WO 171/1147 - 90 HAA Regiment - December 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: 90 HAA Regt, RA.
Month and Year: December 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Maj H.F.C. Horne, RA

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
HELMOND	1		Throughout day – Communication changes in hand for movement of 'X' GOR (of 151 AAOR) to present location of 90 HAA Regt GOR.
	1	1800	Their net-work established.
	2	0800	'X' GOR cease fired 90 HAA Regt GOR acting as 'X' GOR.
	3	0900	'C' Tp 284 Bty cease fire and moved to new gun posn. Capt. A.H. Hawkins, RA assumed comd of 284 Bty on det of Maj M.F. Felton, MC, RA to HQ 3 (BR) Div.
	3	1015	'C' Tp 284 Bty ready for visual action on MR 1/100,000 sheet 4 MR 647218.
	3	1130	'C' Tp 284 Bty ready for unseen action.
	3	1600	'X' GOR (of 151 AAOR) in action at MR 556223, 90 Regt GOR closed down.
	4	1200	Received 100 AA Bde OP instr No. 31. 284 HAA Bty revert to command 90 HAA Regt. Capt. J.K. Howcroft, RA posted to 151 AAOR. Authy: 100 AA Bde Posting List No. 6, Ref 15/6/A dtd 28 NOV 44.
	5	1600	90 HAA Regt AADC Instr No. 2 issued.	Appx D No.1.
	5	0915	- 1600 Regt Trg of reserve Dvr Ops.
	6		Nothing to relate
	6	0915	- 1600 Regt Trg of reserve Dvr Ops.
	7	1000	CO to 100 AA Bde Training Conference.
	7	0915	- 1600 Regt Trg of reserve Dvr Ops. Course continuing until 19 DEC 44.
HELMOND	8	1341	Gun posn H3 (272 HAA Bty) engaged Me 109G, Ht 7,000 ft. 38 rds fuze 208 expended. Claim for Cat II submitted.
	8	1400	Bty Comds Conference to discuss training, welfare and leave.
	9	1530	Received Signal A.57 from 100 AA Bde notifying T/Major J.F. Saunders, RA, 2 IC 107 HAA Regt, RA appointed OC 90 HAA Regt, RA, vice Lt Col. A.J.W. Haxworth, OBE, RA. Authy: MS/21/2656 of 071840A. Capt. L.F. Catch, RA attended a one day Second Army PAD Course at EINDHOVEN.
	10	1000	Comd 100 AA Bde and EME visited 90 Regt.
	11		A/Lt Col J.F. Saunders, RA took over Comd 90 HAA Regt, RA.
	12	1503	408 and 409 LAA Btys engaged Me 109 at 5,000 ft, 17 rds expended. No result apparent. HAA sites prevented from firing owing to “Lancaster” in vicinity. Maj L.W. Walton, RA, proceeded on 10 days Compassionate Leave. Capt L.F. Catch, RA assumes comd 285 Bty. Following were awarded C-in-C's Certificate for gallantry: 1442306 W/Sjt Jex, F.H., 1676599 Gnr. Murray, G.
	13	0900	'A' Tp, 272 HAA Bty ceased firing and commenced move to new location at 519218.
	13	1700	'A' Tp in action at new gun posn H3A.
	14	0900	'B' Tp, 272 HAA Bty ceased firing and commenced move to gun posn H3A.
	14	1430	'B' Tp in action at H3A. Gun posn H3A to be renamed H3.
	14	1600	272 BHQ moved to and established at 519220.
HELMOND	15	1000	2 IC to 8 AGRA to liaise. Suggested by CO 90 HAA Regt RA to set up 2 HAA Guns, CP and OP for practice in ground role, turned down by 8 AGRA and 11 Armd Div.
	16	1730	Bty Comds Conference. Discussion on “Post War AA”.
	16	1925	Received detail from 100 AA Bde to provide 12 GTVs to tow crocodiles for 141 RAC. Tractors to RV and meet officer guide at 1200 17 DEC K.429651 (GENCK). Duration of detail 4 or 5 days.
	16	2325	Rep from 90 REME Wksp to Rv with Capt Frost (“Q” 8 Corps) at HEEZE (MR 496108) 1030 hrs 17 DEC to recce possible alt accn at NEDERWEERT. It is probable that Wksp may move, but no definite infm available.
	17	0800	4 GTVs from each Bty ic Lt. T.R. Gainsford, RA proceeded for detail under 141 RAC.
