Hi all, I was wondering if anyone happened to have the war diary for 65 (Norfolk Yeomanry) A/Tk Reg't for April 1945? On April 5 4KOSB were subject to a "blue on blue" incident in which friendly SPs shelled some buildings they had occupied. (Described in Peter White's With The Jocks.) I had thought that the SPs would have been Archers of 54 Anti-Tank Reg't. There is no mention of such an incident in their WD (but would there be?). One of its batteries are mentioned as in support of 155 Brigade on 3 April but then there's nothing. However according to Andy Aitcheson on twitter, they were in support of 7 Armoured Div by that date. So it's not completely impossible that 65 A/TK Reg't were involved. I was wondering if anyone happened to have their war diary for that month? I expect we will never actually get to the bottom of it. Also, I should note, I am not trying to assign any blame, just try to create a fuller picture in my head of what happened.
65th Anti-Tank Regiment RA was 7th Armoured's wheeled and tracked anti-tank regiment. Although I may be wrong, I am not aware of brigades being allocated anti-tank assets from their parent divisions when attached to another division. This was even less likely for 155 Brigade as the threat from enemy armour in April 1945 was low and the brigade could easily be looked after by 65th ATk Regt. Sadly I do not have a copy of the regt's WD for April 1945. However, for the same reasons as yourself, I looked at the WD a while ago but it was so thin in terms of information that I did not copy the relevant pages. I suspect you are right and we will never get to the bottom of why it happened. Fog of war, incompetence, battle fatigue? Who knows.
4th KOSB WD's mention it Microsoft Word - 4 KOSB - Apr (filesusr.com) around 6.50 am on the 5th - on the 2nd it had mentioned a troop of 54th A/T under Command so think it may still have been them on the 5th
"The history of the Headquarters Royal Artillery, 52nd Lowland Division during the German War 1939-1945" (snappy title) Mentions 304 A Tk Bty being attached to 7th Armoured to help force a crossing at Ibbenburen which ties in with 4th KOSB location in the War Diary so a possible candidate battery
"When life you gives you lemons"... I'm not sure how you make a great title when you are writing the history of the division's RA HQ. I can check the anti-tank regiment's war diary to see about corroborating evidence. When I did look there was nothing mentioned for April 5th itself.
54 Anti-Tank Regiment's war diary does mention 304 A/Tk Bty's troops (G, H, I) supporting 155 Brigade units (7 Cams and 5 KOSB) on 4 April.
Ehup AB64, I can't find this book for sale anywhere so I'm faced with a long trip to Brit Library. This usually ends with me finding nothing of any use. Do you know if there's a handy chapter on Op Veritable? And could you be tempted to share it? I know Stolpi would like a look too. A polite "no" will not offend.
I don't think so, but I do have the war diary (daily events anyway) of 54th Anti-Tank Regiment which was 52nd Div's unit and can share.
Here you go, let mw know if they aren't clear - I had a fair bit of messing around with resolution and resizing to get them to upload so they aren't as clear as I'd have liked
Great find AB64 !! Do you also have the chapter dealing with Op Blackcock (January 1945). Woud be much obliged if you would share these pages too.
No need for a trade really - but I know a fellow on Twitter who would probably be interested in exchanging all kinds of material. Ok if I put him in touch with you?
Cheers AB64. That's beautiful! Thanks very much. It's filled in a few awkward gaps... but made me question a few more... and has a added two whole sentences to the thesis. The WW2Talk section of my acknowledgements is getting towards being a chapter in its own right. Please PM me if you'd like your real name immortalized in something nobody will ever read. Pints owed.
BD blouse belonging to Lt Col Todhunter who was CO of 54th until he was injured 6th January 1945 - he had his arm broken the cause was believed to be a 50 cal round fired from a passing B17 which ricochet Edit to change from 65th to 54th Anti-Tank