Hi does anyone have a war diary entry for the 53rd Reg Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C. covering the date 23 09 1944 ... I am researching one of four serving brothers Raymond Howorth who was killed on this date Thanks
Oscar may help 53rd Recce War Diary https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2081622/RAYMOND%20HOWORTH/
September 1944 CO Lt..Col L Williams Vorst 17 During the afternoon the beginning of the Allied air landing operation in Holland was seen as hundreds of gliders and transport planes passed overhead going North. 18 At mid-day the Regt moved across the Albert Canal at BEERINGEM 12475 – BOURG LEOPOLD 12633 to KERKHOVEN 12787. Although the distance moved was only 15 miles, the Regt did not reach harbour until 2000hrs owing to considerable delay at bridges over the Albert Canal. Kerkhoven The Commanding Officer, who had gone ahead for orders, held on O Gp at 2200hrs. The situation was that the 15 (S) Div having failed to establish a bridgehead at MOLL Il791, it was intended that the 53 (W) Div should make a bridgehead across the Junction de MEUSE Canal in the area LOMMEL 13095. 158 Inf Bde were to do an assault. crossing during the night and it was hoped to construct a class 9 bridge by morning. The 4 Welch and 1 E.Lancs succeeded in crossing the river but enemy resistance on the North bank held them up and delayed the construction of the bridge. A Sqn eventually crossed the Canal at 1600hrs. They succeeded in reaching WILREIT E2704 by darkness. Lt. Nolan's assauLt. tp was engaged in very confused fighting in the woods to the SW of the village with enemy infantry. 3 PWs were taken and about 20 casualties inflicted on the enemy before the Tp withdrew in darkness to their Sqn harbour area of WILREIT. The remainder of the Regt remained at KERKHOVEN. Cas - 2 ORs wounded, Tpr Gatis (A) missing (believed killed). 19 The Regt came under comd 160 InfBde. At 0300hrs the Regt less A Sqn moved out to cross the Junction Canal, crossing the bridge at 0400hrs. By fIrst light RHQ had reached LUYKSGESTEL E31 0 1. C Sqn passed through A Sqn who were holding the road from WILREIT to rdjunc E290058 with orders to patrol in the direction of EERSTEL E3109 and BLADEL E2410. B Sqn patrolled to the West with the object of seizing the bridge site at E183053. A considerable number of enemy in the area of X rds E262037 consisting of 6 Parachute Regt fighting as a Battle Gp completely prevented A & B Sqns making progress. An infantry attack was planned on these X rds by 158 Bde but the attack was first delayed and then unsuccessful. B Sqn eventually reached the bridge at E199997 by taking some very inferior tracks through the wood. C Sqn made most progress until finally they were held up by blown bridges within sight of the main road BLADEL - EERSEL. During the afternoon A Sqn were put under command 71 Inf Bde for an advance to the NE while the remainder of the Regt was to continue the job of clearing the woods to the west of LUYKSGESTEL under comd 160 InfBde. During the evening two coys of our Infantry suffered severe casualties from the enemy in the area WEEBOSCH E2504. This resulted in the left flank of RHQ and A Ech, which was harboured in the area E3003 being completely open with a very considerable number of very bellicose enemy only 1 ½ miles away. Cas - Tprs Lees P, Jones D and Moore C killed, and 6 ORs wounded. Luyksgestel 20 RHQ moved back into the village LUYKSGESTEL E31 0 1. B & C Sqns carried out patrols into the woods towards the Dutch-Belgian frontier to a depth of about 4 miles to the West. No major encounters were made. The Regt came under comd 158 InfBde. Cas - Sgt Hall killed - 1 OR wounded. Duizel 21 The Regt moved at 0630hrs to the North. The plan was for the Regt (less A Sqn) to clear the cone area for 158 InfBde in area BLADEL 2410 - ERSEL 3109 - VESSEM E2916-NETERSEL E2414. RHQ was established at DUIZEL E3010. The villages of HOOGELOON E2714 - CASTEREN E2616 and BLADEL were found to be occupied. C Sqn fought a very spirited action in the village of HOOGELOON and succeeded in clearing about 100 enemy from the village. Lt. Addison's carrier Tp was prominent in this action. Fighting continued throughout the day in co-operation with the Infantry who had now come forward. Cas - Tpr Timms D killed. 22 C Sqn in co-operation with 1 E Lanes attempted to clear the enemy out of BLADEL. B Sqn assisted the Infantry at the Villages of WESTELBEERS E2319 and CASTERIN E2613, the latter village being cleared by 1300hrs. A Sqn under comd 71 InfBde were employed on a similar role several miles to the North, in the area MIDDLEBEERS 2721 and CUSTELBEERS 2822. They were given the task of advancing through wooded country in front of the Infantry. As they emerged from a wood in the area of MIDDLE BEERS, a Tp ofthis Sqn overran six 88 mm guns which they captured without loss. This Sqn was ordered later in the day to lead an Inf advance into a village; this led to unnecessary casualties in men and vehicles. Cas - 6 ORs wounded. 23 340 (SP) A/Tk bty which owing to the lack of Class 40 bridges had been forced to remain south of the Junction Canal arrived. Sqns were engaged in supporting Infantry attacks against Villages in the area. Cas - Lieut F E Marwell - killed. 24 The enemy who had fought stubbornly in each Village showed no intention of falling back and skirmishes continued throughout the day around the villages of BLAD EL - HULSEL 2212 - NETERSEL 2414 and WESTELBEERS 2319. Cas - Sgt Jenkins W G killed and 1 OR wounded. 25 A Sqn reverted to command. C Sqn went under comd 160 Bde, moving to the area POSTEL 2201. Regt not engaged in fighting. I have posted War diary entry from 17th to 25th September Cheers Paul
