war diary - dec 1943

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943

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M F M 11A

200M--- i: qo (5185)(H,Q. 1712--39-1658)

SE RET

W R DI RY

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APPENOJCES O .

FROM ...........J I ? . . ~ .. : TO .... ........... ...;?.J . ~ .. .

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R::>c<:iV"r: .. • •. · .. •• • \

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~ - ::1.VOLUME .................

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Of M:Cil f MI

TRIPLICATE

(Sir iAe oul where no applicable

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


1

WAR DIARIES, O.A.S.F.

Instructions for Compilation and

Despatch

1. A War Diary i ~ ~ SECRET.

2. 'l'he Wn,r Diary Lakes the place of the HistoricalRecord when on active service. (ICR. Can. Para.

1530). l ts objects are : to supply authentic mn.tel ialfor the history of the uni t, and of Lhe fo1·ce; to furnisha historical record of operations; and to provide dataupon which to base improvements in (;raining, equip-ment, organir.ation and administration.

3. Unless otherwi se 01·dered, t.he original and

duplicate copies are sent on the first day of the suc-

ceeding month, t hrough the usual channels, t.o theA.G., 2nd Echelon, wherever that office may be.The triplicate copy mtty be held by the unit for tlneemonths and then forwarded, also through the usualchannels, to A.G., 2nd Echelon.

4. Post-war die;posal will be as under:

Original-retained at Otta.wa for historicalpurposes.

Duplicate-to British Record Office for historicalpurposes .

Triplicate-to nu it for custody with unit records.

5. The War Diary will be entered up daily onM.F.M. 11 and rendered monthly in triplicate (Mobn.Inst.r. for C.M. 1937. App. C ) . Each ontry will beinitialled by the officer detailed to keep the Wa t·

Diary, which will be signed n.t the end of each month

by tho commander. (F.S.R. Vol. II , Sec. 35, para.3 iii .

2

6. Th e following should be recorded daily as events

occur :(i) Im portant ordct S, instructions, rep orts, mes-

sages or despatches received and issued, and

decisions taken. Original documents shouldbe attached as appendices to tho Originalcopy of the War Diary.

(ii) Daily map ~ o c a t i o n enlployment, movementsand t ~ p o s i t i o n s of unit headquarters and ofbatteries, companies, etc . March tablesshould be at-t:. lched o.s appendices.

(iii) Important moveruenLs of officers and matters

relating to the duties of each branch of thestaff. A complete set of the ? QtLtine ordersand instructi<ms Part Orders, issued bythe unit dur ing the month should be att.achedas an appendix to the od gino.l copy.

(iv) Detailed accoun t of operations-to include:

Exact hour, o c a ~ i o and circumstances ofimpor tant occurrences. Movements and

names of neighbouring unit.<J. Commandersof batteries, companies, etc., names of Offi-cers nd number of O.R. (i) engaged and

(ii) battle casualties. Dispositions, act ivi-ties and identity of enemy forces. Prisone1·sand tl ophics captured. AmmuniLion expended. Factors affecting operations, topo-graphical and climatic. Maps and sketchesshowing dispositions of batteries, companiesetc., ali important phases. The record ofcommunications both written and ve? bal,received or despatched during active opera-tions s an appendix. A complete set of theopcmtion orders an l instrttctions issued duringthe month. Notes on conferences andrep01·ts rendered to higher formations, or

received from lower formations, as appendicesto the original copy.

3

(v) Nature and description of trcnch< S, field worksor accommodation occupied or constructed .

Meteorological notes.

(vi) Changes in esLa.blishment or strength. Namesand ranks of oflicers and number of O.R.Attachment of units and inclivicluo.ls. Rein-forcements. Copy of Part Orde?·s an<lWeelcly Field Retunts of O.fficers a.nd 0 R.should be attached s appendices to theoriginal copy. Changes in organization ,stores, transport, etc.

7. It is essential thaL a ll copies of both text andappendices are legible. App(mdiecs will be numbered

and referenced to the text in t.he last column of theform. Cunent issues of any rer;imental publicationshould be aLLached.

8. I t will be found convenient at the end of eachmonth, when the Wa t· Diary is being completed andthe col l espondence in unit files for the month isbeiug reviewed and distributed (F .S.R. Vol. I, sec. 171para. 3) if the material considered to be of historicalvalue in the light of Lhe above is attached as appen-dices tho original copy of t he War Diary.

9. A good war diary makes possible the accurateand detailed reconstruction of cin:umstances, con-ditions and action.

NO lEl: f mont hly dhtry is more th an one inch thick,use a second folder. f app cndi1:cs are bulky, tie

folder up with tape or st ring to make a fixm package.

PRESERVE IMPORTANT ORIGINALDOCUMENTS FOR POSTERITY: INSERT

THEM AS APPENDICES IN ORIGINALCOPY OF WAR DIARY

THE EXTRACTION AND RETENTION OF APPENDICES, MAPS, ETC., FROM A WAR DIARY IS AN OFFENCEUNDER THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT

f

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM .P.M .40 / P & B/i7 (9/ 42)In.struotions regarding preparation of

War Di:_l.rics (which will be kept from firstda.y of mobilization, creation r embodiment), a re contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. I.

\ 'l'itle pages will be prepared.

/

R

INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

......... ,.. , ,

Original, duplicate h d l (triJu ca.t ': to . be

forwarded to 0 . i/o 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Place

n the FieltITILY

Da te

2Deo

Erase heading not required)

Hour { n1

S u r o m ~ of Ev,ente and~ ~ ~ t J ~063( Reve l e , preparat ions ma(/e o r move.

08C 0 Lt Col J.D. Forin a t ten ed a . } O n i e r a t Bde B.Q., and on t ji e r e tum calleo an0 Group fo r 1000 hr s .

lOOC ··0 Gr up a t Wl h the c.o. out l ined 1iJ.e known enem v disposi t ions w · ~ e o . d o f ue,and t 1a1i tuc in tent ion was for tl e Bn to move forward to a .JOndentration area ,ana be prepared to take over posi t icns now OC-'U.Pi"" d the 78th Divs T.o .v.,move, time of marslw.lling 1400 lll's, Convoy to arose the r ive r Sangro durinc; t ' ~ enight. Supper ratione to be ~ a r r i e d by the troopa.

llOC Raining, and area turneo into a sea of mud. . a i r a ~ t i v i t y over the areadurinc tlle morning.

13 0C 0 Group, a t whi,:. the C.o. s ta ted there was a amaJ..l chonee 1n plena.marshalling now would be 1 5 ~ 5hrs, move of f 16JO hrs .

Time of

1 6<)0 .Embusee<l and moved off 1630 hre , at&ll r ~ i n g and a cold N.E. wind D 1 blowing•and a very tVlCOmfor'table JOld wet r ide followed. .

2;34 5 Debussed, grea t .;oats londed on to Q. -1. t ruoka and t;1e Dn forneo up fo r the move

c ~ s s the RIV R SA GRO to t t e Bde a s e e m b l ~ area.

OO J O Skies .;lf.ar and s ta r s shininc;, a8 the Bn moved off , the •l8r..:h being a welcome~ e l e i t af ter bein£ :rampea in ~ C V a for over 6 hre. The Bn transport wa. l e f t

behind and the troop• ~ r o s a e d the r iver on foot brida"GB ere.:ted by the .F.Qgintere.During tile crossinG paeaed elemente of the 78th Diva soing down the l i ne for ar e s t period, &nd 1ll&J:QI humourous and jocu1ar remarks were bandied b a ~ k and for th

be tween the troops aa we J ~ e s e d0245 Arrived 1n aseembl7 area and were met by &U1de•, and a f t ~ r d g g ~ a l i t t renches

ettled down t i l l oayl1ght.06 30 Reveille, F Echelon moved up in to the Bn area, ra t ione 1esyed and meals prepared.

Six n ~ planes flew over nnd dropped a couple of bombs outside of the Bn erea.

Remarks, Teferenoes

to A p p e n d i c e ~ ~ andinitials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W A R DI RYM F M l

40/P S/37 (0/42)

R

Ins.tructions regarding pl.'epara.tion of

War Diaries ('vhich will be kept from first

day of mobmzation, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

> Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, d ~ p l i c a t e and t r i p ) l c ~ t e to beforwarded to 0. ijc 2nd Echelon for disposal.

/

Place

In tlle Fi o lc' I taly

Date Hour

2 09.30Deo43

1115

- 1530

l OGJODec43 0900

lO O

1645

Erase heading not 1·equired)

Summary of Events and Information

After attending a · ~ O i l f e r e n · . e a t Bde H.Q. the 0.0. Lt Col J .D. :rorin oalle4 an

•o• Group a t which he etated the Bn - on 10 mJna notice to movct. A t 0 Co yeand Admin1evat1on Staff from B.H.Q. would go forward u far aa possible r id ing

on our .apport group vehicle•• B D C o ~ • and b a l a n ~ e B.H.Q. to march.The intentionwaa for the Bn to take up de tena in poai t iona, the other 81<1e of thetown of Roc:oa, 1n eupport of the London Ir iah Bn who were to advanae asain• tenemy posi t ions supported by 2 Squadrons of tanke.troops riding t moved off• ~ o l l o w e d by the marching personnel. ~ ~ 4 fl.W. ofFOSSACESIA debuaaed, and af te r a hal t o f 3 hra the Bn movedoff to e l ~ o . aheet/47 {t) and were aet by an a d v a n c ~ party who guided Ooye to their reepect1'9'e areae.Ooye due in, in detene1ve posi t ion.Ratione were 1esued and blankets drawn. Slight enem;y ehellin& JUftt forw&Nr of

the Dn area 1D the e'ftn1tl8• Patrol• were sent out during the n1CJ.t9 and Lieut .. .1oxon, leating one patrol met wi th an a·:}·:ident ar:h; fractured h1e arm.

S t a n d T o ~ for 1 hour. All quie t , patrol& out during the night reported no < ~ o n t a ; twith the eneJqJ.Brig. : a . r ~ f • Bof'faeiater, vis i ted the c.o., Lt Ool J.D. 'orin and outlined futureplana.P.P.O.L.I., pa.eaed through the Bn area to take up position• to the NORTH of ou:re.S P Gun• and .Art:,• moved 1n and around the aroaL t Ool J .D. For1n ,;,alled en •o• Group a t which he s ta ted the Bn would not moveuntU the morning, when it woul4 be on i hr n o t i ~ e to mow a t o8JO h.re. All21/oa of Coya under the command of ·ia3or s.w. Ttoaeon to go on an advance P ~ . Yo re0-.;e an area for the Bn around 'tlte t ( l ~ W n of s. VITO Sheet 147(1:*)"1)610.

Stan4-toC. 'for 1 hour. Local partole were la id on and a patrol or 2 men tramt te Scout eect1on to leave a t 2lS9 hre to recce the area of .350046 Sheet 147(1V). All quiet during the night .

Remarks, referencesto AppendiceB and

initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM F M40/P 8/37 (9/4,13)

R

Instructions regarding preparation of

War Diarios (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol I.

IJ Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMllf BY

Original, duplicate a.nd t r i p l t c ~ t e to beforwarded to 0. i / c 2nd Echelon fot· disposal.

: ;

Place

l the t1e l4I taly

Date Hour

4 0600Dec4) 0800

0900

1000

17001800

2000

2200

Erase heading ~ w t required)

Summary of Eventa and Information

S t a n 4 - t o ~ . Breaktaet prepared and blankets and paGke·loaded on to Vehiclee andthe Bn on i bra n o t i ~ e to move.

A d Y a n ~ e party l e t ~ to noce new area.wo man patrol £rom the Scout Pl . reported that the.: had rec.;ed ·area sent to and

found no s ign of the enetl\ 1•Bn moved ot t 1n order of mer:}ht A - 0 - ll.H.Q. - D - B and arrived in the newarea Sq )608 Sheet 147 ( ~ V ) e t 1200 rLra. F Eahelon moved into the area andrat ions were drawn.. and meals prepared.The c.o. Lt Col J.D. Fortn attGnded a o o n f r n ~ a t Bde H.Q.•o- Group a t which the 0 .o. with the aid of a i r i a l photograph& outlined the Bn

Remarks, referencesto Appendices and

initials

plan aat1on. The P.P.o.L.I . , would advanoe ane attac:k the town of s. LBANN DO J he Seafcrtha to proteot the i r l e£ t flank. by a d v e n ~ i n g and aeauring high ground

tm ofL a

TOR..tm Sq J2 l l Sheet{1

• The Dn to advance 1n order of mar\lhD - 0 - B.H.Q. - A - D. he c.oa and 1.0. Jeep and 22 eet vehicle to follow 1fpossible. Bn to be on 1 hour not ic • to move.

Change 1n plana, aa from rel iable information t was a a ~ e r t a i n e d a. fr;;;eh eneD\JDiv 1'£4 been con'-'entrated in the area that t ~ : t e Bn waa aupL,osed to o ~ : } u p y . The newple.DJ The Seaforthe to advance and ~ J o J i a o l i d a t e :1n area of Sq JJ09 Sheet /4.J /)The P.P.C.L.I . , to take ~ r ight f l anking position& and tLo Edmn Regt l e f ~tlank1ng poai ion••· Move ott a t 2200 bra i l l the order of maroht 0 - A - BHQ

B - Dt IU(tcl 22 Set V e : · ~ i e l e to be brought up by tl le 1.0 . Capt x.s. Murdoch a t 22JO~ ~ t u:Bn m o v ~ d oft and advan ;e4 without 1no,llent arrltt the area o ~ : \ } u p 1 e c l by theINNISKI:,LI'N(;Regt came under a herraains t i r e l a id tiown bJ the eneJI\1 in theimmittia"e rto1n1ty. Ooya were dispersed enG af te r dig6ing •l t trEmchee aet t led

down t o r a night of harras ing f i r e on the area.- .

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYM.F.M. 11

8/3'1 (9/(2)

OR

Inst.ructions :regarding prepa.I'iltion ofWar Die.ries which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodi-ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGE fCE SUMMARY

Original, duplica.te,{Uld t r i p l i o ~ t to beforwarded to 0. ijo 2nd Echelon for disposal.

/Erase heading not required)

P lace Date Hour Su.rmuary of Events and Iniorma.tionRemarks, referencesto Appendices and

initials

In -&he f tel4 SI 1'.lLY J)l :O

44

06UU .4\ntmJ httav1lJ ahelled ille .Bll area and were ooWtt4jJ' ahelled b.v ou..r2 Off1cera in B Ooy were w o ~ d e a L 1 ~ ~ t Rerrit t an4 ~ e a t . ~ e o k i e

D9 3t Area a t1 l l being heavily ahell t td. T h ~ Bd.gade Oolllm8&1cler, Brigadier B.M. Hot':t'me18tt r

~ a l t e d tbe c.u. Lt.-ool. or in and outl1ned the next move ot' th• Bn,wb1oh w o a ~ l d 'De t h ~ oroaa1na ot the MOI\RO r ive r a.n4 at tack o.pon the 1own

ot SAN L ~ A N A H D O

lOVC The c. o. oalled ~ o r an •o• Grou.p a t which he ontllned the plana for theBat ta l ion • mo fe. .I Company to mo"fe on the i r own a.a.cl 01.-oaa tm MORRO.

A aD4 C oompao.1ee mel u ~ ~ an4 .D Company to oroaa thB r1 -.er a t the .ror4. .c;aat otI oompany•a oroaa1ns. Malee to be ~ t 1 l 1 a e d to pack • ~ p p l 1 e a aacl ammun1t1on.

Jt oompanJ to atart mov.l.ng at 2200 hol\ra, and A comp RJ - o ata.rt a- 2210 hra.fhe I . o. Capt. X. s. PliQrdQOk to recce the route aoroaa oou.ntr7 for A. 09 U Q

and J) coJ•• 18 aet oommunicat ion to be ~ a e d .

l 3CH. f h ~ 1.0. Capt. K. s. Mt.lrdo ok reported t h a ~ he had reooed tbit roate tor the JUght •amo fe. .Meala were prepared and pr.-parat1ona made fo r tho mo f•·

220L B Compao.J reported that t . b . ~ J were mo't1Jl8 ott 1n tho d1 :reot1on of the r1 fer.

22lC A Company : n o v t ~ 4 o t f folJ.owed b3• 0 Coy, B. II . Q. and. .1) Ooy.

2359 B. B. Q. loet oommu.n1oat1ona w1 th A• Company. -·

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYW:.P.M:. 114WP B/87 (9/42)

R

Instructions regal'ding preparation ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation r embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

INTELLIGENCE SUMM RYOriginal, duplicate and trip Jaie to be

forwarded to 0. i /o 2nd Eahelon or disposal.' Title pagea will be prepared.

/~ heading not required)

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and In form ati on

In the Fleld 6ITALY Deo

43

0100 •c• COmpany reporte4 they were &4Yanotna •lo•17 on their o b l • o t 1 ~ • • butmeeting with heaYy enemJ Y.G. an4 Mortar fire.

0130 B. B. Q. eatabllahed a forward Command .roat on the s. E. 1114• of the nnzo.0200 Banners from • A • Company broupt 1n report• that the Oo7 had met w1 th h•4•7

oppoa1t1on and a g f ~ e r e d qalte a few oaaRalltlaa, amonsat wbom were the Oompan7Commander, Major T.c.B. Tanae, also O.S.M. .A.. Blaker, and that the remalne

two platoons were baak on the ~ . B . Q . aide the r1Yer.0700 •o• CompaQJ reporte4 that 1 p 1 a ~ o o n of •A• 007 was now 1n the i r area an4ezo

the1r po1111aod and the aoapany ns oonaol14ate4 1a ~ h e area o£ Sq Jl l l - Sheet147 ( , s t l l l in oontaat wtth the enem7.

0715 •a• CompaDJ reporte4 tbat theJ bad aoneol14ate4 ln the area of Sq 3211 - Sheet147 ~ ) , aeetlng opposition from enem7 M.G. f1NJ

0800 5 P.o.w.•a were •roaght tnto B.B.Q. az.a wbloh ••• now aatabl1aha4 a t lJ4ll4Sheet 147 ( ~ . •1• COmpany reporte4 t h e ~ haleS oaptun4 DWDei Oaa prlao.oera an4were aencl1a.a aame t B. B. Q. ws.de.r aaeon.

0900 P.P.O.L.I . on our lef t f llmk reported ateady prosresa, but 81p ot enemJ ooanterattaak from the town o t s. C A L D A a I Sq 3009 - Sheet 1 4 7 ~ ~ .beat7 tallk• reported in the area of s 3111. Oar own tar.Lke were meet1q Wl thheaY7 enem7 f i re , and a tank baitle ra,ed fgrlouelr.

llooo •s• Company reported meeting enam7 oppoa1t1on tMat 1n the prooeae o olau. taaap same.Hoav7 enem7 ahel l1na and monanns ot .B. H. Q. area darlllg the mom1Dg.

