| 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 |
| Unit: 2nd Household Cavalry Regt. | ||
| Month and Year: September 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. H. Abel Smith |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gds Armd Div Op SABOT which was the adv from area WEST of DOUAI to BRUSSELS. This adv was intended to be preceded by a tremendous air bombardment and parachute dropping progamme in order that the flak sites in area TOURNAI might be eliminated but as usual the air suport was not forthcoming. In fact this was probably lucky as it meant an early start which gave leading Sqns longer time for the long drive to BRUSSELS. 2 HCR adv 2 up in front of Gds Armd Div, A rt, C left, B followed A on the right centre line with the missing of protecting the right flank if an open flank developed. In fact the Americans were right forward and were across our line of adv for 25 miles. They were at this time static through lack of petrol but their infantry were holding many of the important bridges. At first the adv went a good deal faster on the left than on the right, A Sqn had a more difficult route and had to carry out an extensive route recce in the early stages. A Sqn also met opposition from enemy groups about 2 coys strong in each of the towns on their route ENGHIEN – ATH – HAL. This opposition had to be cleared up with the help of 2 W.G. in each case. Much tpt and soft vehs were shot up - this was especially the case at ATH where B Sqn got a sub-unit behind the enemy before they pulled out. Towards evening A Sqn got right into BRUSSELS and harboured at a vital rd junc to the N.E. - there was spasmodic firing in the town but the chief trouble was the mobbing of the crowds. On the left centre line C Sqn made rapid progress and by 1430 hrs were some 6 kms from BRUSSELS. There they were held up by a strong S flank held by the Germans getting out of BRUSSELS, and they had a rather sticky time till the tks got forward two hours later. There was a good deal of Bazooka fire - Lieut Hopkinson's car was knocked out. Lieut Hopkinson was taken prisoner but escaped the following day. Lieut Paget was wounded in the leg. C Sqn had a patrol in BRUSSELS by 2500 hrs but this was chased out by 88mm fire. RHQ then closed up and harboured with D Sqn who had been given the task of protecting Div HQ in the area LIEU St PIERRE. This Sqn had a scout car knocked out during the night by to half tracked S.P. guns. About 300 P.Ws were taken and, as was the drill, handed over to the Maquis and the Armee Blanche. Both these latter organisations really proved of enormous value for rounding up the many stray Germans who were trying to escape through the woods and who really only wanted someone to surrender to. They also provided guides and interpreters and incidentally masses of rumours. 2 HCR was thus the first allied troops into both BELGIUM and BRUSSELS. |
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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