on blowing of NEUSTADT br.

2145 - PW warns expected counter attack area RICKLINGTON, doesn't materialise.  Unexploded shell lands in Bde HQ area.  Total PW 50.

2350 - Order recd from Div that all civn phone wires must be cut.

9th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

0600 - 13 Bn shelled by SP gun 178314.

1110 - Div warns that dumps of gas shells may be encountered.

1510 - Coys from 13 Bn sent fwd to BRINE 2235 and SCHARREL 2338.

1615 - Special order of the day from comd 8 Corps.  Total PW 57.

10th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

1200 - Coys of 13 Bn moved back to Bde area.  Total PW 54.

11th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

2100 - Enemy aircraft JU 88 shot down by captured german aircraft guns, by men of Bde HQ.  Total PW 2 Offrs 29 ORs 1 woman.

12th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

0615 - Bns report situation normal.

0620 - Enemy aircraft on recce over Bde area flying very low.

1230 - Bde comd goes to conf at Div.

1830 - Bde comds conference for COs.

2000 - Locations    7 Para Bn 170355    12 Para Bn 165311    13 Para Bn 153329    3 Sqn 4 Gren Gds 153328.

2100 - Bde put at 6 hrs notice to move from 130001 hrs.  Total PW 39.

13th April 1945

Place: Poggenhagen

0930 - Conference for all offrs.  Warning order received for move to CELLE not before 1830 hrs.

1100 - Bde adv party leaves for CELLE.

1115 - GOC visits Bde Comd.

1430 - Order received for Bde to move immediately.  This impossible.

1630 - Bde moves embussed to CELLE, 13 Bn, Bde HQ with B Ech, 12 Bn, 7 Bn.

2030 - Bde arrives in concentration area CELLE, left by 15 (S) Div.  Bde HQ 592507.  7 Bn 591505, 12 Bn 593508, 13 Bn 600512, 3 Sqn Tks still at POGGENHAGEN, 6 Fd Regt 582513, 4 Airldg A Tk Bty 582612, 591 Para Sqn RE 584504, 225 Para Fd Amb 586503.

14th April 1945

Place: Celle

0800 - Bde takes over guards on VPs in town.

1020 - Force of tks and inf reported 637452, coy of 7 Bn ready to investigate, but 84 US Inf Div take over as this is in their sector.  GOC visits Bde HQ.

1035 - SAS report eight half tracks ditched in stream 677452, belonging to a/m enemy force.

1110 - American Ranger captured in Italy, escaped from WITTINGEN 0460, reports to HQ.

1200 - GOC makes his office at Bde HQ.

1600 - Bn Comd of Gren Gds Bn calls.

1730 - Bde Comds conference for all COs.

1830 - GOCs O Group at Div HQ.  Russian civilians report tanks and infantry at 5753.  Patrol sent from 12 Bn NTR.

2130 - DR reports wire across rd at 575515 Total PW 7 incl retired Lt Gen ex Nazi High Command.

15th April 1945

Place: Celle

0900 - Bde Comd visits Div HQ.

1020 - 12 Bn to do wood clearing role WEST & NORTH of CELLE.

2000 - Party from 12 Bn returned from wood clearing.  One German killed.  Airfield found.  Total PW 53. incl 5 Offrs.

16th April 1945

Place: Celle

1200 - 12 Bn report amn factory incl some gas shells at SCHEUEN.

1400 - Bde comd holds O Group for move to UELZEN.

1530 - Bde moves to concentration area SOUTH of UELZEN, order of march 7 Bn, 591 Para Sqn RE, Bde HQ, 12 Bn, 13 Bn, 225 Para Fd Amb.

1845 - Bde arrives at concentration area.  Locations -

Total PW   10.

17th April 1945

Place: Nienwolde

0600 - 7 and 13 Bns moves to new locations to take over from 3 Bde.

1400 - Patrols of 12 Bn in area of NIENWOLDE nothing to report.

1445 - Patrol of 13 Bn report DROHE 9880 clear.

1700 - Move order sent out.

2000 - Capt MEDLICOTT EME captured on Operation VARSITY returns, escaped from PW camp today.  Report Lt HONNOR (LO) O.K.

2100 - Locations, Bde HQ, 12 Bn, 3 Sqn Gren Gds, no change.  7 Bn, 591 Para Sqn 9279, 13 Bn, 225 Para Fd Amb 9680.  Bde Comd returns after visit to HQ 2 Army ref Op ENTERPRISE.  Total PW 8.