1 4 0 ~ The o.o., Lt-col. J.D. For1a.1 4ao14e4 that •D• Oomp DJ an4 B.B.Q. and two platoonsof

•.t•Ooy woalcl oroas the rlYer an4 moye llP to the two forw Z'Cl Oof•• 'a.tt aa the

foroe prepared to moye off• a pltohed t Ak bat t le between oazo and en-.r tankadeyeloped• and on lnatra.at1ona fttom Ide, B.Q. p1au n ·e obaqe4J I t waa 4eo14e4that the aphere ot oper atlona be t ransferred to the P. fl c • I • I . area due o the

be8Y,J oonoea.tratlon of enem, ln the Seaforth of C area.

Remarks, referencesto Ap pendices and

initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYM.F.M, 11

<iO/P &S/37 (9/42)

R

Instructions regarding pl'eparation ofWar Diat·ies (which will be kept. from :firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. l

p .Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Original, duplicate and triplic:ate to beforwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

/

Place

In the Field.lTjLY

Erase heading not required

Date Hour Summary of Events and Information

iO43

1700

( Oontlnued)

The 0.0. ~ t . - o o l . J.D. For1n deo1de4 tba t , the one platoon of •A• Ooy now with

"C• Company, would w1 thdraw to B.tl.Q. llrea 4u.r1ng the D.ight. .I an4 0 Ooya to

W d u.p and :form a oompold. te aroup to hol4 ••ta·ol1aheci bridcehead, to oe ~ o i n e dbJDthe balanee of th& Battal1oa dQl'lng the next 4ay. Rat1ona wou.l4 be taken

•P to B .rm.cl C CoJ• 't.y mule d t ~ r l n g the n1ght. Bum f t t 1oa to be 1••••• ·

ll. B Q. area ·oetng heavl l7 ahelle«.. 4J.'he c. o. att ucled a eon.terenoe at .Bde H.Q.

a t whloh 1 t waa deo1dEt4 · ~ h a t the ~ d m n ltegt wo.Ud advanoe thro11p the P.P.O.L.I.

The B.. e.G. woal.a e:reot a bl'lcla• aoro•• the r.1 ver at Jl7066 S b ~ e t b l 4 7 (1) : t o ~tz-an•port. » Oo t of the Seldortha to proncle pl'Oteot1on . tor the ~ n g 1 n e e 1 - 1 .

1900 •A• OompanJ pJ'O't'1ded an eaeort fo r the tranaportat1on of ~ a t 1 o n 8 1 mule toB and 0 Ooya.

2000 A. H.Q,. aad ] OompanJ moved 11p to the area of 3451.06 Sheet 147 ( l ) .

2200

»urJ.ng the day, 40 prt11on•r• we:re takan )J ' I 007, a d aan7 German• lU.lliJd

r B and 0 Co llpanlcta. I and C Oompa411e• were ord&rad w1 thdraw baok to

tne Sou.th Ill. 4• of the r tvett as it had oeen 4eo14ed DJ the . lr lga41er, t ha t it

wo\44 -a.. 1mpoas1bl6 to conat:t'V.et a (11 vor11on below s. L. s. A.M. A. R D. 0. • c 4

1n1tead, the P.P.C.L.I. 'r.14geheacl 1R the a r ~ a of V. R 0 0 T I woulcl •

up lo1 te4 .

he In mo.-ed oft to a oonoent]l'at1on area in Sq. )208. T h ~ plan Aew, wa• to

o l l o w ~ · L. ~ d m n Rest in exploi ta t ion of the P.P.C.L.I. b ~ d g • h e a 4 whioh

had met le•• oppoa1t1on thaD. oar own effor t • tn the tl L A N A R ]) 0 aeotor.

Remarks, referencesto Appendice& and

initiall

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


InB.truotioil.a regQrding prepm·at.ion ofWar Diari.e.s (which will be kept from first

day of mobilizati on, cr eation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. VoL 1.

WAR DIARY

OR

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

1Title pages will be prepared.

Dra e h ~ a d i n g not required)y

Place Dato Hour Summary of Events and Information

lA the P1el4 7 0600 Sian4 To - .blntHDJ' ahel l1na l I.H.Q. -ancl •D• O o m p a ~ n aa

l ALY .D O

44 0700 Lt . ool. J.ll. Ea. ta atten4e4 a ooa1erenoe Bd.e B Q

0800 An •o• Gro11p wa• held at dlioh ~ h e o. o atate4 tha. B and

be dill4r WA to the Jattal1oll area.

1000 l oompan;y arr1 ved 1nto the area l37l0.3 eheet 147(1}.

JU .:W. 11•o P S/ 37 (D/U)

Origina.l, d11.plica.te and trripliciate to be

forwarded to 0. i o 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Remarks, referencesto Appendicae and

initials

;jfr '

C Compan1e• wo.U4

The7 re;po n•4 that

1D the p r ~ Y i o u 8 dal'• aot1on•• theJ had takec a p p o ~ m a t l e ¥ 35 P.o.w., wlpe4ou.t 14 M. IJ. po ad • ·Canal t1ea ~ f e J e c l 07 the eompaAy 'belAie 1 ~ 1 1 1 • « • I woo_n4e4 an4 6 miaa iq

-

.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY.U.F.U. 1l40/P 8/87 (11/,2)

R

Instructions regarcling prepamtio.n ofWar i a r i ~ s (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained :in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1

INTELLIGENCE SUMM RYOriginal, duplicate and tripLl:ate to be

forwarded to 0. i I o 2nd Ecllelon for clisposal.

c( Title pagea will be prepared.(Erwe heading not reqm red)

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Infonnation

Renlarks, referencesto Appendices and

initials

In the F1e1ctITALY

7Dlo43

( Oontl.Daed)1030 C 007 a r r1n4 1nw the area of 324083- A Oo7 )2)08) - ]) COJ 326086 - B.n.Q. J270S5

Areaa shelled and mortared b7 ~ h e enem.J a l l da7 .

1500 The Ide L.O. , Lt. Melhaleh Y11dte4 the o.o. and • tated tha t the 2D4 Bde were tobe nthdrawn for a 24 hoar reat and pnqr a l olean np. 84mODton llestme.nt wou.ltremain ln aame a r a a - P.P.C.L.I. to be relelye4 'Y the WEST ~ N T S Seaforth o f Cto be relelYed by 7th Pan3ab• -8Ind1an DlY.

1600 •o• Qroup at wblob the c.o. oatl1ae4 the present eltuatlon, and •tate4 that theI.O. 111 th 2 I . Sea mm would rQOOO an area 1n Sq l410 Sheet 147 (1Y) tor thepurpose of bl l l e t lng the Whole In 1n hoaaea dQr1ns the brt•t reat p e ~ o 4Ration•• .Blankete and Small paolte to be brottpt llp t roa •A• Eoheloa.. la ta lloa

keep tt the roads dartna moye aa ib.ey were belng ahello4 heavily ' J the •naiDJ.

COmpanies to moye off aa eoon as they were rele1-.e4 bJ the Ind1ana.1730 7 P D . n ~ a b Regt moyed tnto Bl1 Area.1800 Moye4 of'f on oroas-ooWltry treokk'and arr1ye4 1n the reat area 2000 BriJ

B.H.Q. )46110- 1 COJ 346114- lJ Coy ) )6105- C Oo7 346107 - J) OOy )441U.?200 Rat1ona, blanketa and small paoke arr1Ye4 ln the a n a md were 4latl 1'bllte4, and the

Battal lon eet t le4 down to a o o ~ o r t a b l e nlghta reet and • l••PJ lmfor tua t le7

cl1at urbe4 )y h•••7 enem7 shel l c d mortar t1 re 1n the uea. feh1 olee belo:f'Jto another Unl 1n the Bn area ~ a \ s h1 b7 ihe l l n r e , M ~ n s t l r e ancl athe enemy a ,ood tarset to shoot at. al l night,. ,

8 0600Deo 0700

4l

Enemy &tll l lb e l l lna the Bn area.he o.o., Lt-ool . J .D. For1n, attended a oon ferenoe Bde S.Q. a t whloh 1 t was

deo1d•4 tbat after tbe lat Ide had atreng\hened the i r brl4s 'hea4 on~ h e

NORTHBlde Of ~ h e r lyer, 'the Seaforth of 0

would go t b r o t ~ g h with the 8 U p ~ o r t Of tanka

to an area ln Sq J21J - Sheet 147 w) a th the exoept1on o:f one oompuy who, n t hthe support of ~ a n k e would make a left book along the road l'DDD1AI W ST :froaS. L A N A R D 0 Jl0118. -.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYM .F M

4 0/P S/87 9 / ~ 2 )

R

Instructions r egarding preparation of

War Diuries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodi-men t), are con tained in F.S. R egs. Vol. l .

INTELL GENCE SUMMARYOriginal, duplicate and t r i p h o ~ t e to be

forwarded to 0. i / c 2nd E chelon for disposal.pages will be prepared.

Erase heading rwt required

..

Place Date Hom Smn.ma.ry of Events and In£orma.tion

In 'the F1el4ITALY

8Deo

43

9

( OOntlaae4)

ogoo •o• Group at whloh the c.o. ezplainedthe al \Rat lon and ata\e4 a plan ofaot1on f o ~ the Bn• woul4 be laid on la ter.Arty and tanka lald down a heayy oonoentratlon of t1re on enemJ oooup1e4~ a a Our heayy bomltera and i&htera were oyer durS.q the 4ay, bombl.o.g ucJ

atrat tns the enem7 poa1t1ons. .1000 24 mal.ea 1111 th Indian drtyers, arr1Ye4 1n the area. To be uaecl 1n ' \ranaporttns

Ammunition, ~ . m . o . • a , 4 . 1 ancl 3 Inoh Mor\ar• aoroaa the R1ver Moro.Enemy shell lns darlns the nlght, bmt ~ a 1 r 1 7 l ight oompare4 ~ th the p r e ~ o un1ght s shelling.

Deo 0530

43 0600

ReYe1lll.Blankets ro l led and eq111pment loa4ed on to Yeh1olea, and lkl owa tad further

0700

0730

0800

0815

0915

orders trom Ide H.Q. \o mo••·ln. to moYe off a t 07 30 hra.•p• Ooy moYe4 o f t enoownter.lng hea•y enemJ ahell and m o r t a ~ flre wb1le ozoaa1ns

'\he rl.,.er.he c.o. al tered » OoJ'& plan o t maklng a ~ e 1 u \ to the W ~ S T ot s. L A fl A R D 0

an4 ••uns the COy to the NORTH to aea1a'\ the R. c. R. Rest, who were tightln&ot t a haYJ ooanter attaok bythe enemJ.J) C07 reported that theJ • • r • mee'\1ns ~ t e r realatanoe but were advaolns alowly

u d e r enemy M.M.G. an4 ahel l f1r•• and had autterre4 a few oaaaalt1ee. The o.o.,Lit-col . J.D. Fo1'1n o o m ~ T · a n 4 e c l the b aot1on from a ~ a L : t t a g • point Ul a tank,

wbioh l a ter h i t a mine ana blew a traok1 no c a a ~ a l t 1 e a .D CoJ reported they were 1n the t on o f s. L E A N R D 0 ancl, w th tbe 814

.

Remarks, r eferencesto Appendices and

initials

of eupport1n1 tanks a t t ~ one oompiiUlJ Gt tbe a. c. a. Rep, wtt.re mopping a.p ene117 ~f \ • G. posts looa•ed ln there.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


VJT R DIARY1\ll.F.M. 1140/P S/37 (9/42)

OR


War Diaries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARYOriginal, duplicate and tripLtcate to be

forwarded to 0. i/o 2nd Echelon for diaposal.

~ ~ Title pages will be prepared.

Place

Ia. tbe Ftel4l'rALY

Date Hour

9Deo 1000

431045

1200

1220

1 0 0

14001415

1?45

2159

Erase heading not requi1·ed)


( OOnttnuet)1 Platooa of a 007 .. e aant to a to Jl7ll7 aa a ~ t e o t 1 o a tor aaapper part7 bu.lldlac a cltYeJ'aloD 111 tbat area.:a. B. Q. - . . - 0 - B mo•e4 ott 1D dlreotloA o f t h ~ n••r ozoaatas. . . .S .q Udel 'h•••J ahell an4 monal' f l n . '' ·•7 tanka ao.d s • P. p n • • npoJite4 t.a tlaa

area t 3)51)7. Rea•J enem7 ahelllDI around. Hs ot • t••ra1on al l a o a t . q .

I u d 0 Oompard.e• reporte4 theJ n r e a ons• the rt'fer ao<l that the • n • J ba4

oounter attaoke4 dom the roa4 N . ~ . ot ~ h • ~ 1Mlt n r • .sn••• ott .Jonrart B. H. Q Q Uter the oommand o f the . 1 4 ~ u t a n t . Oap\f . .• H. :S.naell• nponettn poeltion with •. .• 001 lA the •-• uea.B eel C C07a had l lnke4 ap wl th the 11 0. T. a. la allOtt• t u e a .lrl t 1.1. Hottme1ater, 1 n f o ~ e 4 •t-ool. J.». •oztn that he . . . ln ooaplete

obarp o t the operat 1ona ta \he s. :L b: A If A R .D c ·• • • Oo7 reported thetr at•u held ap b hea•J M.G. aa4 Mona• f 1 nThe o.o. tnat . ruted A - o u d B ooapanlea to ftllaln l a tMi r preaealt ana.D 001 to 111. t .W••• to or lg lna l pold. t loo, A 0e1 to ad'f Aoe an4 at taek t: • enem1N. ot s. L s A N A R D o • The enem7 e:z:tenal••l.J ~ ~ • • • h i a malts.-monu( Moaning 1lnD1e) du.rt.Da \be lila a4•an••·The OorapaDlea oonaolt4ate4 1D a H u az-owat s. L ; A N A a D o •A C07 ]28199 - B 007 3311112 - 0 001 ll3120 - » 001 332111 - B. fi. Q. S50118.The attpportlag tanka taking tap poa1\1oa• ln and aroiUUl th• toWA. Th• 1.0.

ln Nar .1. B. Q. )441U arra.a.aet fo:r J ~ a t l o D a and sreatooata to be taken o••r to

the Oo7a. The M.O. M a ~ o ~ AD4er.oa. eet ap aa 4'fanoe R . A . ~ . la a. L A N A h U

Mul••• luadecl With M.M.G. • an4 4.2 •o:f tar• oro•• • • the l 1 fer to t.M l l l l poelt loa-.

.

R e m a r k ~ > efcrencesto Appendices and

initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYM F M40/P 8/37 (9/42)

R


Wm Diaries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARYOriginal, duplicate and tripllcate to be

forwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

\ \ Title pages will be prepared.Erase heading not requi?·ed

Place

In t h ~ FieldITALY


10Dec

0700- St&nd to f i r s t l i gh t .

~ t - o o l . J.D. For1n attended a c o n t ~ r e n o e at Ide H.Q. wber• the next p l a n o ~43

l ot 1on was outl1ned. ' 'he E4mns, w th the attpporl of 1 S84n of tanke, woal.dadvance forward to the area 3241 34 then, a f t e r oon•ol1dat1on, to the area)23142. l Company of the 48th B1ghlai.aders, aapported by tanka, would a4't'an.oe

~ a ~ : l r r ight flank and o , _ S e ~ f 2 r t } l . . ; , aupported by t&lllta on thelr l e ~ t' he attaok went t t acoord1ng to plant and the Edmn Rest reaohed thalr ird

ob3eot1't'e wlth ver7 l i t t l e oppoalt1on.Rear B.H.Q. moved forward t t Advance B.fi.Q. area, and L\-col. J.D. Por1A w l ~ ha skeleton B B Q. , mo't'ed forRr4 to a oomrr:and poat at •t on themo•• ran 1nto hea't'J ahell and mortar f ire. Lt-ool. J.D•• Po?in ~ e o a t y e d- ~ . . . < C . v ' - ' 0 } ; ,shrapnel woun4e, hie batman kll le4 . The Aotlns I.o • Lt; MGLaasAlaa shrapnel

wound, and 1 td .pa l l e r on the 18 eet lt111ecl.Oapt. Blackbarn took over temporar,\ oommand the Bn.

600 A shell bu.ret1na outBide of the 4oor of rear B.R.Q., Wlddle4 the room 1ll th

11 0600

Dec43 0700

ahrapnel woan41ng Capt. Parker• 2 ~ c o t 0 Oo7 and the A 4 3 ~ t a n t . OaptJ F.B. Bonnell.2 1/o Major s. lf. 'l'homaon, took over eommand of the ltD and Major J . B <Joan, I S/o. ·

~ h e croya took up firm base poa1t1ona tor the D i g b ~ and reported that theirareas were be1na Shelled and mortare4 by the enem7. The Art7 la id down

h a r r a s a ~ n s flre al l night on enemy poa1t1ona.fhe a A . ~ . Staf.t 414 an excellent job of c rk. dur1na the 4a7•e aot1ona1 t.aodl1ngoasGalt1es rrorn ~ a r l o u e unite.

Stand to - Hea•y shel l ing 1n Coy areaa clu.ring tt;e early morning hour•• the

Coys reported numerous casualties trom same.Coys dug 1n and 1n defenaive positions. ~ d ' t ' a n o e ~ . B . Q . 327125 - A Coy 310123B oy )28128- 0 Coy )24125- D Coy 324123- Rear :S.H.Q. '331119- Sheet 147 lv) .


initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARY M F.M.

40/P &S/37 (9/42)

OR

Ins truct.ions r egarding prepat·ation ofW ar Diaries (which will bo kopt from firstday of mobilization , orea.tion or embodim ent), are contained in F.S. Rogs. Vol. I.

l : .L Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY Original, duplicate and triphcate to be

forwarded to 0. i / c 2r1d Echelon for disposal.

/

Place

In the FieldITALY

Date Rolll'

11

>eo

43

0600

080009)0

10)0

: 100

1.115

12531300

.,

17)0

1930

Er se he ding not required)

Summary of Events and In formation

Stan<t to -Coy aarriera went forward with rat1ons to thelr reapeot1•• Oo7•·•A• Coy reported that they auapeote4 enem1 O.P.•e and M.G.'• 1A boa••• OA

r tdge N. w from the ir poa1i lona .~ 0 0 M a j o r s ~ homaon. a4v1ae4 the Coy C o m ~ a n d e r e to gje t h e l ~ 5pt &Dke to

blast out the enemJ in auapeotsa hoaaea. ~ . r \ tuTanke opened t1.ra on houaea aloAg the r idge. ;•A• Coy was ordered 1o at tack the r14ge )17126 Sheet

114? (1Y) w t ~ h the .mpport

of tanka. 1 P}.atoona of :8 Ooy to proteot 1be1r 'Wf.t flank b7 oooupy1as

feature a t 32513 0 Sheet 147 { ~ 1 Platoon of •o• 007 to l ink RP -*h them.he 4/0.0. MaJorl s. f. ~ h o m a o n , a4rtaed the Ooya to oal l OD the Arl7 to ahoot

at aa man1 targate as possible.

