| 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 |
| Unit: 4 KSLI | ||
| Month and Year: August 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. I.L. Reeves |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAMBRAY | 29 | 0800 | The Bn moved off to continue the advance. The river SEINE was crossed at VERNON after some delay, due to traffic congestion over the improvised bridge. Progress was slow all day, and we eventually harboured for the night in the areas of CANTIERS about 12 miles from the river. There was no opposition and only about 20 prisoners were taken, who were only too pleased to surrender. | App C1 App D1 |
| CANTIERS | 30 | 0800 | The advance continued and orders were received during the day that we must push on to capture AMIENS, at all costs, and establish a bridgehead over the river SOMME. | |
| TALMONTIER | 30 | 1500 | Progress initially was slow although the Bn was not called upon to deal with any opposition until the village of TALMONTIER was reached. Orders were received that this had to be cleared, and this was done without difficulty. Very slight opposition was met, and prisoners were taken. After this slight check, in compliance with orders, the advance continued. The armour was leading and the Bn, at the head of the Infantry Bde, was hard on the heels of the leading tanks. No opposition was met, and straggling parties of enemy were left to be picked up by our troops in rear. Excellent time was made over good roads. | |
| 31 | The advance continued throughout the night. Everybody was dog tired but elation and excitement kept us going. | App D2 | ||
| VERS-SUR-SELLES | 31 | 1230 | Just South of AMIENS at VERS-SUR-SELLES there was a slight check and we had an unpleasant surprise. An enemy tank with two soft vehicles suddenly appeared from a side road in the middle of the column. B Company did the quickest detour on record as their four T.C.V.’s were knocked out in quick succession and went up in flames. Their casualties were only two men wounded – this being due to one of the enemy soft vehicles, obviously loaded with petrol, which, when hit, gave an excellent impromptu smoke screen. The tank withdrew before it could be engaged effectively. | |
| [The timing given for this incident with the German tank is incorrect. The incident took place not long after first light, no later than 0800 hrs. and maybe earlier. How Major J.A. Ellis, who appears to have written this section of the Diary, came to write the timing as 1230 hrs. I do not know, but he had been injured (and perhaps concussed) in the Carrier incident on 27 August. Urwin Thornburn, M.C. T.D., O.C. ‘D’ Coy, 4/KSLI. Entered in Diary File at Public Record Office, 28 November, 1985. | ||||
| AMIENS | 31 | 1400 | After this check the advance continued and AMIENS was reached. There was practically no fighting at all as the Bn pushed forward and took up position. We had a tremendous reception, which was almost embarrassing in its intensity. Large numbers of prisoners were taken in co-operation with the F.F.I., whose help was invaluable. The Corps Commander, Gen O’Connor * arrived during the afternoon to congratulate us. The Bn finally settled down in these positions for the night and endeavoured to get some rest. Orders were received for the continuation of the advance to ARRAS tomorrow – we are not certain whether our final objective will be ANTWERP or BRUSSELS. * Gen. Horrocks |
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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