WO 171/837 - 2 Household Cavalry - 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: 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
	4		It was originally intended that 2 HCR should move into the barracks in BRUSSELS but as Comd 30 Corps was shot at by a tank on the main supply route WEST of BRUSSELS, 2 Sqns (B & C) had to be despatched WEST again to protect these routes back to ATH. In fact there were still parties of enemy wandering about on the SOUTH flank more especially as the Americans were not yet up on this flank being bogged down for want of petrol. When these parties had two or three anti-tank guns or tanks they were apt to become aggressive and formidable. A Sqn were left on the rd junc in BRUSSELS till relieved later in the evening by 231 Bde of 50 Div. D Sqn were placed in sp of a Grenadier Gp who were to go forward to seize the bridges in LOUVAIN over the DYLE. RHQ 2 HCR remained at LIEU ST PIERRE. Commns were thus at this stage desperately stretched, 2 HCR was in the middle of an elogated line and BRUSSELS was in between them and D Sqn while A Sqn was in the middle of the city. It was indeed a miracle that messages were got through. 1 Tp each B & C Sqns comd by Lieut Palmer and Capt Wrottesley respectively, and C.O. and Adjt acted as escort to GOC Gds Armd Div in a processional march into BRUSSELS. Gds Armd Div preceded the Belgian Bde on this march which was a most remarkable sight with literally the whole of BRUSSELS lining the streets and cheering. Meanwhile batches of prisoners were being marched about by the Armee Blanche who were firing their rifles in the air and at one moment German 88's fired a salvo into the middle of the town. Main HQ Gds Armd Div was established in the Square in front of the PALAIS ROYALE with Main HQ 30 Corps moved to the grounds of the CHATEAU ROYAL at LAEKEN.

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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