55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, War Diary August 1944
1 August 1944 FRANCE.
Nothing to report.
2 August 1944
Arrangements made in conjunction with Brigades for percentage of Battery strength to go to rest for 72 hours. 146 Brigade move to area 1270. 218 Battery HQ 129706.
3 August 1944
HQ area shelled 02:00 hours – no damage. Two Self-propelled 17 pdr equipments went to 146 Brigade Workshops to have additional armour fitted to turrets.
4 August 1944
220 Battery HQ established 087718 18:00 hours.
5 August 1944
Captain BLACK Royal Artillery Camouflage – 1 Corps – visited RHQ to arrange camouflage of two Self-propelled 17 pdr equipments.
6 August 1944
Nothing to report.
7 August 1944
Nothing to report.
8 August 1944
218 relieved by 1st Tyneside Scottish and 89 Commando.
9 August 1944
Nothing to report.
10 August 1944
RHQ moved to 101668. Battery HQs established 217 – 119678; 218 – 114624; 219 – 118631; 220 – 093631.
11 August 1944
Mosquitoes (sic) very troublesome.
12 August 1944
Nothing to report.
13 August 1944
In keeping with extension of Divisional front 218 Battery Troop positions changed. 220 deployed night 13/14.
14 August 1944
Nothing to report.
15 August 1944
Two bombs dropped 50 yards short of RHQ 05:45 hours. 217 Battery less one Troop moved to area 092594 during hours of darkness. ENSA Concert at Longeval.
16 August 1944
246 Battery ceased to be under command 08:00 hours.
17 August 1944
Nothing to report.
18 August 1944
HQ moved at 18:45 hours to Canon 228557.
19 August 1944
Batteries concentrated in Brigade HQ areas.
20 August 1944
Nothing to report.
21 August 1944
245 Self-propelled Anti-tank Battery ceased to be in support 49 Division. HQ established 285586.
22 August 1944
Nothing to report.
23 August 1944
Nothing to report.
24 August 1944
HQ established 631947 12:00 hours.
25 August 1944
Nothing to report.
26 August 1944
Moved to square 7799 8f/1 751992.
27 August 1944
Moved to 8391. Batteries: 872115, 751106, 811157, 842103.
28 August 1944
Nothing to report.
29 August 1944
Nothing to report.
30 August 1944
Nothing to report.
31 August 1944
Regiment began the work of collecting and corralling German horses area Hauteremville.
Appendices attached to the August 1944 War Diary.
Field Return – Other Ranks – 5 August 1944.
This Return shows 653 men in post against the establishment of 684 – none carried as surplus but a deficit of 31 men – 1 Sergeant, 10 Bombardiers and 20 Gunners.
Field Return – Other Ranks – 19 August 1944
657 men are shown as in post against 684 establishment with 5 shown as surplus (all Gunners) and a deficit of 32 men (2 Sergeants, 12 Bombardiers and 18 Gunners).
Field Return – Officers – 26 August 1944.
Page 1 of the Return shows 36 Officers in post against the establishment of 34 – a surplus of two – both Lieutenant rank. Lt R J STOCKDALE is shown as having rejoined the unit during the preceding week from the Regimental Holding Unit.
Major PAUL and Lt HOWIE are both listed as being requested to be returned to the unit, once recovered.
Page 2 of the return lists all the Officers in post – the names, ranks and numbers will be included within the list of personnel.
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