	17	0800	Lt A. Sweet and Lt I.L. Ivins and 6 ORs proceeded to 112 HAA Regt for attachment of one week on exchange of personnel scheme.
	17	1017	- 1110 6 x Me 109s, 6 x Me 262s, [...] from 8,000 ft to 500 ft. engaged by HAA and LAA, no damage to VA. 1 Cat one and 2 Cat II claimed.
	17	1216	- 1434 2 x Me 262s operated in area 8,000 - 4,000 ft. engaged by fighters, HAA and LAA. No damage to VA.
	17	1458	Flying bomb flew SW over HELMOND. RAF report decrease in general scale of enemy air activity. Note: Amn expended throughout day by HAA 324 rds, 3.7” fuze 208.
	17	2030	CO held orders group.
HELMOND	18	0918	- 0938 3x Me 262s Heights 1,000-3,000 ft engaged by HAA and LAA. Two bombs dropped at 558229, No damage to VA. HAA amn expended 32 rds 3.7" fuze 208.
	18	1000	Lt R.S. Wild, RA posted to and joined 90 HAA Regt from 107 HAA Regt, RA.
	18	2000	Received Signal 05 of 182045A from 100 AA Bde.	App C No 3
	18	2205	Signal 182015A issued to units.	App C No 2
	18	2330	Comd 100 AA Bde ordered 100% radar watch.
	18	2030	CO's Orders Group for Recce of 61 Med gun area – Possibility 90 Regt may relieve 61 Med in OVERLOON area.
	19	0900	Recce parties left RHQ and Btys.
	19	1430	Infm received from 8 Corps that scheme for relieving 61 Med is postponed until 90 Regt is relieved of AA Def of HELMOND and DEURNE by another unit.
	19	1200	12 GTV's u/c Lt T.R. Gainsford, RA returned from detail with 141 RAC.
	19	1230	Lt A. Sweet and Lt I.L. Ivins returned from 112 HAA Regt. Scheme for exchange of personnel cancelled.
	19	1500	Notification received that 409 LAA Bty awarded claim for Cat II on a/c engaged 1020A 17 DEC. 272 HAA Bty shared claim for Cat II with RAF Regt for a/c engaged 1022A 17 DEC.
	20	1730	Bty Comds and OC REME Conference at RHQ.
	20	1800	Rev F.G. Whiteman, C.F., joined 90 HAA Regt from 116 Fd Regt. Authy: 100 AA Bde.
HELMOND	21	0100	BM 100 AA Bde phoned. Regt to supply 1 Bty for use in ground role u/c 8 AGRA on 22 DEC 44.
	21	0830	BM 100 AA Bde phoned. Bty for ground required 21 DEC NOT 22 Dec.
	21	0845	OC 284 Bty briefed by OC. Recce to be made in area Sheet 5, 1/100,000 7630.
	21	0925	Gun posns H5 and H6 (284 HAA Bty) ceased firing. Radar eqpt left in action for use of LAA.
	21	1030	284 Bty less Radar left for new area.
	21	1100	Comd 100 AA Bde issued C-in-C's Certificated to: 232285 Lt R.W. Bish, RA., 1468099 BSM Cullen, N., 2045013 S/Sjt Thorpe, N.P., 881385 Sjt. Stanbury, C.R., 1728817 Gnr. Charlton, E.C., 1506023 Gnr. Currie, A., 11404812 Gnr. Eastwood, B.
	21	1430	CO attended Conference in co-ordination of ground defence HELMOND. CO appointed OC Defence HELMOND, until OC 123 LAA Regt is est in HELMOND.
	21	1500	Adjt and Lt QM recced new RHQ.
	21	1630	284 HAA Bty manned Shellrep OP Groeningen.
	21	1700	''C' Tp 284 HAA Bty in action u/c 8 AGRA at MR 476043, 530872, Ht 25 metres. 284 HAA Bty CP in action 766308 with 22 set wireless link with 63 Medium Regt.	App C No 4
	21	1800	3 Claims (1 Me 109, 2 Me 262) Cat II (enemy a/c destroyed). Awarded by RAF for engagements in VA 23A on 17 Dec 44.
	21	1830	GHQ AA Tps recording van arrived u/c Lt. Vint.
HELMOND	22	0910	90 Regt TIFC (Sjt. Barr) commenced 10 days Radar Course for Officers of 123 LAA Regt, RA.
