| Sept 44 | ||||
| Ailly | 1 | 1005 | Adv HQ moved to SAUSSAY-la-CAMPAGNE 4898 (comprising "E" Sec of Svy, 1 Tp SRg | |
| 277818 | and Tac HQ) | |||
| Saussay-la- | 2 | 2200 | 53 Bty less C SRg tp under comd 53 Div, moved to HORNOY ; Y tp 54 Bty under | |
| Campagne 4898 | comd 7 Armd Div | |||
| 2 | 1600 | Adv HQ moved to MERRICOURT EN VENNIEUX 843601 via GRANDVILLERS and POIX | ||
| 0630 | 53 Bty arrived HORNOY | |||
| 1730 | 53 Bty left to cross River SOMME which was crossed at 2100 | |||
| 3 | 0430 | 53 Bty arrived BONNEUILLE 0879 | ||
| 4 | 1500 | 53 Bty moved to MINGOVAL 3309. OC "X" Svy tp and 2 pairs detached to 13 Med, | ||
| temp att only, | ||||
| Merricourt | 5 | 0630 | Adv HQ moved to ESTREE GAUCHE 360 124 arrived at 1130hrs | |
| 843601 | 1930 | Adv HQ "E" Svy Sec left to join 59 Med at PECQ 896410 | ||
| 6 | 0900 | "E" Svy Sec established report centre 874 520, astro brg obtained for 59 Med | ||
| 1430 | "E" Svy Sec moved to harbour area 871 531 | |||
| 1500 | 53 Bty moved to FLEURBAIX 548396. Svy pairs detached to 133 Fd, 81 Fd, and | |||
| 83 Fd Regts | ||||
| 7 | 0915 | E Sec deployed to produce brg for 190 Fd Regt. | ||
| 1330 | 53 Bty moved to area GHELUVELT West of MENIN, crossed BELGIUM frontier at 1745hrs | |||
| ESTREE | 8 | 0860 | Adv HQ less E Sec moved at 0630 for HAISSETTE E of RENAIX, arrived 1400 hrs | |
| GHELUVELT | 1330 | 53 Bty moved to ANTWERP | ||
| 9 | 0215 | 53 Bty arrived ANTWERP | ||
| 0530 | E Svy section moved to DEINTZ 047692 att 18 Fd regt 15 (S) Div | |||
| 0930 | 53 Bty moved to area of FORT 4 710915 | |||
| 691925 | "A" FSp tp deployed HQ ; A 695961, B 684960, "X" Svy sec carried out | |||
| work for 53 Div Arty and 59 Hy regt. | ||||
| HAISSETTE | 1430 | Adv HQ less SRg and E Sec moved to LONDERZEEL N of BRUSSELS, | ||
| 1730 | Adv HQ arrived | |||
| DEINTZ | 10 | E Sec moved to LAAR area 650715 | ||
| ANTWERP | 53 Bty, X Svy tp HQ moved to 716947 - Svy carried out for Div arty HAA sites | |||
| and SRg base | ||||
| mic 2 785921 M6 706931 SRg HQ 751930 | ||||
| 1700 | D SRg arrived and deployed straight away. Night 10/11 very quiet, no | |||
| activity | ||||
| 11 | Orders received to bring up remainder of regt. LO despatched at 1330hrs for | |||
| Ailly | ||||
| 1830 | E Sec moved to WESTERLOO 049 801 | |||
| ANTWERP | 53 Bty FSp C post deployed 674 963. Front extremely quiet | |||
| WESTERLOO | 12 | 0830 | E Sec report centre established | |
| ANTWERP | 53 Bty - Survey of PFs and HAA | |||
| LONDERZEEL | 1625 | Adv HQ less SRg and E Sect survey moved to WESTERLOO 0480 | ||
| 13 | 1915 | Adv HQ arrived | ||
| WESTERLOO | E svy sec - pairs decentralised to 190 131 181 and 6 Fd Regts | |||
| ANTWERP | "A" FSp tp : Air burst ranging with HAA | |||
| WESTERLOO | 1500 | Recce and harbour parties from the remainder of the regiment arrived | ||
| LONDERZEEL | Remainer of the regt arrived | |||
| 14 | 0745 | C Srg tp and B FSp tp arrived at WESTERLOO | ||
| WESTERLOO | 0800 | E Section now joined by F section 2 tp under command 54 Bty moved to GHEEL | ||
| 078 878 | ||||
