Hi All, Wondering if anyone can help me with the 5th RTR war diary for September 1943, specifically the period 25 September to 29 September, and any appendices associated with this dates. Thanks in advance, Mark.
Here is the war diary for the dates from the regimental history, Press of Regardless by Edward Wilson.
This appears to be one of those occasions where the guy who was there has an opinion which is contrary to those who respond - the period in question from the original poster is that of SEPTEMBER 1943…..at which time there was NO land action going on in France nor Belgium of the 11th Armoured Division- which had yet to fire a shot in anger aswelll as the Guard AD………HOWEVER there was a to do going on in Italy where we find th 8th Hussars - 3rd RTR and 5th RTR of 4h Armoured brigade of 7th Armoured ( Desert Rats) involved in the run up to the liberation of Naples on 1st October etc - as 7th Armoured THEN took off for France etc leaving 4th AB in Italy for my friend Susan's uncle - Major AB Smethurst who was a Squadron leader of 5th RTR to win his M.C. at Anzio…… now my opinion might not add up to a hill of beans BUT - this should be looked at again - just in case I might be right… Cheers
Thank you for your post dryan, but Andy and Tom are quite right, the information you have posted is for September 1944. I appreciate the information though. Mark.
BFBSM On re-reading Dryans input - most surprisingly for such an excellent poster - he has not only confused the date BUT also the units history as his excerpt makes NO mention of 5th RTR but only the "Dragoon Guards"…… most unusual for Dryan.. Cheers
Dryan Any day spent with the grandkids has to be a great forgiving day - I note that 5th RTR gave way to 1st RTR before Naples in 22nd AB - prior to 7th AD going off to the UK - which brought the two Smethurst brothers together since El Alamein - they met up once more in the NWE campaign when the elder brother was very badly wounded just three weeks before the end of the war. His daughter Susan might give us more of their history at the week-end… Cheers
My Uncle AB Smethurst MC was actually the older of the two brothers (by 6 years ). He only died in 2012 aged 97. Sadly my 1RTR father JB Smethurst was the brother who was so badly injured at Soltau ( I always spell that wrong....) in April 1945 aged 24. His brain injury was analogous to a heavy stroke but his resourceful nature was such that he had a very active life ultimately being awarded a CBE prior to his regrettably early death in late 1989. Still miss him 25 years on.
Any chance anyone has the WD entries for 5RTR for 27-29th 1944? I am chasing any information regarding a Scissors bridge sent out from 143 Fd Pk Sqn on the 29th. WD entry 143 Fd Pk Sqn 29th Sept 1944 "The one Scissors bridge was used again by the Armoured Brigade. One tank slide off and damaged the decking of it." from the WD of the Inniskillings above it could possibly be around Vinkel, near S' Hertogenbosch. Thanks
