| 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: 3 MON | ||
| Month and Year: September 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. H.G. Orr |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMIENS | 1 | 1000 | Advance resumed, and by evening reached HERMANVILLE, astride ARRAS – ST POL rd. | |
| HERMANVILLE | 2 | 1100 | Capt N.C. Campbell (SWB) rejouned Bn. Advance continued, skirting ARRAS and encamp night in area of VIMY RIDGE | |
| VIMY RIDGE | 3 | 0900 | Bn resumes advance and crosses FRANCE/BELGIUM border approx 1800 hrs. Drive continued through night. | |
| 4 | 0600 | Halt for meal and short rest. | ||
| 4 | 0900 | Advance resumed as leading Bn in drive on ANTWERP. HOBOKEN district reached at approx 1700 hrs. Orders received to attempt seizing of Docks area. 8 killed and 12 wounded, incl Lt. J.A. Hislop (Canadian) | ||
| ANTWERP | 5 | Rifle Coys consolidationg in DOCK AREA. Some shelling and sniping. 1 killed 10 wounded. Bn HQ established in railway station near docks. | ||
| ANTWERP | 6 | Positions held in Dock area. “C” Company defending vital sluice gates controlling docks. | ||
| ANTWERP | 7 | 0700 | Violent counter attack by enemy against “C” Coy position held, inflicting heavy losses on enemy. Lt. R.J. Horwood (SWB) and 4 Other Ranks killed; 24 Other Ranks wounded. Bn being relieved from posns by 5 DORSETS. Bn HQ moves into city. | |
| ANTWERP | 8 | Relief completed and Bn in Mobile Column role with base at ANTWERP. | ||
| ANTWERP | 9 | 1200 | Bn moves to take up positions in sector of Guards Armd Div and encamp night on ALBERT Canal at BEERINGEN. | |
| BEERINGEN | 10 | Across ALBERT Canal and Rifle Coys proceed to clear enemy pockets. | ||
| HELCHTEREN | 11 | Bn HQ remains at HELCHTEREN and Rifle Coys continue clearing enemy pockets. | ||
| HELCHTEREN | 12 | Move foward to clear village of HECHTEL. Capt H.J. Thornyoroft killed. | ||
| HECHTEL | 13 | Halt for maintenance. | ||
| HECHTEL | 14 | Orders received to move to conform with new Corps Boundary on return to 8 Corps. Receive 30 Reinforcements under VICHOVE arrangements. | ||
| HECHTEL | 15 | Bn moves to WYCHMAEL within 8 Corps Boundary. | ||
| WYCHMAEL | 16 | 1200 | Return under Command of 8 Corps. | |
| 16 | 1800 | Maj F.H.C. Higgins (Oxe and Bucks) joins Bn. | ||
| WYCHMAEL | 17 | 2000 | Lts W. Thirnbeck (Canadian), B.W. Laws (Norfolks), G.S.C. Weldon (8 Hussars) and 2/Lts N.J. Dunkley (surreys) and H.E. Cakley (Warwicks) join Bn. | |
| WYCHMAEL | 19 | Orders received to prepare to move under command of 29 Armd Bde. | ||
| WYCHMAEL | 20 | 1145 | Bn moves off. Crosses ESCAUT Canal at 3 (Br) Div bridgehead at LILLE-ST-HUBERT ans crosses BELGIUM/HOLLAND Border. Bivouac night near SOERENDONK. | |
| 21 | Adv resumed to CELIROP and Rifle Coys go beyond town on road to HELMOND. | |||
| 22 | Advance reaches HELMOND, but bridges over ZUID WILLEMS blown. 4 Other Ranks killed; Lt. W. Thirnbeck (Canadian) and 9 Other Ranks wounded. | |||
| HELMOND | 23 | Route altered, return through GENJROP to cross canal at ASTEN. 1 killed 6 wounded. 42 Reinforcements (incl 13 of own wounded) joined Bn | ||
| ASTEN | 24 | Crossing secured and advance to clear DEURNE. Lt G. Foster (Green Howards) and 2 Other Ranks killed; 2/Lt N.J. Dunkley and 10 Other Ranks wounded. | ||
| DEURNE | 25 | DEURNE taken over by LINCOLNS of 3 (Br) Div and Bn advances to ST. ANTHONIS. Lt. Col. H.G. Orr seriously wounded, and died later at C.C.P. Maj W.P. Sweetman (2IC) assumed command of Bn. 4 O.Rs wounded. | ||
| ST. ANTHONIS | 26 | Ordered to leave village in hands of 159 Inf Bde and withdraw to WESTERBEEK. | ||
| 26 | 1300 | Move to WESTERBEEK. 16 Other Ranks (incl 8 of own wounded) joined. | ||
| WESTERBEEK | 27-28 | Patrolling by Coys; “A” and “B” Coys at OPLOO. | ||
| WESTERBEEK | 29 | Patrolling maintained by Coys and Carrier Pl. “A” and “B” Coys at OPLOO. | ||
| 29 | 1700 | Some shelling in “A” Coy Area; 2 Other Ranks killed and 4 wounded. | ||
| 30 | 0500 | Shelling in area of Bn HQ and HQ Coy – No casualties. | ||
| 30 | American 7th Armd Div taking up positions near our area during the day. Lt.Col. R.C. Stockley (R.N.F.) arrives to take over command of Bn. Patrolling maintained by Rifle Coys and Carriers. Lt. D.F.H. Herbert (R. Berks) killed on patrol in early morning, and one Other Rank wounded. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
