WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment - January 1944

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
	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Unit: 3rd R. Tks.
Month and Year: January 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. DAH Silvertop, MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
CHIPPENHAM	1		Major J.A. Watts assumes command of attachment. 2 Officers and 36 O.Rs return from leave. Strength of Returned Bn. now 137.
	2		5 Officers and 78 O.Rs return from leave. Strength of detachment 220.
	3		Routine. Lt. T.M.E. Maloney as A/Adjt. pending return of Capt. J.H. Balharrie MC.
	4	0800	Routine, Rear party proceed on leave.
	5		6 Officers and 18 O.Rs return from leave, strength now 244.
	6	1430	General Anderson visits Bde Ceremonial Parade at MOULTON PADDOCK. Major Watts and Lt. Hudswell and 30 O.Rs represent Bn. Anderson, Desmond Francis
	6	2000	Mobile Cinema in HQ Mess room showing “The More the Merrier”. 4 Officers and 40 O.Rs return from leave.
	7		8 Officers and 167 O.Rs return from leave. Strength now 463.
	7	1000	Mobile Cinema showing educational films “World of Plenty”, “Tellermine” & “Dakota”.
	7	1430	Repeat performance of educational films. Major Close MC assumes command until relieved by a more senior officer.
CHIPPENHAM	8		Major H.L. Upcott-Gill assumes command. 2 Officers & 74 O.Rs return from leave.
	9		Services – Chippenham Parish Church. Mass for R.C.s Newmarket. 1 Officer and 38 O.Rs return from leave.
	9	0800	Major J.A. Watts to York to see Command Tank demonstration. Authority 621/16/G (SD) dated 1 Jan 44 by 30 Corps.
	10		Lt. Col. D.A.H. Silvertop MC returned from leave reassumes command. Capt. J.C. Balharrie MC reassumes appointment as Adjt. The following appointments are announced;- Sports Officer – Lt. N.F.F. Kent. Ass. Sports Officer – Lt. J.F. Langdon. Entertainments Officer – Capt. E.F.W. Gilboy. Education Officer – Lt. W.T. Brookes. Fire Officer – Lt. J. McG. Rylands. Transport Officer – Lt. A. Carter. Silvertop, David Arthur Henry
	11	1100	Sgts Mess Meeting held.
	11	1830	30 seats reserved in Masonic Hall Newmarket – Lecture by Dr David Thompson on “The Problem of Japan”.
CHIPPENHAM	12	0930	Court of Enquiry to enquire into circumstances by which 321621 Tpr Cox lost his revolver. President – Capt. A.B. Hayter, Members Lt. Thompson, Lt. W.M. McFarlan. Witnesses – Capt. B.J. Hamill, L/Sgt Hill, A. Lt. C.G. Dear appointed Bn. Salvage Officer. 3 Officers return from leave.
	13		Officers hand in M.E.F. identity cards and draw AF B2606. 1 Officer and 1 O.R. return from dis-embarkation leave. Bn. Officers are now with the unit in full strength.
	14	1000	The C.O. inspects Mess rooms – Barrack rooms – Squadron offices and areas of “A” & “B” Sqdns.
	14	1030	Regimental Mess Committee Meeting – 1 Junior N.C.O. & 1 man from each sqdn.
	14	1700	Officers Mess Meeting held. O.R. reinforcements arrive.
	15	1000	The C.O. inspects HQ & C Squadron areas etc.
	15	1400	Bn Rugby trial “C” Sqdn v. Rest.
CHIPPENHAM	16	0900	R.C. Services in Bn Theatre. Other services in Chippenham Parish Church.
	17		Cheque for £57.10.6. sent to Cpl. Jolly (late “A” Sqdn) from Officers, NCOs and men.
	18	1430	Mobile Library visits unit being part of facilities laid on by W.V.S.
	19	0930	Audit Board assembles to audit (a) P.R.I. (b) Officers Mess (c) Sergeants Mess A/Cs. President – Major Barker MC. Members – Capt Dingwall, Lt. Maloney.
	19	1100	Lecture on “Ireland” in Bn. Theatre.
	19	1430	Bn Rugby Trial “A” Team v. “B” Team. Capt. S.M. Johnston regranted Temp. rank of Major wef 7.1.44.
	20		Major J.A. Watts relinquishes command of “HQ” Sqdn and assumes command of “B” Sqdn. Major S.M. Johnston assuming command of “HQ” Sqdn. Lt. T.M.E. Maloney appointed Bn. Security Officer.
	20	0900	Capt. G.E. Instone MM, of MI lectured Bn on “Conduct If Cut Off from Unit or Captured”. Instone, Gordon Eric
	21		Routine.
	22		Reinforcements arrive. The C.O. congratulates 7886183 Sgt. Wayte, F on the latter’s ‘Mention in Despatches’.
	23	0745	7933195 Tpr Fulton, D. proceeds on Cooks Refresher Course No. A 3OR/1
	23	0845	Lt. R.C. Watt and 9 O.Rs start for No. 3 Special Driving Course. Duration of course 23.1.44 – 29.1.44.
	23	0900	R.C. Service – Bn. Theatre.
	23	1000	C of E. – Chippenham Parish Church.
	24		The C.O. holds a tactical discussion. Lt. R.Q. Rahtz appointed Bn Legal Adviser.	App I/4
	25		Routine.
	26	1430	Bn Football Team trial.
	27		Capt. D. Symons posted to RAC Depot Catterick.
	28		Two recreation rooms for information – reading & writing opened in camp. Open to all ranks.
	29		Lt. R.Q. Rahtz appointed Assistant Adjutant.
CHIPPENHAM	29	1430	Hockey match 3 R. Tks v. RAFV at Mildenhall.	App I/5
	30	0745	7933240 Cpl. Syme, D. proceeded on Cooks Refresher Course No. A 3OR/1.
	30	0900	Services
	30	2050	3 R. Tks. Movement Order No. 1. issued. Lt. Ponsford posted to RAC Depot Catterick.
	31	1345	Squadrons move off as detailed in Movement Order No. 1. above.

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Source: Bovington Tank Museum.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. Locations are calculated, so might not be in the correct place. For historical research, always check the originals.

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