| Dec 44 | ||||
| PANNINGEN | 1 | Location of RHQ 773047 | ||
| HEIJTHUIJZEN | Location of 53 Bty 716963 | |||
| MAASBREE | Location of 54 Bty 823089 | |||
| ECGHEL | Location of Z tp 768036 | |||
| 829030 | Location of 12 Corps S rg tp | |||
| 53 Bty night 30/1 | ||||
| F sp - front very quiet | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs - NTR after 2250 hrs | ||||
| day 1 | ||||
| F sp - 19 little activity | ||||
| S rg - conditions adverse - 3 HBs | ||||
| 54 Bty night 30/1 | ||||
| F sp - 19 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - 4 HBs up to 2200 hrs - afterwards NTR | ||||
| day 1 | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - steady activity - mainly small concs from area VENLO 9108 | ||||
| 2 | 53 Bty - night 1/2 | |||
| F sp - hy guns only active - 2 HBs | ||||
| S rg - slight activity - 1800 - 2312 -16 sound bearings | ||||
| day 2 | ||||
| F sp - locations nil - conditions adverse - little activity - windmill | ||||
| at 761877 vanished silently | ||||
| S rg - HBs nil - conditions adverse - 16 bearings | ||||
| Svy - orientation 4 RHA checked and found correct | ||||
| 54 Bty night 1/2 | ||||
| F sp - 2 HBs | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| day 2 | ||||
| F sp - slight activity - 4 HBs | ||||
| S rg - trouble with comns | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| night 2/3 | ||||
| F sp - quiet night - 3 posts in action - 1 HB | ||||
| S rg - NTR | ||||
| 3 | day 3 | |||
| F sp - slight activity - 5 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - slight activity | ||||
| 54 Bty - night 2/3 | ||||
| F sp - slight activity - 2 HBs | ||||
| 0630 | air burst ranging shoot carried out with 24/53 Hy Regt | |||
| S rg - NTR | ||||
| day 3 | ||||
| 1355 | F sp - smoke screen covering VENLO | |||
| S rg - locations precluded by own shooting. Base stood down later in | ||||
| day due to adverse weather conditions | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - NTR - meteor conditions adverse | ||||
| day 4 | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - very little activity - adverse S rg conditions | ||||
| 54 Bty night 3/4 | ||||
| F sp - 3 posts in action - 3 HBs | ||||
| S rg - base stood down due to adverse wind | ||||
| 4 | day 4 | |||
| F sp - 3 posts in action - 3 HBs - NTR | ||||
| S rg - sound activity from area S of VENLO - adverse meteor conditions | ||||
| prevented any locations being obtained | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp night 3/4 | ||||
| adverse wind - base stood down | ||||
| 53 Bty night 4/5 | ||||
| F sp - very little activity - 1 HB | ||||
| S rg - NTR | ||||
| 5 | day 5 | |||
| F sp - "C" post moved under cover - activity slight - HBs nil | ||||
| S rg - cross base established - 4 mics on line 670910 to 738930. No | ||||
| activity | ||||
| 54 Bty night 4/5 | ||||
| F sp - 2 HBs - base stood down at first light | ||||
| S rg - NTR | ||||
| day 5 | ||||
| Fsp - very quiet - several rounds in area of "A" post. Going into | ||||
| action on long base night 5/6 | ||||
| S rg - slight activity - trouble with comns down due to shelling | ||||
| night 4/5 | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp night 4/5 | ||||
| adverse wind - base stood down | ||||
| day 5 | ||||
| two large flashes and explosions reported in BELFIELD 8702, probably | ||||
| demolitions | ||||
| 53 Bty night 5/6 | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - slight activity - 2 HBs | ||||
| day 6 | ||||
| F sp - increased activity - 36 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - weather conditions improved - 7 HBs - 59 sound bearings | ||||
| additional mic put in at 773947 | ||||
| 54 Bty night 5/6 | ||||
| F sp - 2 HBs - shelling in D post area - 1 round every 15 minutes from | ||||
