War Diary of 258 Anti-Tank Battery Regiment Norfolk Yeomanry, Royal Artillery 1944.

April 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Attleborough	April 1st. to April 9th.		Individual and collective training continued with Sp & Bty drill orders, T.E.W.Ts & lectures for officers & N.C.Os. Signal classes were started under Lt.Flatt R.A. (attached from B.H.Q.) M10 Driving & Maintenance classes continued under Cpl. Gillard (attached from R.A.C.) The Bty strength was now more normal as most NCOs & men had returned from courses, leave etc.
King's Lynn	April 6th	1000	The B.C. & 2 i/c attended a lecture by Brigadier 131 Bde on exercise SHIVER in which this Bty had taken some part.
Kimberley	April 6th	1730	The C.O. spoke to all officers on the keeping of Army accounts.
Castle Rising	April 7th	0900	The BC attended a 131 Bde T.E.W.T.
Kimberley	April 8th	1000	All officers of the Bty. & 30 O.R.s drawn from all tps. were inspected by & addressed by General Gordan Finlayoon???, Col. Commandant R.A.
King's L:ynn	April 6th	1000	The B.C. & 2 i/c attended a lecture by Brigadier 131 Bde on exercise SHIVER in which this Bty had taken some part.
Kimberley	April 6th	1730	The C.O. spoke to all officers on the keeping of Army accounts.
Castle Rising	April 7th	0900	The BC attended a 131 Bde T.E.W.T.
Kimberley	April 8th	1000	All officers of the Bty. & 30 O.R.s drawn from all tps. were inspected by & addressed by General Gordan Finlayoon???, Col. Commandant R.A.
Attleborough	April 9th		Easter Sunday was observed as a holiday throughout the Division.
Larling	Aptil 10th	0900	BC. & 2i/c attended a T.E.W.T. for 8th Hussars of Norfolk Yeomany under the direction of the C.O. The T.E.W.T. was on the formation of a flank screen by the Recce Regt & the A/TK. Regt of the Division & some value was got out of the exercise
Attleborough	April 10th	0800	Individual & Sp. training latest re-inforcements fired a rifle practise at Thetford Ranges while the others fired 50 Brownings & Stens at Eccles Range.
Castle Rising	April 11th	0900	2 i/c of Sp comds attended a T.E.W.T. with officers of 131 of 56 Inf. Bdes. the exercise was on the formation of a firm base by self & A/TK. guns
Thetford area	April12	0800	Bty Drill Order. Practice movement & deployment & control by wireless
Attleborough	April 13	0800	Morning. Individual training.,Afternoon Proceeded to Fouleness for firing practise.
Foulness	April 14	0900	Firing at moving & jinking targets. 347 rounds were fired. Bty returned to billets
Attleborough	April 14th	0830	four L/Bdrs of the Bty. attended a short cadre on 2" Mortars & PIATS.
Attleborough	April 15th	0800	Individual Training & Maintenance.
Attleborough	April 16th	1400	Guns were taken to Thornham ranges for zeroing. 3 Guns off the road.
Thornhan	April 17th	0800	9 Guns were zeroed. Bty. returned to Attleborough p.m.
Attleborough	April 18th	0800	Individual training & maintenance. P.M. P.T. & games
"	19th	0830	Packing parades were held & all available vehicles were loaded.
Castle Rising	April 21-22	1400	Exercise with 1/5 Queens. Skeleton Bty. took part. Exercise on support by M.10s in dawn attack & on formation of flank screen
Sanctuary Ranges	April 24th	1015	Lt. Harrion & six senior Sgts. attended a practice of observation of fire & the giving of fire orders for indirect H.E. fire, The C.O. directed the practice.
Attleborough	"	2000	The Bty. held its first dance in the Drill Hall. It proved very popular
Lowerstoft	April 25-29.		Drivers from this Bty. attended short courses in driving B Vehicles through seawater. Four drivers per day were sent. Individual training & maintenance continued
Attleborough	April 25	1400	All M10 drivers practised driving guns over a scissors bridge.
Attleborough	April 26.	0900	Regimental audit Board audited Bty funds A/C. Warning nominal rolls
		1800	Some completed & witnessed
Attleborough	April 26 - 30		Individual & collective Tp training and maintenance continued. Officers & Tp Sgts & Nos 1 attended lectured on Wireless procedure, car and maintenance of sets & batteries, & care & maintenance of M10s. Reserve signallers were given a short refresher course. Waterproifing teams worked on two 15 cwts. T.A,B, T.T, & Typhus inoculations were completed by the M.O. & dental treatment continued.

