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.