| 2330 - 0530 | ||||
| S rg - 3 HBs - all engaged by CBO | ||||
| day 6 | ||||
| 6 | F sp - NTR | |||
| S rg - steady activity - 3 HBs area LINNE 7485 to MONTFORT 7482 | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp night 5/6 | ||||
| 3 HMs which had been engaged in inaccurate harrasing located | ||||
| 53 Bty night 6/7 | ||||
| F sp - very quiet night - 2 locations | ||||
| S rg - very quiet night - 3 locations | ||||
| 7 | day 7 | |||
| F sp - very little activity - locations nil | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| Svy - pts established for 3 AGRA and 53 (W) Div | ||||
| 54 Bty - night 6/7 | ||||
| F sp - HBs nil - stood down during night due to wind and bad weather | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| day 7 | ||||
| F sp - quiet day | ||||
| S rg - 3 new locations early morning followed by three more during | ||||
| day in TEGELEN area | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp night 6/7 | ||||
| very little activity - locations nil | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| night 7/8 | ||||
| F sp - quiet night - 1 HB | ||||
| S rg - 5 HBs - night of increased activity - explosion at 735880 at | ||||
| 1072113A | ||||
| 8 | day 8 | |||
| F sp - little activity - HBs, nil | ||||
| S rg - 6 HBs | ||||
| 54 Bty - night 7/8 | ||||
| F sp - very little activity - locations nil | ||||
| S rg - very little activity - locations nil | ||||
| day 8 | ||||
| NEDERWEERT | 0700 | F sp - B tp out of action - moves into reserve at 600968 | ||
| S rg - unusually large "bag" of HBs - 23 in all - 19 of these were HAA | ||||
| sited NE of KALDENKIRCHEN | ||||
| PANNINGEN | 1400 | Bty HQ - moves to 773047 | ||
| HEIJTHUIJZEN | 1400 | RHQ moved to 708 965 | ||
| 12 Corps S rg troops - day 8 Dec - slight hostile bty and hostile mortar | ||||
| activity | ||||
| 53 Bty day 8/9 | ||||
| F sp - quiet night - single bearings only | ||||
| S rg - 1 HB | ||||
| day 9 | ||||
| F sp - no change | ||||
| S rg - adverse met conditions - HBs nil | ||||
| 54 Bty 8/9 | ||||
| S rg - 1 HB | ||||
| 9 | day 9 | |||
| WEERT | 0800 | S rg - D tp stood down - moved into reserve 588985 | ||
| 1000 | Bty HQ - moved to 570967 | |||
| 12 Corps S rg tp night 8/9 | ||||
| PANNINGEN | 0600 | Very little activity - HBs nil ; base stood down - moved into reserve | ||
| 773047 | ||||
| 53 Bty night 9/10 | ||||
| F sp - slight activity - HBs nil | ||||
| S rg - 1 HB | ||||
| 10 | day 10 | |||
| F sp - steady activity during the day - single bearings only | ||||
| S rg - 11 HBs - mainly E of ROERMOND and E of POSTERHOLT | ||||
| 54 Bty - no change - maintenance and rest | ||||
| NEDERWEERT | 0900 | 12 Corps S rg tp - moved to 628996 | ||
| 53 Bty - night 10/11 | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - 3 HBs | ||||
| 11 | day 11 | |||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg -3 HBs - met conditions unfavourable | ||||
| 54 Bty - no change | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp - no change | ||||
| 53 Bty - night 11/12 | ||||
| F sp - single bearing only | ||||
| S rg - slight activity - 1 HB | ||||
| 12 | day 12 | |||
| 53 Bty - very slight activity - F sp - no locations | ||||
| S rg - two locations plotting trouble during the day, found to be | ||||
| due to a three hundred yards shift of a microphone by persons or persons unknown | ||||
| 54 Bty - no change | ||||
| 53 Bty night 12/13 - quiet night | ||||
| F sp - one HB | ||||
| S rg - one HB | ||||
| 54 Bty - no change | ||||
| 12 corps S rg tp RA - no change | ||||
| 13 | day 13 | |||
| 53 Bty - considerably more activity | ||||
| F sp obtained 40 single bearings to HBs | ||||
| S rg - 7 HBs located | ||||
| Svy - fixed pt for 6 Fd Regt | ||||