October 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
4851	1		Bty (less D Tp) comes under 22 Armd Bde and moves to Area HAESCH. (4851) E Tp in sp 11 H in OSS (4754) F Tp in sp 1 RB in HAESCH. Recces made for the Def of their villages D Tp remains in comd 1/7 Queens
	2		Recces of area continue.
	3		1 Gun of D Tp shoot up enemy patrol with their Small arms & caused casualties.
	5		CRA visits Bty and explains his ideas on the handling of M10's. Throughout next period, up to 18 Oct 44 bty carried out numerous exercises to practice the quick deployment of guns moving up under cover into positions. Other tng during this period 1. Short wireless course for new Sigs. 3. Short mines course
	10		E Tp relieves D Tp with 1/7 Queens. F Tp moves up to OSS
	12		D Tp carried out shoot on DOORNHOEK Church (3945). Numerous hits were scored but owning to thickness of walls had very little effect.
	18		Bty moves at short notice to LOOSEBROOK 4645 & reverts to Regtl Comd. F Tp remains in last posn - D Tp Guns to HEESWYCK 4242
			E Tp in rnew area Bty HQ.
	21		Preparations made & O Gp held for Div Attack towards S'HERTOGENBOSCH.
	22		Attack starts. 258 Bty in comd 1/6 Queens for the operation has E Tp in comd 1/5 Queens. Attack goes slowly to start with But by last light all tps on 1st Objective
			Bty HQ night at RUKVERN 4444
	23		Attack continues and by end of day all objective were captured len??? A few enemy pockets. Bty HQ night in wood at 4243.
	24		Conc in afternoon area farms 4045
	25		Move to Regtl Conc area LOOSEBROOK 4645
	26		Regt moves to conc area near BOXTEL 3433
	29		Regt moves re to new comc area. 258 Bty centred on ENSHOT 2034. All t/ps under corn - local civs friendly.
	30/31		No change.

November 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ENSHOT 2034.	1-9		Bty remains out of the line in same billets.
			During this period much useful trg was carried out incl -Signal Courses for Divn Ops + New Signalers
			Normal Trg - with particular emphasis laid on Trg on Nos 1 - incl map reading schemes tactical discussions.
			Current Affairs - IO giving "up to the minute" talks on Tactical Situation.
			Div Education offr giving series of lectures on Occupied Countries, Empire (Emphasisc on Emigration after the war) War - Peace Army Education
			Sports - Football league within Bty, Inter Bty matches Hockey matches - the Bty has a number of good hockey players
			Entertainments - - ENSA shows & Div Cinema in TILBURG.

	10		Bty moves in Regtl Column to new conc area at HEIKANTK 1586 near BREE.
			This was a long and unpleasant march - largely after dark. By 1100 hrs 11 Nov all Bty was in, less 2 guns with injector trouble & our Cuusader evacuated.

HEIKANT	14		Composite tp of 4 x 3 in M10's give indirect fire sp to 131 Bde attack. HE was fired on 6 Tgts, which were too distant for the Effectiveness of the fire to be obs.

	14		Tng continues on same lines as in previous posn , although extremely wet weather was great handicap once more
			Sig course for Offrs & Sgt run at RHQ
			Troops took much trouble in improving their billets with baths, mess rooms it was with with many good results. It is difficult in this part of the world to find, level, dry standings forguns & vehicles

	18		CRA addresses all Offrs + NCO's of the
			Regt on the subject of Dress + Discipline

	27		All Offrs of Bty attend talk by G.O.C.

	28		The four 17-prs in Bty each shoot 3 rds ApcBc & 3 rds HE (LV) at enemy Tgts.
			Shoot was to try out the HE(LV) which we have not had before % also to test the 17-pr strike mechs. Shoot went off well although indirect firing procedure needs practice, and there were no misfire.

