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
	25		1/4 K.0.Y.L.I. passed through 4 Lincolns to take the village of RYCKEVORSEL 9209. The Bn moved up behind the K.O.Y.L.I. and was ordered to move fwd on the axis MERXPLAS 0010 - POPPEL 1219. 1/4 K.O.Y.L.I. and 'A' Sqn Recce Regt found many enemy to the North East and West of the village and were hotly engaged. It was found impossible to proceed along the axis. Accordingly the C.O. decided to move 'B' Coy along the track 936076 - 951093, and 'A' and 'C' Coys remaining in the area 933093, hoping by this means, to bypass resistance and push on along the axis. 'B' Coy made good progress through the Woods and 'C' Coy were brought round to clear on the East of 'B' Coy. 'B' Coy reached 951093 without meeting opposition, but 'C' Coy encountered enemy in the neighbourhood of BLACK HEIDE 9508 and were counter attacked. They succeeded however in fighting their way through to the main rd after losing Lieut Toon and three ORs killed. 'D' Coy were in the meantime, brought up from the South bank of the Canal. 'A' Sqn Recce reported that the enemy had made off to the East. 'D' Coy were accordingly pushed along the axis after them, being instructed to keep at least 50 yds away from the rd itself. Unfortunately they moved along the ditches on either side of the rd and consequently encountered heavy shell fire, which was all the more effective as the rd was lined with trees, causing the shells to burst in the air. The men were therefore naturally without cover and suffered many casualties incl Capt A. Pearce. The Coy became somewhat demoralised but were led fwd again by Capt J Hall, and pulled together by Major J. Boucher, who was wounded, but had remained fwd and carried on till dark. It was now getting dark, so the Bn re-organised in the area 950094 where a good field of fire could be obtained. Total PW: 15. Toon, Harold Purday

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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