Links... editing in progress... The SRY in NWE in September 1944 ----- x ----- x ----- 8th Armoured Brigade Rest Camp at Louvain/Leuven 129th Brigade/ 43 Wessex Div Mook Bridge Photos - photo has never been published before Winssen ----- x ----- x ----- The SRY in NWE in December 1944
Events... editing in progress... Sunday 1st October 1944... 1d10m1944... SRY - War Diary 1st October 1944 C.O. attended Conference at Div. H.Q. to discuss details of an attack to be put in by the Americans in the South in order to straighten out the line South East of MOOK. B + C Sqns are required to take part in this attack and A Sqn are to remain in the North. This means that all three Sqns will be committed. C.O. visited 325 Combat Team under command of Col. BILLINGSLEA who is to organise this attack. Sqn and Tp Ldrs also had a Conference with this American Colonel. https://twitter.com/rgpoulussen/status/1576123745541926913?t=0VHpwVBRMMuLsSX3D6wepw&s=19 ----- x ----- x ----- Monday 2nd October 1944... 2d10m1944... SRY War Diary "C" Sqn sp 103 Bn of 325 Regt in an attack from a point 2 miles S of MOOK. The objective is a line from RIETHOST, KATERBOSCH, HEIKAUT, MIDDELAAR, approximately 1000 yds in all. The attack started at 0530 hrs without Arty Sp. Arty concentrations had been put down last night on known enemy positions and further Arty Sp may be had on application. "B" Sqn remained in the MOOK area in a counter-attack role on immediate notice. C.O. contacted Col. Billingslea at his fwd H.Q. at 0530 hrs. The attack was successful except for a gap in the centre. Col Billingslea put in his third and reserve Bn with C Sqn in sp in order to straighten out the line. They were however unable to clear the enemy out of HEIKAUT and MIDDELARK. Offrs from Guards Armd Bde visited the posn during the day to have a look at the ground which they are to take over from us. A night attack was put in to clear MIDDELARK of enemy. This was only partly successful. The Regt lost two tanks on mines and one badly damaged by H.E. fire. ----- x ----- x ----- Tuesday 3rd October 1944... 3d10m1944... SRY War Diary The attack in the South still continues and the Americans tried to clear up the posns with 2 Tps of B Sqn in sp. In the afternoon Officers from 2nd British Bde came up on recce as they are relieving 325 Regt. 2 I/C returned from BRUSSELS together with 6 Officers who have been posted to the Regt from R.G.H. They are LTS. CHARLES, LANGFORD, REED, HALL, HYDE + SCUDAMORE. ----- x ----- x ----- Wednesday 4th October 1944... 4d10m1944... SRY War Diary C Sqn remained in the area of 500 Bn in order to thicken up their line. B Sqn relieved A Sqn in the North who have been in the line for 5 days. Some shells landed in the RHQ leaguer area and damaged an S.Q.M.S’s truck. ----- x ----- x ----- Thursday 5th October 1944... 5d10m1944... SRY War Diary "B" Sqn remained in the North. "C" Sqn continued to sp 500 Bn and "A" Sqn remained in reserve. Bde Comd visited the Regt and gave us news of other Regts in Bde, who have been operating in “The Island”. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY - War Diary Friday 6th October 1944 Regt was relieved by 4 COLDSTREAMS (Armd). We went into a rest area in billets around WINSSEN, 3 miles due West of NIJMEGEN, almost on the river bank. C.O. took 2 I/C of the Coldstreams round our posns. C.O. went to 82 Airborne Div HQ to bid them farewell. They are most appreciative of all we have done to help them. Winssen ----- x ----- x ----- Saturday 7th October 1944 All Sqns are in billets in our new area. ----- x ----- x ----- Sunday 8th October 1944 Church Service in the morning at RHQ. Orders came through that we are to move into the line again tomorrow. C.O. attended Conference at HQ 43 Div and was told that 43 Div were taking over a large sector of this front in order to help out the Americans who still cover the Northern Sector. We were all prepared for a ??? attack by 43 Div and 50(N) Div in order to clear the REICHSWALD, but nothing is now to happen until ANTWERP is in use as a port and our L of C are accordingly shortened. It is appreciated that we shall be in a static holding role for about a fortnight. This Regt is required to support 214 Bde, 130 Bde and 129 Bde on the following basis:- A Sqn with 214 Bde at immediate notice. C Sqn with 130 Bde at 1 hrs notice. B Sqn with 129 Bde at 12 hrs notice. Three complete troops from 49 R.T.R. are