•A• Co7reaohed the ir o b j e o t 1 ~ e

andreported everytb1n1 under

control.•A• OoJ reported h e a ~ y oonoentrat1on o the enemy prapar1DC to attaok the ir

pos1tlon, and, qn thfl a 4 9 1 o ~ ot the A/o. o. , the COJ w iihdrew to thetr originalpoa111ona. Platoons ~ r o m B and c. Companies do1ns 11kew1 to allow oarA.rty to ley down a heavy conoentratlc n Gf .f1re on the danser ar e.a.•A• O o y ~ a t thls time bad a f1ght1na s t r ~ h ot 45 men •Ooys oonsol14ate4 1n 4efena1•• poa1t1one durlAI the night.Enemy mo?ement and tracked vebiolee were reported bJ •A• OoJ AA4 tho 4/C.O. MaJor

s.w. Thomson and the F.O.o•• MaJor l t l l lamaon. l a id on D.F. taska for thenight on area m o ~ e m e n t heard ln.The ~ c o Major. s.w. Thomson, at tented a conference at Ide B.Q., aad on hiereturn, he stated that the BD would alt t1ght, and with the tanka, NOuld forma strong detenat•e poa1t1on.

An enell'ly antper around the n area, a conoealecl poa1 t1oa, ga-.e a 11t t l etrouble during the n.ls.rt.

The OCJya sett led do1111 ~ r the night, depleted oonld.4erablJ in s t nndh bu.tmorale at111 blgh, after one of the hardest 4aJa the BG llacl e.xper1enoea vd.thenem7 ahell and mortar f i re.

Rema rks, :referencesto Appendices and

initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY1\I.F.M. 1140/P & S/37 (9/42)

OR

Instructions 1·ega.rding preparation of

War Diaries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodi

ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

INTELLIGENCE SUMM RYOriginal, duplicate and triphcate to be

forwarded to 0. i/o 2nd Echelon for disposal.'l... Title pages will be prepared.

\ .l I Erase heading not 1·equired)

Place

In th FieldITALY


.

12 In t b · ~ ear ly morning boure, the N s . R Regt, passed throagb the BD poa1 t lons.·Deo Very 11 t t l a shel l ing daring the nigbt •43 0600 . Stand to - All Qo1et.

o•oo0930

12)0

500

1630

~ 1800

13Dec

43

06000715

083()

3nemy shelling and Mortaring ·Bn Area.h. H Q. area in s. L A N A R D 0 t;eav1ly sh• l led and morlarecl enem7 mul 1p/e

mCJrtara, k n o - . n ~ a m o n g s t the troops aa • Moan1ng W1nnte•. The malttfmortar o u

be heard Watling through the· alr g ~ n g lQtm ot i1me to take oover.

Enemy sniping in the Bn Area.~ h e ~ c o .• ~ a j o r s w Thcmaon, at•atde4 a oonferenoe at Bde H.Q. at wbiah theseneral si tuat ion waa 9Utltned. Elements ot tbe l a t de ba4 a 4 ~ a n o e 4 throagh\

the 2nd Ide l inea, meeting enemy M.G. and Morlar f i re . Tho P.P.c.L.I. ha4

beaten of t a o o ~ t e r attaok.

n e e1tuat1on at th1a time waa, the vtu1ous Battallona oon110l14ate4 1n tll.e uea of.Seaforth of a 325125 - P. P.O.L.I . 343144 - Loyal Edmn Regt 324138- Oarl•ton •Yorka 324125- w . : ~ . s . R . 315126.A patrol from • A ~ Coy contacted the enemy, aud a t t e ~ •xohanglng t1re, t i l thdriw

to report on • ~ • •Coy oarrlers took 111 to their r e a p e c t l ~ e oompaniea, ratlona aa4 rum lasueeJCooks iD •A• Echelon, sent out pies tbo7 had bake4 for the troopa 1a the line,and were a ~ e r y welcome fare to the ordinarJ meala.Light shelllna 1n the Bn area during the night, otherwta• qQ et.

Stand to. At 06)0 bra, the enemy heavily shelled and mortared ~ h e Bn area.&nemy tanka reported o p e r a t 1 ' ~ 8 1n the area of 326140, Sheet 147 (1-.t) •All ~ r o p p s warned to be on the alert for h e a ~ y enemJ ooanter attaoka.

Small arms f i re forward of t h ~ :Battalion• poai 1ons, 1n41oate4 the P f c. L l .

who were tn the mo•e• had contaoted the enel lJ.The Loyal BdlBll Rest reported that thay had o o n t a o ~ e d the enemJ', and theP.P.c.L.I. reported that they were being heav1l1 oounter att.oke4,

Itemarks, 1·eferencesto Appendices and

initials

I

; If

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY-" .P.l i .U4.0/P S/ 87 (11/62)

R


War Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

\ \.\ Title pagea will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplloate kl be

forwarded to 0. ifo 2nd Eohelon for disposal.

/

Place Date Hour

In the Ple ldI1'ALY Deo 083(

43 0930

1000

i1100

1300

1530

1700

1900

j

l

Era6e heading net fequind)


(~ o n t 1 n u e 4

ifhe fl1taa t lon on 1 he1r r i gh t flank be1ns aer1ou.a.

he Carleton York Regt o ~ e d t h a ~ 3 Mark tanks had been de•tlOyed

and ~ h a t they had taken many prtaonera.he ~ o . o . Major. s.w. Thomson, attended a Bde Oonferenoe where lt was

deo1de4 that •A• Coy of the Ssatorth of c w1 th a troop of tanka, would makea l e f t hook to the area of 310210 1n order to help the Y. reaoht Jelr objeat1-va..-.•A• Coy oame under the oommaDd of ihe ianka for thel r next moye.Bo oommun1oat1on trom A OoJ.Word. by other meant came t r ro• that . l Coy were on their objeot1Ye, and ba4captured many prisoners, deta1la very waaue.Beav7 a h e l l n l 1n the .8n Areas. A Ooy reponed 1A the area ot 306122.

c. Q. s. Jones or A Ooy, retu.rmna to B. H. Q. from his CoJ, broasht 1n aoetetle4 report of the Oo7'• auooeaeea. ~ b a t wlth a t lghtlna atrensth of 4), andt la ' support of ~ a n k e , they ha4 macle tl·.e l e ~ t hook and bad ooapletel7 aurprtaecl

tbe enem7, .and bad. killed many an4 had t ken from 75 - 100 prtaon• ra, 1nolud1ns,

the Bo Gom,rander, Adjutant, ancl 4 .Platoon Off1oera. he i Dka hatl cteetro7•4l ark 1 v tanka, 2 J/ lk Guns and J s. R OUAa1 Not a angle man ~ r o m A Oo7waa wvma.clecl throa.ghout the vrbol• aot1'-ln, and the men were l o ~ d 1A the pra1ae

of t l le1r tank a ~ a p p o n . 2 of ihe aupport lns \anka bogaed down, and oA or4erwfzom the fank Oommancle.r• were dodroJe4. ~ · t urnlng_ ower their poa1 t19E-•to the _ro l e1 nns W.N.S. R , A Ooy retarne4 to 1ta or1g1nal areaRat ione were brought to al l Coya, wh1ah 1nolucle4 a doa.ble lsaue of' Rum and

Chooolate Bara.

EnemJ ArtJ and Mortar tl:re •laokened down during the e•e.n1q, and l a t e r onexoept for oar own Art7 harraaalnl t t re a l l waa qutet.

~ A d j t . capt. K.S. Mgrdooh was •ent down ~ h e l lne alok. 4ar.lns the 4a7f fheduties of the Adjatant taken oyer by the I.o. LtJ A.W. G.raJ. the ~ 1 . 0 . oe1AI

lf.3AII.Lt; MoKenld.e,

Remarks, referencesto Appendices a.nd

initiala

I;

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI R YU..P.U. l1

B/8'7 (P/62)

R

Instructions regarding preparation ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Rege. VoL l.

\ t,' Title p a ~ will be prepared.

INTELLIGENCE SUMM RYOriginal, duplicate and triphcate to be


/

Place

In t he Fie ld

ITALY

tJf,P-'

t..f.,.j

Era.e heading not required)


.Dec

43

0600

0700

1000

1015

Stand To- Interm1ttant enemy shell flre 1n Bn area. M.G. Fire prominent 1a t h e ~forward area•. Ad.anoe B.H.Q. m o ~ e d baok to rear B.H.Q. ln s. L E A N A R D 0 •Major S.f. thomson attended a Bde Oonferenoe at wblob 1 ~ ~ a • deolded that theSeafor th o f c wo"ld take o•or area•eYaeatect by the le t Ide.

•o• Group a t wh£oh the J/O.o; ·outlined the s i tua t ion on oar fl'Ont 1n pnen l . , &laoa t a ~ e d the w e a l d moye forward and take over poa1t1on vaoatecl by other Resta.

A 007 332;1.19 - B Coy ~ 9 - C Coy 315107- D OoJ 322113 B.B.Q. 332119.

Our Any sen\ o•er a heayy oonoentrat1on of t1ro to help tho lrcl .Ne who • • r •

advancing torward of oar po»1tiona. Onr. Birforoe were oyer a t ~ n g and bom-tna

enemy post t1ons. J The e n e a ~ y •hel let the lin area, b ~ a v l l ) cl U'lng the mol'D1ns.1700 Coy/reported ooneol1dat1on and d ~ 1n 9 1n aew areas. £nem7 shel1lft8 COJ

Areas, C81181ng 8 few O&Ralt1&1i .he enemy were p11tt1n·c up a • ry .atu.bborn r a d a t a n o • ~ and were srtm.ly oonteet1aaeyery :toot of sroun4.. T h ~ y _uaa4 the i r Art7 and Mod.ara II. th pod e : t t e o t ~ The

topopaphy of the ooWlt:ry waa .flat a l l 1r; :taYour of the defender, the onl7

shelter trom enemJ t i re belna ~ h e od d· hou•• and deep a l i ~ trenohea, a v ~ r yd1t:ferent type of warfare to wba't t b Bn haft been aoouetomell to 1n tbe moUAta1Da.

15 06oo Mancl To.. Intel 'lli t tant eneDt7 shel l1q.Doo

4 0800 EnemJ shel l lna arul mortar1.na ln and around B. B. Q. area 1n s. L A N A R D o •090) Carleton a tork Rep on o11r r i gh t f lank, reponed ••r1 heav)' ptns , ancl

enooanter1DI h e a ~ J ~ . G . and ~ o l t a r b f 1 r e .100 > Oomma.n1oat1ona .S.a •18 Set with al l Coya p ~ r t e o t .101 ) 1/C.o. Major. s . r. homaon, 1natmote4 •B• Co7 to aen4 oat pa tHle to oontaot


initials

the Eaeex and Ro7al Pu.a111er Repa on the i r l e f t f lank. •. • Co7 to mo•• to the

area of 3150J. •

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYU.l<I.U. l1oiO/ P & 8 / 87 ~ / 4 . : 1

R

In.struotions regarding preparati.on ofWar Diaries (whioh will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. R e g ~ ~ . Vol. l

Title pe.gea will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triphcate to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for dispoaa.l.

\ ~ . ,Place

In the FieldITALY

Eralle heading not required)


15 ( Continued)Deo 1330 B and 0 Coys reported oarrlera eent out th rationa and amWU t toa43 had arr i••d in ~ h e r area.

1550 Forward Bna reported that the anemy were o o n o e n ~ r a t l n a in the IU'ea of ll71)61n preparation for ·a ooanter a ttaok.

1615 s.L.l.. M.G. p a unlta aent oat o auppor' OoJ• in 4etena1Ye poa1t1on••

reported hat the road was blooked th1a a14e L ~ T o r r • b7 veh1olea • ldoh hatbeen put oat of aot1on bJ enemy f i r e , oAe or oar oarr1en amoaaat t b n aGd the

dr lver ki l led . he A c. o. 4eo14 ttl t·hat the road wae w:uler o •crtn&t1ora antmade arrangement& fo r \be t ranapor iat ion o:f auppl1ea · o ~ r : e ooya to be made

lay mulee.1600 R.C.&. offloer reportei ~ . B . Q . and atate4 tha he wa• or4ere4 to atne an

area forward of our Co7• 1n oaaeot

counter attaok• bJ the e&emJ•~ h e 4 / 0 ~ 0 . Major. s.w. homaon, 4eo1ded th&t this woal4 not be feaa1,le.Ooya laid on - ooal patrola.for the night.

2200 •A• Co7 r e p o r t h e ~ r 1 n g enemy 41gg1ng.1n approx JOO Jards from the1rpoa1t1one, and aaked tor Mortar f i re on th1a ar••• wbioh waa ~ t e 4o sbel l1ns tn the BR area 41U lns the night .

0600

0700

08CO

0900

Stand to.•1• COy reponed a number of tanka enaaatnl the enemJ N. w of tbe t r area.•c• Coy reported that, 4Re to a m1aan4erstan41na, the l r patrol 414 not oontaot

a patrol .from t.he Indian D1na1on dur1.ns the n1aht

R. 22 R. had cut the road a t 258o50• R.o.B. 0 ~ 1 o e r reportect t.o B.R.Q. 1dth

400 yda of barbed wl:re to be 11aed by the Ooya 1 f neeclecl 1D thelr areaa .B Coy reported bat J/ 'k Guna ln the t r area had a o o o u n ~ e 4 ~ o r 1 1 ~ ~ k 11' tank,1 Mark 111 tank, and 1 S.P. Gun.


initia.IB

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


MJ.M. 11

:Instruations regarding preparati.on ofWa.r Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. l .

WAR DIA BY

OR

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

40/P & S/S7 (11/62)

Original, duplicate and triphcate to beforwarded to 0. i /o 2nd Echelon for disposal.)

1Title pagea will be prepared.

/..,

Place

Inthe FieldITALY

Date Hour

16Deo 1115

43

-1600

-

17 0600

Deo4l 0800

1200

~ heading not reqtiired)


( Cont1•1led)I.H.Q. reaeived a seYere ansKing up when snem1 dtve bombera, bombeds. L : AN A n D o Tl1Et s.L. l . Sllp,·,ort Groap reoe1ved a direot h l t on the

house that they were in · aud ~ e ' f e r a l were k i l led and 1njur id.&nemy shel l ing of n area was muoh 11ght'er than on p:rev1ou.e daya.

A COy now bad 1n support; 2 ~ . M . G . •a, 2 j,/Tk Gwla and 3 ~ a n k a . B Ooy, 2 M.M.G. • • ,

6 J / k Guns and J twl.ka, also tWo • Mortare, 1 Medium and l F l4 r. o. o.»uring the lul l• the ~ . o . 1 n ~ ~ u l a t e d personnel 1n B.H.Q. tor T y p b ~ a .Brig. B.M. Ho.fftne1ster nai ted tr·e c.o. an< . stated that reinforcements wotll.d be

up to the Bn on the n e x ~ dar.Rations were b'rougbt 11p :from •A• Echelon. wbioh 1nalade4 Rulli.

Saoks of ' oranges and , apple pies baked by t t:e oook• in •A• Ech were alao brought

up.

All ~ u i e t . Isolated M.G. f i r e in forward areaa. 0 Coy reported oontact with

the Indian Di'Y patrol during night.the J/C.O., MaJor. s . ~ . Thomson, attended a ~ o n t e r e n c e at Bde H.Q., and OD hla

r e t ~ r n he 1nstruotad ••• Ooy to &Gnd a fighting patrol to the town ofs. J U B At f I to looate enemy d1spos1t1ona an7. No 5hell1DC 1A the area

4 ~ r n s tbe morning.•o• Ooy patrol repor ted tha t tey had entered s. J U B A 1 oc1 fount. the

J M. a L e a ~ ~ t h e onem7. The7. had taken ozae prtaoner foWl4 • leep1$8 1D. a h o ~ a • esau• o erenoe wars aal le4, to lte he14 a t '&he Se.Zonh of o H Q ·

at 1400 hoare. • • •

t the oonterenoe, Brig. B.M. Boffmeieter atate4 that the 2nd Ide woul4 h 1«

; : e 1 ~ : r ; : en t poa1t1ona, Wlth active patroll1ns tor at least 24 hDura

0

• 8 e was to a d v a n o ~ en oar front and take ap poa1t1ona 1n th•·;to1n1t•

Rems.rka, referencesto Appendices and

initials

ot the town ot 0 R 0 N A hey l l ld b7 Fld Re,ta, 2 Med1u and 1•hea.,-, :iua th : m : P ~ ~ · = o ~ : : r h e ~ ~ aclvanoe l»J , ,

aero hoar for the Arty oonoentratlon•. 2nd Bde to s u p p 0 ~ the ~ ' P i o \ \ r i ~ ' '

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM.P.M. 11.0 /P S/37 (ll/ 2)

R

Instructions regarding pN>parotion ofWar Diarie.s (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

\ tj Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate nd triplicate to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

7

Place

In the P1elclITALY

Date Hour

18 0600Dec

43 0800

0900

1000

1100

1115

--1600

19 0600

Dec 0800

1400

E r a ~ headiWJ not required

Summary of Events and lnfoi'Ul8tion

Stand to. •A• Coy reported their patrol ln the early houra of lao morning,was heavily mortared,. ba.t no caaaal ie$.rbe heav1ust barrage of t.he aan;pa1gn was l a id dow11 on enemy poa1 t iona.

4 enemy tank• and Troops reported 1n area 297127 heading NOR R 1n an attempt

to escape our Arty t i re .01'Y1l1ana report.ecJ the area in and around the town ot 0 R T 0 H A , hea'f11J

mined.O ~ r Arty ~ i r e oonoantrat1on aeaeed to a l ~ o w the la t Bde to a4vanoe forward.

The Arty barrage wa• o l ~ 1 m e d to be la rger and 'heav1er than tbe tamou1

•Alem t.n Barrage•, e ~ gun f r ns appro.x 500 roWlda.

The l • t Bd3 reported th8t they ha4 completed the f l ra t phase ot tbe attaok and

that the enem7 had withdrawn :f.rom the area of 320138.

