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: General Staff, Headquarters, The 43rd Division
Month and Year: October 1944 (Erase heading not required). Commanding Officer: Major-General G.I. Thomas, CB, DSO, MC
Place Date Hour Summary Reference
Headquarters, the 43rd Division British Liberation Army 1   Weather - Fair after rainy periods in morning The 43rd Division continues to hold secure the East flank of 30 Corps between rivers Waal and Neder Rijn against repeated enemy counter attacks
1 0955 amendment to 43 Div Location Statement issued I/1
1 1030 details regarding traffic circuits issued D/1
1 1150 43 Div ISUM up to o11120 issued F/1
1 1350 orders issued for relief of 69 Inf Bde Gp 2 Oct D/2
1 1550 Situation Report as at 2300 hrs issued K/1
2   Weather – Fair
2 0205 43 Div Intelligence Summary No 50 Issued F/2
2 1050 Warning order issued for relief of 214 Inf Bde by 506 RCT 101 US Div D/3
2 2000 43 Div Operation Instruction No 4 issued D/4
2 2145 Situation Report as at 2230 hrs issued K/9
3   Weather - Dull and cloudy turning to rain after 0900 hrs clearing at mid-day but showery in evening
3 0230 43 Div Intelligence Summary No 51 issued F/5
3   43 Div Order of Battle issued J/1
3 1030 Warning Order issued for relief 130 Inf Bde 4 Oct D/5
3 1715 Confirmatory Warning Order issued for relief of 130 Inf Bde 4 Oct D/6
3   Movement Table for move of 130 Inf Bde to new Conc Area night 4/5 oct D/7
3 2200 Situation Report as at 2100 hrs issued K/3
3   43 Div Summary of Ops No 51 issued K/4
3   Movement Table for move of 214 Inf Bde to new Conc Area night 6/7 Oct D/8
4   Weather – fine
4   Orders issued for relief of 43 Div by 101 US Div D/9
4 1510 43 Div ISUM issued F/4
4   43 Div Summary of Ops issued K/5
4 2315 Situation Report as at 2300 hrs issued K/6
4   ISUM up to 032359A issued F/5
Headquarters, the 43rd Division British Liberation Army 5   Weather – Fair
5   orders issued for movement and relief of 43 Div units on the "Island" 5 and 6 Oct D/10
5   43 Div Summary of Ops No 53 issued K/7
5 2300 Situation Report as at 052200A issued K/8
6   Weather – Fair
6   43 Div Summary of Ops 53 issued K/9
6 2300 Situation Report as at 062300A issued K/10
6   53 Div Topographical File No 8 issued F/6
6   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 52 issued F/7
7   Weather Fair.
7   43 Div Summary of Ops No 54 issued K/11
7   Details of Traffic Circuits in present Div Conc Area issued D/11
7 1240 Orders issued for deployment of RA 43 Div in sp of 101 US Airborne Div D/12
7 2105 Warning Order for relief of 8 Bde (3 British Div) by 129 Inf Bde, and Div "O" Gp issued D/13
7 2300 Situation Report as at 2230 hrs issued K/12
7 2345 43 Div ISUM as at 2330 hrs Issued F/8
7   43 Div Summary of Ops issued K/13
Headquarters, the 43rd Division British Liberation Army 8   Weather - dull and misty
8 1400 Comd 43 Div held an "O" Gp at Div HQ at Which orders were given out for relief of 3 British Div and subsequent ops
8   Copy of verbal orders given out at "O" Gp D/14
8   Trace issued in conjunction with Comd's Verbal Orders 8 Oct J/2
8   43 Div Movement Table for 9 Oct issued D/15
8   Copy of 30 Corps Op Instrs No 26 received:-
8   30 Corps to take over responsibility for Second Army front between R Waal and R Maas, facing East.
8   Phase I. 43 Div will relieve 8 Br Bde (3 Br Div) in its present area with 129 Bde Gp which came under comd 3 Br Div on arrival.
