WO 171/1257 - 3 Irish 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: 3rd Bn Irish Guards
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
DOUAI to BRUSSELS	3		The BN left DOUAI at 0600 hrs, our object being Brussels, via ORCHIES by-pass - TOURNAI - ATH - ENGHIEN – Hal. This was a distance of 80 miles but good progress was made once we got on the main road. We had a short and very bumpy trip across country and during this time crossed the BELGIAN frontier. As BELGIUM was entered the reception given us increased in enthusiasm – opposition was being by-passed all the time. For instance, there were several hundred Germans in ENGIENNCE and a battle raging with the MAQUIS as we went through. They could not understand why we did not stop but our orders were to push on to BRUSSELS. at HAL about 1800 hours, the C.O. held an O Op for the entry into BRUSSELS. Our role with the 2nd BN I.O. was to divert to the south and up into BRUSSELS. Light was failing and is was very difficult to find our way through the suburbs, and progress was somewhat impeded by the enthusiasm of the civilians. As we were passing through a wood SOUTH of the city a Spandau and A Tk gun opened up on the leading tps – an extraordinary contrast to what had been happening a few minutes before.. it took little time to clear up and then on we went again through cheering crowds and finally entered the AUDERGHEM district of the city about midnight. No. l Coy was sent to take up a position covering one of the Eastern exits of BRUSSELS and No. 2 Coy another one, whilst the remainder of the BN were concentrated at important rd junctions just on the edge of the city. There was spasmodic firing throughout the night and No. 1 Coy, whose position was just near the Airport (still in enemy hands) came in for a certain amount of mortaring.

Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com, transcribing: Fred Bolle.

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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