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: 11th Bn Royal Tank Regt. | ||
Month and Year: October 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. R. Dixon |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
TAMISE | 1 | 0930 | CO to Bde Comds conference reference training and outline of future developments. | |
1 | 0930 | Arrangements made with Belgium LO for billets. | ||
2 | 0900 | Final arrangements made for billets etc. | ||
2 | 1030 | CO to conference with Bde and also onto Div. | ||
2 | 2000 | Arrival of Sqn Comds and ROs. Conference with CO on billets, training and future developments. Sqns billeted as follows:- A – J599887. B – J592886. C – J577866. LAD – J592883. Sigs – J592883. HQ Sqn – J537867. | ||
3 | 1200 | Main Road party arrived. | ||
3 | 1600 | Lecture by Div Comd to troops. | ||
3 | 2130 | COs conference on distribution of LVT and also on conversion. | Appendix 1 Appendix 2 | |
4 | 1200 | Rear road party arrived. | ||
4 | 2000 | COs conference Sqn Comds reference to modifications. | ||
5 | 1200 | CO lecture to HQ Sqn on role and behaviour. | ||
5 | 1230 | Visit from Bde Comd 1 Tk Bde and SLO Div. | ||
5 | 2000 | COs conference to all Sqn Comds training and fitting in of modifications. | ||
5 | 2030 | 1 Offr and 4 NCOs for training of crews t.o.s. | ||
6 | 1000 | CO to Bde with reference to conference held last night. | ||
6 | 1000 | 1 × 3 ton lorry despatched to 1 Tk Bde to collect stores. | ||
6 | 1200 | CO lecture to A Sqn on role and behaviour. | ||
6 | 1330 | CO lecture to B Sqn as above. | ||
6 | 1400 | Letter from Div Comd to say that we become Div troops. | ||
6 | 1400 | Arrival of transporters with LVT Mk IV – 1, Mk II – 29. | ||
6 | 1800 | CO conference on progress of work and training also attended by Sqn ROs. | ||
7 | 0730 | Offloading of transporters carried out. | ||
7 | 1400 | CO – 2IC – OsC. A – B – C – HQ Sqns – MO – LO – IO – ROs from A and C Sqns departed to watch “Switchback”. | ||
7 | 1600 | Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 upto 071200 hrs A. | Appendix 3 | |
7 | 1800 | Adjutant conference Sqn 2IC’s on training and modifications. | ||
8 | 0800 | CO – 2IC – Sqn Comds & MO returned from “Switchback”. | ||
8 | 1145 | Visit of CREME to see how modifications and equipment in general was progressing. | ||
8 | 1200 | Transporter coln arrived with 19 Mk IV. Distribution to be A 6 – B 6 – C 7. Have been offloaded. | ||
8 | 1800 | COs conference on training and modifications. | ||
8 | 1900 | 1 × 3 ton returned from 1 Tk Bde with stores. | ||
9 | 0815 | CO to see Div Comd reference allotment of craft, progress of work and any instructions for training. | ||
9 | 1445 | Div Comd visit unit to see working of Polsten gun. | ||
9 | 1500 | Arrival of 41 Mk IV LVT. Distribution A 13 – B 13 – C 15. | ||
9 | 2030 | COs conference reference training and mods. | ||
10 | 1500 | Arrival of 8 Mk IV on transporter. | ||
10 | 2030 | COs conference reference training and mods. | ||
11 | 1500 | Arrival of 14 Mk IV on transporter. | ||
11 | 1830 | COs conference reference training and modifications. | ||
12 | 1500 | Successful firing of Polsten gun. | ||
12 | 1830 | COs lecture to crews on “Watersense”. | ||
13 | 1000 | CO to Division to report on progress of mods and training. | ||
13 | 1500 | Visit of Lt/Col King A.F.V.(T) to know if we had any difficulties and arranged for him to see EME tomorrow. | ||
13 | 1830 | COs conference reference training modifications. | ||
14 | 1400 | Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 upto 141200A. | Appendix 4 | |