Durtns tho ~ t e m o o n ~ a small number of re1D.foroemente reached the In and weredistr ibuted amongst the Coya.'l 'te ener-y _sml lo" s. ·z, A N A R D 0 • •P• Echelon otl the aouth Blde ot t he

/1'7.01 /.0 .11ver b H ~ , reported that tbe1l' area was be1ng ahelled bJ enam1 lo.narege guna. ·Coys holding the same poa1t ton• , d. th loca l patro l a dQrlnr; the nlght .

Stand To.

he 4/0.0. MaJor s.w. T h o ~ s o n attended a contarenoe at Bde H.Q. and apon

hla retgrn, oalled an •o• Group a t wh1oh he a t a t e ~ the 2n4 Bde waa to take

OYer the poelt1ona of the l s t Bde in prspara11on tor an attaok on 0 R T 0 N A •he Seaforth of 0 to t a k ~ oYer the poa1t1ona of the H.P.£. Begt.

I and 0 Ooya to m o ~ e forward 1400 hre- B.B.Q. 1600 hra, A and» Ooya toremain 1n ~ h e i r present poa1tlona ant11 a t te r dark.

B and C Coy• mond off and a r r l nd 1.n. tbe1:r aew areae. At l ~ l f hr•• an ach'ano•

party from B.H.Q. m o ~ e 4 fwd and eatabl18he4 themeelyea 1n the B . P . ~ . B.B.Q. a r e ~

Remarks, referencesto Appendioea and

initials

jil .

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYllJI'.M. 11

.0 / P B/S7 (11/42)

R

Instructions regarding prepara.tia.n ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. I.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARYOriginal, duplicate and tripLcate to be

forwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.\ Title pagea will be prepared.

Y

Ertue heading not Teqtdred)

Plaoe Date Hour Summary of Events and Information

IA t he l1e l4

200600D:;c

lfALY44

8-ta.o.d to. Th patrol from the Sao11t l a t o rraporte4 UleJ' &4 l 'eooe4 the u aaent to, and .bad obaene4 1 Qterman aentry on the I Oa4, bat 4 4 not • ••·DeJ al•o reported maAJ •s• Mln4ta aDd eUer M1ae• •tn• aroua th.e area.

0900 The 2n4 lk\a Command Po•t mo-..4 up l l l to t.he LR.Q. a r ~ a

09L5

1100 The J/O.O. M ~ o r s.w. T:bolleoA, . .t forward BA4 eda-.11ehe4 a oommaa.4 pollt

1d th a -.aatas* n•• o f the 1nteA4ecl · ·o-t 4Yanae1 aD4 kept la touoll 1l hthe 001 Ooma4er• u a 18 aet , 41reot1q thea all . t.b.l oa.p tu aot1oa.

1200 Oompaniea reponed ana a heaY1lJ m1ae4 u d 1 t waa h1n4ttft.n proan·••·

1245 D Oomparq reported the7 Wdre l.n OOAtaet wltll the OACJ1 11114 thel . - aappor t lq

tanka were caapna ~ : : n e 7 t a r p t e .


initiala

I

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


liVAR DI RYM P W u40/P S/87 ( ~ / 4 . 2 )

R

Instr.uotiona regarding preparation ofWar D i a . r i ~ s (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Rega. Vol. 1.

Q Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate 'and triphcate to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd E ~ e l o n for disposal.

( Er.a.e hea ding not required)

/


ln the Fit:l..t. 20 (oontinaed)ITALY h e

1 32r · 1

44» Com))&n7 reported tba t tb.e7 w ~ al.uw -, advaM1D.fl. ~ h e 7 ha4 6 oaaaaltiea

and we.re aak1ng 1'ormed1oal a: 4.

l 0C ~ h e y J.•eported that thei .r. Oompan7 il acl o o n a o l i t a · ~ ; e d 1n

that 0 OompaAy w ~ r ~ advano1ng t h r ~ u g h them.

tbt re ot JlSlS5 m 4

1 500

153<

;k153

0 Company rep•r ted tAat they w e r ~ e n g ~ n s tha enemJ, with the aupport ot tanka,1n the v1o1n1ty of the Chllroh. The7 were ma.'UJll aoo4 proare••·

C Oompany repertei that th•y had driven o ~ f a. o o w ~ : ~ ~ . r a t t aok aacl were aow

being hea'filJ ahellecl and mortared bJ the enem,-. The7 aake4 t o r a r t J :f'1H

to be l a id on the enemy pon t1ona.

The ~ c o Major s.w. Thomaon, 4 e o 1 d ~ d tha t he would aend l ~ a t o o n A Oo7long the ro d nd ahore aa a :right t la i l l t proteot1on to C Company. 0 Compan7

reported rnany enemy maob.1ne p poat11 in the oharoh t1 rtna OA them.

180<: Capt. D. s. llarle7, o.o. 0 Company l inked u.p w1t h t.he Lo7al Ecmonton llegt oathe l e f t :flank• who had reachecl th& ou.ter f ~ 1 n s e o f the town, ancl oame antler

oommand tha t Unlt .hr lna 0 OompanJ' • attaok, oa the Ohu.roh, wb.1oh waa thwar tel 1t7 Jl. G. a, a tank,an4 many hand 1renadea extenii1'Yel7 uaet and t h ~ w n over t l» ol1f t oa to theforward platt.ona, Lieut . :L B.obinaon wa• k i l led ancl L1eu.t. lianlnirr WQIUl4e4.

,


initials

Company clus ln tor the night )Ov yarda ~ e l o w the i r o - ~ • o t 1 . , . . uclergo1Jlg _ /

oonatant mor ar t1re. .

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM,P.M. u

B/ 87 ~ ~ )

R

~ P I \ : I i t j , q n QfWar Diaries (which will fie kept from £listday of mobilization, creation or em.bodi•ment), are contained in' F.i. Regs. Vol. 1.

) { Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGEN E SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplioote to beforwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

/

Place Date Hour

In the Fie ld 060vITALY Deo

44

1300

{

1600

E YJ Je heading l IQt required)

Summary of Events and Infoi'Ill8tion

Tlle Loyal ~ d m o n t u n Regt and C Coy of 1.he Se_afor th of C a.dvanoed i n to theSouth and ~ v 1 1 t h .c.aat ext rami 1Biiil o.t tlWt .town, the :.;Q.mont on• a d v a n o ~ d forward,

aud C cvmp ny to the area of t l ~ Cila.rah. T.he f1gbt1ng wa• 1t111 atltf ' , but

good prcgre a was made and t appeared t ba t the town might be oleared bF n1ght.

Howev8r, the enemy ParatroopEtra aoon wbowad ~ l 1 e i r in tent ion o f ho ld ing what they

bad, wl:l,:,n they were pushed )aok in to ~ h a centre and hear t o f the town·. There,

the b11ild1nga were packed toge ther and tha a t r ~ ~ t • were narrow, allowing theGttl'IIlatl to demol1ah the h o 1 u ~ a and by dotlng 110, t h ~ atreet1 w ~ r e eompletely

blooked.

I t wa deo1cied t ha t the Seaforth of C w011l,d detaoh another oompany to theLoyal ';dmonton Regt •a oo;nmand to re l ie ·ve one of the i r own ooya from tha job

of l e f t f lank protection, thua allowing th81r unit a oommittal of moreat ~ n g t h for the t a sk of houae clearing.J .

•:a• Company was t o ld of: f for t h i ~ a t a . ~ k .::..nd aet ou.t at 1300 hra , however theBrigade C o m m n a n d ~ r deoided to emploJ a maz1mam ef fo r t to ~ h e t a ~ k , aad

ordered tbe en t i re Bat ta l ion to aa iat tha ~ o y a l ~ d m o n o n Reglment.

All Companido wore 1 t : - i ? ; new polli t iona. A Coy 330li2, BHQ 3371.59 0

0 Ooy 335li2, D Coy 3 3 0 ~ 6 5 , B Coy 3351Q3.


initials

The 0. 0. •a and I . 0. •a j 'eep and the 22 wet vebiole moved 11p to thtt oharoh where

B ~ H . Q . had j o ~ n e d 0 Coy H.Q. Then t h ~ e v 1 d e n of 0 oompany 1 a a t1 f f f1gbt

remained, ali they were b••J lta.ryl.ng the i r own and enemy dead. The o o m p a n i - : ~ aoaliilu&lt i e a being 7 l t l l led and m n y . L t W v i n d ~ d d111'1D.g the a t t aak on the ohuroh.

The enaroy htlav1ly mortar•d and shal led the .Baatalion area d11rlng the Dight

oauaing a ~ v e r a l oaaualt1e•. The ~ t a l 1 o n • a etrength b ~ 1 n g a t tha t t ime524 a l l ranka. D Coy re l ieved an .l .idmonton Regt OoJ 1n tbe •eotor ot the to w ll.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYAl .P.M. 1140/ P & S/S7 (9/ 42)

R

Instructions regarding prepara.ti.on ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodi:-ment), are contained in F.S. Reg . Vol. 1.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARYOrigine.l, duplicate and tripbcate to be


ln thu F1sldI JLY

Date Hour

22 06 utDee

44 080(

Erau heading not required)


The i :naiD)" • t t l l ahe l l ing ana w C J r t a r i ~ g t h ~ .B&Lt alion 4 .

» OompanJ wa• oommi t t ed to the town ~ i g h t and W4Jre ptltuu.na ap 011 the let"t

~ l a n k ooming untar heavy e n e ~ 1 M.G. f1re.

093( U OomplW.J' r ~ p u r t t t d ~ n e r u y c o n o ~ n t r a t l o n .

r

l0 3C Mortar 'omba f a l l ing in .I.B.Q. area and •e t f1re to ths aomuuli t i on t.ru.ok b e l o n p q

to tiMJ AAt1 tank platoon, the exploding Bm ll:dt1on aatt1ng f l r ~ to he ~ e e pbelongins to the I .O. Lieut. A.W. GraJ, deatroy1ns •ame. A part1, with the a14

of a rope, d r a ~ e d a o a r r t ~ r &I) d. the 22 Set Vtl.biola to aa.fety. the A/0. 0. MaJors 11 Thomao.J:4 a t a sref4t r lak , d r o T ~ bla jGep oat of the 4 a n a ~ r aone. Oont1nRou•

t3nem;r morta.r f i re in LB. Q. area a l lt h ~

mor.DJ.na, one bom'b •t.r1k1ns the roofof the charoh whloh waa oooup1ed b;y I H. Q. , there were no oaa\laltl t ta.

1 30( ]) Compan;r repcrted t h ~ y W9.N ad f'ano1ns. lntt m ~ e t 1 n a W1 tll heavJ d i U ~ m y opp••1 1ona l l t.b.e way • l1e enomy bQ1ng w ~ u ~ n · t r n o h 1.n demo•1 abed b.Uld:lns•·

1 50(

1 80(

J. Comp&DJ rdpOrted t ha t they hP.d oltaened aD &DemJ m&Ut i p le a o n u 1D &Oi.OD.

approxlmatlay l /4 a mile from helr . P. Dauins the 4 q , the •a t t a l ion

J/Tk p n a :a. re cl manJ roand• o B. J::. and armo U p1 ero1ng ahe l l • 1n e the ensm7

ooeapled hoaaea ln the to"Nn, and t.b.a Battal ton 3" mortar• cl14 a 8plead.14

3ob Oil aeleoted tarae-ta..~

J. OompanJ were warned b J 1 ~ . IC.

o.Major '1. Thom110aa o moye at • m1nu:t•'•

aotloe to tlle area that bad lleea oooap1e4 lt7 D OOJ the pranou• D i p t

.be eneDlJ' llllall1ns a.a.d mortar1.r».s qu1eteaed. d o n 4arlns the eve.Diq, .c& Oo7oarr iera were •ent forward from •r• .Echelon w1 th ammWilt1on aad rat1on•.


initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


WAR DIARYU.P'.M. 114,Q/P B/ 37 (9 /U)

OR

Instructions regarding pt•eparation ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from :firstday of mobilizat ion, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

g itle page1 will be prepared.INTELLIGEN E SUMMARY

Original, duplicate and triplicate to beforwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Plaoe

In t lw F1eJc1

I ALY

ETa. ~ i n 110t required)


22DEC

44

2J:DbC

44

200

Coont1nue4)

Brlsadler LM. H o f ~ e l a t e r 1Dtormed th• A/0 o. Major s. w T lom•on tha t a.wa• now promoteQ to the .rank of .A/Lt.-ool.

• OompaGJ mo'Y-e4 1n.to the s o ~ t h ~ a a t aeotor t:be to• prlo;r to • p l o p nt

1nto the- Ught 1n the ea r l J mornins.14- . t . w.D. Re14 took over the datte.a of A d ~ a t a n t aa capt. LS. M•rflookl e f t for Englan4 oA 1Dter)ohange.

Spaaodlo t::tl&JD7 ebell1na of tblit lh a r ~ a d l l r tq the nJIE)lt an4 in the earl7morning hcv..n. Capt a ohalllll, o. o. •:a• ~ m p i l J went forward at fir U tlt

to the lof t o t tba l.oJ-.1 ~ 4 m o a t o n Reaiment 1.o reooe t.l:» a1taat:loA l'eat otthe matn atree t llll th a W. ew to move l:lla oompany 1nto tha.t eeotG2' to ol.aar

ou.t J¥; ent..'tllJ there.

oglJO The c. o. ,¥Lt. ool. s. w Tllomaoa weat forwar4 to 41r6ot k ojerat10A8 troa

a Y O I l ~ a g c polli t lo.a, ••leet1ne a ~ a l l 11Ma1lc11115 in the ma1a. afl R .

l OuO the water t raak arr1••4 a t J..B.Q. aDd waa moat weleo••• u l l the nll .a lA

the towa l d aoatt 4r7.

UOO •ea'f7 ••7 mor, rlns of B.B.Q. uea . (;)eomp n7 ao••d ap to the lef t flUlk

tb.tt Lo7al Mmoaton Realmen'· \..../

1300 O rder• ar.r1Ye4 a t B.Q. 1d th ibrt· :rations an4 . . ••nt to t.he1 r re•p.. in

eo,••


initials

I

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM.f'.M. 114n/ P S/ 37 (9/ 42)

R

ln str uotioll.S regarding preparation of

War Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. VoL 1.

pagea will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triphcate to be

forwarded to 0. i f o 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Place

I n theFie ld

I ta l .J

-J

- I

' r I

r a ~ ~ e heading not t·equired)


2JDEO

44

( Cont1 nne d)lie< I Ooy reported that they t ad advanced 50 .varda and had ~ n o o u . p t e r e d st1f'f enemJ

o p p o ~ t o n al l th6 way •

l40t

. ,i

A/Company waa warned to prepare th4;;1r € : V ~ ; 1 l 1 n g meal and .tct be ready to moTe o f f inI

an hov_r and a hal.f. ·2 c f tb ~ t t ~ o n t Tk guna to &tand by A Coy 1n oaae

they w e r ~ n.:;aded.

1730 A Company mo-yed furward and 11nk.• lli up w1tl, B Company.

l8 <X The oompan1e• se t t led down in &trong defuna1ve po:.1t1ona to r tiHfiUllgh.t. Che

24D ~ C«

06Ct

A tnat1on now waa tllz.t 3 c o r u p a n 1 ~ s weJ.•e eng2l}ad in ·the hou.ae to hou.att t1ght1agt

~ o o m p a n y on the lef ' t an d @ and D oom1;anit=1 of the r1ght fiank1ng the Lcyal..U.:dmonton R ~ g t . 0 Company oonaol dated in tre area from .B.B. Q. a t the ChtU'oh335163 to the a q ~ a r • 3311,5. I n t ~ r m 1 t t a n t ~ n e m y ahelllns and mortaring 1nthe Bat ta l ion area a l l night .

~ h e oompan1 s were s t i l l holeting liJame posit ion• deap i t • heavy e.n•my lilhall andmox-tar f1 re.

080< l C fJ..oer and 8 other rank• r e n f o r c ~ ~ : t m e n i a arr ived and were ent 011t to A OoJ

who&e atrength waa badly depleted. The nlght Jlad btten a -yery t ry ing one forthe oompanlea, aa the enemy were uaing dewol1t1one oxtena1Tley and their ~ r o l •were q u i t ~ aGi'Ye wltb grdnadea and maoh1ne p1etola. A number of hou•••

blew up durlng the houra of darkneaa.

10 0( Todq·, the obje ot1-.ea e a l&ritit damollahed ohuroh, the town •ehool, m 4

oomr:nand of d ~ a i d horae Square", 11 named beoau.ae o:r a dead horee lJ ing ln theoentre of the Sq11are.


initials

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY.IILl .M. 1140/ P & S/ 3'1 4 ~ )

R

Inatl'Uctiona regarding p r e p a r o . t ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobiliza tion, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. VoL 1.

};, ' Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and trip:..cate to beforwarded to 0. i/ c 2nd Echolon for disposal.

/Era.e heading not required)


24D ~ C (Contina.,;d)

44 l OOO T.beae bu1ld1qe boilla were a1 tuatefl 1.n tb1• aqaare and. oollaeqaelltlJ• aa

approach t o them from t h ~ oompany poa1t1oaa nBoe••1'a"• ' ••ry bul4 effor t •by the OCl' par i b a. : . f h ~ d po .ltJ.Liona V/&re ~ i i . l n ~ d b7 n1ght:f'al.l..

. i 200

lJ.lrvM-6

The t t nl 1on Jv'Tk gtt.ns woJl t 1nto ac t i on ageinat bvJ.lti.RIII in tbe area ot350. 4 , 1n wil.1crt the cn u t'Y hc l<l c; t rcngJ.y toz't1t 1wd t l . G. po•t• .

l O O The Q M Cap-t. D. D. <laaeJ'Oa, m c1 atat:r, b r o a p ~ ooo.tlq eqca1,.G"t and npp l l eaa.p to J.H.Q. 1:t.l the o h u r o ~ 111 prep&ratio.u Lor Cllr.Lataae I n ~ r

5 0 0The

P a c i l ' ~ .l.aJor. R c

•li.

l A l r n t c r J ~arr ived at

» . H . ~ .pointetl .J remarklq oa04 lis 9ntranoe J Well, at l as t I •..e aot y o ~ l l 111 Ohttroh . 1 ' h ~ Ja dH 1e

alwaf• eqa.al to oooaea1one auu DeVilr t&1la to oau.ae a 4eo1da4 a p l l ~ t 111

api 11.t wbe:reftr .be aoea.

510 .B:d.ga4e Headquarter• roporte4 that , 1n the Dight the enaa7 had oa:Lle4 f'or

l ' \ J < l ~ o r o " m 4 n . 1 : a u 1 •1r oanal t1tua l r l q the l g h ~ S . n s 111 tiJe towa. hacl beeAhip.B Oompanr r ~ r t e d . -th•J ha4 o'baene4 A oomp&n7 on the i r o b ~ e o t 1 Y e aad thatupport1na ·t&Dka were 4o1DI a -.cdel"lal of G l u t 1 q tba 8ll81D7 ca-;hou.aea.

