WO 171/1332 - 1 South Lancashire 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: 1 S. Lan. R.
Month and Year: December 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt-Col. W.A. Waller, MC.

Place	Date	Hour	Summary
631328 Ref Map 1/25000 19 NW Westn half	1		Admin day. Checking of kit and equipment.
	1		9 Bde clearing WANSSUM pocket.
	2		2 E.Yorks moved to GEMERT 5730.
	2		Nothing to report in Bn.
	3		1 Suffolk moved to area BOEKEL 5736.
	3		8 I.B. to GEMERT 5730.
	3		Bn church parade in GEMERT attended by Div Commander and Brigadier.
	3		Football match v 20th A/Tk in afternoon followed by cinema show for Bn in HELMOND 5522.
	4		Commencement of short refresher course for snipers.
	5		Liberal allotments of entertainment at Div Club, Corps Rest Camp and cinemas. Leave - parties to BRUSSELS. Otherwise NTR.
	6		Nothing to report.
	7		Nothing to report.
	8		Preliminary recce by CO and IO of new area.
	8		VORTUM 7837 - VIERLINGSBEEK 8034 to be taken over from 2 Warwicks Dec 12.
	9		Officers day.
	9		Warning orders given Bn relief of 2 Warwicks in new area Dec 12 and for recce parties to that area on Dec 10.
	10	1600	Recce parties to new area VORTUM – VIERLINGSBEEK.
	11	0900	"O" Gp. Orders for move to new area.
	11	1100	C-in-C's parade at GEMERT for the award of decorations and C-in-C's certificates.
	11		Captain Burke, Qm, rejoined unit from hospital.
	12		Bn moved to relieve 2 Warwicks.
	12	1315	Relief completed without incident. Bn. HQ at HOFT 790356. "B" Coy less one pl at VORTUM 7837. "D" Coy less one pl at VIERLINGSBEEK 8034. Two detached pls at village 797359. "A" Coy area BRAKKENHOF 761366 – SPOORZICHT 774376. "C" Coy at LACTARIA 7335. "S" Coy GROENINGEN 7935.
	12		Nothing to report during night.
HOFT 790356 Ref Map 1/25000 Sheet 19 NW Eastn half	13	1105	1 - 88 mm gun heard to fire 3 rds from area BERGEN 8234.
	13	1300	-1500. Sounds of tracked vehicles reported from "D" Coy on opposite bank.
	13	1503	Bty 3-4 105 mm guns fired 8-10 rds into GROENINGEN 7935. 2 fatal casualties.
	13		Nothing to report during night.
	14		Advantage taken of restricted visibility during morning due to fog to patrol along the water edge in the Bn sector. No enemy seen.
	14	1100	"D" Coy report sound of "out board" motor on R MAAS opposite Ferry House 814346.
	14	1210	3 Dutch civilians came into "D" Coy lines. They crossed from BERGEN 8234 during the night and brought information about German patrol at Ferry 814346 at about 1100 hrs. They also gave information about BERGEN and German troops in this area.
	14	1400	OP at 811345 reported light gun fired 2 shells on a bearing of 94° Grid.
	14	1410	OP at 804351 reported 88 mm fired 6 shells on bearing of 94° Grid. Also A/Tk gun near large white house at 818378.
	14		Nothing to report during night.
	15		Several V.2's seen launched during night.
	15	1055	-1105. Several 8 - 1 cm mortar bombs and 105 mm shells area X rds 808344. No damage or casualties. Quiet night.
	16	1353	OP at 81053445 reported enemy mortar firing into area DEN BOSCH on bearing 110° Grid. 4 HE bombs.
	16	1400	Same mortar - 1 HE bomb.
	16		Quiet night.
	17	0940	OP at 805351 reported 2-3 enemy vehicles parked at 838344. Further vehicle drove up and unloaded troops. Area engaged by Arty. At least one cas inflicted.
	17	1025	4 - 8.1 cm mortar bombs area 812342.
	17	1025	4 Heinkels 111 passed over area.
	17	1055	Unidentified a/c shot down over AFFERDEN church. Pilot baled out.
	17	1100	OP at 79803605 report smoke from dug-out seen on far bank on 84 Grid.
	17	1220	German on cycle seen to pass windmill at 822341.
	17	1230	OP at 810534445 reported MG firing on bearing 75° Grid.
	17	1350	Germans seen mounting 8.1 cm mortar at 821349. Engaged by 3" and 4.2 mortars. Shots seen in the target area followed by a loud explosion and a column of black smoke.
	17	1840	RA OP GROENINGEN church reported torch flashing on far bank bearing 64° Grid.
	17	1925	Same OP report flashes re-appeared and now seem to be vehicle lights.
	17	2105	Flares dropped periodically during night from a/c over AFFERDEN.
	18	0530	"D" Coy report two red verey lights from right flank.
