| 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: 8th Bn. The Rifle Brigade | ||
| Month and Year: December 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. J.A. Hunter. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWOLGEN E 8722 | 6 | Battalion relieved by composite force of two Coys of Dutchmen and the Inns of Court, and moved into Bde reserve at MELDERSLO | ||
| MELDERSLO E 8519 | 7-12 | A certain amount of training carried out, in spite of much mud and incessant rain. Bn strength 36 officers and 796 ORs. | ||
| GRUBENVORST E 8914 | 13 | Bn relieved 1 Herefords in the Southern Sector of the 159 Bde front. Bn HQ in GRUBENVORST Station. G in HOUTHUIZEN 8917. (E 885167) F in GRUBENVORST 8914. H in reserve. An inactive period. | ||
| 14 | Awards announced: The Commanding Officer – DSO, Lt. T. Whitaker MC. | |||
| 15 | Advance parties left for POPERINGE H. 46. | |||
| 16 | Bn relieved by 2 R. Warwicks (for the third time). | |||
| 16-17 | 22 hour drive via DEURNE – EINDHOVEN – LOUVAIN – BRUSSELS – ALOST – AUDENARDE – YPRES – to POPERINGE area, to join 29 Armd Bde for refitting. Bn HQ E. and G Coys in POPERINGE H 46. F in WATOU H 4264. H in PROVEN H 4466. | |||
| 18-19 | Maintenance, cleaning up and preliminary arrangements for a festive Christmas. German counter offensive in the Ardennes against the Americans. | |||
| 20 | Bn moved in front of the Bde at very short notice, via YPRES – ALOST – BRUSSELS – to OVERYSSHCE J 7446 arriving at midnight. Rear parties left behind at POPERINGE. | |||
| DINANT and GIVET | 21-22 | Move at first light via GEMBLOUX J 82 to positions along the river Meuse. German drive assumed alarming proportions. Bn HQ to ANTHEE O 8786, F in reserve at ST GERARD O 8798. G Coy under command 3 RTR at DINANT O 9888, H Coy under 23 H at GIVET O 9275. Recce of Bn positions astride the road to Brussels at GENAPPE between QUATRE-BRAS and WATERLOO, and intended as a last man and last round position on the right of 53 Div on the line of the river Dyle. | ||
| 23 | F Coy moved to NAMUR J 91 under command 2 F&F Yeo. All companies were responsible for holding the bridges, which were prepared for demolition. Close co-operation was maintained with the Americans. Bde now under command 30 Corps. | |||
| R. Meuse | 24 | Bn HQ moved to METTET O 8196. Enemy advance still not halted. Regimental groups moved forward 5 miles from the river. G Coy killed three Germans in a jeep dressed as Americans. A Brigade of 53 Div took over the river line behind the Regimental Groups. | ||
| 25 | 12 Pl G Coy supported by 3 RTR attacked FOY-NOTRE-DAME P 0486 and took 30 prisoners from 2 Pz Div. Mopping up continued in the area throughout the evening and resulted in the capture of a further 42 prisoners, and much equipment. 1 OR wounded. Bn Strength 36 officers & 811 ORs. | |||
| 26 | F Coy group moved from NAMUR to FALMAGNE 0781. 6 Airborne Div arrived to take over the river line from 53 Div. | |||
| 28 | G Coy group moved to MESNIL-EGLISE P 0177. | |||
| 29 | Bn HQ & E. Coy moved to FESCHAUX O 9876. | |||
| 31 | Preparation of defensive positions as part of Bde plan to oppose any further penetration westwards towards the Meuse by the enemy. Hard frost and some snow. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