| 0900 | report centre est 078 878 | |||
| ANTWERP | 53 Bty. FSp post redeployed A 696960, B 684961, C 673963, D 714965 | |||
| WESTERLOO area | B FSp Tp deployed. A post MOLL Ch 169905. C post BELL ch 132888. D post | |||
| GHEEL Ch 081884. SRg base. Mics 2,3,4,5 fully wired and in action. Mic 1 | ||||
| almost completed - survey completed but not to hand | ||||
| 15 | 54 Bty. Night 14/15. FSp in action - comns R/T - activity slight - HBs 1 | |||
| - single bgs 3. SRg - in action - 5 mics on line (1 on R/T) - 1 AP on | ||||
| line - fairly quiet night - HBs located 3. Survey. Z tp - BPs ready for | ||||
| ANTWERP | 23 Hy Bty. Y tp no change. | |||
| 53 Bty. D SRg tp, moved from u/c 53 Bty. 53 Bty comes under command 8 Corps -and | ||||
| moved to BEERINGEN with A FSp tp and X svy tp.. C SRg tp to follow a.m. 16. | ||||
| day | C SRg base in action on 6 mics and 2 APs Troop ready for changeover with | |||
| D SRg tp. Activity during the day slight - met conditions generally | ||||
| unfavourable | ||||
| GHEEL area | 16 | 54 Bty. Night 15/16 FSp. Slight enemy activity. HBs located 5. | ||
| comns : all post on W/T. SRg : all mics and APs in action. HBs located 3. | ||||
| Enemy arty increased during the day and seriously interfered with | ||||
| enlargement of bridgehead 0793. B FSp.tp - all post now on line with | ||||
| skeleton fifth post at BOEKEL CH 017893 HBs located 1. D SRg tp - enemy | ||||
| active mainly on 340o - 360o from V AP also 290o 200 35o from U AP. HBs | ||||
| located 9. Two ranging registration shoots completed on L10 and L11 -L10 | ||||
| bombarded 59 Med, scale 2 | ||||
| 1700 | Subsidiary base in action - no locations | |||
| 53 Bty. Moved from BEERINGEN. A FSp tp at 403860 X Svy tp at 407880, | ||||
| C Srg tp at 400850. | ||||
| 385845 | 53 BHQ. Survey fixing guns in area PETIT BREUGEL and CAUZILLE. A FSp tp | |||
| deployed - A 386928, B 401840, C 402884, C SRg tp - base recced - flank | ||||
| mics at 440834 and 406896 | ||||
| GHEEL | 1100 | RHQ moved to area L14 (S of MOLL) | ||
| 17 | 54 Bty. Enemy fairly active night 16/17. FSp - 4 Posts long base in | |||
| action - HBs located 8. SRg - main activity on bearings 345o and 125o from | ||||
| V AP. Ranging shoot and bombarded by 59 Med, scale 2 on HB L20 at 0500hrs | ||||
| day | 54 Bty. Enemy activity considerable during part of the day - mainly from | |||
| one bty in each flank gun area - the afternoon activity has quitened down. | ||||
| Main gun areas now 0799 1499 and small one building up 0796. FSp - two | ||||
| posts in action all day - HBs located nil. SRg - base in action 4 new | ||||
| HBs located. | ||||
| 53 Bty. NTR | ||||
| KEIKHOVEN | Z tp - pairs att to 81 and 83 Fd Regts | |||
| 18 | 54 Bty. Enemy fairly active during the night 17/18 - visibilty medium - | |||
| comns good - HBs located believed to be SPs as they are close to roads. | ||||
| FSp - HBs located 3 . SRg - HBs located 7. Svy - 3 AGRA completed. | ||||
| Original slew and scale 2 Theatre grid. | ||||
| 18 | Enemy guns active all the day with indications that the guns are moving East | |||