18th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0530 - 7 and 12 Bns move by march route to new location HANSTEDT 9788 and KARLSTORF 9885.

0700 - Div warns that 12 SS Trg Bn probably responsible for recent shooting of PW.  Special interrogation.

0945 - Bde HQ reports new location LEHMKE 9585.

1330 - Bde task.  To clear WELLENDORF and SCHLIKINAU and occupy KATELN 0390 and PATTENAU 0388, this done by 12 Bn.

1645 - GOC visits Bde.

2100 - Bde makes contact with 6 Airldg Bde, 12 Bn contact patrol meets 12 DEVONS at RUSCHE 0292.  Total PW 15.  End of Day Locations

19th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0830 - 12 Bn patrol area GR ELLENBURG 0286.

1230 - Ordered to occupy NATELN 0390 and BATENSON 0388.

1300 - Bde Comd visits 8 Corps to choose DZ areas for Op ENTERPRISE, so that air phs can be ordered.

2230 - Orders from Div for concentration of area SOUTH of LUNEBERG 7819.  Total PW 3 Offrs, 32 ORs.

20th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0900 - Conference for Bn COs on move to conc area.

1145 - GOC visits Bde Comd.

1220 - 4 A Tk Bty returns in sup instead of 3/4 A Tk Bty.

2100 - Orders for patrolling EAST of present location.  Total PW 20 ORs.  Locations - 7 Bn to SUHLENDORF 0485 otherwise no change.

21st April 1945

Place: Lehmke

1210 - Div Comd visits Bde Comd.

1300 - LO from Div brings 15 (S) Op Order Op ENTERPRISE for Brig to read.

1430 - HQ 115 US Inf Regt moves into 7 Bn area at SUHLENDORF.

1400 - Brig leaves for conference on Op ENTERPRISE at HQ 15 (S) Div.  Locations no change except 13 Para Bn at OSTEDT 010830.  Total PW 6.  Adv party to airfd at RHEINE for Op ENTERPRISE who should have left at 1000 hrs were postponed 24 hrs.

22nd April 1945

Place: Lehmke

1130 - Div Comd and Corps Comd (Gen Gale) visit Bde HQ before visiting Bns.

1400 - Bde Comd holds O Group ENTERPRISE.  Locations no change.  Total PW 2.

23rd April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0800 - Further 24 hrs postponement for move for Recce parties.  Final decision will be taken tonight on choice of airfd.

1000 - Bde Comd visits 1 Cdo Bde for conference on Op ENTERPRISE.  Car smash on way - no damage.

24th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

1000 - IO attends conference of future.  Div HQ.

1500 - Definite move tomorrow for RECCE Parties and main body day following.

1530 - CRA visits Bde comd and plans Arty for Op ENTERPRISE.

1900 - Bde Comd visits 225 Para Fd Amb.

25th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0945 - Bde recce parties leave for airfd RHEINE.  Decision had been reached that CELLE airfd was not suitable and Op AUDACIOUS previously called ENTERPRISE would be mounted from RHEINE.

1000 - Bde Comd visits Corps Comd coordinating conference for Op AUDACIOUS.

1330 - Bde Comd coordinates fire plan for Op AUDACIOUS with CRA 6 Airborne Div and CRA 15 (S) Div.

1900 - No move for main body to RHEINE airfd, possibility of using LUNEBURG airfd will be discussed at air conference 26 Apr.  No change of location.  Total PW 2.

26th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0830 - Bde Comd attends air coordinating conference under Corps comd, [BGS?] ACC 46 Group to tie up air sup and airfield requirements for Op AUDACIOUS prior to ACCs conference with AVM BROADHURST.  No decision on airfd reached.

1130 - Bde Comd and Wing Comd 46 Group recce LUNEBURG airfd and find it suitable.

1200 - IO visits IO 15 (S) Div for enemy information on LAUENBURG.  Little result.

1400 - Bde Comd holds O Group Op AUDACIOUS.  Att 5 Para Bde Op Order No 6.

1530 - Bde Comd finishes O Group.  Visit of Bde Comd to say Op cancelled owing to nearness of Red Army and necessity of crossing ELBE in a hurry.  Bde to stand by for a possible airborne op.

