WO 171/1254 - 2 Grenadier Guards - 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: 2 Armd Grenadier Guards
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. J.N.R. Moore

Place	Date	Summary
B.L.A.	1	Bn advanced to ARRAS behind 2 Recce Welsh Gds. Objective at NEAUVILLE seized without opposition. Large number of prioners taken. No. 3 Sqn Gp were left behind to deal with ALBERT on right flank where some SS opposition was met and two tanks were lost. No. 3 Sqn Gp returned during evening.
	2	Bn moved up with rest of 5 Gds Armd Bde to concentration area on DOUIA Aerodrome. which had been captured the night before by 2 Armd. I.G. preparatory to advance to BRUSSELS at first light on morning of 3rd.
	3	Advance to BRUSSELS. No. 2 Sqn Gp in action at FONT AMAROO. 3 Shermans and 1 Stuart lost. Remainder of Bn by-passed action and entered BRUSSELS at 2100 hrs. Advance 86 miles.
	4	Grenadier Gp advanced to LOUVAIN with objective bridges over canal. No. 3 Sqn Gp secured objective by 1900 hrs. Bn laagered NW of LOUVAIN, less No. 2 Sqn Gp who had not yet rejoined Battalion.
B.L.A.	5	Bn Gp remained in defence of LOUVAIN mopping up E of river whilst a Sqn Gp was pushed on and seized the bridges over the river Demar at AERSCHOT without encountering opposition. No. 2 Sqn Gp. rejoined Battalion.
	6	Battalion advanced to seize the bridges over the Albert Canal at TESSENDERLOO with Bn Gp leading the Bde Gp on the left centre line, all bridges found blown and area consolidated.
	7	Bn Gp was moved South to hold LOUVAIN – DEIST – BERRINGEN rd (where the […] bridgehead was formed) against a reported threat of 20 enemy tanks advancing NE from TIRLEMONT. This did not materialize.
	8	Bn concentrated area BLANKLEAR preparatory to crossing Albert Canal. Moved over Canal at 2200 hrs to take up defensive role covering right flank of Bridge head around HEUSDEN.
B.L.A.	9	Relieved by 29 Armd Bde. Battalion moved up to clear country between HEUSDEN and cross roads at STALL. Concentrated for night on heath SW of HECTEL, preparatory to advance next day to capture bridge over Escaut Canal on main road to EINDHOVEN.
	10	Battalion advanced leading on left centre line, by-passing HECTEL and after dealing with a few SP guns NW of HECTEL in course of which 2 Sherman were lost and 4 tanks of the enemy destroyed got back onto main rd N of HECTEL. Some opposition which was firing straight down the road was dealt with by a Sqn Gp by-passing to the W and by night fall the Gp had seized the cross-roads S of the bridge which had already been seized by other troops.
	11	Battalion resting. One Sqn supporting inf on left flank.
	12	No. 1 Sqn Gp sent out to clear up LOMMEL area W of centre line losing 1 Sherman and destroying 1 A/Tk gun
B.L.A.	13-16	In rest area at OVERPELT.
	17	Battalion advanced to take part in Operation Garden with the objective to seize EINDHOVEN that night and link up with the Airbone Forces the next day. Stiff opposition encountered between VALKENSWAARD and Dutch-Belgium Frontier. VALKENSWAARD seized by dark.
	18	Leading elements held up at AALST. Bn Gp by-passed to W but was unable to make progress due to bridges being too weak for the tanks. EINDHOVEN seized by night-fall. Battalion harboured S of ZON.
	19	Bn Gp advanced in the lead finding all bridges intact and held by Airborne Forces up to and including the bridge over the Maas at GRAVE reached area S of NIJMEGEN by 1100 hrs plan co-ordinated with Airborne Forces for seizure of bridge over the Marle attack went in at 1630 hrs heavy opposition encountered 400 yards from both birdges. Concolidated for the night.
B.L.A.	20	Plan arranged with Airborne Forces to clear part of the town near the main road bridges, 1 Bn Airborne (American) and the Bn Gp. Progress slow but sure and vicinity of bridge eventually reached at 1700 hrs with light casualties mainly through snipers. At 1900 hrs a Tp of tanks was successfully rushed across the bridge encountering at least one 88 mm and passing through inf on the far side losing two tanks, one only temporary eventually linking up with Airborne Forces the other side. Bridge consolidated by 2200 hrs.
	21	Our troops engaged on N side of bridge were relieved. Sub-unit which had been attacking Rly bridge for 24 hrs captured Southern end inflicting very heavy cas on enemy. Bn concentrated and patrolling carried ouot on Southern outskirts of NIJMEGEN.
	22	Bn Gp transferred to 32 Gds Bde. Moved at 1600 hrs to come back threat to the East of lines of Communication between UREL and VEGHEL. Contact made just before dark half way between two towns.
B.L.A.	23	Oppoision cleared by 1600 hrs contact being made with Americans just North of VEGHEL. country to the West of the road cleared of enemy, 1 tank lost, several enemy half tracks destroyed.
	24	Bn patrolling all round UREN and own South as far as VEGHEL. Situation cleared east of the axis and consolidated by own tps.
	25	Patrolling rds N and S of UREN to ensure they were kept clear. Patrol in evening contacted anemy in HEESCH, 1 Sherman and 1 Honey knocked out. L Coy and 1 Sqn Gp left in NISTLERODE for the night.
	26	Bn Gp ordered to advance and capture HEESCH. This was completed by evening 180 PW being taken 2 […] left in HEESCH and 1 in NISTLERODE.
B.L.A.	27	The West end of HEESCH cleared out and 10 PW taken, 2 tanks lost. 1 Gp left in NISTERODE. BN retire to miles East of HEESCH.
	28	Patrollong to OSS and to the SW, a certain amount of enemy shell-fire still encountered. Sqn/Coy Gp withdrawn from NISTLERODE.
	29	Two Gps in HEESCH, one in Reserve. Further patrolling carried out enemy withdrawing Westward.
	30	Battalion withdrawn to rest area SW of GRAVE.

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Source: Jeroen Koppes, TracesOfWar.com.

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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