WO 171/839 - 5 Royal Inniskilling 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: 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. J.E. Swetenham

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	6		A' and 'B' Sqns in the same posn. At 1000 hrs the br at WETTEREN was threatened by an enemy counter attack. The br itself at this time only being held by Sappers. 'C' Sqn was despatched at speed to bolster up the defence. They arrived just in time and fierce fighting took place along the street leading to the br NORTH of the river. Later a Coy of the 1/6 Queens were sent to clean up the area. It transpired that the attack was put in by two coys of inf and about 5 guns with orders that the br was to be taken and destroyed at all costs for the safety of the withdrawal of all the German force. By 1200 hrs the attack had been liquidated. A1 Ech who were just NORTH of the br and WEST of the main rd came into action in the ditch along the main rd and Bren guns fired to good effect preventing the enemy from breaking NE. During the action SSM Clayton's tk was “Brewed up” but he and his crew continued the assault on foot with Tommy Guns. SSM Clayton and Tpr Addyman were wounded. In the meantime 'A' Sqn and 'B' Sqn were patrolling WESTWARDS towards GHENT and by 1600 hrs 120 prisoners had been taken. At 2030 hrs 330 Germans and 3 Offrs surrendered to 'B' Sqn. 12 collaborators were also taken and disposed of. During all the operations this day over 900 prisoners were taken. A very successful day.

Source: Joris Nieuwint, The Battlefield Explorer, transcribing: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com.

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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