WO 171/1304 - Hallamshire Battalion - October 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: October 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. T. Hart Dyke

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	7		DF fire was brought down on the area. The mortaring of the area was resumed and "B" Coy and "C" Coy reported that they were unable to stop the enemy, who had infiltrated between the forward platoons, having crossed the stream at about 123243. The enemy MGs turned out to be two tanks, one of which had now crossed the bridge at 123244. 2 ic sent the only available Bren, that from the roof of Force HQ, across to "C" Coy and asked on the wireless for a section of carriers to come and help. He was told that a troop of tanks would arrive at any moment. At this moment two tanks arrived. They were put in the picture and sent to "C" Coy straight away. They arrived at the psychological moment thanks to their having been sent to NIEUWKERK direct and not via AERLE. One tank got on to the road at 127244 outside Force HQ at the same time as a Panther arrived at "C" Coy HQ, 125244. The Sherman backed off the road at high speed firing as it went. At the same time the 6 pounder outside "C" Coy HQ hit the Panther at 5 yds range. It put another six shots into the tank setting it on fire. Sgt. Newton commanding this gun, had removed it under fire the previous evening from the hayrick site and in spite of the heavy mortar and stall arms fire had continued to man it himself and this in spite of three of his men being wounded and the gun, through force of circumstances, not being dug-in.

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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