January 1944

The village of Stoke, led by the Rev. D. P. Clibbon, gave a great welcome. In the village hall the Battery ran a dance nearly every week, and the W.V.S. canteen was open - and well filled - every night. Sir Charles Rowley, the owner of Tendring Hall, did much to make our return to England even more pleasant than it would have been in any case.

February 1944

Besides units of 5th A.G.R.A. 231st Brigade of 50th Division were represented.

March 1944

During this time at Stobs, Jerboa was affiliated to the 1st Bn. K.O.S.B. in the 9th Infantry Brigade. The Battery Commander paid one visit to them at Selkirk, otherwise we had no real contact with them. They sent a team of three experts to train our men for a week, teaching on the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, - a new weapon to us, was particularly useful.

April 1944

The C.C.R.A. reported that he was well pleased with all results and again one felt that something definite had been achieved in the intensive training in the weeks in Scotland.

With this hope in view, the Regiment continued its life under 1st Corps (with very few dealings with 5th A.G.R.A.). though we saw no more of 3rd (Br.) Division until we joined them in Normandy. Wives came to Stoke-by-Nayland, either on week-end visits or, where possible, to stay; acquaintances of January and February were renewed. But suddenly, as the Regiment was setting off for a Practice Camp at Thornham orders came to move to a concentration area - Southend-on-Sea. The Battery left for Thornham, and went straight from there to Southend.

12th May - 5th June 1944

Southend - on-Sea: Marshalling Areas: Embarkation

The backs of the roofs of gun-towers were built up to hold more kit: brackets for cable-laying apparatus and water and petrol tins were welded on to carriers. All vehicles were weighed and measured to conform to the requirements of the loading tables

Meanwhile the Battery, less one troop, continued to support the bars and cinemas of Southend, commiserating with "D" Troop in their confinement.

6th-19th June, 1944.

Operation " Overlord "; The Normandy Landings; 4th R.H.A. under. C.C.R.A. I Corps, Area North of Caen, near Hermanville.

We suffered our first casualty today, Captain Atkinson was going down the vertical ladders to the lower holds to get some kit off his vehicle, when he slipped and fell twenty feet. Luckily - in view of the fact that there was a mass of closely packed vehicles at the bottom - he fell on to the floor and only broke his leg. That was bad enough. He was in due course taken to a hospital ship and returned to England.

Never once during this period did we provide O.Ps. actually with the Battalions of 3rd (Br.) Division, though local O.Ps. were out. They found few targets. Both sides tended to hold villages in well-concealed positions, with no attempt at a continuous line. Lieut. Millington was promoted to take command of " C " Troop.

Rumour had it that 4th Armoured Brigade, with 4th R.H.A, as part of the Brigade, were to join 11th Armoured Division, who were landing and concentrating. (The C.R.A. was Brigadier B. J. fowler, who had been our C.R.A. in 1st Armoured Division in North Africa.

20th-29th June 1944.

Under 4th Armoured Brigade supporting attack by 15th (Scottish) Division on Cheux and St. Mauvieu; Intention to exploit between the Rivers Orne and Odon.

By the afternoon the Battery was in action astride the railway at Bretteville-L'Orgenilleuse.

The Sharpshooters were deployed north of Mouen, watching the woods like dogs waiting for rabbits. However, there was no question of driving out the enemy tanks and machine gun posts in the wooded area of the railway by frontal attack. Their concealment kept their numbers a secret. The tanks and our two O.Ps. did engage the woods frequently; enemy tanks were knocked out and the C.L.Y, lost some of their reconnaissance Troop (Honeys). It was decided to " beat " the area from the west, by a drive up the railway, with a company of Infantry and a squadron of tanks either side. This was only partially successful and the C.L.Y. returned to their old position north of the woods.

30th June -7th July. 1944. 

4th Armoured Brigade in reserved - North of Cheux.

All this time, since the advance Bretteville-L'Orgenilleuse the guns had remained in the same area, surrounded by several Divisional artilleries and A.G.R.A. regiments

The thrust which had begun on the 25th was still exposed on the east and west flanks; It was not until today that Carpiquet airfield, fell to the Canadians. Any now even Bretteville-sur-Odon was strongly held by the enemy.

