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
	24		The Bn moved fwd and on reaching OOSTMALLE was ordered to come in on the right flank of the Bde, moving through the Woods in squares 93069406, to effect a crossing on that sector. Contact was made with a Bn of the Armée Secrète. Their C.O. was att to Bn HQ and guides were provided to lead the Coys through the Woods. The Carrier Pl, followed by 'A' Coy, moved fwd on the left of the Bn's area and reached the Canal bank. Mines were encountered on the bank but the Pnrs were able to deal with these. Both 'A' Coy and the Carrier Pl tried to draw fire from the far bank without success. 'A' Sqn Recce Regt reported that enemy movement had been seen on the far bank. This was confirmed at 1425 hrs when the Carrier Pl reported movement at 953071. 'C' Coy had moved to the Canal bank in the centre of the sector and 'B' Coy on the right. 'B' Coy reported snipers on the far bank. Orders were received from the Brigadier at 1800 hrs. 4 Lincolns were to cross the Canal at 935075 and Hallams were to make a diversionary crossing on the right. The C.O. decided to put 'D' Coy across at 2330 hrs at 955070, through 'C' Coy. At 2330 hrs 'D' Coy began to cross. The crossing place however, was immediately subjected to small arms fire from the far bank at point blank range. It was found impossible to launch a boat across the high bank and Capt D.R. Bell was seriously wounded. Although the enemy apparently had no automatic weapon the boat was riddled with bullets every time it was placed on the bank. The Coy was therefore ordered to desist from the attempt to cross. Shortly after mid-night the I.O. was sent to Bde HQ to explain the situation. The Brigadier ordered that, as 4 Lincolns had crossed the Canal without opposition, there was no need for Hallams to cross the Canal. The diversion was however, to be maintained. Accordingly the bulk of the Bn was withdrawn, leaving a pl of 'A', 'B' and 'D' Coys under Comd of 'D' Coy HQ on the bank to maintain fire. Total PW 2.

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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