War Diary - 552 Armd Bde Coy RASC - 1944

Hi, I thought I'd post up the details from the War Diary of 552 Armd Bde Coy RASC for 1944 as I go through them:

WO171/2498 – 552 Armoured Brigade Company RASC
C.O. Major N.A. Smith, M.B.E. / Major R. W. House from 14/4/44

19 January 1944 SOHAM
1800 Order to mobilise in W.O.U.M. 79/Mob/5774/632 (A.G.5 Mob) dated 17 Jan 44 received. Constitution of Coy is now Coy H.Q., 5 tpt plns, 1 composite pln of A, B, C + D Sections, 3 R.D.I’s & W/Shops pln Serial 5. The Serial No of this Unit is now 56681.

20 January 1944 SOHAM
Orders received that Unit Vehicle Serial No will be 1357 painted on a red + green diagonal background.

24 January 1944 SOHAM
12 motorcycles, 1 Bedford watercart, 36 x 4 Ton Vehicles, 2 x 15 cwt Vehicles, 2 Austin 4 x 2 Utilities, 1 4-str Ford car collected.

1 February 1944 SOHAM
Nothing to report.

2 February 1944 SOHAM
Nothing to report.

3 February 1944 SOHAM
9 O.Rs despatched to detachment in Scotland.

4 February 1944 SOHAM
2/Lt. H. Jenners [?] posted to this Coy.

5 – 7 February 1944 SOHAM
[no entries]

8 February 1944 SOHAM
Eastern Command informed by letter that Coy would not be mobilised by 12th. G1098 stores searched for + collected, not sent in accordance with Appendix B to W.O.U.M. 79/Mob/5774/632 (A.G.5 Mob) dated 17 Jan 44.

9 – 10 February 1944 SOHAM
[no entries]

11 February 1944 SOHAM
Received instructions to draw 143 x 3 Ton Dodge load carriers, 1 RASC Machinery Vehicle, 8 Austin Utilities, 42 motorcycles, 9 Ford x 15 cwt, 5 Bedford x 15 cwt water trucks.

12 – 13 February 1944 SOHAM
[no entries]

14 February 1944 SOHAM
40 x 3 Ton + 2 Austin Utilities drawn from 3 VRD Leeds.

15 February 1944 SOHAM
[no entry]


16 February 1944 SOHAM
1 RAC Sgt Ammunition Advisor + 1 coachpainter posted to Unit.
Coy Detachment returned from Scotland.
9 x 15 cwt Fords collected from 21 V.R.D. 5 Water Trucks collected from 28 V.R.D.

17 February 1944 SOHAM
23 Dodge x 3 ton + 2 Austin Utilities collected from 3 VRD Leeds.

18 February 1944
[no entry]

19 February 1944 SOHAM
40 Dodge x 3 ton + 2 Austin Utilities collected from 3 VRD.

20 February 1944
[no entry]

21 February 1944 SOHAM
40 Dodge x 3 ton + 2 Austin Utilities collected from 3 VRD.
21 Matchless M/cycles drawn from 37 VRD Barton-on-Humber.

22 February 1944 SOHAM
21 Matchless M/cycles drawn from 37 VRD Barton-on-Humber.

23 – 25 February 1944
[no entry]

26 February 1944 SOHAM
Orders received that Coy would now mobilise on 4 Pln basis + not 5 Plns.
W.O.U.M. 79/Mob/5774/788 (A.G. 5 Mob) of 23 Feb 44 refers.

27 – 28 February 1944
[no entries]

29 February 1944 SOHAM
Posting order received posting Lt. Corbould to 67 Coy.
Waterproofing course completed 100% success at water splash trials.

More to follow as I work through them.

