

War Diaries of CC Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
1944
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| 1942 | 1943 |
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January 1944 Commanding Officer: Major. F. B. Wyldbore-Smith M.B.E. R.H.A. |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Field | 1-3 | On Board S.S. ORMONDE | ||
| 4 | 0430 | S.S. ORMONDE at anchor in River Clyde off GOUROCK. | ||
| 5 | On Board S.S. ORMONDE | |||
| 6 | 1430 | Bty disembarked. | ||
| 1730 | Train moved out of GOUROCK. | |||
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Cranwich Camp
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7
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0910
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Train arrived at BRANDON NORFOLK. Bty taken by lorries to CRANWICH CAMP. 232127. | |
| 8-9 | Organisation of billets and issue of kit. | |||
| 10-12 | The main part of the Bty proceeded on 14 days disembarkation leave, about 20 men remaining as rear party. | |||
| 13-24 | Disembarkation leave. | |||
| 20 | 0830 | Dvrs left to collect 5 "B" Vehicles from 2 VRD SLOUGH. | ||
| 21 | 1530 | Dvrs returned with vehicles. | ||
| 24 | B.C. Posted to 11th Armoured Division as G.S.O. 1. Capt G.R.A. Wixley RHA assumed command of the Bty on return from leave on 29 Jan. | |||
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January 1944 Commanding Officer: Capt G.R.A. Wixley R.H.A. |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Cranwich Camp | 26-28 | Parties returning from leave. Rear party proceeded on 14 days disembarkation leave. | ||
| 29 | Personnel left for MT Course at RHYL. | |||
| 30 | 2/Lt. PG Burroughs RHA & 2/Lt DA Cons RHA attached to the Bty. | |||
| 31 | Training and cross country run. | |||
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Appendix 'A' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of Jan '44
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Appendix 'B' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of Jan '44
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February 1944 Commanding Officer: Capt G.R.A. Wixley R.H.A |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Cranwich Camp | 1-12 | Training was carried out on a reduced scale owing to the number of men on disembarkation leave, courses, and the total absence of equipment except for rifles, and a minimum number of essential vehicles for administration. | ||
| The Battery concentrated on small arms shooting on SWAFFHAM Ranges and also fatigues in order to get the camp in proper working order. | ||||
| 12 | There was a Regimental inter-Battery rifle shooting competition which was won by the Battery. | |||
| 14 | Capt. R. E. Stone MC RHA was posted to RHQ as entertainments Officer to await further posting to entertainments branch of 21st Army Group. | |||
| Lt. M. T. Barstow RHA was posted back to the Battery from 'K' Bty RHA and became G.P.O. of 'C' Troop. | ||||
| 3 S.P. 25 pdrs on RAM Chassis (SEXTONS) were received by the Battery. | ||||
| 15-16 | Training continued and preparations were made for the inspections of the Brigade by the C.in C. General Sir B.L. Montgomery. | |||
| 17 | 1100 | Inspection by C.in C. The Regiment was formed up in the grounds of DIDLINGTON HALL by 0930 hrs and returned to camp at 1215 hrs. The Battery had on parade 6 Officers and 100 O.Rs. | ||
| Major T.J. Cooke MC RHA posted from RHQ (Adjutant) to the Battery as B.C. | ||||
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March 1944 Commanding Officer: Major. T. J. Cooke M.C. R.H.A. |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
| Cranwich Camp | 18-24 | Training on modified scale, owing to delay in receiving any equipment except the 3 SEXTONS. | ||
| 1500 | Inspection by H.M. the King., at HILLBOROUGH HALL. On this occasion the Regiment paraded with Div R.A. instead of 22 Armoured Brigade. | |||
| 25-29 | During the period training continued and G1098 equipment began to arrive. By the end of the month the Battery had received 90% of its 'B' vehicles (less ½ tracks) and 1 Sherman Tank for training purposes. | |||
| 29 | Bdr Reid returned to the Battery from hospital in NORTH AFRICA. | |||
| During this month little real training had been achieved but a great deal had been accomplished. Nearly all the men had not only completed their disembarkation leave but privilege leave as well, so that when the equipment arrived the Battery could train as near 100% strength on parade as possible. | ||||
| The new gun drill was worked out and learnt, the new W.E. had been shown to all ranks in the form of blocks on the floor, and nearly everyone was at least in his right place and doing the right job. | ||||
| The Battery was now ready to start a months hard basic training, by the end of which the Battery had been ordered to be ready for Regimental and Divisional Schemes. | ||||
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"CC" Battery R.H.A TRAINING PROGRAMME Week Ending Sat. Feb 19th 44
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Note:- The text in Blue above is hand written on the originals.
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Appendix 'A' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of February '44
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Appendix 'B' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of February '44
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Appendix 'C' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of February '44
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March 1944 Commanding Officer: Major. T. J. Cooke M.C. R.H.A. |
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices | ||||
| Cranwich Camp | 1 | Capt. D.L Benke posted to the Bty from K Bty as Battery Captain. | ||||||
| 2 | Capt. G.R.A. Wixley R.H.A. who had been in the Battery since its foundation in November '40 left to command a Battery in 5th Field Regt. R.A. | |||||||
| 3 Officers and 21 O.Rs (Capt T.R.D. Belgrave i/c party) left to collect 5 SEXTONS from WOOLWICH and returned with them on March 5th. | ||||||||
| 1630 | The Adjutant General. Lt. General Sir Ronald Adams visited the Regiment and spoke to all Officers, W.Os, Sgts & L/Sgts giving them a summary of the war situation in all parts including the S.W. Pacific. | |||||||
| 2-14 | Training started in earnest and by March 14th both Troops were capable of simple drill order in the new SEXTONS. | |||||||
| 16 | Battery Soccer match against 511 Bty R.A. (Essex Yeomanry) which was won 1 - 0. | |||||||
| The Essex Yeomanry who were living 5 miles away also had SEXTONS and as they had had them for a few months there was as much liaison with them as possible in order to "pick their brains" and find out the answers to any of the small difficulties. | ||||||||
| 17 | An inter subsection Gun Drill Competition was postponed owing to thick mist. | |||||||
| 20 | Inter-subsection competition was held and won by 'B' Subsection (Sgt Townsend). This was followed by a demonstration by both troops to the C.O. of a normal troop deployment. | |||||||
| 27 | First Battery Drill Order took place. | |||||||
| 28 | The Battery did a Battle practice with 1 R.Tanks on the STANDFORD Battle area, this was followed by course shooting. | |||||||
| 29 | The Battery did a fire and movement scheme on the STANDFORD Battle area. | |||||||
| 30 | Football match V Divisional C.M.P. won 10 - 3. | |||||||
| 31 | Training continued. During the month a great deal of hard work had been put into the training by all ranks and the results were beginning to show. Although not ready for war in all respects the Battery could have gone and fought the next day and produced an adequate thought not perfect. As a result of the courses at RAMT School Rhyl the maintenance of tracked vehicles was by now on a very firm basis. The gun detachments had made tremendous effort in this respect and had achieved a consequently good answers | |||||||
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Appendix 'A' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of March '44
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Appendix 'B' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. War Diary for Month of March '44
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Appendix 'C' to "CC" Bty 5th Regt RHA. WAR DIARY for Month of March '44
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"CC" Battery R.H.A Training Programme Week-ending 4th March ' 44
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"CC" Battery R.H.A Training Programme for week ending 11th March ' 44
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"CC" BATTERY TRAINING PROGRAMME W/E 18MAR 44.
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Note:- The text in Blue above is hand written on the originals.
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"CC" BATTERY TRAINING PROGRAMME W/E 25 MAR 44.
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