	30		CRA pays informal visit to Bty and speaks to all ranks present
			Party sent to collect 8 x 17-pdr M10, which will make Bty complete to 12 x 17 pdrs. 3'in M10's to be returned.

December 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field	Dec.1		Eight new SP 17-pdrs arrived during night to replace 8 X 3" M.10's. Bty now consists of 12 SP 17-pdrs. Nos 1, drivers, D/Ops & Fitters spent the day checking and testing the new equipment; remainder continued individual weapon training.
	2		Maintenance and testing of new guns continued. Individual training under Troops. All Gun & Tank Crews now fitted out with Tank Suits.
			"Free & Easy" held in Bty Canteen, Under the very able chairmanship of Gnr LEVY, supported by our enthusiastic dance band, the evening was a great success.
	3		The Gun Fitters worked very hard to complete various modifications - gun counter-balances were set back, fittings for Azimuth Indicators completed, fwd mountings for Brownings fixed, & strip of armour plate welded over top half of open sight aperture. Individual training as before.
	4		All guns now have Azimuth Indicators, and training of Tp Cmdrs, Nos I & Layers in Indirect Fire is stepped up. Exercises today were concentrated on laying the guns in the ZL and checking parallelism. Gun crews are becoming familiar with their instruments and with the drills WO have evolved, and want very much to try them out on the enemy. As the Bty owns neither Director nor Pt. II Range Table, parallelism has hitherto been a little shaky, but today we tested (by every means we could think of except by shooting) a somewhat novel drill for "parallel lines to a named gun", and this method seems to be extremely accurate.
			Mobile cinema show in afternoon.
	5		Training as yesterday. BC amplifies our very inadequate Range Tables by methods he hopes will prove accurate, & works out false telescopic elevations for direct shooting with the telescope.
Field	Dec. 6		Training as before. Orders received that we are shortly to move to NEEROETEREN area. Capt PAGE recces billets in this area. We are told that we have been allotted a day in the near future for firing reduced charge HE on the HELCHTEREN ranges.
	Dec.7.		Orders received in the aifternoon for BC to attend conference at 157 Bde,52 Div. BC 2 i/c attend conference which gives-outling of operation "SHEARS" in which the Bty is to come under comd of 157 Bde. Bde want Bty to move into their area as soon as possible & recce for billets is arranged.
	Dec. 8		Firing practice on the HELCHTEREN ranges. The practice began with direct shooting at stationery tgts at 800 and 1200 yds. Indication of tgts left much to be desired, but the shooting was good; the tgts were small ( & rapidly became smaller , but 10 crews out of 12 proved themselves capable of obtaining direct hits on any tgt with the third round or better. The shooting was interesting as a strong cross wind made necessary a correction for line; but-contrary to expectation- all guns shot extremely accurately for line, but showed very considerable divergence in elevation. Laying for elevation so far as it was possible to check it, appeared to be accurate; but the telescope elevation for a measured range of 800 yds varied from 1700 to 2100; and for a range of 1250, from 2700 to 3200. Unfortunately it was not possible to zero the guns, and the cause of the discrepancy remains uncertain. Browning firing practice was carried out simultaneously with the anti-tank practice. Little time was left for Indirect Shooting, but two tgts were successfully engaged, which was sufficient to demonstrate that the guns were very satisfactorily parallel.
	Dec.9		At 0600 hrs Bty (incl A & B Ech) left Heikant (route BREE-ASCH-BURG-BEEK) &