Regards

Tom

 

1 – 6 March 1944
[no entries]

7 March 1944 SOHAM
Eastern Command advised state of readiness re personnel, G1098 + Vehicles.

8 – 11 March 1944
[no entries]

12 March 1944 SOHAM
Surplus vehicles returned to VRD, i.e. 34 x 3 Ton, 1 15 cwt water truck, 2 x 15 cwt Ford G.S., 1 Austin 10 [?] Utility, 8 m/cycles – under authority W.O.U.M. 79/Mob/5774/788 (A.G. 5 Mob).

13 – 17 March 1944
[no entries]

18 March 1944 SOHAM
Personnel Selection Board commenced to examine personnel of this Coy.

19 – 24 March 1944
[no entry]

25 March 1944
Personnel Selection Board completed examination of all personnel present.
Instructions received to collect 2 Breakdown Vehicles from Laleham [?] No. 1 VRD.

26 March 1944
Waterproofing training continues.

27 March 1944
I.M.T. inspection commences.

28 March 1944
[no entry]

29 March 1944 SOHAM
Warning Order to move 7th Apr to concentration area.
1 Officer called to conference at A.Q.C’s Office Bournemouth.

30 March 1944
[no entry]

Appendix ‘A’

Subject:- Reorganisation. Headquarters 552 Armd Bde Coy RASC,
Soham. Cambs
1 Mar 44.
O i/c A.B.C.D. & E. Platoons.
O i/c Workshops & Comp. Platoon.
HQ Captains. CSM. CQMS
Copy to:- File – 552/49
War Diary.
The Company will reorganise on a four Platoon basis forthwith.
For this purpose ‘D’ Platoon will be disposed of as follows:-
Vehicles.
Officer i/c ‘D’ Platoon will arrange for all vehicles and motor cycles on his charge, less Car 2 seater, to be parked together, separate from all other vehicles.
The tool kits and equipment will be checked over with the Outfit List at the time of forming the park, and the vehicle struck off the Driver’s charge.
One Cpl., one L/Cpl., and six Drivers will be detailed to take charge of these vehicles and carry out maintenance daily, under the organisation of Captain D.A. Sladden.
When the vehicles have been withdrawn from the Company, this party will be absorbed into ‘E’ Platoon.
AB 412 and AB 406 will be placed in the cab of each vehicle.
These vehicles will not be moved from the vehicle park under any circumstances.

Personnel.
Personnel will be posted to Platoons as under, immediately:-

G.1098 Equipment.
Officer i/c ‘D’ Platoon will arrange with CQMS, times of handing in all equipment held, to stores.

Accommodation.
Captain D.A. Sladdon will arrange for accommodation at present occupied by ‘D’ Platoon to be inspected, damage assessed, and the accommodation then suitably allocated to ‘B’ and ‘E’ Platoons.

[Sgd: ??]
Major RASC.
Commanding 552 Armd Bde Coy RASC.
Soham
1.3.44.

 

1 April 1944 SOHAM
8th Armoured Brigade Movement Order No. 1 received for move on 7th to Sway, Hants, area.

2 April 1944 SOHAM
Advance Party consisting of 2 offrs + 12 ORs left for new location.

3 – 4 April 1944
[no entries]

5 April 1944 SOHAM
Coy. preparing to move.

6 April 1944 SOHAM
Posting order received for Capt. A.D. Hall to 28 L. of C. Tpt Coln.

7 April 1944
Coy moved off from Soham 0520 hrs. Stayed night at Yattenden [??].

8 April 1944 BURLEY
Coy moved off from Staging Camp 0700 hrs + arrived Burley 11.30 hrs.

9 April 1944 BURLEY
Posting order received for Capt. A.A. Dougall as B.R.A.S.C.O. 56 Inf Bde.

10 April 1944 BURLEY
Posting order received for Capt. R.E. Young as B.R.A.S.C.O. 8 Armd Bde.
8 Armd Bde under command 50 (N) Div w.e.f. 8 Apr 44.