8   Phase II. HQ 43 Div will take over 9 Oct from 3 Br Div responsibility for the Sector between R Maas and R Waal at present held by 3 Br Div and at this time responsibility will also pass from 8 Corps to 30 Corps. 43 Div will relieve remainder of 3 Br Div tps (incl 4 Tk Coldm Gds) North of R Maas as far as possible during daylight.
8   Phase III. 43 Div will relieve 505 RCT (82 US airborne Div) with 130 Inf Bde to be completed by first light at 11 Oct.
8   On completion of above reliefs, disposn of 43 Div will be on Right of 30 Corps front with under comd 8 Armd Bde less one regt. 43 Div responsible for 30 Corps front from R Maas to bndy with 82 US Airborne Div. Operational Policy - very active patrolling on whole front.
8   Amendment issued to 43 Div Standing Op Instrs L/1
8 2215 Situation Report as at 2200 hrs issued. K/14
9   Weather - dully and showery
9   43 Div Summary of Ops No 56 issued K/15
9 2300 Situation Report as at 2230 hrs issued K/16
10   Weather - rain all day
10   orders issued for responsibility and close defence of pontoon br at MOOK 7152 by 129 Inf Bde and 43 Div RE responsible for maintenance D 16
10 2240 Situation Report as at 2200 hrs K 17
10 2359 43 Div Intelligence Summary No 53 issued F 9
10   43 Div Summary of Ops No 58 issued K 18
11   Weather - rain in the morning, clearing to fine.
11   43 Div Summary of Ops No 59 issued K 19
11   43 Div Situation Report as at 2200 hrs issued K 20
12   Weather – fine
12 0030 43 Div Intelligence Summary, No 54 issued F 10
12   Details issued for an address to be given by the Commander 30 Corps to all Offrs, WOs, and Sjts of the 43rd Division D 17
12   Amendments issued to Defence Topographical Overprints F 11
12 2210 43 Div Situation Report as at 2130 hrs issued K 21
12   43 Div Intelligence Report No 55 issued F 12
12   43 Div Location Statement as at 0600 hrs 13 Oct issued I 2
12   43 Div policy on patrolling within the Division L 3
13   Weather – fine
13 2115 43 Div Situation Report as at 2100 hrs issued K 22
13   43 Div Summary of Ops No 60 issued K 23
13   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 56 issued F 13
14   Weather - dull and showery
15   Weather - rain all day
15 0005 43 Div Intelligence Summary No 57 issued F 14
15   43 Div Summary of Ops No 61 issued K 24
15   43 Div Summary of Ops No 62 issued K 25
15   The 43rd Division during the past week, having relieved 3 Br Div, has been firmly established facing the border defences of Germany. Active patrolling has been carried out daily and except for sporadic arty fire the whole front has been relatively quiet.