			moved to come under cmd 52 Div. The Adv Party arrived at the area allotted to them to find about 3000 American Cavalry billeted in the area. New billets
			found by 1300 hrs in GR HAASDAL, into which Bty moved, having spent the morning by the side of the road in the first snow storm of the year.
	Dec 10		Maintenance on guns and vehs. BC goes to conference with Bde Comd & gets further details for operation "SHEARS".
Field	Dec. 11.		The morning was spent on maintenance & billet improvement. BC gives details of plan to Tp Cmdrs & maps, air photos, etc of area concerned are studied. In the evening we are told that operation SHEARS is postponed owing to the extreme softness of the ground.
	Dec 12.		On relief of 156 Bde in GEILENKIRCHEN area by 157 Bde, the Bty came under cmd 156 Bde, & continued planning for operation SHEARS. We obtained steel wire wool camouflage & "paddlers" for the guns. Work on the paddlers held up as modification to the sponsors will be necessary before they can be fixed.
	Dec.13.		Maintenance & individual training. 4 men sent to Regimental Leave Centre
			at BRUSSELS - a very welcome inovation.
	Dec 14.		Operation "SHEARS" indefinitly postponed. Bty in to return to Regtl Comd and recce was carried out in SITTARD area. Good billets were found in the town. The only snag being that the town is within range of enemy field guns & is a good tgt.
			No other suitable area was found so the first billets were chosen.
	Dec 15		Bty moves into new billets a school in SITTARD. There are two good veh parks for the Echelon vehs and hard standing in a cul-de-sac for the M.10s. The whole Bty, less Tac HQ Officers Mess & canteen can be centralised in the school.
	Dec 16		Bty comes under comd 131 Bde in counter-penetration role. The day is spent in recce of positions.
	Dec 17		Church Parade in morning. Afternoon F Tp ordered to take up posn to cover rds & rly leading NV from SITTARD (in sp 2 DEVON)
			Evening: Enemy shelled & bombed SITTARD and a large number of incendiaries fell in the Bty area. No damage done.
	Dec 18		Completion of recces by. D. & E tps. Dance and "Free & Easy" held in the evening. High-spot of cabaret was ballot for leave to UK. 102 ORs are eligible for leave and names were picked out of hat by six nursing sisters from local C.C.S.
Field.	Dec.19.		D & E Tp are deployed. D.Tp in mobile role behind FDLs in pine woods at 7369 (in sp 1/5 Queens). E.Tp - Rt Section TUDDERN 7169. Left Section MILLEN 6971 (in sp 2 DEVON)
	Dec.20		Nos 1, D & E Tp, complete recce of positions. F Tp relieved by I Tp (259 Bty) & returns to reserve in Bty HQ area.
	Dec 22.		"Paddlers" are to be fitted to M10's to improve performance accross soft ground. Modification to sponsors required to allow paddlers to move round without touching sponsors.
	Dec 23.		Re-grouping takes place of Btys under cmd 131 Bde so that operational control s made easier::
			Under cmd 258 Bty: E.Tp
			F.Tp I.Tp (259 Bty) B.Tp (257 Bty)
			Under cmd 259 Bty :H.TP
			G.Tp D.Tp (258 Bty)
	Dec 24.		Preparations made for Christmas and a dance held in the School Gymasium to which the local youth and beauty came. The Dance was a success.
	Dec.25.		Christmas Day: In the morning there was a church parade, but the ground was too hard for football. CO & Acting CRA visited tps during the morning.
			Christmas fare was good and BHQ & F Tp had good dinner in gymnasium. In the evening there was another dance.
Field.	Dec 26		At last light F Tp relieves E Tp in the villages of TUDDERN & MILLEN.
			(Devons relieved by D.L.I.)
			In the afternoon a childrens party was held in the school. About 30 children were invited and about 200 turned up. However there still seemed to be enough food.
	Dec 27		E Tp, who were in posn on Christmas Day, had their Dinner in the school.
			There as another dance in the evening.
	Dec 31.		Dance held to see the New Year in.

