WO 171/1276 - 2 Cheshire Regiment - 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 Bn Cheshire Regt.
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. S.V. Keeling, DSO

Place	Date	Hour	Summary
ST. SAUFLIEU	1	0900	Left for new location passing through BEAUVAIS and AUTEIL on the way.
	1	1330	Arrived at ST. SAUFLIEU location in a farmyard and the surrounding orchards. Stayed in this location remainder of the day and night. Moving off again tomorrow morning. Weather showery.
	1		Coy locns: "A" Coy. M/R 056555. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 113 AMIENS
	1		"B" Coy. M/R 474428. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 9/F/4 MANTES GASSICOURT.
	1		"C" Coy. M/R 158602. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 98 PICQUIGNY.
	1		"D" Coy. M/R 067497. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 113 AMIENS.
	1		Bn BQ. M/R 054467. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 113 AMIENS.
PAS EN ARTOIS	2	0830	Left ST. SAUFLIEU and moved off to new location passing through AMIENS on the way. Received a grand welcome from the civilian population.
	2	1215	Arrived at PAS-EN-ARTOIS Bn HQ located in a chateau previously used as a girls school. Bn HQ personnel combed a wood suspected of holding German stragglers – nil result. Moving off again tomorrow.
	2		Coy locns:- "A" Coy no change.
	2		"B" Coy M/R 223526. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 114 ROSIERES.
	2		"C" Coy no change.
	2		"D" Coy. M/R 259861. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 85 BEAUMETZ.
	2		Bn HQ. 258362. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 85 BEAUMETZ.
ALLEMES-LES-MARIAS	3	1100	Move off to new locn passing through ARRAS and CARVIN through last war battle fields. Passed famous Vimy War Memorial. Battle raging in LILLE this evening. Three trucks belonging to the Northumberland Hussars the Divisional A/Tk Bn, were brewed up by a German Anti-Tank gun after taking the wrong turning 200 yds in front of us. Locn in open fields approx 2000 yds away from HAUTE DEULE CANAL behind which enemy is deeply entrenched with MGs, Mortars and A/Tk guns. Pln of "D" Coy is detailad to patrol the bank of the Canal in the area of DON M/R 590278 Ref above map sheet. Enemy activity throughout the night, spandaus, mortaring and shelling. Weather showery and blustering.
	3		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 162852. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 84 DOULLENS.
	3		"B" Coy. No change.
	3		"C" Coy. No change.
	3		"D" Coy. M/R 618262. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 63 LILLE.
	3		Bn HQ. M/R 618262. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 63 LILLE.
MARQUAIN	4	0930	Moved off to new locn. 15 minutes before Bn HQ were due to move off shells began to fall into the village causing casualties in Divisional HQ, who were treated in our R.A.P. by the Medical Officer Capt. T.G. Owens. Moved through SECLIN – LESQUAIN and BAISIEUX to MARQUAIN which is just outside TOURNAI. Welcome by the population is truly amazing showers of fruit, wine etc. The Belgian border was crossed at 1215 hrs this morning.
	4	1230	Arrived at new locn in a schoolroom. Weather fine.
	4		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. No change.
	4		"B" Coy. No change.
	4		"C" Coy. No change.
	5		Remained in the same location most of the day. Moving off again tomorrow morning. Day spent in cleaning, reorganising and vehicle maintenance. Weather wet.
	5		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. No change.
	5		"B" Coy. M/R 406655.
	5		"C" Coy and Bn HQ. No change.
NINOVE	6	0930	Move off to new locn. Just before we were due to move off in column. - Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery stopped to talk with the Commanding Officer and presented the Bn with a package of 5,000 cigarettes. Passed through TOURNAI – RENAIX – NEDERBRAKEL to the accompaniment of an amazing welcome from the civilian population - who hailed us as "The Liberators of the World” etc. Montgomery, Bernard Law "Monty"
	6	1430	Arrived at NINOVE to find that the civilians could do enough for us - the majority of the officers and men had a soft bed to sleep in - the first in 6 months. Bn HQ located in a paint factory and the surrounding orchards. Weather wet. Coy locns:- No change. "A" Coy.
	6		"B" Coy. M/R 421719. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 44 TERMONDE.
	6		"C" Coy. No change.
	6		"D" Coy. M/R 378553. Ref. 1/50000 Sheet 54 GRAMMONT.
	6		Bn HQ. M/R 382554. Ref. 1/50000 Sheet 54 GRAMMONT.
BEERSEL	7	0830	Move off to new locn. Passed through MALINES. Here again amazing welcome was awaiting us. Beer - ice cream - fruit - wine etc.
