WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment - April 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: April 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. DAH Silvertop, MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
ALDERSHOT	1	1000	Commanding Officer’s Conference:- Routine – Training.
	1	1200	Major G.H. Barker, M.C., attends AFV demonstration LULWORTH. Reinforcements of 1 NCO and 1 OR join Unit.
	2	0900	Services.
	3	1000	Commanding Officer’s Conference:- Routine – Training. Lt. R.T. Goldsmith t.o.s. and posted to HQ Sqn.
	4	1445	Brigade Commander’s Conference:- Training.
	4	1600	Major H.L. Upcott-Gill, M.C., Lt (QM) V. Hehir, Lt H.D. Abercrombie and 36 ORs comprising Rear Party arrive from BRIDLINGTON.
	5	1000	Commanding Officer’s Conference:- Training. Lt R.C. Watt and 1 OR report to AFV School, LULWORTH, for Gunnery Refresher Course 491. 23 ORs (reinforcements) join Unit. Lt D.G. Goom transferred to FDT.
	6	0900	‘B’ Vehicle Waterproofing classes for Squadron Echelon Officers commence under Lt A. Carter. Bn Audit Board assembles:- President:- Major W.H. Close, M.C., Members:- Capt J.D. Dunlop, 2/Lt H.B. Dewick.
ALDERSHOT	6	1000	12 ORs attend demonstration of German Equipment at CHOBHAM. 1 OR (reinforcement) joins Unit.
	7	0900	FGCM assembles in 2 FF Yeo RHQ. President Major J.A. Watts. Lt. McG. Rylands and 2/Lt D.I. Collie attend under instruction.
	7	1035	Movement Order N0. 8 issued detailing personnel and movement to WARCOP Ranges where gunners, 2nd gunners and commanders are to fire the 17 pr mounted on the Sherman.	See Appx 'A'
	8	1200	Unit censorship comes into effect.
	8	1400	Bn Messing meeting held.
	9	0900	Easter Day. Services for all denominations.
	10		Routine as for Sunday: the Divisional Commander having directed that this day will be observed as a holiday.
	10		2/Lt H.B. Dewick leaves for Army School of C.W., Glenridding, for Course 35G
ALDERSHOT	11	1100	Lt. T.M.E. Maloney attends German Army Course No. 24, CAMBRIDGE.
	11	0910	Gunner Mechs Trade Test held.
	11	1030	3 ORs – reinforcements – joined Unit.
	12		Routine.
	13	1000	Commanding Officer’s Conference – Ex “MUSH”:- This is to be an exercise in which 29 Armd Bde are going out as a skeleton force to co-operate with airborne units.
	15	1200	Capt S. Farningham, M.M., and 8 ORs arrive from BRIDLINGTON.
	17	0930	Security films shown to Bn.
	17	1400	Commanding Officer’s Conference:- Ex “MUSH” and training. 5 ORs attend Water Duties Course at 76 Fd Hyg Sec.
	18	0002	2 ORs – reinforcements – join Unit.
	18	0900	Unit interviewing board for OTCU candidates assembles. Pres: Major H.L. Upcott-Gill, M.C., Members: Major G.H. Barker, M.C., Major W.H. Close, M.C.
	18	1810	Movement Order No. 9 issued detailing personnel and movement for Ex “MUSH”.	See Appx 'B'
ALDERSHOT	19	0900	‘B’ Vehicle wading practice at ARBORFIELD. 1 OR to AFV Schools, BOVINGTON on Regt WT Course.
	20	1000	Security films shown to Unit.	Appx 'D' refers NCO's cadres
	20	1600	Programme for NCOs Cadre Course issued: Capt G.N. Lorraine-Smith, 14/20 H, attached to Unit. Capt B.J. Hamill appointed Bn Musketry Officer, Lt J. McG. Rylands appointed Asst Musketry Officer. Major H.L. Upcott-Gill, M.C., assumes command of the Unit during absence on duty of Lt Col D.A.H. Silvertop, M.C. Silvertop, David Arthur Henry
	21	0900	Commanding Officer’s conference re training area.
	22		Routine.
	23	1000	Brigade Parade Service: 5 Officers ands 120 ORs represent the Unit. Lt J.McG. Rylands, 2/Lt D.I. Collie and 4 ORS attend course M 30, SE Comd School of Camouflage. Lt Col D.A.H. Silvertop, M.C., reassumes command. Silvertop, David Arthur Henry
	24		“A” Squadron troop training BRAMSHOTT COMMON.
	24	0930	16 ORs to AA Dome Trainer Pirbright Camp.
	25	1000	Brigade Commander’s conference. 16 ORs to AA Dome Trainer Pirbright Camp. Admin Instructions for Exercise “FABIUS VI” issued covering the detail of personnel who are to assist in pitching a camp for future operational moves under secret orders from Brigade.	See Appx “C”
	26		16 ORs to AA Dome Trainer Pirbright Camp.
	27	1100	Commanding Officer’s conference re reinforcements and courses.
	28	1000	Demonstration of Bull-dozer.
	29	1200	Commanding Officer’s conference re co-operation with infantry. 9 NCOs and 25 ORs – reinforcements – join Unit.
	30		2/Lt D.B.B. Ricketts transferred to Tank Reinforcement Unit. Major P.F. Burr, M.B.E., t.o.s. of Unit and attached to C Squadron. Lt. J.McG. Rylands posted to FDT. Lt R.P. Dawson (R.A.C.) attached to Unit and HQ Squadron.

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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.

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