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May 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Kimberley	May 1sr	1500	The G.O.C. Maj Gen Erskine inspected the Regt at R.H.A./ All officers too part in a signal exercise after the inspection.
Attleborough	May 2nd	0900	Drivers were practised in driving water proofed vehicles through a water splash. The water proofing was successful.
Attleborough	May 3rd	0900	Kit inspections were held by all troops & RHQ. Individual training ^ maintenance continued.
Attleborough	May 4th		Some individual training took place but most of the tome was taken up in packing & weighing & painting vehicles. MCs went to HAT for 2nd ??re waterproofing. All tracks were change for new metal ones of 6 M1os. 5 new ???? 3-tonners were received to replace 3 opld short wheel base 30 cwrs.
Attleborough	May 5th	1500	The Bty moved to a concentration area at Warley near Brentwoof. London
Warley	May 10th	0900	Vehicles were made ready for waterproofing. 2 W/proofied were tried at Lowestoft.
Warley	May 11th	0840	Waterproofing of all vehicles continues. Short periods of {.T. were held & ENSA shows & cinemas were arranged. 50^ of men were allowed out of camp to Brentwood.
Warley	May 11th - 21st		Waterproofing of B vehicles was compiled & that on vehicles continued. 12 new 17 pdr. M10s arrived for 260 Bty & we helped to waterproof 6 of them.
Warley	May 20		Capt E.T. Oales M,C R,A, posted to the Bty as Capt "G". Capt RA Wolley/ RA appended Capt "Q" Capt DF Page RA posted to EHW as Tech Adjt.
Warley	May 21		The Bty less essential personnel was allow out of camp for the day.
Warley	May 22		BSM Malcolm, the new Sgt Major arrived at RHQ.
Warley	May 23		BSM Malcolm posted to 258 Bty.
Warley	May 24th-26th		Final preparations for embarking were made but there was not much left to be done so most med were allowed out to Brentwood & trips were organised to London & theatres
Warley	May 26th		All ranks confined to camp. Local entertainment organised in the form of cinemas spectacles/
*	May 27th 26th		Preparations made for marshalling & pre-marshalling of vehicles/ All loading coomplete.
"	May 29th	1500	All officers had had briefing Grade B by G.O.C. at Warley Barracks. Vehicles were pre-marshaled at camp S5 on Southend bye-[ass
	May 30th		Vehicles moved from marshalling area for loading at Tilbury/ It was every evident that loading would take at least two days/
	May 31st		Loading of vehicles was completed & drivers returned to S5 as their vehicles went aboard,