| of recent positions. FSp - resting during the day. SRg - new subsid- | ||||
| iary base deployed - flank mics 190893 112928 estimated in action 2200hrs | ||||
| on 4 mics 1AP. | ||||
| 53 Bty. "A" FSp tp and C SRg tp in action - a few locations. | ||||
| 54 Bty. Enemy very active throughout night 18/19 - at 0530hrs all | ||||
| activity ceased. FSp - visibility 3000x decreased 0300 hrs to zero at | ||||
| 0500. HBs located 4 . SRg - only three mics subsidiary base in action | ||||
| HBs. located - 8. Activity during day much reduced. Posn in bridgehead | ||||
| remained unchanged. LAA fire during AB flight today was less than prev- | ||||
| ious occasion and only spasmodic. FSp - all posts manned from 1100hrs | ||||
| when visibility improved. HBs nil. SRg - svy work on subsidiary base | ||||
| checked and completed this morning. HBs located - 5. | ||||
| 1900 | 53 Bty HQ moved to HERENT 402918 | |||
| 436916 | FSp HQ. A post 387827, B 428493, C 450901 | |||
| KEIKHOVEN | 0930 | Z tp moved to new location. LOMMEL 306945 | ||
| 20 | 54 Bty. Fairly quiet night. FSp - HBs nil - single brgs 18 - visibility | |||
| poor - 500x at 0500hrs. SRg - HBs 4, three on main base and one on | ||||
| subsidiary base | ||||
| day | A quiet day - little or no activity from RETHY area or East of RETHY. FSp | |||
| - NTR. SRg - HBs located 4 | ||||
| LOMMEL | 0900 | Z tp - moved to new location HQF 342047 | ||
| 0930 | Observing pair attached to 6 Fd Regt | |||
| Factory Chimneys BERKT 433517.1 505177.1 and BROEK 434118.9 504376.6 | ||||
| 53 Bty. One section X tp placed under command 11 Armd Div. B sec with | ||||
| 61 Med Regt. C SRg moved 1330hrs | ||||
| 21 | 54 Bty. Fairly active night 20/21 - consistent shelling from 2015 - | |||
| midnight by HBs. L60 and 61, also btys within arc 347o - 20o. FSp - HBs | ||||
| located - 9 - 19 Int reports. SRg - HBs located 4. AP2 line out of | ||||
| action - communication by radio | ||||
| day | Very slight activity during the day 21 - LMGs reported sqs 0591, 0692 | |||
| being engaged by arty. SRg - HBs located -2, Demonstration of 4-Pen | ||||
| recorder to CMO 53 Div and staff - no deployment yet, RHQ moved to | ||||
| LOMMEL | ||||
| 53 Bty. New locations of A FSp tp and C SRg tp. | ||||
| 483982 | A FSp HQ. Posts at 473969 493997 493026 | |||
| 501002 | 501002. C SRg HQ. Flank mics - 481975 and 525036 | |||
| X Svy sec at 480075 and 450966 | ||||
| 22 | 54 Bty. Very little activity during night 21/22. Visibility very poor | |||
| early hours - average 2500x . Comn good. FSp - HBs nil - single brgs | ||||
| 10 - I reps 8. SRg - no activity on this base's front since 211610B. | ||||
| Subsidiary base out of action owing to lines D & E being dis and AP "U" | ||||
| having been called in. No more of 4 - Pen parts with RA 53 Div. 53 Bty | ||||
| HQ moved to 456963 Pair att to 6 Fd Regt by Z tp returned. 54 Bty joined | ||||
| HOF | RHQ at LOMMEL | |||
| LOMMEL | 23 | RHQ and 54 Bty moved to are MEERVELDHOVEN 388154 | ||
| HOF | Z tp pair att to 13 Med Regt | |||