	18	0535	Listening post at Ferry 814346 brought back report that boat with 9 Boche had landed near Ferry. Bosche set up 5 cm mortar in area house 810344 and fired a few rds into pl area X rds 808344 causing no damage or casualties. Pl replied with Bren fire and Arty was brought down. Patrol withdrew, apparently unscathed. Patrol to Ferry at 0600 found no sign of enemy.
	18	0850	20 Germans reported on island 8030 moving North. Disappeared and were not seen again.
	18	0907	Lone unidentified a/c passed over area West-East engaged by A/A.
	18	0927	ME 260 passed over area travelling ENE.
	18	0945	ME 260 passed over area travelling East.
	18	1600	Move to new area completed. Bn HQ 811188. Coy's at 808201, 816189, 813188, 814189, "S" Coy at 812177.
	18		Quiet night.
METEKIK 811188 Ref Map 1/25000 Sheet 4502	19		Admin day. Nothing to report.
	20	0930	"O" Gp. Orders for move Dec 21.
	20		Bn played REME in Div semi-final soccer contest. Bn won 3-2.
	20		Quiet night. Nothing to report.
OOSTRUM 808275 1/25000 Sheet 4402	21	0950	Head of Bn crossed SP enroute to relieve 1 KOSB.
	21	1306	Relief of 1 KOSB completed without incident. Bn HQ at 808275. Coy's at 830293 - 778264 - 845274 - 808269. "S" Coy at 821251.
	21	1920	Motor boat heard in area 819303.
	21		Burst of MG fire from direction 2 E.Yorks.
	22	0001	Patrol, acting on information from 2 civ agents captured by 1 KOSB flashed torch from DE KOOI 859289 to attract German storm boat. Light caused certain commotion on far bank, and boat was heard in mid stream but owing to bad visibility it was impossible to fire. Patrol returned at 0200 hrs.
	22	0800	Patrols from "A" Coy beat areas - houses 835290, JONKHOF 821299 track from track junc 825299 running NW to track/rd junc 818308. No sign of enemy.
	22	1210	105 cm SP fired 12 shells into area of 853280. 3 direct hits removed roof and upper storey. No other damage or casualties. At the same time patrol from Carriers in area STAAI 852287 saw a gun to the right and 400 yds behind WELL church fire into WANSUUM area.
	22	1355	No.1 OP report sounds of half track and M/Cs from KAMP 8331.
	22	1640	Enemy patrol - strength 15 which landed at DE KOOI 859289 engaged by 2" mortars, and Arty. Fighting patrol sent to area, from 1800 - 1900 hrs could find no trace.
	22	1735	"A" Coy report torch flashes at 835303 (Previously used as a boat launching site).
	22		Flood water at WANSUUM and GELTSTEREN down by 3-4 feet and still falling rapidly.
	22		Nothing to report during night.
	23	0800	Following areas patrolled. Chapel 818297, edge of wood 827303. HEIKAMP 834288, house 829288, br 815285, ROSMOLEN 815286. No sign of enemy.
	23	1120	No.3 OP reports 1 hy mor fired 3 bombs on bearing 15 deg. Water level R. MAAS now practically normal.
	23		Quiet night NTR.
	23		Patrols saw and heard nothing.
	24	1000	Following areas systematically searched - The wood area track junc 812293 - X tracks 815297 - X tracks 823269 - rd fork 824289 - track junc 814280 - house 820284. Search revealed nothing except several well concealed dugouts esp one at plantation 820303 which showed signs of recent occupation. British pattern assault boat was also discovered at 820296.
	24	1015	OP reported smoke from house 85852915. Considerable movement observed by 'C' Coy along the rd between ELSTEREN 8429 and WELL 8529, esp in area small wood 855293. Rd and wood engaged by 3" and 4.2" mors at 1100 hrs.
	24	1225	OP at 853281 reported 1 white Verey approx 1000× away bearing 30 deg. Grid.
	24	1245	OP at 853281 reported 4×105 mm guns on bearing 33 deg Grid fired 16 shells into approx area 842285.
	24		Some air activity over area. One ME 109 dived to about 300' over KASTEEL twice at 1210 hrs. One ME 109 flew at 500' quite slowly over left hand pl A Coy at 1245 hrs.
	24	1245	Enemy mov seen along track from track junc 841308 to X tracks 847308. A German DR did several runs stopping at each of the 3 houses on the track. House at 845308 and house at 845309 engaged at 1520 hrs. with 30 rds HE from 4.2" Mors.
	24		2 AA guns from approx area 845311 fired at 2 Typhoons at about 1300 hrs.
	24		Flood water now normal. Thin layer of ice about 2’ wide, but very thin along bank of R. MASS.