June 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Warley S5	1st	1000	Drivers & mates returned to camp S5 from Tilbury. The Bty was packed and waiting to move
" "	2nd	"	A quiet day of wasting. Men were paid & new currency was drawn at the rate of 200 Fs per £/
" "	3rd	1000	Moved to marshalling area at Warley barracks. Bty split into two ship=loads. One under Cakes & the other under Capt Wolley. The N.C. & Lo.O went separately with the C,Os recce party on another ship.
Warley Barracks	4th	1000	Pre-battle services in Essex Regt Chapel conducted by our own Padre. All ranks attended, Moved to Tilbury port & embarked on American M.T. ships at 2000 hrs.
Tilbury	5th		Lay all day in Thames waiting for news, Limited accommodation on shops but troops settled down quickly. Went down river to Southend for convoy orders in the evening.
Thames	6th	1000	Heard that the liberation had started & that everything was going well. Great relied al???t.
"	7th	0630	Set sail early. Shelled by enemy coast Bties in Straits of Dover. No damage. Attached by E-boars at night. 2 E-boars sunk. Our men help to man A-A & other guns on deck.
Seine Bay	8th	0800	Approached shores of France amidst mass of shipping. Weather fine & sea calm.
			Enemy air attacks by night met by intense A-A.
"	9th		Lay to i the day all day. Dock operating companies & landing craft seems to be loading.
Arromanches Les Bains	10th	1000	Started dis-embacking using own troops to unload. Took some time to assembler the Bty.
Sommervieu (8893)	11th		Vehicles were landing slowly but surely & none drowned Echelons organised & repl?is l???t began working smoothly at once. F Tp &
Juaye-Mondiaye (8072)	12th	1800	Battle joined in support f 1/6 Queens South of Jerusalem Wood. Lost 1 M10. The No.1 Bdr Anderson. V.B & his Layer Johnson. A. were killed. Lt G Creed was wounded & two members of the gun team were badly burnt. Hard day with little rest at sight.
Villers-Bocage (8259)	13th	0330	Had early start in long outflanking move to Villers-Bocage. We formed firm base in area Livery(7462) with 131 Bde so that armoured could pish pn. Fairly quiet day.
Area 7462	14th		Difficult country. 1 M1o was hit & one of the crew wounded. 2 men in Tac H.Q. wounded by mortars.
			Subjected to mortar & shell fire all day. Infantry very thing on the ground.
Area Livry (7361)	15th-16th		Went into numerous positions forming firm bases. Lines very extended Look like fighting defensive battles. Heavily pressed by ebemby patrols. Queens suffer some casualties & were very thing on the ground. Our men were used a Infy on the ground & did noble work with their small arms.
		1800	I gun wsa over-run by enemy infy & the crew had to fight their way back with stens & rifles. The driver-operator Ingham on the ste & wast killed. The position were subjected to heavy mortar and shell fire all day.
" "	17th	0600	Hard early move back for rest & maintenance. E Tp remained forward as mobile resave.
" "	18-19-20		A quuiter time for rest & maintenance for two troops at 6 hrs notice. Ly H Stamp joined 20/6.
Area 7663	21st		D Tp remained forward while the other tow troops joined A Ech at 7463.
" "	22-25th		2 Tps at a time continued to rest while Tac & 1 Tp remained forward. Slit trenches & fire steps were dug as well as command post rear H,Q, carrier. A party from A Ech. helped with digging.
" "	26th		The whole Bty moved out of the line being relived by 254 Bty. Capt Vine arrived as 2ic & Capt Wolly
	- 27th		returned to B Ech. Weather was very bad with plenty of rain which didn't help maintenance.
Livry Ares	29th		Bty went forward to relieve 260 Bty in the area for Briguessard Wood. Lt,. Minney left the
	30th		Bty to join R.H,Q, as A/Adj.