1900 - LO brings warning orders for Bde to move to concentration area SW of LUNEBURG.  Recce party prepare to move first light.  Move Order No 7.  Div still in Corps reserve.  Recce parties who had moved to RHEINE will rejoin as soon as possible.  No change of locations.  Total PW 3.

27th April 1945

Place: Lehmke

0700 - Bde recce party moves to area TELLEMER 7204.

1400 - Bde HQ closes and moves to new location.

2100 - Locations

Total PW 6.

28th April 1945

Place: Glussingen

1030 - Bde Comd and BM attend investiture by Fd Marshal MONTGOMERY at Div HQ.

1400 - Bns clear woods in their areas.  PW taken   7 Bn 7 PW    12 Bn 3 PW   Bde HQ 3 PW.

1600 - Proposed schedule for mounting a Parachute Operation.

29th April 1945

Place: Glussingen

0700 - Bde ordered to move to LUNEBURG airfd ready for airborne Op possible date 2 May.  Move Order No 8 issued.

1330 - Airborne Op cancelled.  Bde to be prepared to move to conc area EAST of LUNEBURG 30 Apr.

1700 - Bde Comd attends O Group at Div HQ.

2100 - Orders given to bns for move to new area.  Bde will rejoin remainder of Div for drive to BALTIC under 18 airborne Corps.

30th April 1945

Place: Glussingen

1400 - Bde moves by march route to conc area arriving 1800 hrs.  Total PW 4.  Locations Bde HQ, REINSTORF 8919, 7 Para Bn, HOLZEN 9019, 12 Para Bn, RADENBECK 9317, 13 Para Bn, SUTTORF 9320, 225 Para Fd Amb, REINSTORF 8819.

Month and year : May 1945

Commanding Officer : Brigadier J.H.N. Poett

1st May 1945

Place: Reinstorf

0750 - Orders to move immediately to HOHNSTORF ready to cross R ELBE at 1200 hrs.

0810 - Move order for move at 0840 hrs by march route to area HORST 9236.  Order of march 7 Para Bn - 225 Para Fd Amb - Bde HQ - 13 Para Bn - 12 Para Bn.

0900 - Marching party moves.

1130 - Bde Comd orders recce parties to meet him at CANAL br 899350.

1530 - Bde HQ est in wood 931351, move completed as these locations

1705 - 13 Para Bn to send a coy to relieve a coy of DEVONS at CANAL br 899350.  Visit of Div Comd to give orders for tomorrow.  Bde to move embussed to area GRANZIN 0645 - GREVEN 0346 - GALLIN 0547 - LUTENMARK 0144.  5 Para Bde to pass through 3 Para Bde.

1850 - LO gives change of plan, adv to ZARRENTIN with 3 Para Bde on right.

2010 - Div Comd visits Bde HQ.

2345 - Move Order issued.  Op Instr No.2.

2nd May 1945

Place: Horst

0800 - Adv Gd 12 Para Bn crosses start ling on adv to GADEBUSCH.  All bns embussed.

0815 - Bde HQ moves.

0940 - Sqn AARR joins Bde under orders only from Div.

0945 - Bde HQ Tac ordered to GADEBUSCH which already is occupied by 3 Para Bde.

1000 - 12 Para Bn have very slight opposition area 1352.

1015 - British and US PW camp overrun, approx 1300 of them going to make own way back to LAUENBERG.

1035 - 12 Para Bn take 400 PW BANTEN 1352.

1350 - Bde Comd holds O Gp in GADEBUSCH.  3 Para Bde has passed through and reached WISMAR there is no opposition and German Army Gp appears to be surrendering in batches.  5 Para Bde move at once to area MECKLENBERG 4589 then SOUTH to lake.  This to link with Russians and establish joint line.  Clear run for Bns, no opposition.  Enemy PW in thousands stream down rds to GADEBUSCH.  Several PW cages set up but PW question acute.  End of day locations:

3rd May 1945

Place: Mecklenberg

0915 - Reported AARR linked with Russians area LUBOW 4990.

0930 - Possible stay in present location for a fortnight, therefore Bde HQ will move to a more comfortable location.  Recce party moves.

1100 - 591 Para Sqn RE comes under comd.

1230 - Div order saying that no unit surrender will be accepted on Corps Eastern front.

1400 - Bde HQ moves to ROSENTHAL 4691.