	24		A quiet night. Standing patrol at DE KOOI reported sounds of revelry from WELL.
	25	0300	Increased noise of revelry from WELL.
	25	0825	Suspected enemy HQ engaged by Arty at 847307.
	25		Foll areas swept. Woods 8528, area LEEBERG 839290 woods 8328, bounded 835299 - rd/track junc 822286 - track junc 814304 - rd junc 825306. No signs of enemy.
	25	1100	Houses on either side of Well church 861291 engaged by 3" and 4.2 mors. 'A' Coy observed boat on bank at 836303. Movement of enemy sentry seen at houses 837311. Tgt engaged at 1700 hrs with 40 rds HE and 10 rds smoke from 3"Mors.
	25	2040	-2050. MG firing in direction of KASTEEL from area 841308.
	25	2110	Sounds of singing from area 837311.
	26	0730	Beat of area carried out. No signs of enemy.
	26	1130	Farms area 837311 engaged by 4.2" mors. Visibility did not permit of good observation.
	26	1230	4.2" mors engaged houses an either side of WELL church 861291.
	26	1333	3×105 mm guns fired 12 shells into area 8427.
	26	1350	4×105 mm guns fired 20 shells into same area. Foll observations made from KASTEEL 835301 today. A big wooden boat along hedge at 863303. A German rubber collapsible boat on bank about 80× East of wooden boat (That was not there yesterday). A wooden rowing boat on bank at 837303. Wiring visible as foll. 2 rows 20× apart of double apron running East along bank from 843298, one row on river edge. Spider-web wire approx 1' off ground, about 10' deep, from waters edge up sloping bank to top from 836303 - 843298. 2 Rows, 20× wide of wire-fencing, probably single apron, running West from 836303, one row an river-bank. Comns. trenches along whole length of bank, with frequent weapon-pits. No signs of occupn seen.
	27	1230	Snipers from area woods 858285 fired 2 Germans at 897293. Both went to ground.
	27	1245	38 mm from 855293 fired 3 rds into area 8527.
	27	1415	O Group. Orders for inter-Coy relief.
	27	1635	3 shells into area wharehouse 852280.
	27		Foll. tgts engaged during day. Arty. 1015 hrs area 84311 1220 hrs Mov in area 858298 1307 hrs. Mov in orchard 851303 1430 hrs. Mov in area 858302 1710 hrs. 3" Mors fired 30 rds smoke and 30 rds HE into area 837311.
	27		Quiet night NTR.
	28		Taking advantage of heavy mist, continuous patrolling of the bank of .R. MAAS carried out throughout day. No sign of enemy. During afternoon sounds of digging and wiring party on far bank at 834303.
	28	1510	-1530. 10 single rds from LMG fired at KASTEEL.
	28	1515	2 Germans seen at boathouse 835303 engaged by Bren fire.
	28	1535	-1545. HDT heard at X tracks 847307 engaged by Arty.
	28	1630	-1700. Voices and MT heard at 833305 and 840305.
	28	1707	Sound of HDT heard in area 850307 engaged by Arty.
	28		Short bursts of MG fire aimed in gen direction KASTEEL and house 845290 at irregular intervals.
	28	2200	-0200. Noise of working-party in gen area ELSTEREN.
	28		H.D.T. heard in area 841308.
	29	0630	MT veh started up in area WELL moved short distance and stopped.
	29		Foll inter Coy reliefs completed by 1330 hrs. 'B' Coy relieved 'A' Coy. 'D' Coy relieved 'C' Coy. A/Tk pl relieved Carrier pl.
	29		OP at 826306 reports foll.
	29	1000	1 hy mor fired 8 bombs on bearing 34 deg G.
	29	1050	1×105 mm fired 5 shells on bearing 66 deg G. at area 823310.
	29	1309	MG from 15 deg Grid.
	29	1125	Several shells in area 853281. Continuous patrolling of watersedge carried out during day. No sign of enemy. A/Tk guns sited and moved into posn.
	29		Quiet night NTR.
	30		Following reports from OP at 853280.
	30	0925	1×105 mm fired 10 rds on bearing 30 deg G into area 853281.
	30	1103	4×8.1 cm mors fired 20 bombs on bearing 20 deg G in approx area 840290.
	30	1110	Spandau fire on bearing 340 deg G.
	30		Quiet night NTR.
	31	0200	Contact with 2 E Yorks.
	31	1112	1×75 mm fired 3 HE into 854282.
	31	1140	1×75 mm fired 5 - 6 shells in area OORLOO 8225.
	31	1430	3" Mors fired on houses at 856293 followed by 4.2" mors which covered from that pt to 860291.
	31	2335	Considerable MG fire, apparently undirected, and Verey light from far bank.

previous month

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.

Domains

More information

Contact