WO 171/607 - 6 Guards Tank Brigade - 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: 6th Guards Tank Brigade
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Brigadier W.D.C. Greenacre, M.V.O.

Place	Date	Summary	Reference
B.L.A.	1	The battle has now moved far ahead of us. The Brit Second Army is approaching BRUSSELS and the American Third Army the German frontier due EAST of NANCY. The Bde is expected to move up to the R. SEINE in the course of the next 3 days. Detailed information about the battle is hard to get. There is NTR from units.
	2	N.T.R.
	3	N.T.R. From units. There is now some doubt about the move. It has been postponed again indefinitely.
	4	The Bde is now to move on 7 Sep. to area LE NEUBOURG. A reminder that the autumn is on us was manifest in the wild, gustly weather with intermittent sharp showers to-day.
	5	N. T. R.
	6	N. T. R.
	7	Operation Holdfast	Appendix A
	7	Bde HQ moved to area EAST of LE NEUBOURG at R. 049820.
B.L.A.	7	The Tk Bns began move to reconcentrate in this area. 4 Tk Gren Gds – 033825 4 Tk Coldm Gds – 070772 3 Tk Scots Gds – 038805.
	8	Operation Holdfast continues.
	9	Reconcentration of Bde in the LE NEUBOURG area completed. It is reported by the local police that there are still someGermans loose in the area.
	10	Bde HQ (Main) moved across the R. SEINE via br at LES ANDELYS to MARCOUVILLE 383976. Bde HQ Tks co-operated with local units of F.F.I. In clearing a wood in area VENON. No PW were taken.
	11	Tk Bns began move across R. SEINE via br at LES ANDELYS. Capt J. McI. Young and Capt P.B. Fraser left for 2nd Army area of operations.
	12	Move across R. SEINE continued.
	13	Bde less services now reconcentrated – 4 Tk Gren Gds 343987; 4 Tk Coldm Gds 399004; 3 Tk S.G. 374994.
B.L.A.	14	Services moved and joined Bde in concentration area.
	15	Bde HQ moved to former 8 Corps main location area ST GERMAIN 532035. Major the Lord Gilford relinquished his duties as B.M.and Major L. Dawnay became B.M. Capt. R. Fortescue, former (L.O. (G.), becomes G III.
	16	N.T.R.
	17	Early this morning the airborne landings in HOLLAND to secure a clear run for the Armd Divs into NORTH GERMANY began. The weather is holding fair.
	18	Further reports continue to come in from civilian sources that there are suspicious characters in the area. All I.Os have been instructed to make a thorough investigation. So far reports have proved groundless.	Appendix B
	19	N. T. R.
	20	B. T. R.
	21	There is now news that the Bde will probably move up into BELGIUM and concentrate in BEERINGEN area in a week's time. The Recce Tp from 4 Tk Gren Gds assisted local units of F.F.I. in searching a part of the FORET DE LYONS. Nothing was found.
B.L.A.	22	The D.A.A. & Q.M.G. With Lt P. Hudson as L.O. Left for 2nd Army HQ.
	23	There is little more information to be had about our move. To-day we hear that Brit Tks have crossed the frontier into GERMANY.
	24	There is now positive information that the Bde is to move North and come u/comd 8 Corps 'somewhere in Holland'. The first detachments leave 27 Sep.
	25	Recce parties leave for new area.
	26	The G.III and S.L.O. Left for Corps HQ.
	26	There is no definite news about the Bde's new location.Preparations for tomorrow's road march go ahead. M.T. Columns will leave tomorrow taking two days to reach area EINDHOVEN where guides will take charge for the last few miles.	Appendix C
	27	Bde (Main) HQ, HQ Sqn and M.T. Of 4 Tk Coldm Gds and 3 Tk S.G. left location by HAT route 0600 hrs.
	27	Night spent in harbour beside HAT route 5 miles SW of VALENCIENNES.
	27	The Tks of 4 Tk Coldm Gds and 3 Tk S.G.left 0630 hrs on transporter and harboured for night area NORTH of ALBERT N.47.
B.L.A.	28	Bde move continues. M.T.columns left harbour area 0700 hrs and following HAT route, arrived at GELDROP at 1715 hrs. The transporters harboured for second night area NORTH of NIVELLES J.63.
	29	4 Tk Gren Gds began move to new location.
	30	4 Tk Coldm Gds came u/comd 3 Brit Div and moved at 1400 hrs to ST HUBERT 671440.

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Source: 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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