| 54 Bty - no change | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp - no change | ||||
| night 13/14 | ||||
| 53 Bty - quiet night | ||||
| F sp -21 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - 3 HBs | ||||
| 14 | Day 14 | |||
| 53 Bty - mortars and rockets active, particularly during the morning | ||||
| F sp - handicapped by mist | ||||
| S rg located 12 HBs | ||||
| night 14/15 | ||||
| 53 Bty - little activity | ||||
| F sp NTR | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| 15 | Day 15 | |||
| 53 Bty - activity mostly before noon | ||||
| F sp - 15 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - 9 new HBs, 3 old HBs active, new lines laid to 3 mics | ||||
| Svy - points fixed for 2 BPs and 1 Radar | ||||
| night 15/16 | ||||
| 53 Bty - very quiet night indeed | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| 16 | day 16 | |||
| 53 Bty - considerable activity between 1030 -1700 hrs | ||||
| F sp - 32 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - 5 HBs and 5 old HBs active ; re-wiring of base completed ; | ||||
| one mic raised 10ft above ground for experimental purposes. Many | ||||
| Sound bearings obtained to rockets but no locations obtained due | ||||
| to activity own guns | ||||
| night 16/17 | ||||
| 53 Bty - slight activity | ||||
| F sp - 2 HBs | ||||
| S rg - 3 HBs | ||||
| 17 | day 17 | |||
| 53 Bty - consistent activity during the day mainly from ald HBs | ||||
| F sp - 1 HB | ||||
| S rg - 3 HBs, 9 old HBs active | ||||
| night 17/18 | ||||
| 53 Bty - very little activity but one HB consisting of three guns fired | ||||
| 22 rounds in 30 mins, this was located by S rg | ||||
| 18 | day 18 | |||
| 53 Bty - steady activity | ||||
| F sp - 14 single bearings, one OP acting as AP for S rg | ||||
| S rg - 10 HBs located. Persons again instrumental in moving one mic | ||||
| 350x fromits original position | ||||
| Svy - 5 points fixed for Fd Regts and datums | ||||
| night 18/19 | ||||
| 53 Bty - very little activity ; one HB located by S rg | ||||
| 19 | Day 19 | |||
| 53 Bty - visibility poor for F sp, but conditions good for S rg who | ||||
| obtained 10 new locations and 8 old HBs active | ||||
| Svy - posn of mic fixed and one BP issued for 6 Fd Regt | ||||
| 54 Bty and 12 Corps S rg tp recce parties contacted units of 4 Svy Regt | ||||
| to take over bases and survey commitments in area GEILENKIRCHEN (8663) | ||||
| 19/20 | night 19/20 | |||
| 53 Bty - slight activity | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - 6 locations and some activity from rocket guns | ||||
| 54 Bty and 12 Corps S rg tp RA - NTR | ||||
| HEIJ- | 20 | day 20 | ||
| THUIJZEN | 900 | RHQ closed | ||
| AMSTEN- | 1300 | RHQ closed | ||
| RADS | 53 Bty ( under comd of 8 Corps) very quiet all day | |||
| F sp - 4 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - suitable conditions, 6 HBs, | ||||
| Svy - points fixed for 72 Med and 190 Fd Regt and Radar | ||||
| GRO- | 1300 | 54 Bty - opened at 824614 | ||
| THENRATH | 1730 | F sp - base taken over ; locations as follows HQ 838628, "A" post | ||
| 881637, B post 837631, D 779673, C post in reserve | ||||
| 1730 | S rg - base taken over, HQ 826662, base from 870636 - 790676 | |||
| 1630 | Met Offr wounded slightly by mortar bomb at 835656 | |||
| 12 Corps S rg Tp - 4 Pen base surveyed from 744656 - 699668 ; Tp HQ | ||||
| 720628 | ||||
| night 20/21 | ||||
| 53 Bty - quiet night. S rg conditions still good - 4 heavies at long range | ||||
| located | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - 2 HBs located | ||||
| S rg - 7 HBs and 4 old HBs active | ||||
| 21 | day 21 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - very little activity, 12 sound bearings only | ||||
| 21 | 54 Bty | |||
| F sp - visibility 100 for most of day. 4th OP recced later in | ||||
