WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment - March 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: March 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. DAH Silvertop, MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
BRIDLINGTON	1	1730	Capt. J.C. Balharrie, MC attends conference at Division concerning exercise “York”.	See Appx 10
	1		Lt. Goom taken on strength of unit and attached to HQ Sqdn.
	2	0900	Lt. J.R.D. Hudswell visits RAF Bomber Aerodrome Gr. Driffield to witness “Dome” training. Lt. J.H. Thompson appointed Bn. Mines Officer. C.O.’s conference.
	2	1500	Lt. Gen. Sir Richard O’Connor, Corps Commander, addresses all officers of the division in the Spa Theatre. Subject;- Exercise “Eagle”. O’Connor, Richard Nugent
	3	0900	Lt. D. Crawford and 10 (ten) O.Rs of the American Army join the Bn for 14 (fourteen) days in ‘exchange’ for Capt. Dingwall and 10 O.Rs.
	3	1000	Regt. Messing committee meeting held in “C” Sqdn dining hall. Heavy snowfall continues throughout afternoon and evening.
	4	0830	Advance party leave for MIDHOPE. 1 O.R. sent on Stuart Waterproofing Instructors course C.T.C. DUNDONALD.
	4	1200	Brigade commanders conference.
	5	0900	Services.
BRIDLINGTON	6	0900	Commanding Officers conference. 1 O.R. sent on fuel injection Equip. Course CAV OCTON.
	6	1300	Movement Order No. 1. issued. Lt. H.P. Brookshaw struck off strength of unit.	App 1
	7	0800	1st Party leaves for MIDHOPE.	See app 1
	7	0830	Lt. T.M.E. Maloney attends Div. Study Period.
	7	1100	Lt. D.G. Goom attends conference Division;- Subject – Exercise “Beverley IV”.
	8	0800	2nd Party leaves for AFV Ranges MIDHOPE. Lt. J.R.D. Hudswell and 21 O.Rs. leave for AFVAA course AFV Schools Lulworth and Netherton.	See app 1
	8	0900	Exercise “Beverley IV” commences.	See Appx 10
	8	1000	22 O.Rs report to Div. Gas Compound Beverley under instructions of Lt. R.H. Bates.
	9	0900	Exercise “Beverley” continues. 23 O.Rs to Div Gas Compound Beverley.	See Appx 10
	9	1500	R.C. Chaplains hour. Capt. J.S. Meikle and Capt. W.P.M. Ross MC struck off strength of unit.
BRIDLINGTON	10	0900	Commanding Officers conference. Regt. Wireless Exercise (indoors).
	10	1000	Court of Enquiry held on BOR for the purpose of investigating and reporting circumstances under which following tanks were damaged by fire on the dates specified. Sherman Tank No. 147484 24 Feb & Sherman Tank No. 147429 – 28 Feb. Pres. Major C.G. Seymour 23H.; Members, Major R.D. Kimberley, BEME, Lt. H.O. Bennett, 3 R. Tks. Lt. N.F.F. Kent promoted A/Capt.
	11	0900	Exercise “Beverley IV” continues. Commanding Officers conference.	See Appx 10
	11		Wading practice at Wading Site Hull.	App 2
	11	1000	Bn Messing Committee meeting. Lt. S. Farningham promoted A/Capt. Rev. H.J.L. Taylor CF (C of E0 attached to Unit. Major H.L. Upcott-Gill assumes command of Bn during absence of C.O. on leave. Taylor, Henry Jefferys Leigh	App 2
	12	0900	Services. Wading practices at Hull.	App 3
	13	1145	Movement Order No. 2. issued. T/Capt. J.H. Clews t.o.s. and attached to HQ Sqdn.	App 4
BRIDLINGTON	14	0630	First party leave for AFV Ranges FYLINGDALE area 3819 Sheet 3 ¼” to 1 mile.	See app 4
	14	1500	Mobile cinema visits unit; training films featuring 75mm Gun. 2/Lt. D.B. Dewick t.o.s. and attached to “B” Sqdn.