	22	0930	GHQ AA Tps Recording Van sent to 285 HAA Bty.
	22	2000	90 HAA Regt OP Instr No. 2 (Ground Defence HELMOND) issued.
	22	1400	RHQ sleeping accomodation moved to School MR 556222.
	23	1359	H1 and H2 (285 HAA Bty and 405 LAA Bty engaged Me 262. Amn expended 3.7” Fuze 208, 18 rds. 40 mm 11 rds. LAA Claim 2 hits. A/c dropped 2 bombs in HELMOND. No casualties to unit. Accommodation of RHQ made uninhabitable. RHQ sleeping accommodation returned to MR 556223.
	23	1400	OC 76 Fd Regt visited OC 284 HAA Bty discussed engagement of tgts and general liaison.
	23	1430	OC 284 Bty received orders from OC 63 Medium Regt to recce OP in area VIERLINGSBEEK 8034.
	23	1630	OC 284 HAA Bty completed OP recce. OP to be est at 805345 24 DEC.
	23	1835	Following ORs of 284 Bty received leg injuries as result of mine. 11403454 Gnr. Smith, E., 1742434 Gnr. Boham, J.R. Evacuated to Hospital.
	23	1850	284 HAA Bty saw a V2.
	24	1500	Comd 100 AA Bde and CO visited gun posns H1 and H2 (285 HAA Bty).
	24	1630	284 HAA Bty manned OP at VIERUNGSBEEK 806345.
	25	1000	onwards. CO and Adjt visited all gun posns and units of 90 HAA Regt., AR.
	25	1214	LAA engaged Me 262. No attack on VA.
HELMOND	26	2025	Area of 284 HAA Bty OP shelled. No casualties.
	26		Throughout day – Numerous “BIG BEN” reports submitted to CBO 8 Corps.
	27		Capt T.G. Owen, RAMC (205611) posted and joined 90 HAA Regt RA from 48 FDS. Authy: 21 A Gp Movement Order Serial No. 77, Ref 21 A Gp/3857/A/MED dtd 21 DEC 44. Capt J.C.N. Westwood, RAMC (260683) posted to 48 FDS. Authy: 21 A Gp Movement Order Serial No. 77, Ref 21 A Gp/3857/A/MED dtd 21 DEC 44.
	27	1400	Comd 100 AA Bde and CO visited 284 HAA Bty in ground role.
	27	1500	Comd 8 AGRA visited 284 HAA Bty gun posn and OP. Issued instr for further OP to be recced and manned. 284 HAA Bty fired 2 ranging rounds. 2 enemy shells exploded adjacent to 'C' TP. No casualties or damage.
	28	1025	2 IC 63 Med Regt and OC 284 HAA Bty recced OP in BOXMEER MR 770402. CO attended Sand Table exercise on A tk defences. Exercise held at 100 AA Bde HQ.
	28	2130	OC 284 HAA Bty received instrs that offr manning BOXMEER OP is (1) LO (2) OP Offr. He is to be est at Sqdn HQ 'B' Sqdn 8 (Cdn) Recce Regt in BOXMEER.
	29	1029	284 HAA Bty OP at VIERLINGSBEEK closed down.
	29	1300	OC 284 HAA Bty reports LO (Lt I.L. Ivins) now with 'B' Sqdn 8 (Cdn) Recce Regt and est at 758404 (BOXMEER). OPs recced at – (a) 7685 4012 are of vision 40° – 105° area. (b) 7705 4028 are of vision 35° – 105° area.
HELMOND	29	1430	Communications between 284 HAA Bty CP and OP at BOXMEER est by wireless.
	29	1434	'C' Tp 284 HAA Bty fired 3 rds ranging shot then cancelled due to bad visibility.
	30	1000	284 HAA Bty under comd 1 Cdn Army wef 291200A remaining under 90 Regt for adm.	App C No 5
	30	1200	Fire in REME Wksps. Slight damage. Cause unknown being investigated.
	30	1330	284 HAA Bty fired 168 rds on HB Bombards.
	31	1130	'D' Tp 284 HAA Bty ranged on 2 targets.
	31	1400	284 HAA Bty engaged ground target.
	31	1505	''C' Tp 284 HAA Bty ranged. Amn expended by 284 HAA Bty throughout day: Fuze 117 – 10 rds. Fuze 208 – 59 rds.

Source: Robert Clark, Researching WW2, transcribing: Jeroen Koppes.

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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