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
	24		2 H.C.R. less A remained in reserve. C Sqn moved into the DUTCH Barracks at NIJMEGEN, and got a good sight of how very much better continental powers look after their peace time armies than we do. The barracks were very up to date, light and airy, with very good baths etc. A Sqn continued task with 32 Gds Bde and find a good deal of enemy activity in the CUYK – GENNEP area on the MEUSE. One scout and crew (L/C. Scambler) were lost. Meanwhile the general picture was as follows: - It had not been found possible to reinforce or supply in any great strength the Brit Airborne on the NORTH bank of the LEK at ARNHEM – the position over the NIJMEGEN Bridges had been consolidated by the arrival of 43 Div - the posn on the main axis was clearing up but the axis was cut for 48 hrs out of 72 in the VEGHEL area. However 8 Corps on the right and 12 Corps on the left were moving up and this cleaned up the axis posn. 2 H.C.R. B Ech which had been cut off in the EINDHOVEN area arrived in this area. 2 H.C.R. with all Gds Armd Div had been fed on German rations from the OSS dump for 4 days and really they were quite excellent, though the troops had had to have their grumble. German air was very much more active than at any time during the whole campaign.

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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