| day BAUCHEM (8564) | ||||
| S rg - steady activity ; 4 very scattered HBs located | ||||
| 1800 | 12 Corps S Rg Tp - base in action . Trouble experienced through local | |||
| electrical disturbances | ||||
| night 21/22 | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - NTR | ||||
| S rg - enemy HF tasks reported, 3 HBs located | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility poor. NTR | ||||
| S rg 4 HBs located | ||||
| 22 | day 22 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - 7 single bearings only | ||||
| S rg - one HB located. Ranging shoot carried out with 61 Med Regt | ||||
| Svy - Bps issued to 61 Med and 59 Hy | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility again very poor. C post deployed 873639 base | ||||
| stood down all day | ||||
| S rg - activity between 1000 - 1100 and 1345-1430 hrs produced two | ||||
| new HBs | ||||
| Svy - commenced work on reserve S rg base | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp - 1 HB and 1 mortar | ||||
| night 22/23 | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - poor visibility 15 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - ranging shoot carried out with 61 Med Regt who subsequently | ||||
| fired scale 12 | ||||
| 22 | 54 Bty | |||
| F sp - visibility very poor, base stood down from 0100hrs | ||||
| S rg - considerable activity from hy guns 8 HBs - 12 old ones active | ||||
| 12 Corps S Rg Tp RA - HF reported by super heavy gun on SITTARD 6968 | ||||
| too distant to be located. 5 HBs located tp movement responsible | ||||
| for several line failures | ||||
| 23 | day 23 | |||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility approx 1000x - 12 single bearings only | ||||
| S rg - reserve base recces from 519969 to 699013. 4 HBs located. One | ||||
| ranging shoot carried out | ||||
| Svy - 2 BPs fixed and 4 Pen base for 10 Survey Regt in area of | ||||
| BUGGENNUM 7794 | ||||
| 54 Bty - enemy propaganda leaflets and christmas cards discovered at | ||||
| first light | ||||
| F sp - visibility again bad | ||||
| S rg - 5 locations incl 3 mortars and 2 AA ; new base in action from | ||||
| 858623 to 798656 - HQ 836627 | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg Tp - NTR | ||||
| night 23/24 | ||||
| 53 Bty - very quiet night | ||||
| F sp - 19 single bearings | ||||
| S rg - 2 HBs | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility poor - NTR | ||||
| S rg - 5 HBs, some mortar activity, could not be picked up by the base | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg Tp - 6 HBs located | ||||
| 24 | day 24 | |||
| 53 Bty F sp - visibility very poor - sound bearings only obtainable | ||||
| 24 | S rg - 5 HBs located | |||
| Svy - points fixed for 61 Med Regt | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - poor visibility, all day, one HB only | ||||
| S rg - quiet day, one HB only | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp - 2 HBs located | ||||
| night 24/25 | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility improved slightly, but deteriorated after 0200hrs. NTR | ||||
| Svy - very quiet no locations | ||||
| 54 Bty | ||||
| F sp - visibility again poor, 2 posts only manned | ||||
| S rg - D tp began Christmas festivities early by celebrating its 1000th | ||||
| location of the campaign. Some entertainment in the form of Christmas | ||||
| carols offered by the enemy | ||||
| 12 Corps S rg tp - little activity, no HBs located due to own gunfire | ||||
| 25 | day 25 | |||
| Pork, tinned turkey, Christmas pudding and 2 bottles of beer per man, | ||||
| and little enemy activity made possible a limited celebration of | ||||
| Christmas | ||||
| 53 Bty | ||||
| Fsp - No HBs | ||||
| S rg - No HBs | ||||
| Svy radar fixed | ||||