August 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1		No move from yesterdays from yesterday's posn during daylight but at last light D Tp moves to area of farms J7653) & Bty HQ fwd of xrds just east of these
	2		Morning recce by BC & Tp Comds of area for positions which were o he occ during the night - this in the ,merit of 1 RThs attack on this place, Posns should have been taken over during darkness by two tps of 259 Bty 0 but owing to faultl siting of one 17 pr tp, E Tp could not be relieve. D Tp retuned before 1st light to area previously occ.	Gnr Robinson (Wounded-Shell) " Grantham ( " " )
			During soma period 1/6 Queens sp by F Tp attack down Aunay rd, & take up posns East of E Tp.
	3		Afternoon - D Coy 1/6 Queens overrun by inf & Tks - oone Gun of F Tp brewed up amd one Gun destroyed. Evening : 1/7 Queens tak up posn near R To & 1/6 withdraw through the,. Deployment :	Gnr Attchen (A'Ech) wounded ^ Arche ( ! ) "
			D Tp same area under comd 1/5 Queens	Gnr (D/M) Jones E.J. Wounded
			E Tp. 1 Gub F To , (1 To 260 Bty under	L/Sgt Elliitt T,R, wounded,
			comd 1.7 Queens (1 Tp 259 bty	Gnr (RA SIg) Johnson R wounded.
			E Tp have had unpleasant time for 2 days, being ????? 6hrs & constantly stonked by enemy.	Gn Taylor G. Wounded Remained at duty.
	4		Replacement Guns for F Tp arr. No change in posns
	5		0600 hrs Bty comes in area x-rds T7054.
			Move in afternoon (u comd 1/7 Queens) to area of woods T8654 & deploys. 1/7 send in Patrols to VALLE>
	6		Early recce results in D&E Tps being deployed in area of VALLEE - with A Coy - a posn that could be completely overlooked by enemy. Tree burst above D To causes casualties.	Sgt Fisher & L/Bdr Murphy wounded,
			2100 hrs plans made for complicaed night attack on hills south of VALLEE by 1/7 Queens.
	7		Attack completely success and went extraordinary well - no loose ends. Deployment : D Tp in Sp C Coy/	Gnrs Gould, McSweeney Finch & Shepherd wounded.
			F Tp in Sp B&D Coys
			E reamains in old posns in VALLE sp A Coy
			D Tp engages enemy in houses & ATk Gun. immediatelyon arrival on object. Successful shoot & afterwards NMS.
			BC runs over Tellemine - no casualties which proves value of Crusader.
			Some enemy shelling during day, particulalry on VALLES.
			Afternoon: No change.
			Last Light : Bty (less Tp remaining in Sp C Coy) revert reght comd & conce in original area t T8643
	8		Bty sleeps late. 2100 hrs orders recd to come under comd 1 RTks Gp for new Op. Move to ares 2 miles Rast of VALLE. 1/7 Queens also in thi Gp.
	9		0100 hrs - O Gp. OC 8 H now in comd of Gp. Ourb role is now tp give flank protection 43 & 50 Divs who are to attack.
			Morning : no change
			Afternoon : Bty (less D Tp) revert to regtl comd & conc in area north of MT PINCON.
			Positions recced for stop line in mountains.
	10		0100 hrs. D Tp return to Bty comd.
			Midday. Bty moves to "test" area ½ mile East of AUNAY-SUR_ODON
	11 & 12		rest, Personal Maint, Baths
	13		Seaside "Bank Holiday! Lt F LATTER joins Bty.
	14 & 15		Track changing, Maint, Rest, cinemas, etc.
	16		0010 hrs orders recd fir 1st Light move to 1 Corps in CAEN SECTOR.
			After vert slow move Bty concs in evening in area CONTEVILLE.
	17		0630 hrs O Gp at RHA. Org for this op:
			D To u comd 1/6 queens.
			E To u comd 1/6 queens.
			F To u comd 259 Bty
			E To deploys during the night at MITTOT, with D To 1 mile north on different CL.
	18		day spent in doing slow adv through wood.
			Evening : E Tp deployed in sp 1/7 Queens	Gnr STEWART H
			F Tp deployed un comd 3 RHA	wounded shell
	19		Morning : Slow adv	Gnr MARTIN m
			Midday : D To shot up by SPITFIRES - 3 Gins put out of action with damaged radiators.	Kliled (O/craft)
			Afternoon : Tiger reported near St GERMAIN (Q4075) & F To & 1 Tp 260 Bty allso u comd deployed, bit did not get a short. Close leaguer that night in same area.
	20		Adv on LIVAROT continues and evening saw E & F Tp "firm-basing" in area LA SIMPLICE Q4472 with 1/7 Queens. D Tp rejoins bty with all guns in action.
	21		1/6 Queens enter LIVAROT and we with 1.7 Queens follow up/ F Tp detached to 1/7, while rest of Bty is deployed North and South of LIVAROT. Afternoon recce in progress with 1.5 Queens when order red at 1845 hrs for Bty to join 1 RV;s immediately as they were in trouble, Night soent with RB;s b=near FERVAQUES (Q5476) with only D Tp in action. F To still with 1.7 Queens
			1st Light deployment of E Tp in trcky posn on fwd slope - recced evening before. Afternion 0 move to jioin 1/6 Queens 0 and night spent with SE of LISIEUX.
	23		Took til 1800 hrs to move short way. D & E Tps leaguer just south of LISIEUX, F Tp still with 1/7. Lt Stamp wounded by mortar splinters in town.
	24		Morning move by Bty (less F Tp) through LISIEUX (past fine Basilica) along rd reported clear by 11 H. Battle seems to be opening up. Bty deployed area MAROULES Q6489. Afternoon - Bty (with F Tp) u comd 53 Med Regt & move near to them in leaguer at AT AUBIN DE SCELLON Q7289.
	25		1st light move to take protective posn around 53 Med Regt area GIVERVILLE.
			Afternoon Bty u comd 1/7 Queens & move with them preparatory to swing attack across river at PONT AUTHOU. Attach successful & D & F tps spend night deployed in Cot areas.
			Capt V.R. MINNEY joins Nty.
	26		Afternoon move off with 1/7 Queens with object of reaching line ROUTOT - BOURNVILLE.
			Night leaguer in posn north of APPEVILLE.
	27		Morning : no move.
			Afternoon L Move along rd to x-rds nr BOURNEVILLE
			Many plans ere msde but nothing developed
	28		1st light move along rd to ROUTOT. Tps take part in general mopping up op up to 11 Northing Grid. This successfully carried ou/
			1 Gun E To had rediate holed having been shot up by own tps.
			Afternoon : Peacetime move back to conc area West of PONT AUTHOU.
	29		Lt Powis. with main again. New orders send for Bty to come u comd 22 Armd Bde & move with them to conce area at GRAVERON SECEVILLE. Bty under immediately comd of % RHA.
	30		Maint in the main - & conferences. Orders received for night move preparatory to Div entry into Holland.
	31		Bty moves at 0330 hrs, with one tp with each RHA Bty.