1530 l te1nforoementa1nolad1aa6 0;[.f1oera an4 85 other ranka a r n n 4 a t B.Q.,

ano.u1•"t them t e i q manJ famil iar aoea. 11aJor J lowa.n t •J• .&ohelcalaa4 posted tllem to the i r reapeot1.Y\l compaD1ea before the7 l e f t there.

Remarks, 1·eferencesto Appendices and

initia B

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM.F M . 11

S/37 9 / 4 ~ )

R

In.stroctions regarding prepamtion ofWar J)iaries (whiah will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation m· embodi-ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. l

- Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate ~ m d triplioate to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Place

In the .FieldlTAJ,Y

Date Hour

24l ' l ~ C44 1600

25

D.i IC44

1700

1800

{Era8e heading not required

Summary of Events an d Information

( Oon.t1 u ~ : 4 )Major ~ . c . B . Janoe o.c. •A• Coy waa r e p o r t ~ d ki l l ed ln aot1on and Capt. ~ e JaeiiWiled Oom 7 and o f the Oompany.

Lieut . w t:l Hyndman or...d his J\llfk Pla toon ' l l ~ r plaoad W l d ~ r t h ~ coma.and o:t the

lio)'al. ~ d m o n t o n Regt to a•ll1at 1 1 ahootilll ap the 1 , . ~ . t1p or thB tlo)WJl wl 1ohwaa proving an Q n ~ m y atrong po1nt. t ~ ~ ~ o t o r waa too cloao 0 o ~ r eoya

fer tbs a r ~ i l l a ~ J aappo£t, howe•er, th6 house1 were a a o e ~ a f u l l y encage4.

The CCmpsn1ea were aoc ntertng ~ a v y ~ n e m 7 opposition aroQnd •Dead Horae Sqaare•

A OompanJ reporte4 tha t they bad one aeotioA in the o h ~ t o h b1t te r l J f1ght1n&

tha Gemans who wore at ontt end of t l l l oharo)l., tae ohuroh now lJelng ll rlli».l.

T:ta en.am7 t.b.e oompanies were . eaoou.nter1n.g \lfere a to:nnidabltt toe , · ~ h e Paratrooper•the orGam of' the German .ll'7DJ, ••ter11na on many war•• BR Mia, . l frioa. f ranoe

S1o1lf• and wttre tnatruoted by the i r Ot l ~ r • to Bgh t to th• la• t man.

nlr tng the day, the oompaLL1ea .b.ad ad·Janoet yery alowly, and Qt ld.ght were 1a

the p ~ t o a l . 1 a r opoa:l t lon of being 1n the aame lJGil.dlns• aa the ~ A e l l J ' , small M l4

srenade aort1ea taking plaoe a l l l l ight .

One aeattaa of A oompan7 satned oontrol ot t h ~ aohool• l iplns out r e a 1 a ~ a a e e ,bat tbe BnfllD1' new prepared ehargea Wlder the lnU.ldlna, arJ1aa ' o f the men.Attemp1• to t the men o ~ t t p r e annooaaarlll.l .

he Q.. Id.. Capt. ».B. Cameron apent a lnt•7 morn1AI

t1nncQP 4e ta l la :ror the

Chr11tma• .D.lDAer to be h4tld 1n the oha.roh •ooap1•d l.Jl.Q. The lroteot1YeGroup a a t part1ea of me.a. aroucl: nnne4 houaea 1a the t om oolleet1D& ehl.D.&ware.


initial.s

I

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM F M 11

40/P & S/37 (9/,21

OR

Instructions regarding preparation ofWa.r Dia.rios (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. I.

;2_.} TitJe pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplicate to beforwarded t<l 0. if 2nd Echelon for disposal.


Place Date Hour Sun:unary of Events and InfOl'IIl8tionRemarks, referencesto A p p e n d i c e t ~ and

initials - - - - l In the l 'ield

IT.A.LY44

5 (Oontinu•l)

0900 The aet t ing for the dinner waa oompl_.t e 9 loag rowa taolea ·Ni t l t vaute ' table

clotha, and a bott le ot • • • r p ~ r man, oandi•a, olgare t tes , nata, ornnaea an4e.ppl•• and ohooolat e oar• providing the ext rae.'.rt e o.o. Lt.-ool . : > W T . b o . n ~ S u l l la t d o a til&. t.b.e Compan.a.e• ~ ul4 eat i.a Nlaya

1n th• order ot <J-.&,..:8-D, aa eaoh oompanJ t11111iib.ed be1r 4 1 n n ~ : r they wuali.

then go orwa:r4 mtd re l ieve tha next oompm.t.J. The f ira·t oompan;v we.• to be 1na'l l l ou hra. 2 houra waa to al.Lot'Nd for ..:tach oomp&lJ for d 1 J l . G . ~ r .

~ h e mentA for the dinner ba1nac Soa.p, Pork wi L;h apple aauo•• eaul1tlot:trmixed v ~ g e : t a b l e • maahl d potatoes, graTy. Ohr1stma.s pudding and minoe pie.

llOO 0 Compe..ny was the l i r s t Coy to eat Dinner 1n the ohureh• a cU.nn.er tha t nooae

ha4 t e l po&ailtle ander auoh oond1 t lon• bu.t no one had t l l . l lJ taa ted ·tn•lnsenu.it7 and reao llroefo.l.lnesa; b e f o ~ · e of ~ Q.M. Capt. .D. a. Cam•ron aa4 ata1'f.

Fiero llOO h r ~ to 1900 hra, when the last aaa of the E&tta11on reluotantl7 l e f tthe table to re turn to De srim r4jal1 t1au o:r the day, there was an atmosphere

of e h e ~ r a.n.d sood fellowah1p in tb.e oharoh. A true Ohr1•taa• ap1r1'i.the 1mpo•lil1ble had h&pptJ.o.ecl. No OD ft had. looked t o r e. celei1'ation t l da aa,,»eeem)er 25th waa · to anotl l•r clq of ha:rd.abip, 4laeoll1'ort_. t e a r and ctar:a.s•r,aDDther 4ay of war. The e:xpr$11d.on of the taeea of the a:r t7 ltee.r•t• m•l'l aa .the7 entere4 the lnLS.lcD.ns,; was a rewucl that those re•ponail»le a:re aen:t- l 1 ~ e l 7to foraet.ft a Oempan7 bad fl. J'd.ahed the i r Urm.•r, the7 r8 l1• • • • A oompallJ ao tha t

theJ' might oome 'baok -the )08 or 400 yan• tor the •••• an4 ao .l .OJ rel1e"fe4

» Cey an4 B, Oo7.

1930 Jle lat'\ex- were to nooae r eaene CompaAJ, 'but the a1 tua'tlon ba4 I.I'Own teaae

W1 th 0 Compan7 on the l e t t t laak.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RYM.F.M. ll

40/P S/S7 (9/42}

OR


War Diaries (which will be kept froro firstday of roobiliza.tion, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

;;. Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplicate to beforwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

.rafJe heading not required)

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information

In th Ei . 1 ~ 1 ·

:·

44

26J)clC

44

C· >n t1 nu.e d)

Capt. J MoLec.n tol k• h i& Company bao.k into '.he f igh t Chri stma3 day waa no l u

lti.lct. iha'l hG : pt eoe<iing onvLi, b1.1t 11, la one that t h i s rtcg1ment ·.v1::..1 n&iel• fo rge t •.Pip'- ,,·taj o.r· .;s,.,on played hi.::, . . P i p ~ s . ; ~ e v ~ r ; , l t:uaes t . h r o ~ ~ g h o ut the I leals. .During

;.he· di.u.nor, the .::>tgual ( ; . f ' f i c ~ r , Lit.ut... C . h l < h ~ r i l t t e v - l pla.Y(;d the oh11roh c.rgan.;

and, w1 Ll1 t.he a1 d of an 1ilJprovl sed ol'.o1 r, G r g ~ : t n i z o d by t h ~ .Padre, Ca lolsl 'nng o ~ ; t ~ - . h r r . : , ; . g h o Q t . t.he choroh.

~ h e poz1tlon o f t h ~ Compa:l1:.:s a t t . b i ~ tlmti w a ~ L.hat the 3 fo-rward OQilpan1ea

A, .D. and C ra.ar 1ng in a l:ine from .)2816S to Jj2l72, w1 th Coy i l l .reaerve.Th(:: C l 1 u . r ~ ' l .had b 3 ~ n tal tun, but oonct:(\ud ba:}.k i <- l . . h \ : ~ .:,mc:ruy ~ A l . e n tJle bui ld ing

o o l a p ~ o d . dfle to the hHavy p JU J.ldl..•J.ts it had reo....;i'Ved .t.rom Ol.l.r liU.ppo.rt1ng : .anka75 r : 1 ~ gunu.

OrJy-i s t i l l .holo1ng tho aume p o a ~ l t1ons ~ u : i of thu p.r·t;v10UB n igh t . : . h o ~ J a1.11 ...

shel l ing and mortaz·lng the Bat ta l ion a.1.'ea.

> ~ u o M ~ r ~ Re1n:t'ct oatnent a a:rrtved an.d ;V'dl'e s ~ n t 01.1t 1.0. the oompaa1ea who•e ranl.:a

wt:re sadly Jepl.:.t ed du .; to heavy oaw11alt1ea.

9 3 0 we• Compan1 reported that a.:caona o:r one of the i r i ' l ~ . t o o r > . a had ~ e c n out ot:r

a.nd a t thB preaaut t1me 1 t wa• 1mpoaa1ble for tb.om to l lDk up > 4th the Joye.The enemy ware at1l atubbornlJ hold:ir-: on to 8tl'f 'eral houaes cle11p1 te aeverepoundlng by a l l ou.r support weapoaa.

1000 The c. o. A Lt.-col. . s. Thomson reported to B. H. Q. that h<t waa now fo.rwar4directing operat1ona.

' ..

Remarks, referencesto A p ~ n d i c e e and

witial8

M. F.¥ . 11

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


l

W R DI RY 40/ P & 6/17 (9/ 42}

R

Instructions :regarding preparatJi.on ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

> itle p ~ g e s will be p r ~ p a r o d .INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplico.te to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Erase heading not requ1red)

Place Date Hour Summary of Eventft and Information

In the Field 1000 c. o. l p o r t ~ 4 ~ b a t tanku were batns used to advantage and. the oomparU.••were a d a n o ~ alovrl:,y hoaae b7 bollae to th(J NORTH ~ n 4 of tbe town. meet1qheay7 oppo&dtion eyer7 ~ t e p o the Wftl.

ITALY D ~ O44

1100 ..\ O"mptm7 r t ~ p o r t e d thi:lt one of tl.te1.r '. Jtl.PPO:t'ting tanJts ba4 been kn(lo£•4 oatb¥ a. " a l J , f i& t t.raJ ~ c ~ J O I J I w - 3 s . ~ n l red from an o.pa"tal.l"a - . d o · ~ ct a .boat••·

1115 The Lo7al J;IJmoatoo ie&1 rupor1.ed tha t 1 h ~ ~ J I H m 7 uore lli1A& a llr.Jl(f.l l.brotMr

1.0. ·tJ\e1r a e o ~ o r , bu.t a f te:r elL reot1A& ~ f k n re 1n that ar.,a, a baJ.l41.naha• coUap1ed In ~ h e al.i..az whsN -llie 1 l u e t.b..rower waa Aee.t. u d 1 t wae ao t

enoonn-tored a;atn.

1.]00 C Ccmpun.y r ~ t p o r t e d they had reo0961'8d tlle:l% 2 111814 q at Gtlone in tac t . Some

o t the i l n 1 q men had. MUD p r t a o n a r · ~ t of the Ge:raana 1u a h o l ~ H t bl.--.t YrVretttrned oYel' looae, 1rhen oar troop• oaptured tm hoa... k l l l 1a , manJ •4

t a k i q 16 prl.oner•.

1400

1600

1700

L R .Q. mond f o r ~ md oooup1•d a lt\lilding in the o t m ~ r t ~ Q f tM to .

ltnaoael'• wrer• 'b.rousht 111 to LB. Q . • a l l wra -.er, JOU Jw ~ h e av- 'aae aa• \ e1q19.

the Ocmtan1•• report•« theJ were meett.As \d. S:h ronc ••7 oppo81t1on f naatroaS].7 tor i1 t le4 loa••• i t t the e:na o Jl. • Oar R J P O ~ taRka •r•

fJrS.q po1nl ' l u . k at tlle ho••••• a o a ~ r & l th• eaemy f t n .

h• OompaAJ oo.raM114ate4 for the n i p ~ 1A a l lD• t.l'a..Qa1aa tam J281'9 -to332112.

-

Romarks, referencesto Appendicee and

initials

M F M 11

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


· W R DI RY 40/P 8/i 'l {9/f2)

OR


Wlll' Diarios (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodi-.ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol 1.

Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Original, duplicate and triplicate to beforwarded to 0 i/o 2nd Echelon for disposal.

~ ~Place

In the .I '1eld

ITALY

.

1 7

Date Hour

26

Dh:O

44

27 O'Ot

D ~ C44

Era e heading not required)


( ov nt1 nu.e d)

CApi D.S. Harley, O.C. C Coy waaO t : f i o e r ~ . Lieut . s . Healy.

severley wounded, also one of h1a Platoon

Tl'. .e ,;JJ.effiy L.'t011'tar1ng al l night .

throughoa.t the night developing

Strong Aot;1va patrol on both s1dea, olashea

into a emall band g:r.enade war.

The Companies were st holding the same poaltlona.mortaring the Battalion area.

~ e m y ahelllng and

080( ttDtt Company reported e n ~ m y mortar f i r e on t he i r polid. t iona coming trom the a rea

of' .328165.

0 7 ~ <

09.3'

LO OC

111'

1 50(

ttO.tt Company reported. advano1ns slowly, progreaa hind•:red by heavy enem;yoppoa1 t ion. D Company reported 1:ayou.rable pro1reaa.

C Company reported that the;y were on objeet1 ve _ 3 3 0 ~Reinforcements arr1ved a t B H ~ and were diatr1ou.ted am.ongat the ocmpan1ea.

0 Company r e p o r t ~ d that a large factory at .330168 was atrongly occupied b7 theenemy, they were able to g ~ t into ~ h e basement of the building, but were

unable to get oa the f i r ~ t f loor wh1oh wa heavily for t i f ied by the enem;y.

An ttQtt G.rou p was held a t wh1oh the c. u. J/Lt . col . s. w. Thcmaon l a 1 ~ 1 t clownthat a t f1r t l ight, A Compan7 would attaok the factory holding tlp C Compall.J••

progreaa, would take 4 to 25 pound oprgea w th them arul demoliah the bu.1141ng.

Remarks, reference.sto Appendices and

initie.I.s

M.F.M,. l

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY oiO/P S/17 OJ/42)

R

Instruotiona regarding preparatiOD ofWar Diaries (which will be kept from first

day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

?, \ Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Origina.l., d klplicate and triplicate to beforwarded to 0. i j o 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Pl aoo Date Hour

In the Fle l d

27

ITALY 150044

28] ~ C44

0800

ugoo

1000



(Con .1 nue d)

D Company to croes thtt a t ree t from whel'e t.hey w ~ r e hold1ng oa.t no_,., and wtpe

out a l l oppos l ion. The Loyal ..t:.dmonton a ~ s t would cont•rm w1 th the ;:)eaforth

of C a.ad in oonjWlotlon with them, eatabl leh a la \eral l ine. The P.POLI 'would then mo-.e throu.gh. and olean up tho remainder of tm towa around theoemetary arsa.The qompan1e& to mainta in aot1Ye Htm l l l dlll'ing he evening and night.:

~ n e m y &hell1ng and mortar ing yery l igh t t h r o 1 1 g h o t ~ t the night . J.otl Ye patrol l ing

on both li1 de a reilu.l ted n many olaahea.

Compen1ea reported. enemy -.ery quie t , no 11 re at a l l .

2 a:l. Yilian• repor ted to B.H.Q. that the t:nemy had v4 thdra. n ~ r o m tha town a t

0430 hr1. The c.o. 4/Lt.-oolJS.W. Thomaon repor ted th1a lnformatlon toDr1gade Headq1.1artera who a t t.hs 1ame t ime bad reo1ev4td a s imilar repor t tmmt ~ e Lo7al ~ d m o n t o n RegLment.

J /L t . -oo l . t>. w 'l'homaon 1natruoted A and B oompan1e1 to ~ e ~ l the i r way :forward

and cend baok 1n:torma.t1ona t onoe.

The n g a d ~ Comman.der. .Brigadier .B.M. Ho:ffmt-:1eter ar.r1.Yed a t B.E.Q. to e o m ~ t m c lfur ther operat1o:1a :from there .

F10m repor ta the oumpanl e a aen in to B. H. Q. , 1 t waa en den. t the enumy had

w1 thdram fNm ORTON A B9 t#Aded a lona blodd.J ae1ae. Which waa l1ke».acl tobJ the Pr e_aa a11 a miniature Beige o Leningrad.

-

Remarks, r eferencesto Appendioee and

initials

M.F.M. 1140/P S/87 (9/ ,2)ln.struotiona regarcting preparation of

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


W R DI RY

RWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodi-ment), are con tained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

J T i t l e pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

Origi.n.a.l, daplicate and kl Jiicat.e to beforwarded to 0. i o 2nd Echelon for ctisposal .

-Place

l .n tm Fie ld

ITALY

heading not required

Date Hour Stmllllal'y of Events and Iniormation

21D ~ C44

(Conti nu.e d)

llOU The oompan1es r ~ p o r t e d t ha t the town was o l ~ a r o ~ tha e n ~ y . but the roada

and atreeta were heaVi.ly m1necl, and many ·the bu.11Q11lga booby t rapped. l'hey

aaked for the ~ n g l n ~ e r • to asll1 at them by aweeplng patha through the m1n••·

1200 1200 z Light .A;.:k .Aok Un1 t a movEtd into ORTvNA 1n preparat ion againat expected enemy

at. r a t t aok&.

29Di :C

44

1210

1600

A Compeny reported they bad enoo untered no enemy and bad ruaohed and f'ound at ear tthe gully 1n the n. w •eotor of t l ~ town, had ob•erved mo•ement 1 on theother 511de of the g \ l l l ~ y . and asked fo r the Batt al1on • Mor, t a r a to f i r e

on area. The c. o. ~ L t . - o o l . W Thom•on la1 d on aa aho•t w1 th Arty FOO.

but lAe ahoot waa oanoelled when A oompany reported mo•ementa o-aeryed wereI t a l i an a1 villanw mak1ng tlle1r way toward the town.