4th Armoured Brigade had had a day's rest, but 4th R.H.A, was still in action to answer calls for fire from HQ R.A. at the Division. The gunners were getting tired; it was not until the 19th July - six weeks after landing - that the Battery was out of action for the first time.

10th-12th July 1944.

 The Battle of Point 112 (near Avrecy); 4th Armoured on left, near Eterville.

The guns moved up near Mouen. When they were in action, the Brigade, with the C.L.Y. 'in reserve, moved through them over the main Caen—Villers-Bocage road and the River Odon. The Royal Scots Greys were in the lead with 44th R.T.R. on the right, and by 1000 hours the Greys were around Etoupe Four, with 44th R.T.R. pushing on to Point 112. All the world knew later how that point was disputed, more than any other in the campaign so far. Weeks later we passed near Points 112 and 113 on our way to Evrecy. The battlefield was charred by flame-throwers; there were still many unburied dead, much knocked-out equipment belonging to both sides (including three 88mm, guns which Captain Cooper had engaged a week or two before from an O.P. at Mouen). In fact, there was every sign of a stubbornly fought-out duel of resistances by both sides.

" Popcorn "- the code word to release the Greys on their drive southwards, screened by Captain Millington's proposed smoke-screen on the east of the Orne - had never come. Another " Exercise in Chinagraph " was ended.

13th-17th July 1944 

Cheux again; Fire programme in support of 15th (S.) Division attack to Evrecy; Armoured Regiments of the Brigade resting.

was firing the opening rounds of a barrage when a shell Roberts was in the act of loading, exploded. Presumably he knocked the fuse on some part of the breech and the fuse was a faulty one. All three were killed instantly and their loss deeply grieved by the Battery.

18th-22nd July 1944.

Operation " Goodwood ": meanwhile 4th Armoured Brigade plan to advance to Thury Harcourt : Operation " Brandy. "

Medium Regiment in support This " Mikeforce " was to advance south-west on two roads in Regimental Groups, directed eventually - after a variety of report lines with the stimulating but tantalising code names of drinks - on Mount Pincon and Thury-Harcoort, this final bound being named " Champagne."

Today came a change not only of Corps but of Army. The Regiment moved to the factory, area south Caen (Cormelles) and came under 4th Canadian Armoured Division. " D " Troop " position was in the factory grounds. The only firing was on harassing tasks at night. By day, Captain Millington was the only O.P. out. At Bourquebous he found himself to be the only tank among a series of infantry posts, who were no more pleased to see him than he was to be there. He unwittingly travelled along a 2,000 yard stretch of enclose road which was covered by an S.P. gun that had shot at everything else that had gone past.

1st-13th August, 1944.

Three days' rest and Maintenance at Carpiquet; to Vire - the right flank of 2nd Army : then back to 12th Corps on the Orne.

After a night near Balleroy we came into action north-east of Vire, to support the Recce, Regiment of 3rd (Br.) Division (lately a battalion of Northumberland Fusiliers). The Divisions was to probe east and south-east from Vire (only recently liberated) towards Tinchebray. But comparatively little headway was made. The country was far more thickly wooded than anything we had seen before, and visibility, except on high ground where one only saw the tops of the trees was limited to the 'length of a field. The policy - difficult to put into practice - was to register points immediately in front of one as one advanced, But you advanced slowly.

14th-20th August 1944.

4th Armoured Brigade in support of 53rd (W.) Division in its advance southwards to the Falaise-Conde road; in the closing of the Falaise Gap.

The forward troops of 3rd Division had moved fast and by 1000 hours were on the high ground around Bonndell, leavings small parties of enemy to be mopped up to the villages to the valley to the north.

But the day was not without disaster. While Captain Millington was trying to push on with " B " Squadron down the hill. Captain Stainer, with " C " Squadron, was a having some good shooting from the ridge. A burst of gun-fire caught him fitting with his legs only in toe turret of the tank. He was seriously wounded in the arm, also in the neck and chest, First unconscious, then delirious, he only recovered consciousness in the C.C.S.

