| 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: 2nd Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment | ||
| Month and Year: August 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Sir J.G. Carew-Pole |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCE | 24 | The weather cleared in the morning and the Battalion was able to dry itself off. | ||
| 24 | 1200 | Luckily there were a number of barns and outhouses and by noon every company was under cover of some sort. We had no idea how long we were to stay there, and so we just waited and hoped. The local French farmers were most kind and considerate and evidently very glad to see us. | ||
| 25 | The sun came out with a vengeance and what hadn't been dried the day before was by noon as dry as a bone. Companies carried out training during the morning and in the afternoon went to 50 (Northumbrian) Division Concert Party. | |||
| 26 | A movement order came through from Brigade for us to move to-day to be followed very swiftly by a cancellation of the order. Apparently the Americans were sending 2 Corps across part of our route. We were warned however to be prepared to move the next day, Sunday, to PACY SUR EURE 391682 - about 7 miles from the River SEINE. | |||
| 27 | After a Church Parade at which the Brigadier attended we started on our journey. Again we were held up reaching our starting point and we didn't cross it till after 1300 hrs. This was a very pleasant journey and we passed through BOURTH 919425, BRETEUIL 0048 (which showed little sign of damage), DAMUILLE 2151, ST ANDRE 2754 and PACY SUR EURE 391682. We arrived at 1715 hours after a journey of 38 miles. | |||
| 28 | To-day was very hot and during the afternoon the Battalion held a sports meeting, involving a variety of competitions. The meeting was thoroughly enjoyed by spectators and competitors alike. | |||
| 28 | Support Company "A" Team won most of the events followed by ½ a point by "C" Company. | |||
| 29 | Most of the day was spent very uncomfortably in teeming rain consequently training was limited. | |||
| 30 | We were warned to be prepared to move on as a part of a very greatly re-inforced 30 Corps, which would consist now and for future operations of, Inns of Court, and Household Cavalry acting as armoured Recce, The Guards Armoured Division, 11th Armoured Division, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, and 43rd Division, 231 Infantry Brigade would follow in the wake of The Guards Armoured Division, our job would be to mop up whatever the Guards left behind them. We started off through DOUAINS at 1700 hrs – unfortunately soon after passing the start point 'C' and 'D' Companies turned off the wrong way and the Battalion, which should have been leading was now split and 'A' and 'B' and Bn H.Q., led the Brigade, and 'C' and 'D' followed, 'C' Company behind the Hampshires, and 'D' Company at the tail end. We crossed the SEINE at VERNON and in doing so passed through 43rd Division, who had made the bridgehead for us. The journey was made the more complicated by reason of the Battalion being split, and also due to the fact that in VERNON 'C' and 'D' Companies were forced to wait for an R. A. convoy to pass by us on another route. We stopped the night just outside a small village called VAUDAN COURT at 652878. | |||
| 31 | The Battalion moved at 1300 hrs and harboured for the night near CHAUMONT EN VIXEN, 7490, and we were warned that there would be an early move next morning. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