11 April 1944 BURLEY
Capt. E. Harris R.A.S.C. posted to this Coy from 56 Inf. Bde.

12 – 13 April 1944
[no entries]

14 April 1944 BURLEY
Maj. R.W. House assumed command of this Coy. Major N.A. Smith posted to H.Q. 7 Armd Div. as 2 i/c.

15 – 16 April 1944
[no entries]

17 April 1944 BURLEY
100 x 3 Ton detailed by 50 (N) Div to lift troops for exercise.

18 – 23 April 1944
[no entries]

24 April 1944 BURLEY
Capt. H.E. Dodge posted to 399 Coy R.A.S.C. with rank of Major.

25 – 28 April 1944
[no entries]

29 April 1944 BURLEY
Instructions received to change over 33 x 3 Ton vehs for 33 x 6 Ton.

30 April 1944
[no entry]

 

1 May 1944
33 x 6 Ton Vehicles collected from 511 Coy R.A.S.C.
33 x 3 Ton Vehicles handed over to 1654 Med. Pln. R.A.S.C.

2 – 4 May 1944
[no entries]

5 May 1944
Vehicles drawn found to be 3 Tonners. Letter by Brigade to Corps refers.

6 – 14 May 1944
[no entries]

15 May 1944
2nd Line Ammunition collected.

16 – 19 May 1944
[no entries]

20 May 1944
112 Dodge 3 Ton vehicles to be handed in + 112 Ford 4 x 4 3 Ton to be drawn from 24 VRD.
Authority W.O.U.M. 57/Vehs/A/1841/17 dated 15 May 1944.

21 May 1944
[no entry]

22 May 1944
68 Ford 4 x 4 3 Ton G.S. collected from 24 V.R.D. Many of these require camouflaging + W/Shops attention.

23 May 1944
44 Ford 4 x 4 3 Ton G.S. collected from 24 V.R.D. Approx. 50% of these require camouflaging + many require W/Shops attention.

24 May 1944
Movement Order received to move to Minley Camp Aldershot on 25 May.

25 May 1944
Coy moved to Minley Camp Aldershot.

26 – 31 May 1944
[no entries]

 

Some information are really interesting !
Thanks

 

Do you have the month of June ?
Thanks
Fred

 

Hi Fred,

Unfortunately the diary for June is pretty sparse:

1 – 6 June 1944
[no entries]

7 June 1944
First party, consisting of 4 officers + 92 ORs left for Marshalling Area.

8 June 1944
[no entry]

9 June 1944
Second Party, consisting of 2 officers + 89 ORs left for Marshalling Area.

10 – 13 June 1944
[no entries]

14 June 1944
Main party, consisting of 4 Officers + 172 ORs left for Marshalling Area.

15 – 16 June 1944
[no entries]

17 June 1944
Main party embarked complete for France.

18 – 21 June 1944
[no entries]

22 June 1944
Main party disembarked complete. Delay due to rough seas. Joined remainder of Coy at 798777.

23 June 1944
[no entry]

24 June 1944
Coy moved to 842722.

25 – 29 June 1944
[no entries]

30 June 1944
2 enemy shells landed in coy location at 0020 hrs causing damage to vehicles. No other casualties. Replenished Bde. 2 days comp rations.

 

That's strange, there're so few entries… Why didn't they write down more details?

 

Fred,

As Diane says many of the war diaries are pretty sparse. I've collected quite a few RASC ones for 1944 NW Europe and they vary hugely in the level of detail. Some contain much detail including various movement and operation orders, daily orders, etc whilst others are relatively quiet.

Here is July 1944, which I fear will disappoint!

1 July 1944
[no entries]

2 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

3 July 1944
[no entries]

4 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

5 July 1944
[no entry]

6 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

7 July 1944
[no entry]

8 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

9 July 1944
[no entry]

10 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

11 July 1944
[no entry]

12 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.
Bread issued 2½ oz per man – 1st issue.

13 July 1944
0035 Bde passed to command 30 Corps.

14 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

15 July 1944
[no entry]

16 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.
2305 Coy area shelled. One OR killed, 6 wounded.