| 53 Bty. A/10 Bty of 10 Svy Regt RA came under command | ||||
| 1510 | Bty crossed Dutch frontier. A FSp tp not in action. C SRg tp deployed | |||
| but not in action owing to bogging of trucks and difficulties of darkness. | ||||
| 580120 | X tp A/10 Bty with B sec X/7. | |||
| 505100 | A Sec. | |||
| 24 | 54 Bty. Slight enemy activity up to 0300hrs. FSp deployed - A 439733 | |||
| 522697, D 438900 522625, deployed as S/B . Single OP at A in action at | ||||
| dusk 23. HBs nil - 12 single brgs. SRg base fully in action 2045 | ||||
| owing to alteration of mic posns as infantry advised flash posns unsafe - | ||||
| survey of base not completed before dark owing to change . HBs located | ||||
| 12 - average acc C/B | ||||
| day | Enemy still apparently holding tenaciously to outskirts of BEST and line | |||
| of rly. Very slight arty activity during the morning. FSp - A post | ||||
| unchanged, B with 53 (W) Div, C WINTERE CH 335188, D ZON CH 444259. B | ||||
| post 3 HBs acc C. SRg - base in action, 4 radio 1 wire. HBs located. 3. | ||||
| Survey, SRg base and 23 Hy Bty completed. | ||||
| 53 Bty. A FSp tp moved to 577132, OPs at a A 615135, C 593111, D 569131, B | ||||
| in reserve. C SRg tp deployed, mic a 563149, M5 584082, surveyed by X/A/10 | ||||
| tp. 4-Pen party moved to EERSEL 3109 also Z tp | ||||
| 25 | 54 Bty. Slight activity during the night from areas already established - | |||
| probably both areas are posns of SPs or roving inf guns. No strong arty | ||||
| opposition apparent on this front. FSp HBs 1, 42 single brgs, SRg HBs 3, | ||||
| 30 Sound brgs. Communications all radio. | ||||
| day | Very little activity - except between 1200 - 1415 when two Med or Hy guns were | |||
| active, FSp, A and D post unchanged, C resting, HBs nil. SRg no change | ||||
| AP2 417244 HBs 2. CBO control set came on net. | ||||
| 53 Bty. A FSp tp preparing to move in support of 50 Div. | ||||
| EERSEL | Z tp - pair returned from 13 Med Regt | |||
| 26 | 54 Bty. Enemy activity slight - a very quiet night 25/26. FSp NTR, SRg | |||
| HBs 2 - 31 Sound brgs | ||||
| day | 54 Bty. Enemy activity through the day from 3 apparent areas SCHINJDEL | |||
| 4189, woods in 3830, BOXTEL 3335. FSp - posts at 429321 423319 415315 HQ at | ||||
| 423319. First two established as S/Base but all arranged as short long | ||||
| base. SRg - HBs 6. Intention : SRg move to new base at first light 27 :- | ||||
| M1 435305 M2 421299 M3 409291 M4 394284 | ||||
| AP1 421322 AP2 area 3829. HQ VERNHOUT 4230. | ||||
| 4-Pen deployed area MIDDEL BEERS 2721. Mics at (1) 429710 522270 (2) 293218 | ||||
| (3) 291213 (4) 288209 HQ at 290215. Base in action 252100B - no results as | ||||
| yet ; no shelling or mortaring within zone of base. Z tp E Sec deployed in | ||||
| WOLFSVINKEL area 443276. | ||||
| 53 Bty. A FSp tp moved to OEDENRODE 4531 and deployed 3 OPs on 7 Armd | ||||
| Div front. C SRg base moved forward to 615205 and 655137, HQ at 620165 | ||||
| base in action on R/L and 1/25000 initially. B Sec X Svy Tp with 50 Div. | ||||
| A Sec still with 11 Armd. | ||||
