| 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: 3rd R. Tks. | ||
| Month and Year: November 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt Col A.W. Brown M.C. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 761236 | 1 | 0545 | Reveille. | |
| 1 | 0600 | A Sqn to new area. Task - counter attack force in event of GERMAN tank attach - 756234.Day quieter than usual. Still receiving enemy stonking. | ||
| 1 | 0830 | RC Service. | ||
| 761236 | 2 | 0545 | Reveille. | |
| 2 | 1730 | B Sqn move to take over from C Sqn - 766233.A fairly quiet day. Rocket and buzz bomb reports sent to higher formation. | ||
| 761236 | 3 | 0545 | Reveille.Intermittent exchange of shelling throughout the day. | |
| 761236 | 4 | 0545 | Reveille. | |
| 4 | 0700 | Received call over air from GERMAN station. Reported to Bde. | ||
| 4 | 1400 | 40 unsuitable personnel posted to CRC. | ||
| 761236 | 5 | 0545 | Reveille.Minefields laid area 768236 EAST of B Sqn. | |
| 5 | 1600 | Coldstream Guards take over from 8RB | ||
| 5 | 2200 | Raid on B Sqn area. 2 NCOs and 2 ORs of Coldstreams PW. | ||
| 761236 | 6 | 0545 | Reveille.Intermitten enemy shelling and mortaring throughout day. Minefield laying continued. Trip flares not completed. | |
| 761236 | 7 | 0500 | 1 Coldstream wounded and taken PW in B Sqn area. | |
| 7 | 0545 | Reveille.Usual intermittent shelling and mortaring. | ||
| 761236 | 8 | 0545 | Reveille.Quiet morning. | |
| 8 | 1325 | Very heavy enemy shelling and mortaring in VEULEN area.Reminder of day of reasonably quiet. | ||
| 761236 | 9 | 0545 | Reveille.A Sqn relieve B Sqn at SCHEI. Change over completed by 1830 hrs. | |
| 761236 | 10 | 0545 | Reveille. Intermittent shelling and mortaring of fwd area during day. | |
| 11 | 0545 | Reveille.Coldstreams relieved by 8RB. Changeover completed by 1330 hrs. | ||
| 11 | 1430 | B Sqn move to HELMOND. | ||
| 761236 | 12 | 0615 | Reveille. | |
| 12 | 0800 | C of E Service - Holy Communion. | ||
| 12 | 1100 | RC Service 23H area. | ||
| 761236 | 13 | 0615 | Reveille.Quieter day than usual. Exchange of shelling continues.1 NCO to UK for special Gunnery Course. | |
| 761236 | 14 | 0615 | Reveille. Usual shelling. | |
| 761236 | 15 | 0615 | Reveille. Usual shelling throughout day.Capt C.G. Dear leaves to proceed on D+M Course in UK. | |
| 761236 | 16 | 0615 | Reveille. Fairly quiet day. | |
| 761236 | 17 | 0615 | Reveille. | |
| 17 | 1415 | CO to Bde for conference. Subject - next operation. | ||
| 761236 | 18 | 0615 | Reveille. | |
| 18 | 0630 | Net. | ||
| 18 | 1700 | CO's conference. Preliminary orders re next operation. The Bde will attack and take high ground 7919. 3 R Tks will be relieved in this area by 3 Brit Inf Div. 29 Armd Bde will conc area DEURNE. Order of march of 3 R Tks to new area RHQ, B, A, C to follow later in day. Wheel party will leave 0900. | ||
| 761236 | 19 | 0615 | Reveille. | |
| 19 | 0630 | Net. | ||
| 19 | 0800 | RHQ, A and B move to new area. Locations:- A:661215 B:662220 | ||
| 679219 | 19 | 1030 | CO to Bde conference on forthcoming operation known as "Nuteracker". | |
| 19 | 1700 | C Sqn move from SCHEI to new area. 672222 | ||
| 679219 | 20 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 20 | 1000 | Brigadier calls on CO: discusses next operation. | ||
| 20 | 1800 | 29 Armd Bde CO No. 25 received.Lt H.P. Brookshaw and 3 NCOs leave for Special Gunnery & D&M Courses in UK. | ||
| 679219 | 21 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 21 | 1000 | CO to Bde.Heavy rainfall continues to make ground almost impassable. | ||
| 679219 | 22 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 22 | 1030 | CO's conference. Approach march to AMERIKA to be made by A Sqn carrying a coy of 3 MONS. Time: before first light tomorrow, 23 Nov.As soon as A move RHQ and B Sqn will be on three hours notice. | ||
| 22 | 1930 | Signal received cancelling move tomorrow, Move postponed indefinitely. | ||
| 679219 | 23 | 0730 | Reveille.Weather remains bad. | |
| 679219 | 24 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 679219 | 25 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 679219 | 26 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 26 | 0930 | C of E Service.Notification received of following awards,Major W.H. Close, Bar to MC. Lt H.P. Brookshaw, Lt J.F. Langdon, Lt W.F. Yates MCs., Sgt Kite, 2nd Bar to MM, L/Sgt Woodward, Bar to MM, Sgt Cooper, MM. | ||
| 26 | 1100 | RC Service. | ||
| 679219 | 27 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 27 | 0930 | Tank Commanders' Course commenced under direction of Major N.H. Bourne, DSO. | ||
| 27 | 1400 | 50 to ENSA show, HELMOND. | ||
| 27 | 1430 | 80 to Cinema, HELMOND. | ||
| 27 | 1700 | 10 to Rembrandt Theatre, EINDHOVEN.2 NCOs to UK for Special Gunnery Courses. | ||
| 679219 | 28 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 28 | 0830 | Fatigue Party of 45 to DEURNE - AMERIKA road to help sappers clearing demolitions. | ||
| 28 | 1000 | Recce parites from Sqns to HELMOND to take over billets from 4 KSLI. | ||
| 679219 | 29 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 29 | 1100 | Lt Gen Sir Richard O'Connor, KCB, DSO, MC., Commander, gives farewell address to officers and ORs of 29 Armd Bde, in Cinema DEURNE. | ||
| 679219 | 30 | 0730 | Reveille. | |
| 30 | 1400 | B&C Sqns move to HELMOND. Move complete by 1600.Tank Commanders' Course postponed until Monday 4 Dec 44. | ||
| 30 | Lt Col,O.C. 3 R Tks. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
