WO 171/854 - Inns of Court Regiment - December 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: Inns of Court Regt, RAC
Month and Year: December 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. R.A.G. Bingley

Place	Date	Summary
Field	1	'B' Sqn in area METERIK E.810190
	1	'C' Sqn in reserve
	1	'A' & 'D' Sqns moved to HELMOND
	2	'B' Sqn in area METERIK
	2	'A', 'C' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	3	'B' Sqn moved to HELMOND
	3	'A' 'C' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	4	'A' 'B' 'C' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	5	'A' 'B' 'C' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	6	'B' Sqn took over line in area SWOLGEN E.877228
	6	'C' Sqn took over line in area area GUN E.875245 – LEGERT E.886239
	6	'A' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	7	'B' Sqn area SWOLGEN holding west bank of R. MAAS
	7	'C' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT holding west bank of R. MAAS
	7	'A' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	8	'B' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	8	'C' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT
	8	'A' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	9	'A' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	9	'D' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT
	9	'B' & 'C' Sqns in reserve
	10	'A' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	10	'D' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT
	10	'B' & 'C' Sqns in reserve
	11	'A' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	11	'D' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT
	11	'B' & 'C' Sqns in reserve
	12	'A' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	12	'D' Sqn area GUN – LEGERT
	12	'B' & 'C' Sqns in reserve
	13	'B' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	13	'C' Sqn area GUN
	13	'A' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	14	'B' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	14	'C' Sqn area GUN
	14	'A' & 'D' Sqns in reserve
	15	'B' Sqn area SWOLGEN
	15	'C' Sqn releieved by 1 R. Norfolks and moved to HELMOND
	16	'B' Sqn relieved by 1 R. Norfolks and returned to HELMOND
	16	'A' 'C' & 'D' Sqn representatives recced posns north of MAESYCK 6379
	17	'A' Sqn took over line in area OPHOVEN 6482 – GEISTINGEN 6583
	17	'D'Sqn took over line in area ALDENEIJK 649799
	17	'B' Sqn in reserve
	17	'C' Sqn carried out security patrols in area MAESYCK – KINROY. Had guard on MAESYCK BRIDGE.
	18	'A' Sqn area OPHOVEN – GEISTINGEN holding west bank of R. MAAS.
	18	'D' Sqn area ALDEN EIJK holding west bank of R. MAAS
	18	'C' Sqn area MAESYCK – KINROY.
	18	'B' Sqn in reserve.
	19	'A' Sqn area OPHOVEN – GEISTINGEN
	19	'D' Sqn area ALDEN – EIJK
	19	'C' Sqn area MAESYCK – KINROY
	19	'B' Sqn in reserve
	20	As above
	21	As above
	22	As above
	23	'B' Sqn area OPHOVEN – GEISTINGEN
	23	'C' Sqn area ALDEN – EIJK
	23	'D' Sqn area MAESYCK – KINROY
	23	'A' Sqn in reserve
	24	As above
	25	As above
	26	As above
	27	As above
	28	As above
	29	'A' Sqn area OPHOVEN – GEISTINGEN
	29	'D' Sqn area ALDEN – EIJK
	29	'B' Sqn area KINROY – MAESYCK
	29	'C' Sqn in reserve
	30	As above
	31	Regiment relieved by 44 RTR, taken out of line and sent to HELMOND for rest.
	31	Early in the month the Regiment took over a new area of the west bank of the R. MAAS which it held with two squadrons, the other two being in reserve in HELMOND. OPs and defensive positions were maintained during the day and stronger defensive measures were taken at night. 4 & 5 Dutch Patriot Coys were under command and Liaison officers from the Regiment were detached to platoon HQs (Operational Order at Appx 'A'). One troop posn was attacked by an enemy paratroop patrol on the night of the 14th but the attack was beaten off, casualties being inflicted on the enemy but none were incurred on our side. Apart from the usual shelling and considerable minor movements by the enemy there was nothing to report. All the enemy activity at this period was of a purely domestic nature i.e. washing plates in the R. MAAS, carrying bedding from one billet to another and courting the village belle who wore a white pinafore and was the possessor of considerable attractions for the Luftwaffe. On the 16th the Regiment was relieved by the 1 R. Norfolks. On the 17th the Regiment came under command of the 4th Armd Bde and took over a stretch of the R. MAAS from MAESYCK – GEISTINGEN from the 43rd Recce Regt. Our task consisted of holding the line of the R. MAAS from GEISTINGEN – MAESYCK with two sqns with a battery of A/Tk gunners from 6 A/Tk Regt under command of the northern squadron. One squadron carried out security patrols in the area MAESEYCK – KINROY – STAMPRIOJ. The fourth squadron was in reserve.
	31	Very little of note occurred and the whole period was remarkably quiet and shell-free.
	31	No casualties were suffered during the month.
	31	REINFORCEMENTS
	31	The following officers joined the Regiment during the month:-
	31	2/Lieut. D.S. Sorrell
	31	2/Lieut. P.E. Johnson
	31	AWARDS
	31	Lieut. F.J. Thomas. Military Cross.

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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.

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