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
	29		Recce reported that enemy still held the villages and reported 2 SP guns moving between the two. The snipers reported the woods clear. Shortly before H hr under cover of smoke and HE, one troop of tanks moved forward to the railway line, to be in position to support the rest of the squadron forward. This move was carried out successfully. The artillery preparation then began. The very strong defensive positions to the West of ROOSENDAAL, and in the area of HULSDONK were neutralised by heavy A.A. Then heavy and accurate concentrations of medium and field arty fire was put down on VINKENBROEK and BOEINK. Under cover of this "A" Coy debouched from the woods at 691291, the remainder of the squadron of tanks moving forward to support them. "A" Coy sent one platoon forward very close to the concentrations, and they slipped into the village without opposition, capturing the entire garrison who were hiding in the cellars. The other two platoons were swiftly sent forward to mop up the rest of the village, taking more prisoners. Some 70 PW were taken in this part of the operation for the loss of one wounded. This was due to the Coy keeping so close to the artillery concentration and to the tanks opening up to cover the final advance. It was a model attack.

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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