	15	0630	Second party leave for ranges FYLINGDALE. 2/Lt. Montgomery appointed Bn. Salvage Officer.	See app 4
	16	0900	Commanding Officer conference. Lt. J. McG. Rylands to be Admin Officer for BRIDGE HEWICK Wading Site.
	17	0800	R.C. Services. US Army personnel return to own unit.
	18		Capt. Clews, Lt. McFarlan and 24 O.Rs attached to HQ Sqdn pending posting to Bde Fwd Delivery Sqdn. as 1st Line Reinforcements.
	18	1445	Football Match 3 R. Tks v. 23 Hussars. Result 5 – 2.
	19	1030	Commanding Officers’ Conference.
	19	1600	Movement Order No. 3. issued.	App 5
BRIDLINGTON	20		Lt. Col. Silvertop MC re-assumes command. Silvertop, David Arthur Henry
	20	1030	Capt. J.H. Clews member of F.G.C.M. assembling HQ The Rifle Brigade HUMANBY YORKS. Officers under instructions Lt. W.F. Yates and Lt. D. Osbaldeston. Capt. N.F.F. Kent transferred from “B” to “A” Sqdn. Lt. Rylands attached to HQ pending transfer to FDS.
	20	1400	Commanding Officers Conference. 1 O.R. sent on Motor Cycle Course M 11 at NORCO Veh Maintenance School.
	20	1800	Lt. Col. KOKKDA, Czech Army arrives. Staying with unit until end of month.
	21	1100	Commanding Officers Conference. Subject Exercise “York”.	See Appx 10
	21	1500	Conference Bde. Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”.	See Appx 10
	21	1700	Conference Bde. Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”. 2/Lt. Ricketts, t.o.s. and attached to “C” Sqdn.	See Appx 10
	22	0630	Capt. J. Dunlop & Lt. D.G. Goom and 40 O.R.s leave as advanced party on Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”.	See Appx 10
	22	1030	H.M. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth accompanied by Princess Elizabeth visit unit. Exercise “York” finishes. Bowes-Lyon, Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Windsor, George VI	See Appx 10
	22	1640	Movement Order No. 4. issued.	App 6
BRIDLINGTON	22	1400	Commanding Officers Conference. Exercise “Honey”.	See Appx 10
	22	1600	Conference Bde. Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”.	See Appx 10
	23	0830	Personnel Special Record Board commence compiling statistics on O.Rs of Bn.
	23	0900	Lt. Bates leaves for Gunnery Refresher course 489D AFV Schools Lulworth. Major Barker MC, Capt. F.F. Kent, and Lt. R.C. Watt leave on Exercise “Tatler”.
	23	1700	Commanding Officers Conference for umpires Exercise “Honey”.	See Appx 10
	24	1000	Exercise “Honey” commences.	See Appx 10
	24	1100	8 Corps Interrogation Team hold discussion in Manor House. I secs from Bde present.
	24	1800	Exercise “Honey” ends.	See Appx 10
	25	1000	Commanding Officer attends R.A. practice shoot SPAUNTON.
BRIDLINGTON	26	0900	Services. Special parade for service taken by Arch-Bishop of York at Priory Church.
	26	1400	Movement Order No. 5. issued.	App 7
	26	2005	Commanding Officers Conference, Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”.	See Appx 10
	27	0900	Capt. Gilboy and Capt. McMillan MC (MO) to Medical Board YORK.
	27	1030	Brigade Commander holds conference on ground. Subject Exercise “Honey”.	See Appx 10
	27	1500	Commanding Officers Conference re Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”.	See Appx 10
	28	0900	Commanding Officers Conference re Ex. “Frederick Uncle IV”. 2/Lt. D.I. McCollie t.o.s. and attached “B” Sqdn.	See Appx 10
	28	1000	8 O.Rs leave for interview W.O.S.B. Catterick. Movement Order No. 6 & 7 issued.	App 8 & 9
	29	1800	Baggage Train leaves. Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”	See Appx 10
	30	0430	Main Road Party leaves. Exercise “Frederick Uncle IV”	See Appx 10
ALDERSHOT	31	1630	Road party arrives new location.

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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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