20th-23rd August 1944.

A Rest In The Royal Air Force's Killing Area, west of Falaise.

This was where great havoc had been created by the R.A.F. among retreating German transport and a selection of vehicles from comfortable cars to well fitted signal lorries were brought in, and several of the useful ones were kept.

* " C " Troop, † " D " Troop

25th August - 27th August 1944.

The long advance to within 12 miles of the Seine.

By the evening guides had met us and we settled in an area hard north of Romilly where the Battery remained until the move to Bayeux.

28th August - 4th September, 1944

 A Week at Bayeux to re-equip.

his own—that ii, knowing the Brigade was in the area of Arras, he asked Movements to direct the Regiment there. Information was harder to come by as the fast-moving front was so far away. Two new Troop Leaders arrived - Lieut. P. Irvine (" D " Troop) and Lieut. R. Adam (" C " Troop).

3rd September - 11th September 1944.

The March to Belgium to rejoin the Brigade near Oudenarde; Termonde, the liberation of St. Nicolas and Beveren-Waas

Before moving on early next .morning, Lieut.-Colonel R. A. Eden visited us. He was now commanding 112th Light Anti- Aircraft Regiment in XII Corps and the Regiment were doing transport duties near the Seine; he was enjoying the hospitality of a French family and the chance of some good riding.

Brigade was operating on the road running north-east from here to Oudenarde. Corps were surprised, if not a little annoyed at the way 4th RHA has made their own way back. The first lessons were learnt about choice of ground for gun positions with S.Ps. It was always going to pay to pick high ground to avoid getting bogged: though here there was nothing higher than ten metres. The situation on the front was that 1st Canadian Army was driving along the coast from the west towards Bruges, Thurout and Roulers. Antwerp. as a town was nearly in our hands (the necessary work for opening it as a port was not complete till the end of November), Ghent was half ours and half the enemy's and a fair number of Germans - about five Divisions, of which 59th Division was perhaps the best - were between us and the mouth of the Scheldt and Flushing.

near Beveren-Waas, south of the railway. From here it was hoped to push on to Calloo and close the net even mow tightly round the German, But in Calloo they were in some strength, and even with the help of the Armee Blanche, it was hard to make progress. So a halt was called on the plan for a night attack by the Queen's, who had also moved up. The 11th Hussars were patrolling on this sector and acquaintances were renewed during the next two fairly quiet days.

13th September - 17th September 1944. 

Heyst-op-den-Berg for training and Maintenance; The Battery to join C.L.Y. to a Regimental Group near Gheel in support of 15th (S.) Division

Arnhem struggle which lasted for the next week, and of which news reached us through the Press, the B.B.C and " I " summaries.

18th September - 26th September 1944.

Holding the hinge between the Armies; in the area of Bree and Asch.

26th September - 6th October 1944 

Holland for the first time; defensive position on the Canal du Nederweer - Wessern.

6th October. - By now the front had thinned out: the 60th, less half a Company, and the C.L.Y., less "C" Squadron, all moved to the Greys area, the latter going up to Nijmegen, This layout existed until the next move.

8th-18th October 1944

Nijmegen, and the Island; then the Southern back of the River Waal.

19th October - 24th October 1944.

To the left flank of XII Corps: Hilvarenbeek.

But after five days we left the village at Baar-Schott and the command post with its billiards and bows and arrows. Plans were being made to advance north to Tilburg.

25th October— 28th October 1944.

The advance to Tilburg in support of the Royal Netherlands Brigade.

