WO 171/1304 - Hallamshire Battalion - 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: The Hallamshire Bn. The York & Lancaster Regiment
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. T. Hart Dyke

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
FIELD	1		The Bn was at rest in VIEUX PORT, when it was ordered to cross the river SEINE and to concentrate in the area of AUBERVILLE 8428 with the object of taking part in an attack on LE HAVRE using the railway bridge at ROUEN for M.T. and the ferry at CAUDEBEC for marching tps. As this meant a long march for marching tps permission was applied for to cross in local boats which had been found and patched up by the Pnrs at VIEUX PORT thus saving 8 miles of marching. Permission was given for one Coy to cross in this manner. This was successfully accomplished in spite of a swift current which meant haulage on either bank between journeys. As a result when the Bn was given the option of moving the rest of the marching tps this way, provided they completed the crossing by 2100 hrs, it was decided to cross only the Comd Post and 'O' Gp with a man-handled 19 set at VIEUX PORT as the time of crossing was so dependent on the tides. After an adventurous journey in leaky boats competing with a fast current, the Comd Post and 'O' Gp moved inland in a charcoal burning lorry which was put at our disposal by the F.F.I. This veh could not climb the steep hill on the direct road and thus the Comd Post and 'O' Gp liberated LILLEBONNE en route after dark, receiving a great ovation. It then joined "C" Coy in the concentration area to wait for the rest of the bn. The rest of the marching tps were placed on the unit and supporting arms vehs while the other bns of the brigade had to march.

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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