17 July 1944
0105 Coy area shelled. No casualties.
0305 Coy area shelled. No casualties.
1745 Coy moved to MR 766693.

18 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

19 July 1944
[no entry]

20 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

21 July 1944
[no entry]

22 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 2 days rations in Coy area.

23 July 1944
[no entry]

24 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

25 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

26 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

27 July 1944
Coy moved to MR 796723.
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

28 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area. Bde moved to Comd 43 Div.

29 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

30 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.

31 July 1944
Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area.


Regards

Tom

 

Hi Tom,
Except the 2 unit's locations, it's quite empty.
Thank you

 

1 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde. 1 days rations in Coy area. Petrol Point opened at 737674.

2 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 737674.

3 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 737674.

4 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 737674.

5 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 737674.

6 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 737674.

7 August 1944
0500 Coy moved to 721618.
Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 746545.

8 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.

9 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.

10 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.
R.A.O.C. Storeman posted surplus to W.E.
Capt. D.N. Hill [??] posted to No 1 Holding Btn. Leeds.

11 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.
Capt Wills posted to Coy from 5 Coy RASC.

12 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.

13 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.

14 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.

15 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.
5 R.I.D.G’s passed to command 8 Armd bde.
1 Pln 2nd Line tpt attached this Coy from 67 Coy RASC.


16 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations in area 819510.
5 R.I.D.G’s passed from command 8 Armd Bde to 7 Armd Div.

17 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days in area 819510. Warning order to move.

18 August 1944
0945 Coy moved to area 786518.
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations in area 819510.
2015 Coy moved to 847449.

19 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde one days rations.
1800 Coy moved to 918307.

20 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations area 947267.

21 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations area 947267.
2102 Coy moved to area 020228.

22 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations area 133224.

23 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations area 133224.

24 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

25 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

26 August 1944
Bde eats down 1 days reserve rations.

27 August 1944
Coy moved to area 454744. Replenished bde 1 days rations in area 578005.

28 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations area 578805.

29 August 1944
Bde eats down one days reserve rations.

30 August 1944
Coy moved to area 578805. Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

31 August 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

 

1 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1400 Coy moved to 849064 sheet 10E/5.

2 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1600 Coy moved to 115734 sheet 98.
2000 Bde moved to Command 50 (N) Div.

3 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1500 Coy moved to 451089 sheet 73.

4 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1430 Coy moved 820270 sheet 64.
2200 T/253922 Dvr. Bull W.E. accidently killed.

5 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

6 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1700 Coy moved 389501 sheet 54.

7 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

8 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1800 Passed from Command 50 (N) Div to command of Guards Armd Div.
1830 Coy moved 924667 sheet 45.

9 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

10 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1530 Coy moved to 141683 sheet 46.

11 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

12 September 1944
1030 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

13 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1000 Bde passed to Command 50 (N) Div from Gds Armd. Div.

14 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

15 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1000 Bde passed to Command 43 Div from 50 (N) Div.

16 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

17 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

18 September 1944
Coy moved to 318833 sheet No 26 & 36
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

19 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

20 & 21 September 1944
N.T.R.

22 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
Coy moved to 708580 sheet No 5.

23 September 1944
N.T.R.

24 September 1944
Moved 660562 Sheet No. 5.

25 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1600 2 Plns of Coy + 1 Coy of Coldstream Guards attacked by powerful enemy formation in area of OSS 4754 Sheet No 5. Beaten off + heavy losses inflicted on enemy. No casualties to this Coy.

26 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
Convoys returning rearwards to collect shells shelled + held up when enemy infiltrated + cut road. One driver wounded.

27 September 1944
N.T.R.

28 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
2005 Coy area bombed – no casualties.

29 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

30 September 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

 

1 October 1944
0645 Coy moved to 688577.
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

2 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.
1105 Anti-personnel bombs dropped in location – 3 slightly wounded.

