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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: HQ 153 Inf Bde
Month and Year: November 1944 (Erase heading not required). Commanding Officer: Brig J.R. Sinclair, DSO
Place Date Hour Summary Reference
18   5 BW encountered extensive minefields on the approaches to their crossing and the state of the tracks made it impossible to ferry the assault boats up to the canal on carriers as planned. In addltion enemy snipers were active on the North bank. Consequently it was not until 0300 hrs that their leading tps were able to cross. Meanwhile the bn had suffered some cas from shelling, sniping, and the ubiquitous Schu and Teller mines. At 0120 hrs the AVRE br was complete on the 1 Gordons front (775004) but the tracks leading up to it prevented anything but tks and Kangaroos from reaching it. At 0550 hrs 5 BW were all across and had mopped up the North bank of the river, taking 4 POW, the remainder of the enemy having withdrawn. At 0600 hrs 5/7 Gordons were ordered to pass through 1 Gordons using the AVRE br, this being done by 0800 hrs and by 0900 the bn had reached KEUP 7802 without opposition. Bde dispositions 0900 hrs as follows: 1 Gordons area 7799; 5 BW area 7601, 5/7 Gordons area 7702. Tac Bde HQ rejoined Main HQ at its old locn at 1000 hrs. At 1200 hrs 154 Bde passed through 152 Bde and captured PANNINGEN 7704 and HELDON 7903 without any trouble. During the day 5/7 Gordons were heavily shelled in their posn. At 1500 hrs they came under comd 154 Bde, and 7 BW in the area NEER 7757 came under comd 153 Bde. AF W 3008/9 att as Appx ‘K’. AF W 3008/9 att as Appx ‘K’

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.