RAC 7 Armoured Division

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by abbrover, Jan 30, 2018.

  1. abbrover

    abbrover Member

    A none computer friend has received his dad's service papers and I've offered to look for war diaries for him when I go to Kew in a couple of weeks. His father served with RAC and in October 1941, his papers say he was posted to HQ 7 Armoured Division. I'm looking for diaries but there are dozens! Can anyone give any advice on the diaries I need. He returned to the UK in March 44 and was posted to Defence and Employment Platoon, still 7 AD and I can't find anything for this either.
    According to his Service and Casualty form, he remained with this unit until September 1945 in the UK, but the front of his papers say he was in Europe from July 1944 to June 46, although he must have had leave as he married in the UK in September 1945.
    Any advice please
     
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    It seems likely to me that the Defense and Employment Platoon would have been too small for its own War Diary.

    I probably shouldn't make a recommendation since I am really stabbing in the dark, but maybe look at the material to do with the General Staff for their movements?
     
  3. abbrover

    abbrover Member

    Thank you. I must admit I thought the General Staff was my best bet, if we both think that, maybe it is the best way to go!
     
  4. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

    Have the GS war diaries from May 45 to disbandment, not a lot of information but can help with Divisional Headquarters locations post VE day, by then the Defence and Employment Platoon became Headquarters Squadron

    8 May 45 – 7th Armoured Division command 12th Corps
    Schleswig-Holstein
    Divisional Headquarters: Schenfeld north of Itzehoe
    10 May 45 – Albersdorf north-west of Itzehoe
    28 May 45 – Itzehoe north-west of Hamburg
    29 May 45 – to command 8th Corps redesignated 8th Corps District 11 Jun 45
    17 Jun 45 – orders received for the move to Berlin
    19 Jun 45 – Main Headquarters with troops to Berlin concentration area in Braunschweig and Wolfenbüttel command 30th Corps District – Tactical Headquarters to Heiligenthal west of Lüneburg forming Headquarters British Troops Berlin
    24 Jun 45 – Flechtorf north-east of Braunschweig with Tactical Headquarters joining Main Headquarters
    17 Jul 45 – Lancaster House Fehrbelliner Platz Wilmersdorf Berlin
    11 Sep 45 – Main and Rear Headquarters returns to Itzehoe
    15 Sep 45 – to command 8th Corps District less units with British Troops Berlin
    15 May 46 – to command 30th Corps District on disbandment of 8th Corps District
    1 Jul 46 – Kurhaus named Command House Parkstraße 1, Bad Rothenfelde north-west of Bielefeld command Headquarters British Army of the Rhine
    15 Jul 46 – to command 1st Corps District relieving 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division
    1 Jun 47 – to direct command Headquarters British Army of the Rhine on disbandment of 1st Corps District
    14 Jan 48 – Hannover District formed from 7th Armoured Division and 5th Infantry Division
    13 Feb 48 – Divisional Headquarters disbanded
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2023
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  5. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    I agree with my good friend Historic Steve on the movements of HQ Squadron Headquarters 7 Armoured Division post VE Day. Our major problem is trying to translate war diaries grid references into accurate locations in Itzehoe. So far we have been unable to find a copy of the maps used (as others have commented the echodelta website systems gives obviously incorrect information). We believe the Headquarters was based in requisitioned buildings prior to the move to Berlin,on return to Itzehoe into the former Hitler era build Waffen SS Complex known as Hanseaten Kaserne off the Lange Peterstrasse
     
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  6. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Contemporary map hopefully with link.

    This is the Neumunster map sheet K4

    If you identify the location of your map references here, then other, more accurate 1:25000 scale maps are also available online.


    Neumünster
     
  7. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    SDP
    Thank you
    Sadly Itzehoe is not included in the list of place names in the index
    I am splitting hairs in my quest for information and need a larger scale military map
     
  8. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

  9. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Sorry, don't understand. What list of place names in what index? Itzhoe is shown on the Neumunster map and that map includes 1945 map references. Once we know the map references, it will be possible to identify which GSGS 4414 (the 1:25000 scale series) to check for more accurate details.
     
  10. Bluebell Minor

    Bluebell Minor Junior Member

    My apologies

    Old age is catching up with me, the grey cells are not working as efficiently as in the past

    Will pm you privately in due course
     
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  11. abbrover

    abbrover Member

    Thank you everybody for your help, much appreciated
     
  12. Historic Steve

    Historic Steve Researching 21 Army Group/BAOR post VE day

    Updated an old thread for abbrover

    Insert for 28 May 45 – Norddeutscher Netzwerk Offices, Brunnstraße 23, off Gartenstraße Itzehoe

    Delete for 1 Jul 46 – Ulmenalle insert Kurhaus named Command House Parkstraße 1, Bad Rothenfelde

    21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
     

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