September 1944 Commanding Officer: Major J.E. Jackson RA
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	Sep1		Convoy & along CL m??? our arriaval at area HORNOT M825.
			D Tp near Bty HQ with K Bty
			E Tp with G Bty
			F To with CCBty
			Orders then recf after darkness for Bty to join 5 RTks and to move to conce aree with them at OFFIGINES, NE of AMIENS
	2.		Move at 0200 hrs to RV & find we are u comand 8H. Move with them to St POL (H11) liverating etc as we go. St POL not tajeb so bty spends night leaguered area wood H1608. D Tp & D To with 8 H, F Tp with M Bty 3 RHA.
	3.		Orders recd for Bty (less F Tp) tp move wit 7H to conc area near CHAMBLIGHNEVL (H3611). Move starts at 2130 hrs.
	4.		Remain at CHAMBLIGHNEVL expecting to move but no oprders recd. Night leaguer same place.
	5.		Bty (less F Tp) given 48 hrs res.
			F Tp moves off with M Bty towards HOLLAND.
	6.		Bty (less F Tp) baths at HERSIN (H3618). put at 24 hrs notice to move.
	7.		Bty (less F Tp) moves into good billets in Chateau at AUBIGHY (K3507)
	8.	)
	0.	)	Remain AUGIGNY - Rest manuenance etc.
	10.	)	Parties sent to ARRAS/
	11		Leave AUBIGNY at 0700 hrs in colum with 8H
			Arrive evening at OORDEGEM (J3168)
			Router SE of LILLE 0 OORDEBARDE
			BC visits F Tp which has been in action in GHENT supporting Queens & Cdn Bdes. They have fired a great many rounds in sp of inf, mostly a hiouses suspected of being among strong points & sniper posiotions.
	12.		F Tp returns - rejoins Bty in afternoon.
			Night same place.
	13		Move at 1200 hrs with 8H to KEERBEGHEN (B27??) to regtl conc & rest area,
			Very good billets found.
			D Tp E Tp A & B Ech Les LIERRES Hotel.
			F Tp Bty HQ 0 in foir small holiday villas.
			Billets have "all modern conveniences" and good Bar at the Lierres hotel.
	14 -		Bty carries out programme of training, mant
	20		and rest.
			Trg : Signallers, drivers (*for M10's), Layers
			Maint : Major inspections on all guns, Oil changes
			Ignitions changed on 7 Guns,.wirless
			sets through Div Sigs X - Van
			MT Inspections.
			Rest : Troops daily into MALINES - BRUSSELs
			ENSA Concerts
			Local amusements - incl party given for 258 Bty in hotel by civilians
	18.		CRA inspects Guns vehicles, billets
	17-19.		Court Martial sites in Les Lierres Hotel.
	21.		Leave KEERBERGEN. The Bty has has a very good tome there, & has been trated splendidly by local people/ Travel in Regtl column as far a ZAMMEL (0281). In conc area & spend rest of day on maint etc.
	22.		Bty moves afternoon to new conc area at HEISSCHEHULZEB (1689) Rain pours during night.
	23.		Bty moves afternoon to drier billets in Big RC School at BAALEN (8920)
			2000 hrs warning order recd to move at first light 25 Sep
	24		Bty moves at 0700 hrs to yet another conc area in woods at REITHOIVEN (3603). Showers by day, pouring at noght.
			2000 hrs BC visits 1.7 Queens whom we are informed
	25.		Coln of Div is to open up CL between St OEDENRODE and VEGHEL (R 4637) where it has been cut by enemy. 1/7 Queens Go arrives St OEDENRODE at midday. Contact made with American airborne tps in area.
			After uncertain day, deployment of guns after dark - only very sketchy recce possible - in area North of ST OEDENRODE (4232)
	26 &		Gins remain deployed in area 4334 -
	27		4435, 4436.
	28/		2000 hrss 1/7 QUEENS relieved by 1 E Lancs & come u comd 158 Bde. 1/7 Queens with un comd D Tp in Bde res in counter penetraions role. D Tp remains in posn.
			Recces made by BC;s & Tp Comds of 71 ATk regt who may relieve bty in preset posns. Bty (less 1Tp) coms u comd E Lancs.
	29		E & F Tps relieved by 71 ATk regt at night & come into reserve posns near Bty HQ.
	30.		No change.