WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment - February 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 R. Tks.
Month and Year: February 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. DAH Silvertop, MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
CHIPPENHAM	1		Routine
	2	0930	Lt. W.E. Yates and 6 O.Rs proceeded on Regt. Wireless Course No. A 482 at D & M Wing AFV School. Lt. W.T. Brookes with 3 O.Rs proceeded on Crew Comds (Sherman V) course No. V 472.
	2	1420	3 R. Tks Admin Instruction No. 1. issued.	App I/6
	3	0745	8 O.Rs posted to RAC Depot Catterick.
	3	0930	Field General Court Marshal. Trial of 321792 Tpr. Davey, B.C. President Major J.H. Gardner, Staffs Yeo. Members – Capt. J.K. Holmes, Notts Yeo. Lt. I.F.M. Greenaway, Notts Yeo. Prosecuting Officer Capt. J.C. Balharrie MC. 3 R. Tks Defending Officer – Capt. A.B. Hayter, 3 R. Tks.
	3	1155	3 R. Tks Movement Order No. 2. issued.	App I/7
	4		Routine.
	5	0730	746558 Tpr. Johnson, G. proceeds to Detention Barracks, Sowerby Bridge, Yorks.
CHIPPENHAM	6	0530	Detachment of 24 Lancers arrive.
	6	0745	Train party move off.
	6	1542	Train party arrive at Bridlington.
BRIDLINGTON	7		Routine Rev. 0630 hrs. Breakfast “A” Sqdn 0700 hrs “B”, “C”, “HQ” 0730 hrs Sick Parade 0830 hrs. Parade 0830 – 1230 hrs. Dinner 1245 – 1315 Parade 1400 – 1630 Tea 1700 hrs. Guard (petrol) 1800 hrs Guard, Main. 1830 hrs. Supper 2000 hrs.
	8	0830	Lt. T.M.E. Maloney to Corps for “I” Study Period.
	8	1000	General Montgomery visits Bde. Ceremonial Parade held on Grammar School Grounds. He was particularly pleased to see his old friends of 3rd Tanks. “so many of my old friends”. Montgomery, Bernard Law "Monty"
	8	2000	Officers and all ranks invited to dance at Spa Theatre given by “B” Sqdn 23 Hussars – Sqdn Leader Major C.G. Seymour.
	9	0830	Lt. T.M.E. Maloney to Corps for “I” Study Period.
	10	1000	Brig. C.B.C. Harvey D.S.O. visits Bn. welcoming the 3rd to the 29th Armd Bde and renewing past friendships of the 8th Armd Bde. Harvey, Charles Barnet "Roscoe"
BRIDLINGTON	10	1500	Major General G.B.B. Roberts, D.S.O., M.C., paid visit to Bn of an informal nature. Formerly Col. Of the Bn his visit was of particular interest. Roberts, George Philip Bradley "Pip"
	10	1800	Officers Mess Meeting in “Chequers”.
	11	1100	C.O. hold conference – reference exercise “Eagle”.
	11	1530	C.O. addresses all tank commanders – reference exercise “Eagle”.
	12	1200	C.O. & Officers attend 23 Hussars cocktail party. A social gathering successful in its object of opposite numbers getting to know each other.
	12	1430	The C.O. holds final conference dealing with exercise “Eagle”.
	13	0930	Services
	13	1100	Bn. less rear party moves off on exercise “Eagle”.
	13	1430	Lt. Hudswell takes ‘Special Service’ Parade.
	13		Exercise “Eagle” – RHQ Bygot Farm 469626 OS 1” – 1 mile Sheet 28.
	14		Routine. Parade 0830; Foot drill 0900. D & M classes 0930 – 1230, 1400 – 1630.
	15		Routine. RHQ location exercise “Eagle” Tipthorpe Grange. 425770 OS 1” – 1 mile Sheet 28.
	16		Routine. Four subalterns join Bn. on exercise “Eagle”. 2/Lt. C.T.W. Lindquist posted to “A” Sqdn. 2/Lt. P.R. Pells posted to “A” Sqdn. 2/Lt. S. Montgomery posted to “B” Sqdn. 2/Lt. R.F. Lemon posted to “C” Sqdn.
CHIPPENHAM	17 – 19		Routine.
	20		Services. RHQ location, exercise “Eagle” South Belt Plantation 465685 OS 1” – 1 mile Sheet 28.
	21		Routine.
	22		Exercise “Eagle” RHQ location 414938 Pt.560 OS 1” – 1 mile Sheet 28.
	22	1930	45 O.Rs invited to attend party held in Salvation Hall given by Girls Training Corps.
	23		The following personnel congratulated on appearing in List of Mentions – London Gazette of 13 Jan 44; - Capt. J. Watts; Tpr. Tuffs, K; Sgt. Lister, S; Tpr. Wilde, J; Sgt. Dale, W; Major A.K.R. Doig; Sgt. Ellis; Tpr Cook; Sgt. Craik; Cpl. Williams.
	24		Exercise “Eagle” RHQ location Mill Farm 502937.
	24	1535	Exercise “Eagle” Cease Fire.
	25	0010	Bn returns from exercise “Eagle”.
CHIPPENHAM	25	0900	The C.O. holds Sqdn Leaders conference.
	26	0900	Court of Enquiry – to enquire into the circumstances by which Sherman Tank No. T 147484 was damaged by fire on 24 Feb. Pres. Major Upcott-Gill MC. Members Capt. G.A. Morris, Lt. H.O. Bennett.
	26	1400	Sgts Mess meeting. Bde Commander congratulates Bn on march discipline of the night 24/25 Feb.
	27		Services
	28	1400	C.O. conference – subject promotions.
	29		Major Carey formerly 2 i/c Bn pays friendly visit to Bn. renewing acquaintance with former friends of the campaign in Greece.

previous month | next month

Source: Bovington Tank Museum.

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.

Domains

More information

Contact