| 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: 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards. | ||
| Month and Year: September 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. R.G. Byron |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Report received that Guards last night contacted elements of the 1st British Airborne Div. thus proving that a patrol of the Household Cavalry had actually reached the Southern bank of the Rhine linking up with the Polish Para. Bde. and meeting some of the British Div. who had come across the River. A large number of Bosche appeared to be in the area of OOSTERHOUT, and it was appreciated that once this crust was broken then an armoured drive could successfully be made up to DRIEL on the Southern bank of the Lower Rhine. The supply situation of Airborne Division was now critical and it was decided that once the SLI and A Squadron had cleared the Bosche from OOSTERHOUT a column consisting of B Squadron and the DCLI with supplies in Duxks should make a dash up to DRIEL. A Sqn. battle with the SLI was still going on at 1700 hrs. but by now the attack was going very well, a lot of Bosche had been killed, and A Sqn. had destroyed 2 Mk. IIIs and at least two A/Tk. guns. At 1830 hrs. B Sqn. were ordered to start their drive through. The Worcs. were crossing at this time and C Squadron and RHQ were to follow after and go into harbour the other side of the River. The Commanding Officer stayed the night at the 214 Inf. Bde. HQ just West of NIJMEGEN. The news of B Squadrons advance was listened to with much excitement and everybody was delighted to hear that they had reached DRIEL in darkness late that night although it was not known what success the Duxks had had in getting any supplies across. Later it turned out that the column was in fact cut by two enemy Tigers which joined it in the darkness West of ELST. These Tigers were destroyed by a very gallant Infantryman who fired a Piat at them at so close range that he himself suffered severe burns. The leading Troop of B Squadron which led this drive was commanded by Lieut. Simmonds and the leading tank by Cpl. Raybould. On reaching DRIEL they linked up with the Polish Paratroops, but also, unfortunately, shot up an armd. car belonging to the Household Cavalry, this happening in the failing light, the leading tank not expecting to see any friendly AFVs on the road. Thus B Squadron had completed the attempt to relieve the Airborne Forces, but the supplies could not be got across the River. |
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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