~ h e Loyal. ~ d m o n t o n e g l . m e n t r ~ p o r ~ c d that an vld l 'ort an i a r ~ a which the

enemy had o o o ~ p 1 ~ d wa now elear.

1800 6 ~ n e m y planes a t tacked the town atraf1ns the strdeta and dropping 2 bomb•.

Ack Aok defense2 aooounted for one of the planes.

~ x c e p t .for a snal.l amo .unt of shel l ing 1n the tovJD. the nigh t waa very q t ~ 1 e tbr1nainc to a oloae ono of thw tougheat and blo4d1eat bat1ea the b a t ~ o nha fou.ght i n/ '·

Dur1ng the day, the town beoame a h1•e o aot1vl t7 aa AMGOT and var1ou•other o ~ f 1 o 1 a l mo?ed 1n.

Remarks, referencesto Appendioee and

initiala

W R DI RYM P M40/P S/17 (9/42)Ina.truntions regarding preparation of

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


RWm· Diaries (which will be k ~ p t b>oi:n firstday of mobilization, m•eation or embodi

ment), nre contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMM RY

. Original, duplicate o.nd triplicate to beforwarded to 0. i /c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

7Pla.ce Date Hour

In tha Fie ld 29

ITALY44

JGDo;;o

44



( oo u t.1 nut:d)

T h ~ Mobile ~ h o w e r s baths arrived• and t h ~ Q.M. Capt. D.n. C a m ~ r o n arrangedf.o.r the mer.. to have shower• and aooea• to ths1r large paoks, 1h ere the7 cou.lclget claan clothes to ohange 1n to af te r bathing. I t wae the f1rat t1m 1n

days t.bat t h ~ troopa were able to re lax and olean up:Burial part ies w·..:rtj organized from the o o m p a a . 1 ~ i i i to bury our fal.lan oomradea.

Act1v1ty wail l imi ted to looal pat.c·ols and the c o m p a n 1 ~ a moYed in to thefollowing a,rt;;as. A oompany .330169• B company jJ2170 0 Coy .)29172, Coy329165 and BHQ 3.3166. During the day t h ~ Jrd Cdn Inf Bde made a lf ' t flanid.n&m o v e m ~ n t contacting tlhe ~ • e m y our own front be1ng very qu.1et. ·

Tht: Brigade C o m m a n d ~ r ca l l ed 1u to the Sea.forh of c B. B. Q. for and •o• Grw. p

f here he sta ted that th;;;: 2nd .Bde would remain 1 .. ORruNA for a m0nth 1.D ad e : f ~ n s 1 ve :role, aadafor r ~ o r g a a 1 z a t 1 o n and re-equ.ipment. All troops to

be b l l le tod 1n h o a . a ~ s d.Ltr1.q tha t per1od.A smal l ao 11nt c:f - d n ~ m 1 sl1ell1ng i a t i t ~ town ckZ.r1ng ~ h e night .

Already, labou.r was oe1ng Horu i t ed from t ~ a1v111an popQ.latio.n tor thep11rpoae of cleaning the ~ o w n . T h ~ ~ h 1 r d Brigade p a a a ~ d thrv .gh the

town and took up pol1 t1ona 1n tho area oi l l l l .

All oompanlee spent the day 1n g ~ n e r a l olean up ld rest , al l men\now

'b1ll et ed 11f hou.eea.

Remarks, referencesto Appendicea and

initials

. o f ~

M .F,M . 1140/P &S/37 ( l/ 42)AR DIARYInstmct•ons regarding preparation of

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


RWar Diaries (which will be kept from firstday of mobilization, creation or embodi-ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.

•L Title pages will be prepared.INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Original, dup licate and triplicate to beforwarded to 0 . i/ c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

)_y

Place Date Hour

l a •ll• 11•14 atI ~ · ALY .D .iO

44

( Jilrmn heading ti t req 'ired)


(c.ontl nae<l)

Lt • ;..ool. A.J. Orelpton arn-.e4 to aaaume oomarad ot th• llattal1.ea. .1/Lt.-ool.a. 1. l'hom80A rcWerto6 to the rank of aJor 1A preparatS.oa tor llia re ' \un •oBnJl.aA4. M.ajOJ' 1). ClU'k a.rrJ.Ye4 to takt: OTer Ule cl\'dlea Of 2 l/••

A mal l smou.t o e h e ~ a te l l on the ou 1.ak1rta of t o a f t r . t .q the .Dipt •

1 m o.o. Lt.ool. A.J. Oretchi.oa aoeoapwu.•cl bl the 2 1/o 1a.a3or Clark, ucs.•laiC a t o t ~ r of the eompN17 areaa.

44Oompan1ee orgaa1ae4 put1sa to eleaa •P the i r raap•otl•• a:reu. B ta ,arMeaa4 steoral oieaa ap were 1n one.r aJ.l cJAQ'.

Co7 (k.•aa:ulen prepared. 4etd plea• of t-heir a:r .u 1a ou• o t ooaa,eJt a h u ktht;t cem.J.

the Mld.l1&.rl' ~ m o • • U.r.i."fe4 1a t o a , eA 4•014 . . o e.bojf a f1 l s ta •• e ttile ttu1141D • ~ l l e aext eYein e

Ot:f11S.U.& , . , . . . to 4r1.tt ia :f.l'OII 1411•• a 4 were p:rGIIp'tlJ laaadle4 7 AIICW .

o •••u1-. cla.nq tho "'7• lMlt u ta• •-.••as.int.o ·tlM:t t.owa.


initial&

.

, I

pf

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


S:&AFORi'R HI G HLANDEBS OF CANAll .

DP.DIC3B fO WAll DI.altt JIIC1IMJIII 19\3

OUG. DOPJ.. BIP.

1. J altt 11 Orclen

2 4f t • 3001 -.a 3009 X

' Me• .•recelYW 41U'1Jlc Deotal*l' X

Cbr ia t - cnetbsl o aU 'hoopfrena t l l l ._ Oo•••ter X

5 .'ra.el et. . . . . llluf1el4 b Oll OBA AJII6. X

6 Dttal lat a o c ~ o u et Seat.n t. af o. u.a .1.

u14 'b7 ottioen a\a,t.oaet Sa V.I. X

7 Oc=end.hc Ottwr• • ad. OoaNacSu••4eWld aocout• of Aotiou Ia Dloabv 1,a.3 X X

SEAFORTH HlGHLJfiDERS OM C4N.AllA..

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


OPENDIOES TO WAR :DIARY t-··-5Ec. 4.3.

I • .PART Il_ORDKRS

2 A F W •s 3 0 0 8 ~ 3 0 0 9J MESJAl6Ei3 H ~ C • ..JUR ll1J DEC.

4

5

6 , Dl ;TAI:L.B:D ACOQUNT OF S ~ A l ' O R T H OF C

ORIG.

.......·

XX

X

x.

ANNlTAL :OINN.ER H ~ " L D BY OF1:1ICERS X

STAL lON Kl> IN ~ R U.K.

7 • 0 •0 • •a AND COY OliDRS. DEfAIL.hil)

AOCuUNTS OF -ACtiONS IN D2C.4.3.X. x

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


/< lv AA

c ~ e r ~

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


• 'TH' . S A1;0RTH UIGHtAHDERS ·oj GA •· AC .

· lie;s t : I > n n e ~ , London, 30 · 6 c ~ 4 ~' . - <

· 1 ~ i , , ,_ Brit'; J . R.oS. Lough," 'Lt-c-ol <h'S. ·Clark arid fajor . . J ~ · Gri f f in

conati tuted themaelvss a ·eonimittee to examine· the ~ o l i a 1 ' b i l i ' t t " % J aholding an Annu.al Dinn ..r fo r lUch o f the Officors of the Regiment aswere 1n . : l . n g l ~ d_ .

' ~ ; > - : \

2 . . __ . f . t e r neces::tur y i n q u i r i ~ ~ t was foWld tha t some · f i f ty

Off icers . l ~ ~ ' e _expected to be avai lable . .- . This n ~ ~ e r - . & f l soon

a f t e r r e . d u e ~ a ·bJ. a draf t of some 17 Officers ...preclf'Min ' ov&r-kas, andby the unfortunate incidence or an exercise which involved a number ofthose serving a t H.<. , • .l;c"irat Cdn rmy and in i ~ r m y 't roops . The outlookappeared dark on th i s account as a numbr$r of o l < . i - t 1 m r s were thusi n v o l v e d : ~ Lt-col W.G.H. Roar, Major u.s. Gibson, Major D.W. Davidson,Major D.c. dutton, Capt c.c. Tarbuck, Capt E.D. Fulton, Capt R.B.M c ~ o u g a l l , Licut J.M. Bell-Irving and L1 eu t P. Strat ton. Fortunate lya decision was reached to proceed in any event.

3. ~ h e original guest l i s t included L i e u t · G ~ n A.G.L. McHaughton,Lieut-Oen Sir Wm. · M. Thomson, the C o l o n ~ l of the Regimant, Major-GenP _r. Montague . and llr1g A .W. B e a m ~ n t , who unfortunately t e n d e r ~ d the i r

r ~ ~ r e t s . Maj-Gen G. Lamroie, Dir. of Quartering, a c c ~ p t e d in place ofSi r Wm. Thomson.

4. A r r a n g e m ~ n t s for dinner were made b-y Lt-ool Clark a t

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


e

sore l y m1osoa w e r ~ Lt- co l A . J . Creighton and r.ta jo r .s . Ca.mpbullwhose re tUf t l f r om Co.naua flUB x p c c teJ uaEly , un<.i Capt . T . Vicarsho was toroe t t o • ~ n d his r ovru t s a t t11e l a s t m o r o ~ n t

10. Jumnury ot procoed1Dbs t the 41DDeP 1a t\aoh•d·

Copies o f th i s m ~ m o r a n d u m and at tached aro to b ~ o ~ n t to • ~ B ~ ~Vancouver dllC; to 'the .Bat"&alion in the i ~ ·

.o.;tn.•.us09 - t

3 ~ MB

td eb ~ v o n l h ~ o ~ l ~ n h ~ e a n ~ ~ A .to

•

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M NU

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OP CAlcADA • i a ~ S DIMN.:1R 30 OCTNOMINAL ROLf .

i:Srig. J .R.S. Lough, DSO, VC, VDLt-col a.s. OlarkLt•col T.o. Jlorr1aLt-col l .P. Bell-Irving, DSOMajor H.B. Mclnt.,reJ.tajor M.J . ar i f f in

Major D .l4 • ClarkMajor R .G.S. LoughC&pt R.s. Clark

Capt . A.E. LetroyCapt;., D.G. Bals1ll eCept. 1 .s . ?err,-Capt. n.x. s ~ m p l eCapt. J.D. PierceCapt. D.c. LaeCapt. A.T. Carrol l

L eu t w.n.c. r uokLieut. W.A. RudkinLieut. a.w.a. FraserL1eu t .

:.c.v.Scott

Jl&jor B·A· Robertson, RCAMCCol. W.M. RaeLt-Clndr H. 8ell-Irv1ng,L t•CmcSr D.G. 1t oodw6lrdMaJor H.P. Goret

"G" Group B.Q.O.M.H.Q.C .M.H.Q.1 cooro w1n• cTS •H •Q. C,ft •U •C.M.B,Q..

~ Firat C4n Army (PA Br,)C. st .B .Q. t ( 8 .P . )

1 CIRU (Att. 5 {Battle)Wing C,T.S . )

1 C,I,R.O. (P.E.)2 Gen Hoa p Bramahotit)

c •• .l .Q. • a •P • )Att . B.Q. Firat Cdb Arm1Air L1a1aon Incremen•1 • I .R • U • ( P •E. )1 Corpa l ~ ~ D e \ a ~ n t5 Weg C • 1'.s•1 C. I R .U.c .x.B .Q.10 Gen. Hoap. (Watford)

l Gen R.U. (4t t . 16 Oen Boap)Cdn. Le3ionR .C . l i I •R •H.N.V.R.

COPY

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


CWfADIB BRO.ADC.lS IJfG CCBmll,diON

OVDSB. S tnri

Broac:toaat1Dc Bouse r.o.ae W. 1

27 Ooteber 1943.

Dear Kajor Gr1ttm,

J.ttubed n twv seta t the beat reeord Jll•

obtained t the Seaforth Hi«hlaDdera lteuzdon held t

C&tu a Ja J.up.at, 0118 tor the recillent 1a leotla.Dd,

aDd the other tor the 4epot Ill Vanoounr.

I aa wr1tiDe to Capt.a1Jl Gowan t e dq tel l taa

hSa that his request baa 1:MteJl Cftllted9 aDd a) I t b

this opporton1t7 or thanldnc _ tor 7CRI1' eo-operation

in this ~ ~ a t t e r

. r

• r

f

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


OanadiaD Military Beadquartera,2 Cockapur Street .

s.w.1.

Overaeaa D1reotor,Canadian Broadcaa,ing Corporation.

Broadcasting Bouse,London, W.l.

1 2 e - . - - L ~I refer to our recent telephone convaraat1on

and to JOur l e t te r or 27 October, with which JOU deliveredtwo seta o t reoordin a obtained a t the saatortb. Jlighlandera

reunion held at Catania 1n Augua t t th1a pa r .

I have delaJed wr1t1trg to acknowledse 7our kindgi.tt in order to be able to gl ve JOU. aoM 110re det tn l• •aooount of i t a d1ap'da1tlon. A t a Reaa Dinner at tended b7ot t cera o ~ the C lladian Bat t a l lon n England on SO 0o t ,ronaal presentation r one aet or the record1nsa w u • d eto the Bome Battal1ona, who were represented b7 Major-GeneralG. Lamll.le, C.B.E., 11.c•• Director o f Quartor1ns, bJ Lt.•col .

B.P. Bell-Irving, D.s.o. , who waa with the Battalion a t thetime the r t ~ c o r d i n g wel e taken and who baa since returnedto the United Kingdoa.

I am now llllk1ng arrangement• to forward the one se tto the under mentioned, who la te ly coma.nde4 the Dtlpot atPort George

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


NUU1S ON' C

?rooeedings a t Mess Dinner on 30 Oct 43.

1. The guusts assembled in good order and were piped in todinner . where G r ~ c e in solemn form w s pronounced by Lt-col Norris .

2. The sc.Hlting a r r a n g o m ~ m t s were informal excapt for thefol lowing:-

As C.O. - Brig J.R.S. Lough with Maj-Gc;n Lam.role on his r igh t

Aa 2 1/o - Lt-col H.P. ~ e l l - I r v i n g with Uaj-Gen Letson on his r i gh tA ~ Prasident - Lt-col ~ . s . Clark with Hrig H a r v i e - ~ a t t on his r i ~ h tAs V i a ~ President - M ~ j o r M.J. Grif f in with Mr. McAdam on his r i cht .

3. After The King thd P i p ~ - M u j o r played The MackenzieHighlanders and a f t ~ r w a r d s proposGd the hGalth of the l ads ofC :ibar Feidh.

4. 'fhe toast to " 1 1 a l l ~ n Comrades was proposed by MaJor D.M.

Clark, who recal led that for the f i r s t time w.a had comrades who hadf a l l ~ n in th i s War6 as Yiell as the l a s t War, to remember. No na111esW<)z:'8 .read. The pi1)er played the Flowera o ' the F ' o r ~ s t " f o l l o w ~ d by

Scotland the Brave . ·

5. The President then ca l led upon Maj-Oen Ldtson, who had beenpleased to a o c e ~ t the 1nv1tatiort , p r o p o ~ e a t oas t to the H e g i m ~ n t •

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


'MRAJJILLO 0 SAX I N All OO

Oar Jouruy f:roa lWlA.NXLID to the SABG.RO, tor i ta coatilmal hal te, and ln thelaa ' t w all.ea, tor i \a a ow - tortuouaq a ow procreaa oTH' el l he)T DaZTov roacla

-.c1.e OTer trOll the vreckap \be OarmaD cleaol1t1oa Bfluab had l e t t behind them, waaoae ot the laaat eatiatac\o17 we had eYer carriet out. I t wu after alclnigbt wheawe d.ebuaeed, dapoalted our greatcoat• 1a 007 6 oDnera, and 1a f l le , beh1ad Lieut.Xelhulah, ov Jcle L. 0 . , made our w q down tile road to the river becl and aoroaa ~ ·foot croealng.

he 'Yahialea - .de al"Olllld b7 a aore ciroaUou route to the vehicle oroeatDcdow \he rlver, repor\ecl la ter aa huardna ln the ez\reae beoauae ot i ta Da 'l"owapproa.chea and aott embuJreanta. We loat no vehiclaa thouch then were u.D7 aoetl.T

BritiSh, ditched there.

ln ~ · clark, w paaaed tbl ArQ'Ue and Sutlulrland Hlghlanden vho were coa1ngout. they were of the .... l l r igade ae the l.oTal Wea\ Xeata who were alao on theirwrq out and were to \ aD on r traa ua at 'BA.BAJilll t.t.o. he Bighlandera nre , 1a coavaa t to the l l . W. lenta who had passed ua oa the nad, cherr, and reaclT to paeaooament on the flald. they were qui\tiq. • She' a a l l JOur• Seaforth• and 7ov w l-oo• to 1t, Gin ea old hell , Seafortha, • and othar leae e TOUZ'J' comments W11ch oDemight n:pect troa the mouths ot \he Glasgow J:Utiea l.et\1ng looee 1n re l ie f at

turaing \heir 'baek8 to a hard battlegrcnmd when th$1 had bee repeatecll.T called.to pul l cheatau.h, aa well aa do their ow Jo'ba which had beea la id dowa. heaeUnite of the 78th have autfered ba4l T 1a the ;rear of fightf.Dg 1n Borth Africa aDd

luara.

' be Bo7al Weat Xenta have ued up 4 time their atrancth and thia 1e lU:awiaeof the o\her UJllte aDd wre , froa the look and aeiaa of their offlcera W1o caDl8 to

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- 2

that afternoon, tha whole l l r ipde made off towarda SAN Yl O and ancallped t i l lafter dark 1n an orchard area on the h1gh gro1md weat of the town, athwart the r a i l -

way l ine. No Shelling that night, and. we llOTed our troopa through SAN VI O, aeroa athe d1Yers1on and up onto the nex' escarpment when we took up poaUiona on the :last

West Boad on either aicle of the town of APOLLlN.AlUS. he diepoaition of companieswaa troa: Ead to West, JS Coy Eaat of the town of UOLLINABIS, some elementa

actuall7 occupy1nc o u t l . T i ~ ~ g houaea. C and A. COIIp&D.ioa West of the place, D COIIIpaDl'

and to the south of the road in low ground behind the cemetary for counter attackand ant i - inf i l t ra t ion force. All coapaniea ware atrengthened b 1 A/ k gana and 2:Battalion of anka stretched along the road.and Wood Eaat of us, gave ua aecuri \7'

againat German ambush, whoae meana of approach in aDT event aeemed hard, for theRiver MOBRO vith i ta blown bridgea, aa time would prove, vas an adequate A/'fkobatruction.

