Here is the first installment of the 4th Reconnaissance Regiment war Diaries covering the period 1944 and 1945. I will endevour to post a months dairies for each installment. War Diaries January 1944. The credit is due to my good friend Robert (Ramacal) who kindly obtained them for me. Regards Tom
Superb stuff, Tom - and thanks to Ramacal for copying them. Paul, Yes they do get interesting. Regards Tom
I aim to post a month per day, but some days I will be busy elsewhere and so will post a few months together. Regards Tom
June 1944 The War Diaries for June 1944 were destroyed due to a time bomb being left in the building that RHQ occupied, which subsequently exploded on the 30th June 1944 killing 7, wounding 3 and one casualty died later from injuries sustained. The Building was the Villa Paolozzi. The diary was later written from memory and any intelligence that survived, by the commanding officer Lt Col Preston. Regards Tom
August 1944 Advance continues along the poor roads and terrain of the Arno Valley. Regards Tom There appears to have been a blip, perhaps on rehash of site, where several pages were lost. Now reistated for any researchers. Regards Tom
September 1944 My late fathers "B" Squadron had their 4 Halftrack SP 75mm guns transferred under the command of 28 Brigade. The Squadron also had a busy two days on the 23rd/24th, with three killed. Regards Tom
December 1944 Looking at the dates, my father must have been blown off his feet at Forli by a German 88 shell that apparently dropped short. He said he never heard it, but heard several before, all aimed at the far side of the airfield. He received a perforated ear drum becoming profoundly deaf in later life, but this must not have counted as anything unusual as no mention on his record or casualty list. Must have had lady luck with him as well as his thick Greatcoat. Christmas spent in Transit camp before embarkation to Greece. Regards Tom
March 1945 Regiments SP Guns rejoined the Regt from Italy. A Universal carrier on test was blown up on a teller mine. No further mines found. 4th Division HQ ordered all Staghounds to be handed over to the 4th Division and the Regt reverted to their 15 Universal carriers. Regards Tom