posted to the Regt. The officers are Lts CAGNEY and CROSBY (actually Crosbie). ----- x ----- x ----- Monday 9th October 1944 Regt left WINSSEN and ?????? ?? into line A Sqn had to send out 1 Tp into the forward Infantry positions. RHQ was ?????? at a watch tower on the road leading North just West of MOOK. During the night we were shelled continually from 2200 to 0500. Between 40 + 50 shells landed in the immediate vicinity of R.H.Q. Practically every vehicle suffered some kind of damage. Initially we only suffered two causalities among R.H.Q. personnel. As the place had never been shelled before it is almost certain that we suffered this shelling through the effort of some collaborators. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B10671 - Object description 49th Division lorries passing over a Bailey bridge over the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal, 9 October 1944. ----- x ----- x ----- Tuesday 10th October 1944 2 I/C recced a new RHQ in a village approximately 1½ miles NW from MOOK near MOELENHOOK. All personnel are under cover, including B Sqn who are in reserve. ----- x ----- x ----- Wednesday 11th October 1944 C.O. visited Sqn areas in the morning. All civilians are to be evacuated from the forward areas, which is a good thing as a large percentage of these people are pro-German. All Offrs, WO? ????? the Regt from 21 Army Gp ?? ???? the use of wireless and our wireless problems. ----- x ----- x ----- Thursday 12th October 1944 Lt Col Baker, who commands 4/7 D.G. visited the Regt as his Regt takes over from us – and we go out for 4 days. Bde ???? ???? on a ??????? ???? + ?????? ?????? as we may not get much rest. Lt S. Hills ?????? ???? of I.O. Capt F X Houghton who recently joined the Regt from I.R.G.H. took over the duties of the Adjutant. ----- x ----- x ----- Friday 13th October 1944 C.O’s Conference at Bde H.Q. – to discuss co-operation between tanks and Infantry, especially with a view to the forthcoming ops. The present plan is for the Regt to operate with 214 Inf Bde, the whole Bde to sp 50 Div. This op will not take place until Antwerp is opened as a port and our L of C shortened accordingly. ----- x ----- x ----- Saturday 14th October 1944 Divine service at RHQ. Parties went out to Recce new area. ----- x ----- x ----- Sunday 15th October 1944 Regt relieved by 4/7 D.G. and went to our area just NORTH of the GRAVE Bridge. Sqns are well ?????? and every man is under cover. ----- x ----- x ----- Monday 16th October 1944 Bde Rest Camp opened at LOUVAIN, where man can ?????? for 2 days. It’s a long journey, taking about 6 hours but it was ?? a ????? for the men who will be able to get into Brussels. We are due for five days rest, during which period we have to do a certain amount of maintenance during the morning. Afternoons will be free. At 2230hrs C.O. attended a demonstration of flame throwers. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 17th October 1944 - C.O. gave a lecture to new Officers + Crew Comds on tank tactics. Party then visited Flails, AVRES + Crocodiles with which shall work in forthcoming op. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 18th October 1944 - Squadrons spent the morning on maintenance and during the afternoon we had an allocation for baths and cinema in Nijmegen. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 19th October 1944 Enemy still continues to infiltrate across the WAAL at various points. They do no damage apart from destroying Dutch buildings. All squadrons have comfortable billets and sport was organised. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 20th October 1944 Major Leigh (2 i/c) visited the 13/18th Hussars on the “Island” with squadron reps: since we take over their role on the 21st. Capt. W. Wharton and Cpl Newton left for England on eight months wireless instruction course and the Colonel went to Brussels on 48 hours leave. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY - War Diary... 21st October 1944 The Regiment relieved the 13/18th on the “Island” at Oostenhart. “B + “C” Squadrons were forward in support of the 101 U.S. Airborne, “A” Squadron at immediate notice to support 50 Div who were on the right of 101. All except forward troops with the leading companies were however in billets and under cover. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 22nd - Brigadier E Prior Palmer ordered that all Echelon personnel in the Brigade should be trained as infantry. Lieut M WALL of the Grenadier Guards was attached to us for that purpose. The Colonel returned from leave from BRUSSELS. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 23rd - The Colonel visited all squadrons. “C” squadron did an indirect shoot on enemy positions with great success. ----- x ----- x ----- SRY War Diary 24th - Major Mitchell M.C. returned from his course in England, Major P.A. Seleri also returned (after being wounded) and brought with him Capt: R. Coleman from the Gloucester Hussars. Major Seleri took over “B” Sqdn. Capt Coleman went to “C” as 2 i/c + Capt. T. Gauntley returned to “A” Sqdn as 2 i/c. The Brigadier and the Colonel visited the ethelon and watched their training. 25th - A Gunnery and D+M Circus consisting of one officer and two N.C.O’s visited the regiment from England. We were able to exchange our experiences with their technical knowledge. “B” Sqdn received a little shelling during their course of instruction. 26th - B3 received some shelling in the night at BERGHARTEN but our own area this side of the river was quiet throughout. The R.S.M and two S.S.M.’s visited the Guards Battalion for drill instruction. Lieut. R. Baker went into hospital with a juidinal ulcer so we shall probably lose him altogether. 27th - First details of operation “Wyvern”. 43 Div with ourselves in support are going to push Eastwards to clear the REICHVALD and capture KRANENBURG and CLEVE. The regt is to support 214 Bde to the S.W. of CLEVE which will be done by artificial moonlight. We had a quiet day throughout. 28th - All tanks were checked by representative from R.E.M.E. + they gave us a most excellent report on the condition of our tanks. The 101. U.S. Airborne Div shortened their line a little. This division is extremely active on its patrolling and suffered fairly heavy causalities through enemy anti-personnel mines. Major Leigh, Major Holman, + Capt. Houghton went to Antwerp on 48 hours leave. 29th - Both “B” + “C” Sqdns were shelled in the night but no causalities. “C” Sqdn had their R.E.M.E. inspection and an excellent report. Lt Col Baker from the 4th/7th D.G’s (visited) in connection with the “handover” 30th - Major M. Gold, Major J. Holman and Lieut. S.F. Hills all received the Military Cross. A quiet day throughout. 31st - Squadron Leaders and I.O. from the 4th/7th paid the regiment a visit in connection with the “handover”. The R.S.M. and two S.S.M’s returned from the Guards Battalion and Capt. I McKay went on leave to BRUSSELS.
1st October 1944 - In reference to "A" Squadron, SRY remaining "in the North" there are also references to their being "East of Nijmegen"
Re. Thursday 12th October 1944... Padre Skinner's Diary... The IWM Series - "The King in Holland"... Seems to start here... B10714 H.M. THE KING IN HOLLAND Object description - 1944-10-12 - 12d10m1944... Original wartime caption: The King being greeted by the Field Marshal, Sir Bernard Montgomery on his arrival. For film also see... WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 186 [Main Title] For the brief bit... Full description I. 'THE KING IN HOLLAND.' King George VI chats to Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (Commander 21st Army Group) and Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst (Commander 38 Group, RAF) on his arrival in Holland. The King inspects units of a British Armoured Division (4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards ?) drawn up on a parade ground. At Langenboom (2nd Army Tac HQ) the King and General Miles C Dempsey (Commander British Second Army) talk to members of the Royal Tank Regiment (October 12 1944). later talking to an unidentified Major of the US 82nd Airborne Division. Dutch civilians wave at King George VI as he walks through an unidentified village. ---- x ---- x ---- Also for this date... Detail :: The Wardrobe Has... 1944-10-12 Regiment : 5th Wiltshire Location : Mook, Netherlands Entry : Quiet day at MOOK. Bn prepared to relieve 1 WORCS -214 Bde in posns 1 1/2 mls EAST of MOOK. ---- x ---- x ---- Re. SRY War - ref 8th October 1944 "It is appreciated that we shall be in a static holding role for about a fortnight. This Regt is required to support 214 Bde, 130 Bde and 129 Bde on the following basis:- A Sqn with 214 Bde at immediate notice. C Sqn with 130 Bde at 1 hrs notice. B Sqn with 129 Bde at 12 hrs notice."
