Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence
Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1.
and the Staff Manual respectively Title pages
will be prepared in manuscript.

 WAR DIARY
or
INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY		 Army Form C.2118
Unit: 11th Bn Royal Tank Regt.
Month and Year: October 1944 (Erase heading not required). Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. R. Dixon
Place Date Hour Summary Reference
TAMISE 1 0930 CO to Bde Comds conference reference training and outline of future developments.
1 0930 Arrangements made with Belgium LO for billets.
2 0900 Final arrangements made for billets etc.
2 1030 CO to conference with Bde and also onto Div.
2 2000 Arrival of Sqn Comds and ROs. Conference with CO on billets, training and future developments. Sqns billeted as follows:- A – J599887. B – J592886. C – J577866. LAD – J592883. Sigs – J592883. HQ Sqn – J537867.
3 1200 Main Road party arrived.
3 1600 Lecture by Div Comd to troops.
3 2130 COs conference on distribution of LVT and also on conversion. Appendix 1 Appendix 2
4 1200 Rear road party arrived.
4 2000 COs conference Sqn Comds reference to modifications.
5 1200 CO lecture to HQ Sqn on role and behaviour.
5 1230 Visit from Bde Comd 1 Tk Bde and SLO Div.
5 2000 COs conference to all Sqn Comds training and fitting in of modifications.
5 2030 1 Offr and 4 NCOs for training of crews t.o.s.
6 1000 CO to Bde with reference to conference held last night.
6 1000 1 × 3 ton lorry despatched to 1 Tk Bde to collect stores.
6 1200 CO lecture to A Sqn on role and behaviour.
6 1330 CO lecture to B Sqn as above.
6 1400 Letter from Div Comd to say that we become Div troops.
6 1400 Arrival of transporters with LVT Mk IV – 1, Mk II – 29.
6 1800 CO conference on progress of work and training also attended by Sqn ROs.
7 0730 Offloading of transporters carried out.
7 1400 CO – 2IC – OsC. A – B – C – HQ Sqns – MO – LO – IO – ROs from A and C Sqns departed to watch “Switchback”.
7 1600 Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 upto 071200 hrs A. Appendix 3
7 1800 Adjutant conference Sqn 2IC’s on training and modifications.
8 0800 CO – 2IC – Sqn Comds & MO returned from “Switchback”.
8 1145 Visit of CREME to see how modifications and equipment in general was progressing.
8 1200 Transporter coln arrived with 19 Mk IV. Distribution to be A 6 – B 6 – C 7. Have been offloaded.
8 1800 COs conference on training and modifications.
8 1900 1 × 3 ton returned from 1 Tk Bde with stores.
9 0815 CO to see Div Comd reference allotment of craft, progress of work and any instructions for training.
9 1445 Div Comd visit unit to see working of Polsten gun.
9 1500 Arrival of 41 Mk IV LVT. Distribution A 13 – B 13 – C 15.
9 2030 COs conference reference training and mods.
10 1500 Arrival of 8 Mk IV on transporter.
10 2030 COs conference reference training and mods.
11 1500 Arrival of 14 Mk IV on transporter.
11 1830 COs conference reference training and modifications.
12 1500 Successful firing of Polsten gun.
12 1830 COs lecture to crews on “Watersense”.
13 1000 CO to Division to report on progress of mods and training.
13 1500 Visit of Lt/Col King A.F.V.(T) to know if we had any difficulties and arranged for him to see EME tomorrow.
13 1830 COs conference reference training modifications.
14 1400 Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 upto 141200A. Appendix 4
14 1830 COs conference reference training and modifications.
15 1000 CO to Division to report on position reference mods & trng.
15 1830 COs conference Sqn Comds reference training & mods.
16 0930 CO to 1 Aslt Bde RE reference “Switchback”.
16 1830 CO conference ref trngs and mods.
17 1000 CO to Division reference mods, training & move.
17 1400 CO conference reference to move. Appendices 5 & 6
18 0930 CO to 1 Aslt Bde reference training.
18 1100 Move continuing according to Appendices 5 & 6. Mov. Order for L.A.D. and Sigs. Appendix 7
18 1400 Lieut Munday and 4 NCOs (RASC training cadre) ceased to be attached & reported to 21 Army Group Rear HQ.
18 1830 CO conference with reference to position of mods & move.
19 0830 Adjutant to Division reporting on move.
SLUISKIL 19 1200 HQ opened at SLUISKIL D286050 and pass under command 1 Aslt Bde RE. Unit billeted in factory.
19 1830 Position with regard to move C Sqn complete. B and HQ Sqns complete except for 1 × 3 ton rear party due on 20th Oct., A Sqn 15 LVT have arrived.
20 1430 Divisional comd visited unit to see if everything was satisfactory.
20 1830 Move completed in accordance with Appendices 5, 6 & 7.
21 1000 CO visited by Bde Comd.
21 1200 Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 unto 211200A. Appendix 8
21 1600 Distribution of correpondence revised. Appendix 9
21 1830 COs conference Sqn comds reference mods and stores.
22 1400 Bde Major visited CO.
22 1730 Lecture by Major Walters 5 ARE reference to “Switchback”.
23 2030 COs Conference Sqn comds.
24 1200 CO to conference with Bde reference to “Vitality”. Appendices 10 & 11
24 1300 C Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711.
24 1400 B Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711.
24 1630 C Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711.
24 2000 Message to say “Vitality” postponed.
25 1000 B & C Sqn comds to COs conference. A – B – C Sqns checking, loading, maintenance.
25 1400 CO to conference with Bde.
25 2000 CO conference with B & C Sqn Comds. Appendix 12
26 0015 Tac HQ opened at D412175.
26 0445 Operation “Vitality”. Despite poor visibility build up carried out. Appendix 13 & 14
27 0001 Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14.
28 0001 Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14.
28 1200 Submission of AF W3008 & 3009 upto 281200A. Appendix 15
29 0001 Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14.
29 1600 CO left to visit Bde Comd. Tac HQ closed.
30 0400 Unit’s part in Operation “Vitality” finished.
30 0830 Sqns reported back to Main.
30 1200 CO to Division reference operations & future developments.
30 1600 OC “B” Sqn reported to 30 Armd Bde.
30 1800 Final report on vehicles for exercise “Vitality” shows total of 6 unable to make their own way back. Maintenance by crews despite muddy conditions and little time for sleep extremely commendable.
31 1230 Bde Comds visited CO.
31 1430 20 LVT of A Sqn left to take part in operation “Infatuate”.
31 2000 COs conference reference proposed move, loading of Tptrs, routes for remainder vehicles etc.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.