| EERSEL | Z tp F Sec deployed to survey 4-Pen base in OSTEL BEERS area 2822. | |||
| 27 | 54 Bty. FSp - long base deployed, A, B, D - HBs located 2, single bgs 16. | |||
| SRg, in action on 5 mics and 2 APs - HBs located 8, activity reports 6. | ||||
| Indication of gun area in 3733 3734. 4 mics of new base wired. RHQ | ||||
| moved to new location a few miles N of ZON 445275. | ||||
| 53. BHQ moved to 579208. A FSp tp 683353 - Posts A 712 382 B 711361 | ||||
| C 668385 D 655271 C SRg tp 633169. X /10 tp 621165. A/X/7 645336 with | ||||
| 11 Armd Div. | ||||
| day | 54 Bty. FSp. B and D posts in action during day. A and C posts | |||
| resting - attempt made to deploy C post but posn untenable due to enemy | ||||
| shelling at 423346. Base will be occupied night 27/28 using A, B and D - | ||||
| HBs nil - numerous sound brgs. SRg in action, 4 mics wire one on radio | ||||
| - Aps on radio, wiring in progress to fifth mic at 376275. Locn AP2 | ||||
| 392299. HBs located 10, Av acc C. Z tp E sec deployed to fix new | ||||
| 4- Pen base in OOSTELBEERS area, M1 291223, M3 291203, M4 290193, M2 fixed | ||||
| in loc of M3. | ||||
| 28 | 54 Bty. FSp- long base - A, B and D post deployed. Comns good. Hbs | |||
| located. SRg chief gun area SCHINJDEL 4038. Base in action on 5 and | ||||
| 2, HBs located 14. | ||||
| day | Marked arty activity from area SCHINJDEL 4038 and area LIEMDE. FSp - | |||
| B post manning original S/base at OEDENRODE. HBs with remainder of | ||||
| FSp tp moved under comd regt to NISTELRODE 5047 to deploy in support | ||||
| of 7 Armd Div. SRg - Mic O added to right of base - surveyed and wired. | ||||
| HBs located 26, average acc C/B - relay station put out for link D tp to | ||||
| A/CBO 15 (S) Div | ||||
| 28 | 53 Bty. No move. Many HB locations by SRg. Base wired and surveyed. Z | |||
| tp E Sec moved to WOLFSWINKEL 442275 under comd regt. | ||||
| 29 | 54 Bty. FSp HQ 496469. Base deployed A 497469 D 495479. HBs | |||
| nil. Bearings 10. Comns good. C and D withdrawn at first light. HBs | ||||
| located 8, 53 Bty. NTR. | ||||
| 54 Bty. SRgs report further evidence that gun area is being built up North | ||||
| of HERTOGENBOSCH and East of this town. 7 Armd Div report 59 Hy shelling | ||||
| bridges HERTOGENBOSCH during night 28/29. Further activity W of SCHIJNDEL | ||||
| report by APs but no locations obtained. FSp - recce in area of HEESCH 4851 | ||||
| for D post. Base will then be - area 4851 496491 496481 499472. SRg met | ||||
| conditions unfavourable for SRg. E Sec (Z tp) fixed BP for 907 US Field Arty | ||||
| Bn. E Sec moved to RV 510402 for svy of SRg base - deployment cancelled, | ||||
| returned to hide. 53 Bty NTR. | ||||
| 30 | 54 Bty. FSp - D post deployed at BEENID 469506 but withdrawn to old posn | |||
| on int from 7 Armd Div - stating armour withdrawn to X rds 474509. Ops | ||||
| posn precarious owing to expected breakout of 1000 enemy thought trapped in | ||||
| this area. C and D withdrawn first light. A single op - HBs located - 1. | ||||
| SRg, HBs located 10 - comns good. 53 Bty NTR. |