| 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: 'G' Branch, HQ 15 (S) Inf Div. | ||
| Month and Year: October 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Maj Gen CM Barber, DSO |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 (S) Div Op Instr No 30 for relief of 15 (S) Div by 51 (H) Div issued. | |||
| 1 | 0650 | 46 Bde sent a patrol into NAASTEBEST to see if enemy still in occupation. As soon as they crossed the rly they were fired on and suffered 5 killed and 8 wounded. | ||
| 1 | 227 Bde patrolled in area of woods 3830 but made no contact. Later contact was made with enemy patrol at 374288. | |||
| 1 | 1105 | Bdy between 15 (S) Div and 53 Div now WILHELMINA Canal incl to 53 Div. | ||
| 1 | 1500 | One bn 158 Bde, who have remained in their sector, under comd 15 (S) Div, carried out a raid on clog factory 397332, which was successful. 8 PW taken. | ||
| 2 | 153 Bde of 51 (H) Div relieved 44 Bde during the night, latter moving to area GEMERT 5730. Patrolling by 46 and 227 Bdes continued. 46 Bde reported that enemy still in NAASTEBEST. On 227 Bde front it was reported as a quiet day with no shelling. | |||
| 3 | Civ reported that enemy digging on line 328363 - 322361 thence along rd to ESCHE. 227 Bde fwd OPs were fired on by mortars and MMGs; otherwise all was quiet. | |||
| 4 | During the night the Div, less 44 Bde and arty, was relieved by 51 (H) Div. Main Div HQ moved to GEMERT 574304. 46 Bde moved to HELMOND 5522, and 227 Bde moved to the area BAKEL 6124. | Appx "D" 2. | ||
| 4 | 15 (S) Div Op Instr No 31, giving outline plan for future ops, issued. | |||
| 5 | During the night two bombs were dropped in the vicinity of Main HQ, breaking windows; otherwise no damage was done, and the only casualty was one man wounded. | |||
| 5 | Div now resting and all bdes organising trg. | |||
| 6 | " " " " " " " " | Appx "D" 3. | ||
| 7 | 15 (S) Div Mov Order No 1 for Op "GATWICK" issued, with trace showing conc areas. (This op was cancelled). | Appx "J" 4. | ||
| 7 | Letter 1/3/G(I) issued regarding security of civil telephone installations. Div resting. | |||
| 8-12 | Div resting and bdes trg; maximum entertainment was organised for the tps. | Appx "D" 5. | ||
| 13 | 15 (S) Div OO No 6 for Op "SIRIUS" issued. | " "D" 6. | ||
| 13 | 15 (S) Div Mov Order No 1 for Op "SIRIUS" issued with trace showing conc areas. | |||
| 14 | Div resting, bdes trg, etc. | |||
| 15 | " " " " " | Appx "D" 7. | ||
| 16 | 15 (S) Div OO No 7 for Op "SIRIUS" issued. | |||
| 16 | Div resting, bdes trg, etc. | " "J" 8. | ||
| 16 | Letter 1/10/G(I) regarding censorship of mail of Allied Liaison personnel issued. | " "J" 9. | ||
| 17 | Letter 89/G(O) regarding policy for mounting guards on crashed a/c issued. | |||
| 17 | Div resting, bdes trg, etc. | |||
| 18 | " " " " " | |||
| 18 | 0100 | Div came under comd 12 Corps. | ||
| 19 | Div took over from 51 (H) Div in BEST 3726 - OEDENRODE 4332 sector. | 44 & 46 Bde's other bns area GEMERT 5730 | ||
| 19 | 46 Bde now in area BEST. 44 Bde area 4126 with one bn under comd 7 Armd Div area 4737. 227 Bde area ST OEDENRODE - BEST. | |||
