WO 171/838 - 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards - September 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: 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. R.G. Byron

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	3		The Regiment moved at 0830 hrs. at early notice on route for ALOST. We passed through ARRAS and LOOS, 8 Armd. Bde being with 30 Div. and the Regiment leading the Gp. with “A”Sqn. No trouble at all was met until a Bridge just E. of LOOS which was found to be blown; a diversion was made. Then opposition in the form of A/Tk. guns was met at HOUBLIN and “A” Sqn. were ordered to deal with the trouble crossing a small river obstacle through SECLIN to the S. of the Bridge. However, the opposition was well covered with some A/Tk. guns and “A” Sqn. had a sticky time having 3 tanks knocked out and Major J.A. d’Avigdor Goldsmid and captain A.C. Hawkins wounded and Tpr. Catlow killed. Meanwhile “B” and “C” Sqns. with “A” Coy. 12 K.R.R.C. were pushing on to LILLE which they liberated without opposition. They were completely mobbed by the inhabitants of LILLE and dirty and tired tank crews were embraced and given a tremendous welcome by the French. They were withdrawn to Harbour just W. of SECLIN in the evening, “A” Sqn. remained out all night with the 9 D.L.I. who were to clear up the enemy pocket in the HOUBLIN area.

Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com, transcribing: Hans Houterman.

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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