WO 171/480 - 43 Infantry Division - September 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: General Staff, Headquarters, The 43rd Division
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Major-General G.I. Thomas, CB, DSO, MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	1		All troops of the 43rd Division moved to new Conc area NE of R Seine
	1		43 Div summary of Ops issued	K 1
	2		The 43rd Division re-fitting and training.
	2		Details issued of cloth model discussion to be held by 43rd Division	J 1
	2		43 Div Intelligence Summary No 37 issued	F 1
	2		43 Div Summary of Ops issued.	K 2
	2	1200	The 43rd Division ( less certain adm units, as specified by Rear 30 Corps as being essential for maint of 30 Corps) passed from under comd 30 Corps to under comd 8 Corps, wef 1200 hrs
	3	1200	The Commander, the 43rd Division adressed tps of 129 Bde Gp on the progress of the war and presented medals.
	3	1430	The 43rd Division held a cloth model discussion on wood clearing and Wood Fighting at TILLY 4879 9for syndicates and details - see Appx Jl) 57 FSS Sec moved to area BRUSSELS and came under comd of 30 Corps
	4	0930	The Commander, the 43rd Division adressed tps of RA and 43 Recce Regt at 483773 on the progress of the war and presented medals.
	4	1130	The Commander, the 43rd Division adressed tps of 214 Bde Gp at 450792 on the progress of the war and presented medals. 43 Div summary Ops issued. Sqn 43 Recce Regt moved to HQ Second Army for defenc Tac HQ Second Army.	K 3
	5		43 Div summary of Ops issued. No 38	K 4
	6		Copy of 8 Corps Sitrep issued.	K 5
	6		43 Div of Ops issued.	K 6
	6		Message of revceived from HQ 8 Corps placing RE 43 Div at 24 hrs notice to move to ara BRUSSELS.
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	7		Copy issued of 8 Corps Sitrep at 700hrs	K 7
	8		Copy issued of 8 Corps Sitrep at 700hrs.	K 8
	8	0815	Br pl of 43 Div RE moved to area south of BRUSSELS and came under of comd of 30 Corps.
	8	1200	7 Hamps moved to BRUSSELS and came under comd Garrison Comd for Garrison duties
	9		Copy of 8 Corps Sitrep as at 600 hrs issued.	K 9
	9		An account of the Crossing of the R Seine at VERNON by the 43rd Division and subsequent ops between 25 and 28 Aug was fwd to HQ Second Army	J 2
	10		Copy of 8 Corps sitrep as at 1800 hrs 9 sep issued.	K 10
	10	0930	43 Div RE moved to area BRUSSELS and came under comd 30 Corps for adm and and operational comd Second Army.
	10		Situation Report as at 102200B issued.	K 11
	11		130 Inf Bde (Less 7 Hamps) with minimum ecelons and no supporting arms, moved to BRUSSELS area under arrangements Q (M) Second Army (as ordered by G 8 Corps).
	11		Copy of 8 Corps Sitrep as at 700 hrs 11 Sep issued.	K 12
	11		Warning order issued of anticipated move of 43 Div.	D 1
	13	0450	The 43rd Division received orders by message from 8 Corps to move (less 130 Inf Bde and RE) to area Ne of BRUSSELS, coming under comd 30 Corps on arrival.
	13	0500	Verbal instructions received from 8 Corps that operationally vital the 43rd Division reaches forward area by last light 15 sept. No time to await for return of 1st and 2nd line tpt. 8 Corps will provide sufficient tpt to lift 1st line loads and marching inf of 43rd Div from 8 Corps resources 43Div 1st line tpt will rejoin in fwd area. 43 Div 2nd line tpt will be loaded by Army and will rejoin 43 Div in fwd area loaded. 2nd lines loads in ground will be taken over by 8 Corps.
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	13	1300	Movement instructions for move of 43 Div issued.	D 5
	13	1430	43 Div intelligence Summary no 39 issued.	F 3
	13		Further instructions issued regarding move of 43 Div	D 6
	13	2105	Wireless Silence imposed on 43 Div
	14		Amendement to movement instructions for move of 43 Div issued.	D 7
	14		The 43rd Division commenced move to forward area NE of BRUSSELS.
	15	1700	The 43rd Division concentrated in fwd area east of DIEST and came under comd of 30 Corps.
	15		Warning Order sent out of Corps Comd's Conference and 43 Div "O" Gp	D 8
	15	2358	Situation Report as at 152230B issued.	K 14
	16		43 Div intelligence summary No 40 issued.	F 4
	16	1100	- 1300 BMs and Lt-Cols and above from the 43rd Division attended the Scorps Comd's Conference on forthcoming ops at the Cinema BOURG LEOPOLD 266828.