14 | 1830 | COs conference reference training and modifications. | ||
15 | 1000 | CO to Division to report on position reference mods & trng. | ||
15 | 1830 | COs conference Sqn Comds reference training & mods. | ||
16 | 0930 | CO to 1 Aslt Bde RE reference “Switchback”. | ||
16 | 1830 | CO conference ref trngs and mods. | ||
17 | 1000 | CO to Division reference mods, training & move. | ||
17 | 1400 | CO conference reference to move. | Appendices 5 & 6 | |
18 | 0930 | CO to 1 Aslt Bde reference training. | ||
18 | 1100 | Move continuing according to Appendices 5 & 6. Mov. Order for L.A.D. and Sigs. | Appendix 7 | |
18 | 1400 | Lieut Munday and 4 NCOs (RASC training cadre) ceased to be attached & reported to 21 Army Group Rear HQ. | ||
18 | 1830 | CO conference with reference to position of mods & move. | ||
19 | 0830 | Adjutant to Division reporting on move. | ||
SLUISKIL | 19 | 1200 | HQ opened at SLUISKIL D286050 and pass under command 1 Aslt Bde RE. Unit billeted in factory. | |
19 | 1830 | Position with regard to move C Sqn complete. B and HQ Sqns complete except for 1 × 3 ton rear party due on 20th Oct., A Sqn 15 LVT have arrived. | ||
20 | 1430 | Divisional comd visited unit to see if everything was satisfactory. | ||
20 | 1830 | Move completed in accordance with Appendices 5, 6 & 7. | ||
21 | 1000 | CO visited by Bde Comd. | ||
21 | 1200 | Submission of AF W3008 & W3009 unto 211200A. | Appendix 8 | |
21 | 1600 | Distribution of correpondence revised. | Appendix 9 | |
21 | 1830 | COs conference Sqn comds reference mods and stores. | ||
22 | 1400 | Bde Major visited CO. | ||
22 | 1730 | Lecture by Major Walters 5 ARE reference to “Switchback”. | ||
23 | 2030 | COs Conference Sqn comds. | ||
24 | 1200 | CO to conference with Bde reference to “Vitality”. | Appendices 10 & 11 | |
24 | 1300 | C Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711. | ||
24 | 1400 | B Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711. | ||
24 | 1630 | C Sqn move to NEUZEN D2711. | ||
24 | 2000 | Message to say “Vitality” postponed. | ||
25 | 1000 | B & C Sqn comds to COs conference. A – B – C Sqns checking, loading, maintenance. | ||
25 | 1400 | CO to conference with Bde. | ||
25 | 2000 | CO conference with B & C Sqn Comds. | Appendix 12 | |
26 | 0015 | Tac HQ opened at D412175. | ||
26 | 0445 | Operation “Vitality”. Despite poor visibility build up carried out. | Appendix 13 & 14 | |
27 | 0001 | Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14. | ||
28 | 0001 | Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14. | ||
28 | 1200 | Submission of AF W3008 & 3009 upto 281200A. | Appendix 15 | |
29 | 0001 | Operation “Vitality” see appendices 13 &14. | ||
29 | 1600 | CO left to visit Bde Comd. Tac HQ closed. | ||
30 | 0400 | Unit’s part in Operation “Vitality” finished. | ||
30 | 0830 | Sqns reported back to Main. | ||
30 | 1200 | CO to Division reference operations & future developments. | ||
30 | 1600 | OC “B” Sqn reported to 30 Armd Bde. | ||
30 | 1800 | Final report on vehicles for exercise “Vitality” shows total of 6 unable to make their own way back. Maintenance by crews despite muddy conditions and little time for sleep extremely commendable. | ||
31 | 1230 | Bde Comds visited CO. | ||
31 | 1430 | 20 LVT of A Sqn left to take part in operation “Infatuate”. | ||
31 | 2000 | COs conference reference proposed move, loading of Tptrs, routes for remainder vehicles etc. |
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.