16 0050 Weather - dull with rain settling in in evening
16   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 58 issued F 15
16   43 Div policy for erecting rd blocks on rds passing through their FDLs L 2
16   Details regarding 8 Armd Bde coming under comd Gds Armd Div issued D 18
16 2315 43 Div ISUM up to 2300 hrs issued f 16
17   Weather - rain all day
17 1000 Tasks of 30 Corps and 43 Div and details of reliefs issued D 19
17   43 Div Summary of Ops No 63 issued K 26
17 2315 43 Div ISUM up to 2315 hrs issued F 17
17   43 Div Summary of Ops No 64 issued K 27
18   Weather - dull with showers
18   Situation Report as at 1900 hrs issued K 28
18   43 Div Summary of Ops No 65 issued K 29
18   Amendment to 43 Div Standing Op Instrs issued L 4
18   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 59 issued F 18
19   Weather - dull and rainy periods
19   further details of Corps Comd's address issued D 20
19 2100 43 Div Opsum issued K 30
19   43 Div Loacation Statement issued I 3
19   43 Div Intelligence Summary, No 60 issued F 19
20   Weather - dull to fine
20   43 Div Summary of Ops No 66 issued K 31
20   Detailed Instructions regarding 43 Div Battle School issued M 1
21   Weather – fine
21   routes over the MOOK and GRAVE brs instrs issued D 21
21   instructions regarding Security Controls for the passage of civilians over the R Maas and Maas-Waal Canal D 22
21   Trace and Appendices issued showing own minefields in 43 Div and 82 US Div Sectors D 23
21   43 Div Summary of Ops No 67 issued K 32
21   location of 43 Div Battle School M 2
21   Course Syllabus issued for 43 Div Battle School M 3
21   Details issued for a demonstration of various types of amphibians on 23 and 24 Oct M 4
21   43 Div Intelligence Summary, No 61 issued F 20
Headquarters, the 43rd Division British Liberation Army 21   Details submitted to 30 Corps of special supporting arms required by 43 Div for Operation "Wyvern" "Z 1"
21   Tps required by 43 Div for very heavy harassing "Pepperpot Plan" for Operation "Wyvern" "Z 2"
21   Requirements of Amn for Operation "Wyvern" "Z 3"
22   Weather – fine
22   43 Div Location Statement issued I 4
22   43 Div Summary of Ops No 67 issued K 33
22   43 Div policy regarding collection of infm regarding Enemy Dispositions L 5
22   Instruction regarding Recce and Planning for "Wyvern Pepperpot" "Z 4"
23   Weather – fine
23   Situation Report as at 2100 hrs issued K 34
23   43 Div Summary of Ops No 68 issued K 35
24   Weather – fine
24   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 62 issued F 21
24   amendment issued to Minefield Records D 24
24   Instructions regarding infm of Enemy Dispositions L 6
24   43 Div Summary of Ops No 69 K 36
24   Notice of change of name for forthcoming operation. "Z 5"
24   Traces and Instructions for MMG Tasks for "Wyvern Pepperpot" "Z 6"
25   Weather - dull and showery
25   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 63 F 22
25   43 Div Summary of Ops No 70 K 37
25   Details of one way traffic circuit issued D25
26   Weather – dull
26   43 Div Summary of Ops No 71 issued K 38
26   43 Div Intelligence Summay No 64 issued F 23
27   Weather – fine
27 2015 43 Div OPSUM issued K 39
27   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 65 issued F 24
27   Trace showing Assembly Areas and Routes Forward for Operation "Wyvern" "Z 7"
28   Weather – fine
28   43 Div Summary of Ops 72 issued K 40
29   Weather – fine
29   43 Div Location Statement as at 0800 hrs issued I 5
29   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 66 issued F 25
29   43 Div Summary Of Ops No 73 issued K 41
29   Orders regarding control of recces issued D 26
30   Weather – fine
30   43 Div Summary of Ops No 74 issued K 42
30   Orders issued regarding role of Bn from the Reserve Bde to be located in CUIJK 7149 D27
31   Weather - dull with rain at times
31   43 Div Policy for Operational Security to be maintained on entering the REICH L 7
31   43 Div Intelligence Summary No 67 issued F 2
31   43 Div Summary of Ops No 75 issued K 43
31   Amendments issued to 43 Div Minefield Record D 28
31   Total PW captured by the 43rd Division during the month of October - 357
31   LIST OF OFFICERS, GENERAL STAFF, THE 43RD DIVISION. GS01 - Lt-Col J.A. Grant-Peterkin, Camerons. GS02 - Major R.S.Williams-Thomas, DSO. RA. GS03(O) - Capt A.M.W. Caine, DLCI. GS03(I) - Capt G.L1. Morgan, RA GS03(L) - Capt T.F. Knott, Hamps GS03(CW) - Capt C.G. Leigh, Worc R IO - Capt G. Matthews, Wilts JLOs - Lieut E.C. Cherry, Recce Corps, Lieut D. Macmillan. Recce Corps

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