All night, we were shelled about :B Collp&DT Dd lii araaa a t regular intarYala.he Apol11nari Bd Junction, the oeaetar;y, the 4rav where we wen, but fortUDatle7,

there were no casualties. BHQ. proper, fo'Wld an Ital ian Farm house well protected by

a bank behiDd the cemeta1"7, and the R.A.P. as good a place cloae by. SlUe ware dug,

and precaution& followed on the ahewlag of aoke and l ight for, except for the ahelterof the olive groves in which. ve were in part harboured, we were in view of the GerJD&D.a,frOil the otber side of the bank of the MOBRO B.iTer.

be next morntDg I visited the companiea areas. Found ~ e y could a l l contrive ameal. he carriere of the C o m : p a . D ~ Commanders which carried greatcoats, ratione and

aoae ammo, were taken to be 11 easential1 vehicle& (M7 carrier served. tbe purpose of BHQ)and vera bro'Q&bt up in IIUCh a caae. Jrom \heae, the u n could oontriye to aet warathand their Jl8&18. Up unt i l at tar SAN I.ZANA.BDO, we loat no vehiclea, though the Ii1dmll ~ W eloat 3 and the PPCLI a t leaet 2. Soft skinned onea, which tMy ventured to bring forvar•

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- 3 -

iqaelf and the coJBpaJST commanders were able to a tuq ~ approachea acroas tha

MOBRO and \o the tvo towna perched on the other aide of the pl le : r from ..t.POLLIJWS,cll8pUe German aballiDg which eou,;ht to preTent obaervation, but patrol l ing on closerinspection vaa not possible. Orden came froa :Brigade that afternoon that 2 Cl"'asiDCB

would be made that night, one on the axis of the 'bl.()vn bridge before SJ.B I&HABDO bythe Seaforths, and t he other on the axle of a bridge blown aome 4 to 5 l l i lea "P the

r1Yer by the PPCLl.. The oroaetDc vaa to be a quiet ou i . e . by atealth, armour tofollow a t f i r s t l ight after eetabli&bment of a diversion by the R.C.E.a. Uu definiteinformation aa to Geraan atrengtb or dispoeit1ona, no t iae allowed for patrolllnc, no.apportlng f i re . l t looked l ike a ruah Job, and a l ~ a ruah Jobs have ~ e l t to uaunfaYOurable f ett1Dge and advantage with the Germans.. Zero hOUl" vaa a t midnight, 11MSeafor\h1 had to colllllit one COIIpaDT to the main roa d axie to en1ure eafety for theR.C.Ea. mine 1vaepera, and the route of the other companies were lef t to me.

Plan: 2 phaaea: l Capture BAli LEANARDO, 2 capture EL FOSO, the1e two placea tofol"'l the bu.lvark of the brldgehead. PHASI 1. 1B1 COIIpaJIT Cl'OIBiDc r l n r near APOLLl-lWUS to furnish lef t fla.Dk proteatlon to tn effort by '\aJd.ng up post 1on on hlgb.ground between the 2 towns. and reventin& interoe, t loa by aJr¥ en887 force from EL J'OSO.C" Com,paey to cross near blown bridge and approach 11p axte. :a and C to croee at H r o .

"All O o m p ~ to cross down ctream t 12.30 given blown bridge. and oarr:r out a r ightflanking ove up hat appeared to be a f a i r ~ oCYe,ed approaoh into S JJ I.IAltAJDO.•D Oompa.DY and lmQ. to fol.low up after either A or C coapaniea vh1cheTer won aucce11 1

and exploit th1a. Phase 2: Actlon ap.1.ne\ EL 'OSO, by whlcheTer COIIpaJIJ' vu 'he Mal\1nvolved, l i k eq D and :a routes to riveralcle ln the f l ra t phase reoced by our Officer

lWp f 'OII each comp&nT. iat lona, Also. and span lS eet batter ies, to be aarriecl tor

ward by- ll1lle under oompaDT ar rance•n ta • following ~ l i g h t cro••lDC by te.Dka. heoroealnc vent w•U, a l l compalliea gaining the other aide without being DOticed. •JWplned i ta obJective without ' b e l ~ ~ g f ired on t lU dawn. and dug ln. "C" o ~ waeoae bandred. )'al"de up the road to SAll IaANAIUlO, vben they wore laced b7 all lntenee MMQ

- 4 -

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


a t cutting our linea of coJBJDunlcation up the main axla. he aupporting f i re wae to be

fUl'lllehed by o'baenad f i re frca the tanka frOill the hul l down on ov.r eecarp•nt , and

ar ty concentrations on EL J'OSO sero-10 to zero on SAN LEANABm, zero to aero lO on high

gro1md and ground. alopea east of SAN r.&AN.ABIX>, u ro to zero 10. 2 regiment& of arvto be eaployad. 4.2 Hortara to ca1"1"7 on on .ilL i'OSO f ir ing 1ero to zero 20 vlth H.lil.and 1110ke. Areas of arty to ru.ch froa the forward edges of the \ovn, to 300-' to 4oo.tthe purpoae being to knock out .lmowa eneJJT Mortar poata. he veaknaas of the plan ofcouree, vaa that no pro8pecta uie tad of getting the tanks a c ~ . : : : s the atreall t h a ~ da1'or night, nor aa a matter of fact, the next d..q i f the Germna controlled the bridge

crossing with their arty f i re in the same volume aa the previous night, and an excellanttank run e x i ~ t e d into both towns for the Germane and orchards vbere their outskir tswhere, they bad their Anti tank guna could aet up and blov dovn the build.iDga in vhichwe should of course, have to put some of our troops.

Actualq, the prospect that faced ue waa e:matq that vhich it bad been prono'Uilcedb;r Bripde that we would not be colll litted to. he prospect lef t me uneaq and uncbaerofotu l . ' 'hen an intervention came froa an outside source. J'our German t&Dlta appeared inSAN IIJ.NABDO a t l4oo hrs, Just ae D o o ~ D T vaa heading down the drav to erose thestream. he OC tanka nov told u on the a i r that thla had nov becotae hie prima target,and he could not support ua in aa far except ae the f i re against \hem would be t asaiat·ance, resul t , wash out tank f i re 8npport. I acted i m m e d i a t e ~ to poatpone the wholeshov, art;r, 4.2 and infantr;r, sending D Coy and :BHQ, 'back to their harbour aenra l hun-

dred 7arda back of the escarpment edge, in reverae ground, putting them on30

minutes

notice.

Fortunatel1' the l l r ipdier phoned ae .,1uat then, and 1 reported. He ordered me tohis Command Post, his tank 500 yarda along the eacarpmant where I went and awaited ou 'coma of his pow-vow vith the Corps OoJIIID D.d.ara rehl . , , Bo reinforcement of our effort tobe made to croaa the r1Ter. ae tank suyport vas out, oroaaing here. probab}T to be

0

- 5 -

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


he new Br1pde plan d1oa,ed bT D1T vaa to re-ezploU the f i r1 1JiU,a1 &AII.JA•AIUX> brid.phead. 'ha' nl&tlt, under \he 2 1/c, Coy 3 cmaera were b r o • t v;p aa4a-.11 packa aDcl 'blu.kata 41atn'ba.ted, allowlnc a Rah and abaTe the a u t u,-. here•• Ter, he&'YJ' U..Ulnc along the road. aiL4 in partiaalar in he area of BBQ, aZI4 C Coy

bT Oerua .US.ua azul mortara. I cu•• lnllt b a n been alter b Mlaka u4 vehicle•aill lng arOUDd ill cnat D.Uil'ben i l l the area aDd cobc up and dow tlw road. oarTehicle• cue u d went w1 thout c u • l t y , ucept for C Coy 3 •ouer whoP 'ire• wenholed,· i t was clracP4 off 'by L.A. D. · the a u t clal', u d bT aoon, ntunaed. to · ~ · Echrepaired. .At l e u t 2 Tehlcle1 vent up, OIL8 aa. anaoured Teh ·oloae to our t r houe,UDder an awtulnolM and i • f laa iq carcaaa 'brough' clan abol;r Genan -fire. One u ab. c Coy waa kil led, and although ou of \he IHQ. lSllle'• wu hl , , b7 a 110rtar bou, nooaaualtie1 tllare, thi1, a• waa aov bec0J11Bc alao1t unal , vu the aoet hea ft.l.T 8heU.4area ill the Batb.Uon. 1m c ~ q the I O D I wa• Ht for tile COilbill.,d 2nd. :B4e u d aDk

Bela lho' a h t a n k ~ aaai•ttac u.s v.p t l U llOv, had. been .lrlti8h. hie show 1Jmt1Te4aoae help tro the l i t Bd.e. I attended. a conference v1th 2D4 Ide Cadi' 8114 \aak Jc1a Cadi'

Brtpde plan. he 48th Highlander• to ' -ke 11. 1'080, a . c . b . SAl W•UDO on 9/lDo 8lld . , form a bridgehead . 'l'be B O a to pu' 1a a diTer1ion u t ea 6 -kl and 2

ant i tanks gana a t blown bridge s i te during the nl&ht of 9/lD Die, a d ]lg1 to aveep

up t he road to LRA}TARDO ahead of the tanka . ~ 1 J t t i t tub aero•• (Jroli 13 Oalcar . r

Tanka) to be a ful l &Cluadron careyin.g on top of thea, our •• coy, to pall throup SAlLEAHABDO , cut alcmg the track l 'W:m.ing South- Ves t froa the place aad 1tand on. gro1md.

alHra.t ;jOt) 7U clear of town rea4T to • left hook" to Oll OJI.t.-OiSO road when the aa1ll

effort v u aountecl. ·.L. :. Dl4D't U b Wantry on t uka , .U'Yer did, foucht i t at Senior Officer•• Sohool uu. outmoded iclea, no tille ~ a • e l , her"e with oertaiaty of mortar fire and arty f i re onlon& road approach to dlTer1ion, and a t dl'Yeraion aci"OII vhlob the tanka would haTe \ool"awl. the pro1peot vas ao1t UDta'YOU'ablAa What I voul4 baTe l ike done, vae to haTe 1DI

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8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


dark, 1D addition \o 13 t&Dka mod of 12 (On•a:rt.oa) were up, and the onqinfan•l')", Seaforth of 0 and one c G ~ ~ p D T ot R.o.a . . who aact COlla up the road 1D fU.e

Just aa 1 got there 1n taDk and long at tar dark tb8 place bad. b r e d u e t ~ d , the

R.O.R. Ooy Olldr kllaw ao anavara but placed hie caap&DT where ve moat naecled thea, on

the right fla.Dlt. he Brigadier vaa preaalng me to co thro 1 to our firm poaitlone, lprepared to do eo in exgactat1on ot ea rq arrival of the Lo7al J:d JIIl Beet to ciTe localprotection to t&Dlta 1D harbour, then i l l conaultation with o.o. Unka, nn iga4 aDd

placed the lat ' - l loll in a l l round deteuce poeUS.one. A• Collp&D1' had takell •])II Coy'1poaU101l and vaa off v1th i ta balta on le f t flaU: readT to pa.eh forward. tbe nu t 1101'Jl1D5ll, 0 Blld the :a.o.ll. Oo7 vera allotted areaa vi th aOile tanka each for A/'lil. gana had JLO\

yet COH up. D Oo;r waa in good. cloae 1a aa co'Wltar atV.ck Oo7. Attar a long t iae ,

prob&bl7 houra, it had bean dark for over that Uae, the f i re t 007 of Edmn Beet

arr ind , and vera dlapoeed by • in the abeence of their C.o. Vha'.l he and the balance

of hia Bn came up, we toned a double ufence r1DC 1 f T B and D coya to aon back to- .rr1ad ground at f i rat 11ght. Bothinc but ahaUiBg aU ni&bt. Written ordara froallripd.e that 1 vaa not to aon t i l l the apending tank battle had been fought. h i lnan r came ott ao 1 .,.,.4. up.

1 mved 11p w1 th b.nke after ha'fillg a Tiaw of the grou froa u O.P. in an Hotel

in the toVIl• Meanu . . A Oo;r and. i t a t&Dke 110Ted. ott sero a t 0900 houa le t t tlank-vard.a. .ul . other Coya reached. their gro1JDd and prepared defealive el i te . he approach

waa UDder beav ari i l le17 and aor\ar t i re a ' ttaea aDd placu. bare •• no ea81JT

u arae t i re thoup.

hie vu the 1ituatlon a\ 1430 houra 12 Dec who B H ~ forward vaa e•,ablbhed.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


Beport Of 'llle Aetion J'oug;ht by 1 0" Compan;r on 20 Dec 43 before OR Ola

:Jk Capt D.S. Harl l . 0,0. "C1 OO pJir V.

On20

Dec43, 0

Co11pa117

waaginn the taU:

ofnpporU.ng the

:Bdaontonllegbaent's

attack alone the 11a1n road lDto OJli OllA, by pa.ttiDg 1ll a divaraioDa1"7 aUack alone \hecoast. he COIIpaltl''s s ta r \ - l lu , vaa the high groWLd. at 342152 and their route ledthem oTer the crest , dow the "18ry ateep slope to the :Brick l'acto17, aero the -.1amine field betveen the J'aoto17 and. the .a iD road and. up the allaoat preaipi oua •lope

to the outak1rh of the town, w:t.ra they wre to li:U: 11p w1 th the Eclllonton lleciment.Owing to the Bd.aonionl making 'better procnaa than waa anticipated., C C o ~ ~ p J l T wereordered to croaa their start l ine 45 minutaa ahead. of tlae, and 1iha barrace \hat waato aee th81l acroas tbe mine field was cancelled.

he mlne f ield vaa dor taa teq cres1ad. vithout mishap, and \he collp&ll1' 1a f i rst

obJectiTe, a l ine t four •achine gun nests, obtained, . a i D ~ by the .urpriae of theirapproach oTer the aea1 cliff. betr poaitloa vaa quicklT conaolld.ated. be aaxto'bJectiw wu the church about 4oo yar4a ahead ~ u h Y1nqaria, 15 plakoa, UD4erSgt lillaschuk, vaa despatc:Ud on a lef t fl.aDk1D.g JBOYe.ant to aecve a ot cottac-a4oldDat1Dg the Ooy'c position, tl'oa where they were belnc fired on ucl at the t t . l ,to endeavour to make contact vith the Bclllontona. Attar a brisk fight, thia obJect:i'ftwaa p.Ued. l4 Platoon UDder command of Lin t . llallbU17, vas thea ordered to make a

rl&ht f lanking •onmen• oa the ohurch. he en-.r by •ht.a t iM had. reCO"''ered troa hiaf l ra t aUZ'priae, and vaa aulaJecting the whole area to light 1101"\ar, aa wl l aa aa11 araaf i re , and a t the e time, dom1llatintg the poaUioa by anipi.Dc f ro• the olm.rch \Ower.)).;.. platoon eoon ran up a.gain•t atrong eD.e Q" poaitlona, and nfferecl a e n r ~ Mr. Hanbuz':Cpl Mugford and 4 Prlva.tee be1Jl8,wounded, and 15 ' Mo\tl u.d 2 Pr1vatea bet.Dc kil led.

he 8UDT lanedlately ae111Dc the advantap, c01mter attacked alaoultanen•17 Oil

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


BARANELLO TO S AN LEAN A RDO

Our journey f rom -J BAR.ANELLO to the SANGRO, for 1 t scontinual halts , and in the las t few miles, for i t s slow '-tortuou.sly slow progress o ~ e r sl i theyr narrow roads madeover from the wreckage the German demolition squads had l e f t

behin_d them, was one of' the least satisfactory we had ever

carried out. I t was af ter m i ~ i g h t when we debussed, deposited

our greatcoats in Coy 6 Tonners, and n ~ le behind Lieut.

Melhuish, our Bde L.O., made our way down the road to the r iverbed and aero ss the f'oo t oro ssing.

The vehicles.made r ~ u n d by a more circuitous route to the

vehicle crossing down the r iver, reported l a te r as hazardous

in the extreme because of' i t s narrow approaches aDd soft

embankments. 'fe los.t no vehicles though there were manymostly British, ditched there •

In the dark, we passed the Argylle and Sutherland Highlanders

who were coming out. They were of' the same Brigade as the

Royal w ~ s t Kents who were also on their way out and were to

take over from u.s at BARANELLO. The Highlanders were, in

•

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


(2)

The s i tuat ion ahead was th t the I r i sh Brigade of the

78th was working i t s way to ~ ~ VITO and reqUired i t sThird Battalion, The Inniski l l ings , in order to expluitforward. This Unit was si ted in a defensive positionnear ROCCO caring for the l e f t flank of the Brigade and thegap between the 78th and Indian DiVisions' fronts. To us

fe l l the task of re l ie f

I went forward With the Brigadier to ROCCO met the C.O.of the Inniski l l ings and reviewed the area with 2 of

my Company Commanders, whose companies had been brought upexpeditiously on wheels of our own coptriving • .

We had moved in on the Iri h by 2.30 P.M. and thenfollowed our ant i- tank guns, 4 of them and the 3 Mortars.We enlarged the s l i t s and took an earnest view of our

task, se t t l ing in without and hubbub. That night, a few

5h e l l s came over into our area- w1 thout casual t i es We

were s t i l l off the a i r within the Div in hopes, I suppose,that the Germans would not know, t i l l 1 t pleased u:s, thatthe Canadians were about to face him. Next morning,

German Dive-Bpmbers came again and some bpmbs came downnot far from cur area. A pre t ty constant umbrella was

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


•

from the other side of the bank of the lVIORRO P.i ver.

T-he next morn.ing I vis i ted tm companies areas. Found they

could a l l contrive a meal. The c a r r i e m ~ of the CompanyCommmders which carried greatcoats, rations and some ammo,Wle'. 'e taken to be essential vehicles ( My carr ie r served

the purpose of B.H.Q.) and were brought up .in such a case.

From these, the men c o u ~ d contrive to set some warmthand their meals. Up unt i l after SAN LEANARDO, we los t

no vehicles, though the 3dmn Regt los t 3 and the FPCLIat least 2. Soft skinned ones, which they ventured to

bring forward onto th i s hazardous, narrow, -shell searched

ground. There do come times when Mortar and J(Tk vehiclesmust be r isked but vh en cannot a company 3 Tonner be l e f t

where 1t i s safe, in A Echelon or Rear F ~ c h e l a n ?I t h i n ~ that too much emphasis is shown on 'ge t t ing vehicles

up, for what purpose now shewn?

