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

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	22		Preparations were now made to put into effect the original plan of seizing ROOTH with "B" Coy carried in Kangaroos. At this stage considerable confusion arose because 1/4 KOYLI staged an attack on the woods at 846084, a posn covered by our fire plan. Some delay was caused by this as the plan had to be changed. Further delay was caused when it was learned that 1/4 KOYLI were now not going to attack the woods. Once more the original plan was put into effect and "B" Coy were carried forward to ROOTH preceded by an arty bombardment, and with their right flank covered by smoke. This was done with only one mishap, when one Kangaroo took the wrong turning at ROOTH and plunged into a crater at the br at 847086 detonating a mine in the bottom. Some sprained ankles and broken noses were the outcome of this. "B" Coy now proceeded to mop up ROOTH which was, as we have already seen, now unoccupied. Within 5 minutes the Kangaroos returned to MAASBREE and ferried "C" Coy fwd to the area of the North edge of the wood and rd junc at 846086 without incident. "A" Coy now moved down the rd mopping up the houses which had been ignored by the leading Coys. "A" Coy passed through and established itself at 850092 without incident. The Comd Post now moved forward to ROOTH, followed by Bn HQ and the bn was established as planned well before dark. The enemy replied with some heavy shelling, particularly at the important rd junc at 847086. This knocked out one 15 cwt lorry killing CQMS Davies of "HQ" Coy.

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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