3rd Reconnaissance Regt (NF) War Diaries

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Richard Lewis, Jan 25, 2011.

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  1. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    "Where are all the War Diaries Then? Hidden on yer Hard Drive, that's where."
    Kick up a*** received from Adam, so here goes.
    Diaries 1943-45, plus the odd training instruction/order which caught my eye, to follow.
    Here's Jan - Apr 1943
    .
    January in Postling, Kent. In March move to Carronbridge, Dumfriesshire.
    April training instruction states, "The Regt will shortly have a very real job of work to do which will probably include both a landing operation and fighting in mountainous country." Eighteen months later the Regiment was in Holland!

    P.S. See Post #25 for May 1941 to Dec 1942.

    P.P.S. 18 Nov 2015. See post #37 for the transcribed diaries 1939-46.

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1943 01.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1943 02.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1943 03.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1943 04.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1943 04 05 Trg Instruction.pdf
     
    foxeye, 4jonboy, dbf and 3 others like this.
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Good on you, thanks and have a rep!!
     
  3. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Excellent - and much appreciated.
     
  4. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

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  5. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

  6. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

  7. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

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  8. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    May - Jun 1944
    Now we're getting to the interesting bits.
    Contact Detachments and Beach Control Groups move to marshalling areas in May and land in Normandy on 6 June.
    Main body of Regiment embark at Tilbury on 16 June and land at Courseulles-sur-Mer on 19 June.
    (28 June Lt Ennals fails to return from a patrol (later to become Lord Ennals).

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 05.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 05 Contact dets.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 05 01 Trg Ins.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 05 00 App 1.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 06.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 06 Contact dets.pdf
     
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  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Richard,

    Thankyou, it's nice to see other Reconnaissance Diaries.

    The handwriting is better and easier to read than my late fathers 4th Recce Diaries.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Jul - Sep 1944
    July: Cazelle, Colleville, Blainville, Caen, Escoville.
    August: Quesnay-Guesnon, Carville, Etouvy, Vire, Flers, St. Paul. Regiment changes Humber armoured cars for Daimlers
    September: Saussay-le-Campagne; Belgium: Escaut Canal; Holland: Maarheeze, Weert, Bakel.

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 07.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 07 27 Routine Orders.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 08.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 08 19 Special Order of the Day.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 09.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1944 09 27 Routine Orders.pdf
     
  11. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Oct - Dec 1944
    On western bank of River Meuse (Oveerloon-Venray area), Germans on east bank.
    Sending out fighting patrols, OP's, calling for arty fire.
    Both sides regularly crossed river with patrols.

    "The handwriting is better and easier to read." Wait for 1945 Tom, the carbon paper was getting a bit worn by then.
     

    Attached Files:

  12. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    "Where are all the War Diaries Then? Hidden on yer Hard Drive, that's where."
    Kick up a*** received from Adam, so here goes.
    Diaries 1943-45, plus the odd training instruction/order which caught my eye, to follow.
    Here's Jan - Apr 1943.
    January in Postling, Kent. In March move to Carronbridge, Dumfriesshire.
    April training instruction states, "The Regt will shortly have a very real job of work to do which will probably include both a landing operation and fighting in mountainous country." Eighteen months later the Regiment was in Holland!



    Richard

    Many thanks for posting. My Dad served with the 7th Recce Regiment,
    3rd Div, Canadian Army.

    Attached is taken from the War Diary On August 14th, 1944. Notes on the left hand margin is from a member of C squadron who lost 2 friends on that day.

    I am curious as to why the British allowed handwritten entries instead of a typewriter?

    Cheers
     

    Attached Files:

  13. singeager

    singeager Senior Member

    Richard

    excelent post.....on the 19th Aug the 3rd changes to daimlers. It says refer to Appendix I & H. do you have a copy of these.....im realy interested to see if there are any vehicle indentification numbers given like the earlier humbers

    thanks

    singe
     
  14. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    "I am curious as to why the British allowed handwritten entries instead of a typewriter?"
    To quote from the Diary of the Reverend George Fox, MC (3 Recce's padre),
    "2/2/45 I am now acting S.C.F., living in a medico's house in Deurne, Holland. This house is extremely comfortable, there are armchairs, a wireless and telephone which goes to make a room civilised. For the first time since coming over here I have used a typewriter."
    Typewriters were bulky and not "soldier proof". They may have been common in Div HQ's and above but it would seem from British Bn/Regt War diaries that they were unusual at this level. It is a pleasure to read a typewritten war diary, some of the hand written ones can be difficult, especially if the carbon paper is worn!
     
  15. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Sorry Singe, but I didn't copy Appendix H which refers to the Daimler armoured cars. Don't know why they didn't list them as in previous month's "Vehicles Received."

    P.S. Has anyone else noticed I put this thread under the wrong heading. Should have been under the "Recce" section of "Unit Documents". No doubt those "up above" will move it.
     
    Recce_Mitch likes this.
  16. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Richard thanks for posting

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  17. jawan

    jawan Old Hand

    Many thanks Richard ..... any chance of 1945????
     
  18. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    "....any chance of 1945???"
    OK, here we go.

    Jan - Mar 1945

    January: Still on banks of River Maas, in coldest winter for years. 28 Jan WILFORCE cross river, killed 5, captured 2 and wounded 2.
    February: 3 weeks rest in Lubbeek, Belgium. 26 Feb into Germany, Wetten area.
    March: 17 Mar come under command of 6 Guards Armd Bde in 12 Corps. 26 Mar cross Rhine at Wesel. According to the Regimental History the next eight days were, “a most exciting period in which the Regiment took over 700 prisoners and never was out of contact with the enemy throughout the whole period.”


    p.s. Report of WILFORCE attached to post no. 30.

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 01.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 01 23 Appx J2 WILFORCE patrol.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 02.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 03.pdf
     
  19. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Apr - Jun 1945
    April: 2 Apr Münster. 6 Apr back into Holland, Enschede, to rejoin 3 Div for advance towards Bremen.
    May: 5 May surrender of enemy, move to Schledehausen near Osnabrück for occupation duties.
    30 May move to Freckenhorst.
    June: Problems of crimes committed by Displaced Persons.52 & 57 DPACS (Displaced Persons Assembly Centre Staff) under command.


    Interesting site which has a good map of 3 Recce's progress from Normandy to Germany: The Reconnaissance Corps.

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 04.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 05.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 05 Move Orders Nos 11 & 12.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 06.pdf
     
  20. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Jul - Sep 1945
    August: Carbon paper is really worn by now. Regt come under command of 52 (L) Div. Continuing problems with DP's.
    September: Move to Bensberg and come under command of 32 Gds Bde. Over 300 officers & men (26 & over) posted to 15/19H, in exchange for about 120 (under 26).

    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 07.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 07 09 Pt I Orders.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 08.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 09.pdf
    View attachment 3 RECCE 1945 09 25 Postings to 15 19H.pdf
     

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