Major Williams, C.0.4s rep 3 Fld Regt R.C.L and Capt CarterF. 0. 0 2 Fld Regt, carr ied out registra t ions o,n numsrous

targets to tha point across the MORRO· W/T silencenow been broken a l l morning • Capt. Buchanan advised us

( 4)

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


was narrow, carrying one ~ a s t to West road along i t s crest ,

under German observation. Our objective was to get over the

MORRO quickly; establ ish a bridgehead, get armour over andexpluit through. he Firs t Brigade was to do the same in the

Coast road, and tre Indian Division was to push forward on

our l e f t , a l l to the O ~ O N - ORSOGNA road and then beyond

to ROCCO and up the coast road.

1V1yself and the company oommanderli were able to iltudy the

approaches across the MORRO and to the two towns perched on

the other side of the gulley from APOLLIHAlUS , despiteGerman shell ing which sought to prevent observation, but

patrol l ing on closer inspection was not possible. Orders

came. from Brigade that afternoon that 2 crossings would be

made that night, one on the axis of the blown bridge beforeSAN LEANARDO by the Seaforths, and the other on the axis ofa bridge b hmwn some 4 to· 5 miles up the r iver by the PPCLI. ·

The crossing was to be a quiet one i . e . by steal th, armourto follow at f i r s t l ight af te r establishment o ~ a diversionby the R.C.E's. No defini te information as to German strengthor disposit ions, no time allowed for patrol l ing, no supportingf i re . I t looked l ike a ruah job, and always rush jobs have

spelt to us unfavourable set t ings and advantage with the

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


(5)

Major Vance, blinded by an explosive bullet , bis C.S.M.

kil led,l

d Lieut; :Baldwin in the aame plight a& bimaelf,kept control, t r ied to work small partie& f o r w a r d ~ fai led,and w1 thdrew back a.ver the r iver , l d then recroaaed,

following 0 c o m p a n ~ a route. The net resul t , was theformation of a very narrow bridge·heat which <1 d not serveto control the ground dominating the bridge crossing.The situation, wlth the exception of B coy, was obscure,from time of creasing t ll about 0400 hrs. D coy and HQ

were retained on th is aide pending clarif icat ions I wentforward w1 th the I . o. dJo ground overlooking the br:i.dgecrosidng, also with the icout Officer. The Germana were

ahelling the mule t rack approach uaed by A and C Coya; m dthe diversion and road with heavy shells, ao that the RCE'acould not carry out tpei r work of putting up a diversion.We could aee the outline of German M.M.G. f i re directed atA and C companies from the crazy t racer the Germans uae atnight. A company went off the a i r from the 18 set breakdown

from time of crossing and i t s location nd progress couldnot be learned t i l l i t joined up with C Company much l a te r

on.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


(6)

4.2 Mortaril to carry on on EL FOSO f ir ing zero tozero 20 w th H ii and _smoke·. Areas of ar ty to t-each

from the forward edge& of the town, to 300+ ·to 400+the p ~ r p o s e being to knock o ~ t known enemy Mortar poats.The weakness of the plan of course, was that no prospect

exi&Jted of getting the tankil across the atream that dayor night, nor as a matter of fact, the next day i f theGermans controlled the bridge crossing with hheir ar tyf i re in the same v o l ~ e as the p r e v i o ~ i l night. , and an

exoellant tank r ~ n existed into both towns for the ~ r m a n sand orchards where their outskirts Where, they and theirAnti tank g ~ n c o ~ l d set ~ P and blow down the b u i ~ d l n g sin wbich we s h o ~ l d of course, have to p ~ t Jome of o ~ rtroops.

A c t ~ a l l y , the prospect that faced u.s wa .s exactly thatwhich i t had_been rpronounced by Brigade that we wouldnot be committed to. The proilpect le f t me u.nea&y andunCheerfu.l. Then an intervention came from an o ~ t s i d esource. Four German tank& appeared in SAN LEANARDO at1400 hril, just as D company taa heading down the drawto eros& the stream. The 0.0. tanks now told me on the

(7)

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


Away went the runner. Plans were made to feed B Coymen and to have greatcoats etc; loads to be carried on

Coy Cmdr's carriers to proceed to new areas and to beavailable for A and C companieli on th:eir arl1. val there.All coy arrangements worked very well, new di spo si t ionswere taken up except by B coy who were allowed toremain in the ir old bi l le ts in .A.POLLINARIS and reorganizefeed . and rest . Capt. Buchanan reported to me wihh McBride,

bis subaltern, both exhausted. The exploit of this

Company under the most Wizardly hand ofth is

new Coy Cmdr,was outstanding. Located by the Germans at f i r s t l ightthat morning, they had been m w ~ t a r e d steadily and heavilymachine gWDllled. They worked the i r way towards EL ]'OSOduring the day and overran the German posts one af ter

another. 16 in l l fe l l to the Company by nightfal l ,sending in prisoners a to ta l of 50 to 60 and kil l inga number equal to the ir own as they claimed. They made

a busman s holiday of i t , the example of Capt. Buchananlending inspira t ion exen to the lowest rank in a l l effor ts .In short, B Coy out thought, out schemed, and thenoutfought the Germans. With nightfal l , a large party ofGermans, 20m to 300 came into EL FOSO and made to envelop

the company. Buchanan gave way, keeping his platoons

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


(8)

At l eas t 2 vehic les went up, one an armoured veh

close to our farm houae, under an awful noise and

i t s f laming carcass brought d o ~ hnboly German f i r e .

One man in C Coy was ki l led , and although one of the

BHQ i l l e ~ was hi t , by a mortar bomb, no casual t ies there,th i s , as was now becoming almo&t usual, was hhe most

heavi ly ~ h e l l e d area in the Battalion. Next day, he scene

was aet for the .combined 2nd Bde and Tank Bde show;the tanks asBis t ing u ~ up t ll now, had been Bri t ish .

This s h ~ w involved some help from the 1s t Bde. I attendeda conference w1 th 2nd Bde com.;J,andEr and tank Bde Cmdr.

Brl gade plan. The 48 Highlander& to take EL FOSO, R C. R. SSAN LEANARDO on 9/10 Dec and so form a bridgehead. The

ROEs to put in a diversion to· take 6 tanks and 2 ant i tanks

guns a t 'Qlown bridge s i te during the night of 9/10 ·Dec,

and ROEs to sweep up the road to SAN L.D.AN.ARDO ahead of

the tanks. Fi rs t tankii across ( From 13 Calgary Tank&) tobe a fu l l &quadron carrying on top of them, our •nn coy,

to pass through SAN L ~ A N A R D O ·cut along the t rack running

South-West from the place and st.a.nd on ground a'Qout 500 yds

c lea r of town ready to l e f t hook to ORTONA - ORSOGNA

(9)

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


The bridgeheaD. was reportedsecured which meant the48th were in ~ FOSSO, and the R.C.R.S in SAN LEANARDO

(mark the l as t I) and the diversion completed and f i r s t ,tanks across. ·About 6 got over and up to the town with

a l l D Coy. I t was found a t th is jWlcture, that thetown was in German hands as well as the high ground

to he east, and pockets in between i t and BL FOSSOnot cleared out. D company a ld the tankli s tar ted clearingi t out with a "Will I and brought in a great lot ofprisoners, ki l led more and los t a numbe:r wounded though

only two kil led, seferal wounded while artys tanks en routewere held up by arty and mortar f i re . When the job wascompleted, only 39 I Riil remained effective. There wasdelay in sweeping the road up to the town, the RCE sweeping

party not to be found, I offered our own Pioneer party of2 men who were with us at the moment wihh detectors, aldthey were taken up to the diversion on tank tops jus t as

the RC.ii;'s turned up, the job took over an hour, in themeantime, one tank had been mined out of the lo t who had

ventured up, and those up in town were involved in a tank

vs tf¥lk bat t le w1 th 12 German tanks Mk lVs. Mean:tme,the balance of the Battalion crossed the r iver under

heavy f i re follo-wing, "B" coy i t s own route ~ r o m Apollinari s

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


(10)

I moved up ~ t h 3 tank5 a f t e r having a view of the

ground from anO P

in an Hotel in the townMvanti me, A Coy and i t s tanks moved of f zero

a t 09lG hours l e f t f lankwards .All o ther Coys

rt;3 ched the i r gn und and prepared defensive s l1 t s .

The approach was u:n.der hcavw: Art i l lar ·y and mortar f i r e

at tLrpes J:ld places . There was no ~ n m y sii:J.all arms

f i r e th0ugh

This was the s i t ua t i on a t 1430 hours 12 Dec whenB H Q forward was establ i shed .

Signed; Lt ; -co l . J D For in0 C. · he Seafor th Highlanders of Canada

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


•

On a<> Peo 4j, c Oo:npany VT.etre 61V•t,.... the t3.ak o ~ •upporit lqthe ~ d l l l o n t o n RefP.•ent ' • a t tao l alona t h ~ etaln I'Oad 1nto ORTOBA,• p a t t S . ~ ' l 8 1n a dlvoretonary a 1 i ~ o k along ~ h e ooaat. h ~ ooapu.J ' •naJ"t-11Hep •ae the h i ~ J ' l gt'CWld e.t 3421,2 aJ1d tblll, ' Z'QtltO led t h •

o • • ~ the oreat 1 down t ~ ' ~ ver;; ~ t · t . : ~ p slc-pe to t :e r1elt Paetor,,aon • • the 11a1n mine t l t t ld b a t · ~ & n tl :cei PP.ctc,rr KO. ' the aa1a " a taD.4 Q t.he almuat preo1p1 toaa ~ o , p o to th • ota1U:S.rta o f tu ••••*•" the7 were to l lnk up Wi. th tM idr.c.ntol'l R• i l • • t .Owln1 to 1:he ~ d J D O n t c n a .aki,as li;attel' proar••• t u a wa• antl01Jat•••0 • m p a ~ ~ . J ww.n ordered to vro11a 1.be11' astar·-t l l a e 45 Jll1ARteallb.ead o ~ ·u.ae, and t . h ~ b a r r a c ; ~ t k . . ~ t W&\li 1oo •ee ' hee aoz-oaa be

mlno Uold waa O M 0 4 l l ~ 4 .

The m1Ali :tJ.eld na to . r tua t • l J oro•••• wlthoa't IUahaJ•aA4 t l» ocuap&lly'a tl.ret oliJeot.iye, a l ine oi' toiiU' ataohlll., . -

aeat a, otata1nad, ma1.U11 b¥ thtsr t a r p ~ & e of t l lelr ~ . P p r o a u O'f8Jl

tll Gtilll1 eUtf . ~ l l e 1 r po a1 tl.O .i. u s ~ ~ ckl7 oonacl14aie4.fhe aeat o ~ (<JO ve na.a bt oll J.:reh ~ b ~ u t. 4-\1•.' ;tilr4w ab•e.4 ·t.l\JIOup

(2)

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


At f1 :r•t llgll1. a p t ~ l report e4 tha t thlll eaEU17 hat

wL ' t l lUa• . :U ooapUJ imaeUatel r · · • • • •• 1ato ihe ·area

ot the Chueh.

J . l . ~ l • Capt.o c. •o• oe,.

Ike OoapUJ waa oD17 alo t tet oae f i l ' a t a14 ·- tor the

t t e ~ llat the OOJ Cab •• 1D.torae4 tha t pe:raouelt ro• the a• &.P, wolll4 lie to l lowlq . . ~ eJ.o•elJ S.D ..u.

Owlal to t:Uee l l l o w c u ~ t • oa t lw n a t paat the 111.ok . tu tor ,•• o n r tlle r1-.er, aa4 t J8 4eall1t7 of the ata•ts.ellt.t l len a. A. P. ••z-aozuull were aaaltle io ooae q W1 th theOoapaaJtile waaa4e4 wezre aated. la n a r ot Oo7 H. Q. , lMlt whea a tl u t 11g111, oae of o u •• ..u ueUa la te w t)d.a

50 :t-eet th1• poe1·u.oa, S.atl1ot1q tu tke l ' WGWlAI ea the

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


r

4

UNIT OFFICE FILING SYSTEMAND RECORDS

~ E v e r office will arrange for the filing and custody

of its own correspondence. (F.S.R. Vol.I

SGc.171.3.)

1. Titles and Numbering o Files

A simplo filing system adaptubll' for ust in any

military office at home or iu the field is illustrated byth:.: L il:lt of File Titles overleaf.

Al l documents handled by a unit fall into one orother of t.he nine categories enumerated, 1 to 9. Thetitles of the nine main divisions are based on Britisharmy opcntt.ions, organization, adm inistr a tion and

t.bc regulations governing. Each ti tle may be brokendown int.o ten component pa ·ts or sub-t.it.les, by add ing a dash and subsidiary numbers 0 to 9 In turn

each of these may be further broken down by addinga second dash and a third digit , and if necessary a

third daah and a fourth digit . Thus 4-7-3 might beCooking}Course at Kingston . According to oir

cumst.a.nces, a fighting unit would expand the 1-3prefix to ~ r e c o m m o all ar ms and services· with

which it may be concerned

2. Date reference

In giving communication.s a reference number, it isconvenient to usc the date system of four figuresindicating day and month, e.g. 0102 for 1st li'ebruary;3010 for 30th October.

5

3. Combined Numeration

f the systems outlined in parns 1 a.ncl 2 are combined, by placing the four date figures under the subject file numbers, a simple and informative method

of referencG results, thus

2-6-10804

might be immediately identified as a communicationdealing with replacement of gas maskR dated 8th

April.

NoTE.-This method is not applicable to signalmessages, A.F.C. 2128, which bea r serial numbers1 to 9999. 'rbe use of dashes eliminates confusionbet ween serial numbers and file numbers.

4. Documents for Preservation

The monthly review of correspondence (F.S.R.Vol. I, sec. 171.3) is facilitated and future confusionavoided by jacketing the material in Category ii (i.e., uno longer required , etc .) to conform withthe system.

5. Correspondence in the Field

The functioning of the office of a formation or un itdttring active operations may be simplified by keepinga log or register of all orders and messages, writtenor verbal, received or sent during the action. This

may conveniently be done by extending the use ofthe Fie ld Reg iste r of Communica tions Received or

Despatched , (Army Form 2040, F .S.R. Vol. Isec. 171) to include verbal as well as written ordersand mess1tgcs in chronological ordor as received orsent.

6

Time of sending and of receipt arc of importancesecond only to Lime of event, and should be enteredboth on the office copy of every field message or other

document, and in the log or register. A carbon copyfor contemporary refm·ence of the commandot· or

others coneerned is deRirable.

A brief precis of written orders, reports ami messages, with the sender's number, is sufiicient, for t.hoywill be kept on file. But particuln.r care is necessaryin maldng entries of times of moves and of vo1·balorders, reports or conversations, by tGlephono orotherwise, which in the st_ress or action, may nototherwise be recorded on paper. In battle, open< tionsmessages dealt with by one officer may number overtwenty-five per hour for several boU IS on entl.

The: record should be kept convenient to thetBlephonc. Entries may u made by a clerk, or by

the officer on duty at the telephone.

Such a record is invaluable to the cOinmander in

ma.k'ng appreciations of the situation during the

action, and in compiling his report on the actionafterwards. t is contemporary evidence of t hehighest quality, a.nd therefore is of the highest historical value, and should be attached as an appendixto the original copy of the War Diary, together withthe origiMl documents sent and received.

(Appendix to Routine Order No. 147 C.A.S.F.22 Nov. 39).

PR ESERVE IMPORTANT ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS FOR POSTERITY

.

.-..r.,

A.

8/13/2019 War Diary - Dec 1943


I.

7

LIST OF FILE TITLES

1. Operations G.S.) or Teehnical Functioning).

General.1-1. Orden;.1-2. Instt·uctions.1-3. Co-operation l).jd Liaison.1-4. Intercoinmullication, sigs, etc.1-5. Working Parties.

t 1 1 : : h ~ : : l : f f: ~ ; ~ t m ~ n t1-9. •

2. Ptotection. G.S.)

2-0. General.2-1. Guards. and Patrols.2-2. Alarm Posts.2-3. Field defences.2-4. AgaiJWt a i ~ · t t a c k ~ : ~ .2-5. Against A.F.V.2-6. Gas.2-7. Defence Schemes.

~ J } A v a i l for allotment. ,

3. Intelligence.

3-0. General.3-1. Secrecy. Coues.3-2. Censorship.3-3. Enemy fo1·ccs, Prisoners of war.3-4. Reports and sketcl1es.3-5. Maps.3-6. War diary.3-7. Weather.

g ~ : } A v a i l a b l c for allotment.

M.F.M, I tA

200M-S·40 (5165)H .Q 1772·3\}•165

\.

,8 ..

4. Training. G.S.) or Technical).

4-0. General.4-1. Drill.4-2. P.'l'.4-3. Technical: Musketry, Gun Drill, etc.4-4. Route Marches.4-5. Tactical Schemes.1-6. Courses and Schools. .•4-7. Lessons learned and Pamphlets.

i : } A v a ~ l n for allotment.

5. 01·ga:J't-ization ·and Administration A.G )

5-0 . General.5-l. Establishments.5-2. Medical and Sanitation. Dental.5-3. Inspections. Ceremonial. Visitors.5 4 . D ~ s c i p l i n e Police.5-5. Office.5-6. ROutine Orders.

5-8. Availahle for allotment.-7.}

5 ~ 9 .

6. Personnel A:G.).

6-0. General.6-1. Offieers.6-2. Stre11gths, Casualties, Reinforcements.6-3. Part II Orders.6-4. Chaplains Welfare.6-5. Pay. Financial.6-6. Burials. Effects.6-7. Honours and Rewards.6-8. Demobilization n.n:l d i s c h l \ r g ~ ·6-9. Available tor allotii'l.cnt.

· ·

• I

...... 9

7 .Movements and Quarters. Q.M.G.)

7-0. General.7-1. Moves by road, rail, water, air.7-2. Employmc.mt of transport.7-3. Reliefs.7-4. Barracks, Billets, Camps.7-5. Baths and Laundry.7-G. Boundaries and areas.7-7. Traffic.

~ t } A v a i l a b l e for allotment.

8. Sur;plies and Maintenance. Q ..M.G.)

8-0. General.8-1. Rations, forage, water, disinfectants.8-2. Petrol and lubricants.8-3. F uel and Light.8-4. Engineer Stores.8-5. Postal.

8-6. Remount and Veterinary.8-7. Canteens, Comforts, and small consignments.8-8. rrinting and Stationery.8-9. Avail11oblc for allotment.

9. St res. M.G.O.)9-0. General. ·9-1. Arms and armament. .9-2. Ammunition.9-3. Clothing and Necessaries.9-4. Personal Equipment.9-5. Unit equipment.9-6. Vehicles.9-7. Salvage.

~ : g : } for allotment.