	16		43 Location List issued.	I 1
	16		Advice sent out of tps coming under comd 43 Div.	D 9
	16		Warning sent out regarding initial moves to transit area.	D 10
	16	1400	The Commander, The 43rd Division , held an "O" GP at Div HQ at which verbal orders were given out for the 43rd Divisional role in Second Army Operations "Market" and "Garden".
	16	1400	Details of Grouping "Appx 'A'" for operation Garden issued. Trace "A" issued in conjunction with Comd's Verbal Orders. Trace 'B" issued in conjunction with Comd's Verbal Orders. Gds Armd Div Report Lines and Bounds.	D 11
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	16		Details issued of requirements of Royal Netherland's Bde Guides.	D 12
	16		Place Code names issued.	D 13
	16		Amandment to Appx "A" – Grouping issued.	D 14
	16		Copy of 30 Corps Mov Instrs for Op “GARDEN” issued	D 15
	16		Orders for move to take place 17 Sep issued	D 16
	16		Instructions issued for movement form present Conc Area to Fwd Transit areas and movement for Main Div	D 17
	16		Copy of Comd's Verbal Orders given out at 43 Div 'O' Gp 16 sept.	D 18
	16		Supplementary list of place code names issued.	D 19
	16	2210	Situation reports as at 2200hrs issued.	K 15
	16	2335	Details of requirements Royal Netherland's Bde's guides issued.	D 20
	16		Instruction about wireless silence issued.	D 21
	17		Weather fair until 1700hrs when rain settled in.
	17		"D" Day for Second Army Operations Garden and Market. Object of Second Army, with Airborne forces under comd is to dominate the country astride the rivers MAAS and WAAL and the high ground between ARNHEM E&& and the sea, to cut off the enemy comns between GERMANY and the LOW COUNTRIES.
	17	0815	Amandment to trace "A" isssued.	D 22
	17	0920	43 Div Isum issued.	F 5
	17		Advice issued that the No 38 set will not be fitted to tks in future	L 1
	17		Amandment No 1 to 43 Div location list issued.	I 2
	17	1100	- 1300A planning conference for crossing major rivers, attended by Bde Comds, was held at Div HQ.
	17		Codewords being used by airborne tps issued.	D 25
	17	1755	43 Div Isum issued.	D 26
	17	2100	Orders issued for moves of Gps VIB, X, and Royal Netherlands Bde to transit areas on 18 sept.	D 27
	17	2215	Situation report as at 2000hrs issued.	K 16
	17	2345	43 Div Intelligence Summary No 41, issued.	F 6
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	18		Weather misty with intermittent rain, clearing after 1200hrs.
	18		Movement instructions for 43 Div Tac HQ issued.	D 28
	18	1945	43 Div Summary of Ops No 39 issued.	K 17
	18	2000	Orders for move Tac HQ Issued.	D 29
	18	2000	Orders for move of Main and Rear Div HQ issued.	D 30
	18	2235	Advice issued regarding moves from transit areas.	D 31
	18	2235	Situation report as at 2200hrs issued.	K 18
	18	2359	43 Div Intelligence Summary No 42 issued.	F 7
	19		Weather Fair.
	19	1530	43 Div Summary of ops Amercan Front issued.	K 19
	19	1730	43 Div Summary of Ops, No 40, issued.	K 20
	19	2300	Movement instructions for 20 September issued.	D 32
	19	2310	Situation Report as at 192310A issued	K 21
	20		Weather - misty and dull, visibility poor.
	20	0905	Orders issued for move of Main and Rear Div HQ.	D 33
	20		The 43rd Division commenced its move to transit areas.
	21		Weather Fair.
	21		Operation "Garden"
	21		The 43rd Division completed its move to transit areas , advancing in the wake of the Guards Armd Div.
	21	2230	Orders and tasks for 22 Sep issued.	D 34
	21	2330	Orders received from 30 Corps that: – 52 Div Recce Gp, who are being glided in, came under comd 43 Div on arrival NIJMEGEN area and – Polish Para Bde comes under comd 43 Div as soon as contact is made. – The 43rd Division is to capture ARNHEM rd br intact and to operate with maximum speed to contact 1 Airborne Div in area OOSTERBEEK ferry 6976 subsequently passing one Bde gp over NERDER RIJN.
	21		The Dutch Bde is to be made , earliest 22 Sept, responsible for protection of NIJMEGEN until relieved by 69 Bde Gp.
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	22		Weather fair but cloudly and dull at times.