4th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

1015 - Bde Comd lunches with Bde comd Russian tank unit.  Following generals surrendered to this Bde: Maj Gen KITZINGER comd Western Fortress Zone, Oberst ROLLIN comd 389 Inf Div, Maj Gen WERCHSIL comd 3 and 9 Armies.

1215 - 6 Fd Regt put out of action by CRA.

1230 - Div details a coy of the Bde to do a job.  Report to LUNEBURG airfd today.  Coy of 13 Para Bn detailed because CO 13 Para Bn at Div and can therefore be briefed direct.

1505 - Demarcation line with Russians decided.  13 Para Bn to move one Coy and Bn HQ.

1800 - 225 Para Fd Amb location 458946.

5th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

0800 - Adm Order No.1 issued.

1315 - Div reports all Germans in NW Europe surrendered unconditionally 041820, hostilities cease 050800.

1400 - Party of Russian offrs arrive for lunch.

1500 - Bde Comd inspects 7 Para Bn.

1515 - 13 Para Bn move to MOIDENTEN to agree with Russian demarcation line.  Change of location 13 Para Bn 502874.

7th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

1315 - Message from Div to say Germany has surrendered unconditionally.  All hostilities finally cease 090001.

8th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

1000 - Bde Comd leaves for COPENHAGEN.

2000 - Celebration dinner for COs and unit comds.

9th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

1000 - Bde Comd returns from COPENHAGEN and inspects 12 Para Bn.

11th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

Bde Comd inspects 13 Para Bn.

12th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

Bde Comd inspects Bde HQ and att.

13th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

Warning order from Div that Div will be prepared to move to unknown destination at short notice.  5 Div will relieve.

14th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

5 Div recce parties arrive.

15th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

1000 - Div will return to UK by air and sea 16 - 20 May.

1400 - Move postponed, no move before 20 May.  Conference at Bde HQ by Gen CRAWFORD comd 5 Div, Bde Comd and COs.

16th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

5 Div recce parties return.

19th May 1945

Place: Rosenthal

0920 - Bde HQ moves by rd to LUNEBURG.

1450 - Half of Bde HQ convoy arrives at LUNEBURG airfd.

1500 - 13 Para Bn take off in a/c for UK.

1515 - 225 Para Fd Amb takes off in a/c for UK.

1530 - One Coy of 7 Para Bn and Bn HQ takes off for UK.

1745 - Remainder of Bde HQ convoy arrives.

1800 - Remainder of Bde bivouacs in woods 500 yds NORTH of LUNEBURG airfd.

20th May 1945

Place: Luneburg

0830 - Air party at half hours notice to move to airfd.

1015 - Remainder of Bde air party take off for UK at LUNEBURG airfd.

1215 - Rd party leaves LUNEBURG.

1310 - Bde HQ air party arrives NIVELLE airfd BRUSSELS.

1700 - One a/c of Bde HQ and 20 a/c of 7 Para Bn leave for UK.  Land at NETHERAVON at 1905 hrs.

1900 - Rd party arrives SULINGEN and stages for night.

21st May 1945

Place: Sulingen

0715 - Bde rd party leaves.  Arrives Staging camp GOCH 1815 hrs.

Place: Brussels

1215 - Remainder of Bde HQ air party leaves NIVELLE airfd.  Arrives various airfds in UK at 1445 hrs.

22nd May 1945

Place: Goch

0715 - Bde rd party leaves.  Arrives Staging camp LOUVAIN 1550 hrs.

Place: Bulford

225 Para Fd Amb and 22 Indep Para Coy revert from Bde Comd.

23rd May 1945

Place: Louvain

07[0?]0 - Bde rd party leaves.  Arrives transit camp 1300 hrs.

0930 - Bde Comd holds conference for COs on re-organisation prior to re-mobilizing.  Draft warning orders signed.

24th May 1945

Place: Ostend

0230 - Bde rd party leaves.  Arrives CALAIS 0800 hrs.

Place: Bulford

0930 - Bde Comds conference for COs on honours and awards.

Place: Calais

1415 - Bde rd party embarks for UK.  Arrives DOVER 1600 hrs.

25th May 1945

Place: Dover

0915 - Bde rd party leaves DOVER.  Arrive BULFORD 1700 - 2000 hrs.

26th to 31st May 1945

Bde HQ on leave.