	7	1245	Arrived at new locn in a large hotel. Moving off again tomorrow. Weather fine but cold.
	7		Coy locns:- "A" and "B" Coys - No change.
	7		"C" Coy. with 231 Bde in area of ANTWERP.
	7		"D" Coy. M/R 82788. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 45 MALINES.
	7		Bn HQ. M/R 856783. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 45 MALINES.
AVERBODE	8	1000	Move off to new locn passing through WESTMEERBEEK and HERSSELT.
	8	1130	Locn in the Abbey at AVERBODE. Handed a blue print received from the Belgian White Army, it was found in one our crashed Wellingtons. The crew of five were buried in the Abbey cemetery by the monks. Blue print showed the complete wiring of the Fortress bomber. Crew were buried in 1943.
	8		Bn HQ dispersed in the Abbey grounds and surrounding woods. Weather fine. Coy locns:- "A" Coy. No change. "B" Coy. M/R 025820. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 35 GHEEL.
	8		"C" Coy. No change.
	8		"D" Coy. M/R 093727. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 46 DIEST.
	8		Bn HQ. M/R 068741. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 46 DIEST.
	9		Same locn all day. "C" Coy have now caught up with us having been withdrawn from ANTWERP this evening. Weather wet.
	9		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. No change.
	9		"B" Coy. No change.
	9		"C" Coy. M/R 987764. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 45 MALINES.
	9		"D" Coy and Bn HQ. No change.
	10		Day spent in the same location. Monks were only too eager to show us round the Abbey and grounds which amongst other things had its own Printing Works. An order has been issued by Higher Authority that buildings will not be used for cover, but why are the men not issued with bivouacs to counteract this. Hardly a day passes without the men getting wet through and the heavy dew at night doesn't help a great deal. Weather wet and windy. Coy locns unchanged.
	11		Remained in this locn all day. Weather fine but cold. Nothing of interest to report.
	11		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/Rt 043854. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 35 GHEEL.
	11		Other coys no change.
	12		Still in the same location at the Abbey. Weather still very cold - rained most of the day. Moving off again tomorrow.
	12	0930	C.O. visits A and B Coy posns and also Brigade HQs.
	12	1340	Returns to Main HQ.
	12		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 045797 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 46 DIEST.
	12		"B" Coy. No change.
	12		"C" Coy. M/R 2074. M/R 045797 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 46 DIEST.
	12		"D" and Bn HQ. No change.
KLITSBERG	13	1000	Left for new location. Passed through DEURNE – BLANKELAER and arrived at KLITSBERG, where the Bn was dispersed in 3 or 4 open fields at 1200 hrs. Evening was quite interesting. Jerry dropped a large number of flares over the BEERINGEN bridgehead also one two bombs. Bn HQ was a little disturbed at the amount of shrapnel falling into the area. Several trucks were hit but fortunately no damage was caused.
BOURG LEOPOLD	14	0900	Left KLITSBERG and proceeded to BOURG LEOPOLD. Bn HQ located near remains of Belgian Barracks - reduced to a rubble by our bombers, Bn HQ now forward of all coys. Weather fine but cold.
	14		Coy locns:- "A" "B" and "C" Coys no change.
	14		"D" Coy. M/R 268824. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 25 and 35 TURNHOUT and GHEEL.
	14		Bn HQ. M/R 272824.. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 25 & 35 TURNHOUT and GHEEL.
BOURG LEOPOLD	15	0930	C.O. to Divisional HQ to attend a conference.
	15	1130	Returns to Main HQ.
	15		"A" and "C" Coys move up and take up posns South of the Escaut Canal. Weather fine.
	15		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 318918. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36 VALKENSWAARD & BREE.
	15		"B" Coy. No change.
	15		"C" Coy. M/R 336936. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36 VALKENSWAARD & BREE.
	15		"D" and Bn HQ. No change.
	16		Still in the same location. With "A" and "C" Coys forward on the ESCAUT CANAL and "B" Coy in reserve. Weather fine but cold. Coy locns: unchanged.
	17		Force of bombers over this morning plastering the A/A sites preparatory to the launching of the Airborne attack.
	17		Airborne attack launched this afternoon Paratroops dropped at six points along the main rd between VALKENSWAARD and ARNHEM – no details yet. Air activity all day. Numerous allied fighter sweeps. Moving off tomorrow over the ESCAUT CANAL. Raining in the evening.
	17		Coy locns:- No change except "C" Coy M/R 391039.
S of EINDHOVEN	18	0900	Moved from BOURG LEOPOLD locn in some pine woods just off the rd to EINDHOVEN.