	22		Operation "Garden"
	22		The 43rd Division to advance at first light through Gds Armd Div with 214 Inf Bde on Left and 129 Inf Bde on Right, to secure ARNHEM br and make contact with hardpressed 1 Airborne Div (See Appx D34).
	22	0115	43 Div Isum to 212359A.	F 8
	22	0135	Request for possible airfds to be recced.	D 35
	22	0645	Passwords for 22 Sep issued.	D 36
	22	1020	Details issued over Div Traffic Control for control of rd and rly brs over R WAAL.	D 37
	22	1420	Summary of Ops No 41 issued.	K 22
	22	2315	Situation Report as at 222300A issued	K 23
	23		Weather - rain up to 1300 hrs to dull and cloudly.
	23	0010	Orders and tasks for 23 Sept issued.	D 38
	23	0030	43 Div Intelligence Summary No 43 issued.	F 9
	23	1500	43 Div Isum issued.	F 10
	23	1620	Verbal warning orders received from BGS 30 Corps for future operations.	D 39
	23		Summary of Ops No 42 issued.	K 24
	24		Weather - rain up to mid-day clearing to fine.
	24	0230	43 Div intelligence Summary No 44 issued.	F 11
	24	1415	43 Div Isum issued.	F 12
	24		43 Div Traffic Circuit Trace issued	J 3
	25		Weather - cloudly and showery.
	25	0001	Situation report as at 242300A issued.	K 25
	25		Summary of Ops No 43 issued.	K 26
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	25	0305	43 Div intelligence Summary No 45 issued.	F 13
	25	2330	43 Div Situation Report as at 2330 hrs issued.	K 27
	25		4 Dorset secured bridgehead over the NEDER RIJN on the left of 1 Airborne Div aand evacuation of 1 Airborne Div commenced.
	25		214 Inf Bde completed capture of ELST 7070 after further stiff street fighting.
	26		A total of 2.800 men of the 1 Airborne Div (incl party of 4 Dorset) evacuated their posn North of the NEDER RIJN during night 25/26.	D40, 41 K 28, 29
	26		Weather - cloudly and showers all day.
	26	0900	Comds 8 Armd Bde, 129 and 214 Inf Bdes, CRA, reps 130 Inf Bde and Div RE attended a conference attended at 43 Div HQ where reallocation ofn tasks and areas was decided.
	26	1400	Details of allocation of tasks and areas issued.	D 40
	26		43 Div Summary of Ops No 44 issued.	K 28
	26	2015	43 Div Situation Report as at 261830A issued.	K 29
	26		43 Div Op Instr No issued.	D 41
	27		Weather - showery all day and rain settled in after 1700 hrs; strong westerly wind
	27		The present task of the 43rd Division is to hold secure the East flank of 30 Corps between Rivers WAAL and NEDER RIJN.
	27		43 Div Summary of Ops No 45 issued.	K 30
	27	1030	Amandment to Op Instr No 2 issued.	D 42
	27	2240	Situation Report as at 272200A issued	K 31
	28		Weather - wet up to 1200 hrs, afterwards fine with dull periods.
	28		43 Div Summary of Ops No 46 issued.	K 32
	28	2315	Situation Report as at 2230 hrs issued.	K 33
	28	2330	43 Div Intelligence Summary No 47 issued	F 14
	28		43 Div Summary of Ops No 47 issued.	K 34
Headquarters, The 43rd Division, British Liberation Army	29		Weather - fine, cloudly at times.
	29		43 Div Summary of Ops No 48 issued.	K 35
	29		43 Div Operation Instruction No 3 issued.	D 43
	29	2230	Situation report as at 2100 hrs issued.	K 36
	29		43 Div Intelligence Summary No 48 issued.	F 15
	30		Weather Fair.
	30		Amandment to 43 Div Op Instr No 3 issued.	F 16
	30	1610	Orders issued for control of traffic over NIJMEGEN brs.	D 44
	30		Grouping and Order of Battle of the 43rd Division issued.	J 4
	30		43 Div Location list as at 1400 hrs issued.	I 3
	30		Summary of Ops no 49 issued.	K 37
	30	2250	Situation Report as at 2230hrs issued.	K 38
	30	2350	43 Div Intelligence Summary No 49 issued.	F 17
	30		During the month of September, the 43rd Division KO'd 8 Tigers, 2 Panthers, 3 Mk IIIs Tanks and 1 SP gun.
	30		Total PW captured by the 43rd Divisionin operations 21-30 Sep - 520

Source: Jeroen Niels, TracesOfWar.com, transcribing: Theo Vervoort.

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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