| 20 | Situation at mid-day as follows:- 227 Bde with under comd 15 (S) | |||
| 20 | Recce Regt and 9 CAMERONIANS of 46 Bde hold line 397317 - 385301 - 380294 - 373278 - 374266 - 374257. Otherwise no change. | Appx "D" 10. | ||
| 20 | Message O 858 regarding the breaking of wireless silence issued. | |||
| 21 | Patrolling showed enemy to be still occupying wood 3830. Increase in enemy mortaring in area BEST. At midnight 6 Gds Tk Bde came under comd 15 (S) Div. At present they are in area DEURNE - ASTEN. | |||
| 22 | A much quieter day with little shelling and mortaring. Active patrolling during the night in area 3830 disclosed enemy defs in the area still being held. | Appx "D" 11. | ||
| 23 | 15 (S) Div Op Instr No 33 for 12 Corps Op "PHEASANT", giving div outline plan, issued with list of brs for which the Div is responsible at Appx 'A'. By evening the enemy appear to have withdrawn from area NAASTEBEST. | |||
| 24 | During morning recce patrols reported many felled trees, heavily booby-trapped, at 365290. Other recce patrols were unable to enter BOXTEL owing to booby traps, although local civs say that the enemy has withdrawn. | |||
| 24 | 1200 | Op to clear area of woods 3830 and to NORTH started by 227 Bde and proceeding satisfactorily. | ||
| 24 | Main Div HQ moved to ST OEDENRODE 415315. | |||
| 24 | 1950 | Class 40 br at BEST completed, 44 Bde having advanced to beyond OIRSCHOT 3125. Situation at midnight : 227 Bde - 2 Gordons 3529. 10 HLI and 2 A & SH astride rd 3629 and 3628. 44 Bde - 6 RSF occupied OIRSCHOT with one coy holding br 286276 which was incompletely blown by the enemy and is still suitable for Cl 9 traffic. 6 KOSB area BEST. 8 RS area 3828. 9 CAMERONIANS of 46 Bde (under comd 44 Bde) area 3626. 46 Bde - 2 GLAS H and 7 SEAFORTH 3923. 6 Gds Tk Bde - 4 Tk Gren Gds OIRSCHOT, remainder of Bde conc 4230. | Appx “D” 12. | |
| 24 | Message O 883 giving codewords list for Op "PHEASANT" issued. | Appx “D” 13. | ||
| 24 | Message O 888 referring to Op Instr No 33 cancelling Op "BOB" issued. | |||
| 25 | A Cl 40 br at 286275 completed during the night. Main Div HQ moved to OIRSCHOT 313254. Situation at mid-day as follows : 44 Bde - 6 KOSB reached blown br 205276, having cleared NORTH of WILHELMINA Canal. 8 RS at STRATEN 3426. 46 Bde - 2 GLAS H sp by 3 Tk SG reached 230305. 15 (S) Recce Regt patrols on rd BEST - BOXTEL reached 3432. Situation at midnight as follows : 46 Bde - 7 SEAFORTH fwd elements over Cl 9 br at 2334. 9 CAMERONIANS 1831 patrolling to br 178327. 2 GLAS H sp by one sqn 3 Tk SG reached 205307. 44 Bde - 6 KOSB area 2027. One coy 6 RSF at Cl 40 br 287275. 6 RSF less one coy and 8 RS at OIRSCHOT. 227 Bde conc NOTEL 3226. | |||
| 26 | By mid-day situation as follows : 46 Bde - 7 SEAFORTH and 2 GLAS H attacking OOSTERWIJK 2234 and leading elements reached rly 235345. 9 CAMERONIANS area 1931 and 1832. 44 Bde - 6 KOSB contacted patrols of 4 Armd Bde at br 205275 which is now Cl 40. By midnight situation as follows : 46 Bde completed the clearance of area OOSTERWIJK. 9 CAMERONIANS at 1833 - 1832. 2 GLAS H area 2434 – 2334. 7 SEAFORTH area 2334 - 2234. One sqn 3 Tk SG with each bn. 227 Bde conc MOERGESTEL 2230 with 4 Tk Coldm Gds. 44 Bde - area 1924 with 4 Tk Gren Gds. Cl 40 br at 231340 now completed. | |||
