WO 171/1255 - 4 Grenadier Guards - November 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: 4th Tk Bn Grenadier Guards
Month and Year: November 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Maj. C.M.F. Deakin

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	5	0730	No 2 Sqn crossed the start line & pushed straight on to their objective. On the way they crossed a minefield but only lost 1 tk. On approaching the wood the going suddenly deteriorated & tanks began to bog at an alarming rate. It was then clear that any further operations here would be out of the question & the tanks were ordered to withdraw. Those that could get out then ran on the same minefield & eventually only 4 tanks withdrew behind the start line. Some tanks which had been hit by A/Tk guns were knocked out & their crews forced to get out. 4 tanks bogged, but with their guns in action were however still manned & remained behind the enemy lines all day. The smoke screen continued until nearly dark when a rescue party of Honey tanks set out to save the crews of the bogged tanks. Three Honey’s were bogged in their turn but all the crews were saved from the bogged tanks less 1 crew which returned late at night.

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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