| 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: 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment | ||
| Month and Year: September 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. L. Williams |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOORSEELE | 7 | Regt moved out at first light with orders to conc at DADIZEELE H7461. The Belgian frontier was crossed at 1030 hrs and the advance continued through LAUWE H7954. B Sqn who were leading ran into a considerable number of enemy in the Village of MOORSEELE H7858, and RHQ following immediately behind halted in the southern outskirts of the Village. Heavy fighting continued during the next three hours with enemy infantry about 200 strong who were occupying the whole of the northern part of the village. B Sqn were at a disadvantage since they were unable to extricate their vehicles from the centre of the village. A troop of 340 (SP) A/Tk Bty was sent forward to give them support in clearing the houses, but in the narrow streets two of their M 10s ditched themselves and coming under heavy small arms fire from the windows of the houses, the crews suffered casualties. The Mortar Tp under Lieut BR Grey-Jones was also sent to the assistance of B Sqn who found themselves with insufficient men on foot to clear the houses, and a further set back was received when their Assault Tp leader was wounded. The Assault Tp of A Sqn under Lt. PJ Nolan was sent forward and the enemy soon began to show signs of clearing out. The Mortar Tp employed itself by firing without secondaries over the top of a row of houses and into the gardens on the other side. Apart from the first salvo which landed on the top of th houses, this was done with considerable effect. The remainder of A Sqn were sent round the left flank of the village where two Armd Car Tps got in good positions to fire on the enemy as he withdrew. At about 1600 hrs as a result of the efforts of the combined assault tps of A & B Sqns, supported by the SP A/Tk Troop and covering fire by the Carrier Tps of B Sqn, the enemy began to clear out in haste. As he did so A Sqn had a very successful shoot on parties of enemy escaping across the fields to the North of the village. The village was finally cleared. About 20 PWs were taken and an estimated 50 casualties inflicted on the enemy. Our losses were surprisingly slight. The Regt harboured for the night at ROLLEGHENCAPPELLE H7763. |
Source: 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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