| 27 | Situation at mid-day : 46 Bde - 9 CAMERONIANS pushing NORTH along EAST side of WILHELMINA Canal. 7 SEAFORTH and 2 GLAS H moving to area NE of TILBURG. 44 Bde - advancing from SOUTH towards TILBURG, leading tps (6 RSF) at 1831 - 1730. 6 KOSB just short of BROEKHOVEN 1730. | |||
| 27 | Main Div HQ moved to HILVARENBEEK 196238. Situation at midnight : The Western part of TILBURG occupied, posns as follows - 46 Bde NORTH of rly TILBURG in areas 1686 - 1834. 44 Bde – Southern half of city in areas 1928 - 1831 - 1830. 227 Bde - conc area 1826 - 1926 preparatory to passing through 44 Bde to clear the remainder of the city up to the rly. | |||
| 28 | During the morning GOC accompanied by GSO1 and other staff offrs went into the city of TILBURG and were welcomed and entertained by the Bourgmeister. 44 and 46 Bdes completed the occupation of TILBURG. At about mid-day orders were received for the Div to be prepared to move as soon as possible to 8 Corps sector, due to the enemy making a breakthrough on 7 US Armd Div front in the area of MEIJEL E 7106. Main Div HQ moved to WILHELMINA Park 159331 in TILBURG. 227 Bde and 3 Tk SG moved over to 8 Corps area, arriving at first light. | |||
| 29 | At first light 44 and 46 Bdes followed 227 Bde to 8 Corps area and the Div came under comd 8 Corps. Main Div HQ moved to HELMOND 5521. By last light posns were as follows : 44 Bde (with under comd 2 GLAS H and less 6 KOSB) took over from 7 US Armd Div Combat Comd "B". 2 GLAS H ASTEN 6113. 8 RS area 6614. 6 RSF area 6514. 4 Tk Gren Gds 6614-6414. 46 Bde (with under comd 6 KOSB and less 2 GLAS H) – 9 CAMERONIANS astride rly SSE of DEURNE. 7 SEAFORTH astride rly SW of DEURNE. 6 KOSB area 6516. 227 Bde - 2 GORDONS area 6510. 10 HLI area 6509. 2 A & SH EAST of ASTEN. 3 Tk SG area ASTEN. LIESEL was reported unoccupied by the enemy. | |||
| 30 | Enemy reported having re-occupied LIESEL at first light. Main Div HQ moved to ZOMEREN 5911. Situation at last light : 44 Bde - 6 RSF cleared enemy from houses in NORTH and WEST of LIESEL. At mid-day enemy strongly counter-attacked 2 GLAS H from SLOT and attained some infiltration. With the help of 8 RS the situation was stabilised and the counter attack was finally broken up. 46 Bde - 9 CAMERONIANS reached wood 6716 and patrolled SOUTH to rd 6715. 7 SEAFORTH reached LOON 6615. 227 Bde - elements of 10 HLI reached Easting 66. Enemy counter-attacked about 1800 hrs but this was destroyed by arty fire. | |||
| 31 | Situation as at first light : 44 Bde - 8 RS now in area 6513-6514. 46 Bde - 6 KOSB area 6616. 227 Bde - 10 HLI area 6410-6510. 2 A & SH area 6312. Otherwise no change. During the day 46 Bde continued their advance down the DEURNE - MEIJEL rd, having cleared LIESEL. | |||
| 31 | Situation at last light : 6 KOSB in SLOT in contact with enemy. 7 SEAFORTH area just SOUTH of LIESEL. 9 CAMERONIANS area 678148. 44 Bde - 8 RS cleared wood 6612 and are now est on Eastern edge. 6 RSF moving down to right flank of 8 RS. Otherwise no change. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