M/R 353898	18	2000	Enemy aircraft over dropping A.P. bombs on the rd and bridges and surrounding woods. Some A.P. bombs falling within 100 yds of this H. "B" Coy suffered 11 casualties during this attack.
	18		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. No change.
	18		"B" Coy. M/R 346908. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36 VALKENSWAARD & BREE.
	18		"C" Coy. No change.
	18		"D" Coy. M/R 339893. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36 VALKENSWAARD & BREE.
	18		Bn HQ. M/R 353898. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36 VALKENSWAARD & BREE.
	19		Remained in same location all day. Enemy aircraft again bombing bridge over the ESCAUT CANAL. Dropping bombs very near Bn HQ area. Dakotas going over this afternoon to supply Paratroops at Arnhem, who are having a tough time of it. Weather fine but cold.
	19		Coy locns:- "A" Coy "C" "D" and Bn HQ no change. "B" Coy no change.
	20		Same location all day. Airborne supplies over again this afternoon. Enemy bombing during the early hours of the evening - no damage caused. Weather fine but cold.
	20		Coy locns: unchanged, except for "A" Coy M/R 357976.
	21		Same location all day. Airborne supplies going over all day. Quiet night N.T.R. Coy locns: unchanged except for "A" Coy M/R 446260.
	22		Same location all day. Moving off tomorrow to just North of EINDHOVEN. Raining most of the day. Some bombing during the early hours of this evening. Coy locns:- unchanged.
M/R 442227	23	1000	Moved off to new location through VALKENSWAARD and EINDHOVEN to locn just off the main rd about 2 Kilos outside EINDHOVEN. Locn in orchards moving off almost immediately.
	23		Formed up to move off only to learn move cancelled at the last moment. Airborne supplies and gliders over this evening. Weather fine. Moving tomorrow.
	23		Coy locns:- "A" Coy no change. "B" Coy. M/R 694678. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	23		"C" Coy. M/R 451261. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	23		"D" Coy. M/R 440228. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	23		Bn HQ. M/R 442227. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
M/R 463308	24	1100	Moving off to just North of ZON over the Canal. Some confusion on the roads this morning due partly to congestion over the bridge at ZON. Arrived at new locn in pinewoods. Enemy doing some shelling of area during the afternoon. Towards evening and throughout night enemy continually shelled area with 210's 105's and 88's. Very little sleep. Bn HQ had also to man defence posts as some enemy tanks and infantry were swanning about on our side of the road approx 3000 yds away. Weather fine. Enemy pocket has broken rd about 2 miles north of our present locn.
	24		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 562405. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	24		"B" Coy. No change.
	24		"C" Coy. M/R 522363. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	24		"D" Coy. M/R 463312. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	24		Bn HQ. M.R. 463308. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	25		Some enemy shelling during the early hours of this morning. ARNHEM force has been reached by elts of 43 Div. Enemy pocket across rd South of VEGHEL is still not cleared up. Quiet day. Raining. Coy locns:- unchanged.
	26	1400	C.O. to 231 Bde and "C" Coy using road through DONCK – ERP.
	26	1600	C.O. returns to Main HQ.
	26	1615	Main rd EINDHOVEN – ST. OEDENRODE – NIJMEGEN now clear. Enemy lost 100 Inf and 2 SP guns.
	26		Some shelling throughout the day. Effectively stonked by our artillery. Weather fine. Moving forward tomorrow. Coy locns:- unchanged except "C" Coy M/R 558415. Between UDEN and VOSKEL.
	27	1130	Moved off to new location through DONCK – BEEK – GEMERT and BOEKEL to area in open fields. Raining during evening. Everyone busy digging defence posts. Force at ARNHEM is being evacuated. Coy locns:- "A" Coy no change.
	27		"B" and "C" Coys no change.
	27		"D" M/R 546360. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	27		Bn HQ M/R 552358. Ref 1/100000 Sheet 5.
	28		Day spent in this location.
	28	1630	C.O. and L.O. visit "A" and "C" Coys 231 Inf Bde and 151 Inf Bde.
	28	1830	Returns to Main HQ.
	28		Some ack ack and aircraft over NIJMEGEN Bridge this evening. Day showery and cold. Enemy air-craft caused no damage.
	28		Coy locns:- unchanged except for "A" Coy M/R 694658.
	29		Bridge over River WAAL at NIJMEGEN has been breached by a parachute bomb. All traffic restricted. "B" Coy is with 69 Bde on the North side of the bridge. Coy locns unchanged. Weather wet and cold.
	30		Still in the same location possibility of move tomorrow to just South of NIJMEGEN. Day quiet - weather wet. Routine restricted to visits to "A" and "C" Coys by the C.O. Coy locns: unchanged.

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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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