At dawn, the Battery moved up to a position just east of Hilvarenbeek with the Dutch Battery near by. The leading company of infantry mounted on the tanks of " A " Squadron C.L.Y. were to advance behind the Dutch and C.L.Y Recce. Squadron. The latter cleared the large road-block and flushed a few Germans with small arms fire and by the afternoon the Brigade was established astride the road, just south of the 30th Grid line, a mile from Broekhoven. This, as two captured maps showed (one giving their D.F. tasks and showing two Battalion H.Q. which were well and truly shelled by us at intervals, by interrogation of prisoners we tried to discover when they had their midday " blew" so as to catch them at the Battalion's cookhouse) —this was their main defensive position. They consistently put down D.F, during the rest if the day, one burst of which landed near Lieut. lrvine's driver, Gnr, Nessling, wounding him slightly in the foot. Ironically the latter was the only one in a slit-trench. The Battery moved up during the afternoon. So the R.N.B., like the 60th in Goirle, were held up just short of their objective. About thirty prisoners were taken. Patrols were put out to the west and north to try positions and the marshy ground showed that progress would be expensive. The R.N.B., never strong in manpower, was not the force to use for a further advance on the town.

28th October - 11th November 1944.

The anti-clockwise circle complete; back to Weert. Preparation for clearing up Mass between Venlo and Roermond.

However, a build up was in progress. Here, on this stretch of Canal once held by 4th Armoured Brigade less two Armoured Regiments, a mass of guns was being brought up - the Divisional Artillery of 53rd (W.) Division, 7th and 11th Armoured Divisions, and A.G.R.As. - and, near Weert, some super-heavies. Cinema parties going to Weert (there were plenty of these, and similar recreational parties to Hasselt and Eindhoven - and bath-parties, too) would pass medium guns at regular intervals on the roadside. Any enemy agent patrolling this road must have had evidence of the impeding attack.

12th November - 19th November 1944.

The Planning and Execution of Operation "Mallard " which took XII Corps to the River Maas north of Roermood, up to and beyond Venlo.

By 2100 hours, we heard that 51st (H.) Division had made three crossings (facing Baexem) over the canal, 71st Brigade passed through them and turned south-east to clear the left bank of the river north-east of Wessern. And a battalion from the other Brigade turned north-west up the Wessern canal to join up with the Highland Division.

We did not fire from the canal position, and luckily moved on that morning—there was only one house for cover in the whole battery area, and that was severely damaged from the shelling, And so to Baexem, still under H.Q.R.A. 53rd (W.) Division. Captain Hoyle had joined " A " Squadron of the Division Recce Regiment who had a probing role beyond Baexem, but he did not leave their H.Q. at Weert till nine o'clock this morning. He then went through with this squadron to Haelgu, where he covered a zone from the railway bridge over the river north of Roermond down to the main road bridge. There were signs of a line of diggings on the far bank which gave some good section targets, The C.L.Y. did not move from their concentration area near the canal. The day WM a more worthy om. We could just reach German soil, at maximum elevation, from " D " Troop's Baexem position, and a certain house was subjected to a five rounds salvo from the troop.

After a few hours at Nijken we moved on north-east to positions at Hub, near Panningen, ever since the start of the operation, the mud on the tracks had been very bad (it was never so bad again till February when the great thaw followed the weeks of frost and snow. Hub provided quite good billets, a little congested by the presence of a battalion of the Hampshires of 50th Division, under whose C.R.A. the Regiment now came.

Tactically, this went all right, but the mud and rain were a great hindrance and scattered mines were everywhere. The Squadrons went often into deserted house for the night, behind the leading Companies. The O.Ps. bad probably their most uncomfortable and coldest night for months, made more unpleasant by accurate harassing fire. To support the advance, the guns had moved to Loo and, now no longer having to give much support to the infantry, we moved up as a regiment south-east of Sevenum, It was nothing but a bare bit of ground, as desolate as any map square, neither troop having a single building within 1,000 yards or more of it - a real wilderness. With a zero-line south-east we sent an O.P. to the Division Recce. Regiment at Boekend, where he could see the imposing defences of Venlo, including one of the biggest minefields met since D Day, the sappers said, and a formidable anti-tank ditch. Our own F.D.Ls., were in thickly wooded country ; except for the suburb of Blerick nearly all the ground west of the Maas was in our hands 15th (S.) Division coming down from the north were to take over from 49th Division who went off to the Nijmegen area, This released 4th Armoured Brigade who concentrated north-west of Weert where they remained for so long that we came to call the C.L.Y. the Weert Home Guard.