3 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

4 October 1944
1800 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

5 October 1944
1800 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

6 October 1944
N.T.R.

7 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

8 October 1944
N.T.R.

9 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.
1730 Coy moved to 654526.

10 October 1944
N.T.R.

11 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

12 October 1944
N.T.R.

13 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

14 October 1944
N.T.R.

15 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

16 October 1944
N.T.R.


17 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

18 October 1944
1000 Warning order to move received.

19 October 1944
1000 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.
1030 Coy moved to 587611.

20 October 1944
1000 Bde passed from command 43 Div to Guards Armd Div.

21 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

22 October 1944
N.T.R.

23 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

24 October 1944
N.T.R.

25 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

26 October 1944
N.T.R.

27 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

28 October 1944
N.T.R.

29 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

30 October 1944
N.T.R.

31 October 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.
Coy undergoing Inf. Training & Fieldcraft.

 

1 November 1944
N.T.R.

2 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

3 November 1944
N.T.R.

4 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

5 November 1944
N.T.R.

6 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.
1540 During training P.I.A.T. bomb exploded prematurely on PIAT gun fatally wounding one driver + seriously injuring one other.

7 November 1944
0930 Second driver died in 3 CCS as result of PIAT accident.

8 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations plus 3 days Compo as reserve.
1700 Warning order to move received.

9 November 1944
N.T.R.

10 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

11 November 1944
1430 Coy moved to 459439 MAASTRICHT 1/50,000 sheet 58.

12 November 1944
N.T.R.

13 November 1944
1400 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

14 November 1944
N.T.R.

15 November 1944
1300 Coy moved area TREBEX MR 739609.

16 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.


17 November 1944
N.T.R.

18 November 1944
[no entry]

19 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

20 November 1944
N.T.R.

21 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

22 November 1944
N.T.R.

23 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

24 – 25 November 1944
N.T.R.

26 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 2 days rations.

27 November 1944
1400 2 Officers and 34 OR’s reported to CRASC 30 Corps Tps to act as Infantry + go into action under a Brigade.

28 November 1944
0930 Replenished Bde 1 days rations.

29 November 1944
1000 replenished Bde 2 days rations.

30 November 1944
0900 Warning order to move.

 

Hi,

And just to finish off, as for some reason I do not have the December war diary, you might be interested in the Field Returns (both for 16 September 1944):

Officers: 1 Major, 6 Captains and 5 Lieutenants (which was complete to war establishment).

Other Ranks:
War Establishment: 1 WO1, 1 WO2, 1 CQMS, 3 Staff Sgts, 17 Sgts, 35 Cpls, 381 Ptes and Drivers: total 439

Strength: 1 WO1, 1 WO2, 1 CQMS, 2 Staff Sgts, 17 Sgts, 34 Cpls, 363 Ptes and Drivers: Total 419.

 

Just discovered this - my father's name at the top! Where did you find the diaries? Thanks for the info

 

Just realised there is a National Archives reference - thanks

 

Hi Tom, My father was Major NA Smith as at the top of this post. He moved away from 552 Coy to HQ RASC 7 Armd Bgde in April 1944 but there seem to be several RASC companies attached to 7th Armd. Is there anyway of finding out which one he might have been attached to. I have his war records (including the actual orders) but they only show 7 Armd Div and his personal diaries for 1944 show he embarked at Tilbury on 4 June, was shelled off Dover on 7 June, anchored off La Riviere (Gold Beach) on 8/9 June before finally coming ashore in France on 10 June. Would you have any pointers as to which Archive references might hold the company diaries (I am not far from Kew)? Thanks

 

Hi,

If he moved to 7th Armoured Division HQ RASC then he wasn't actually attached to an RASC company. I would expect there to be a 7th Armoured Division CRASC file reference which would cover that section of the HQ. Maybe WO171/450?

Regards

Tom