British Reconnaissance Corps War Diary List 1941-1946

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Recce_Mitch, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    I think I have managed to compile a complete list of British Recce War Diaries, if not please add any that I have missed. Any spelling mistakes are what is listed at NA Kew.

    WO 166 BEF Home Forces
    WO 169 Middle East Forces
    WO 169 Middle East Forces
    WO 170 Central Mediterranean Forces
    WO 172 South-East Asia Command
    WO 173 West Africa Forces
    WO 175 British North Africa Forces


    WO 166/362 DIVISIONS: 1ST. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6167 1 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Sept., Nov., Dec.
    WO 175/130 1 Recce. Regt. 1943 Jan.- June
    WO 169/8692 1 Recoe Regt. 1943 July- Dec.
    WO 170/394 1 Infantry Division: 1 Recce. Regt. 1944 Jan.-May, Aug.
    WO 170/395 1 Infantry Division: 1 Reece. Regt. 1944 Oct.-Dec.
    WO 169/19928 1 Reconnaissance Regiment 1945 Nov.- Dec.
    WO 169/19926 1 Reconnaissance Regiment 1945 Jan.- May
    WO 169/19927 1 Reconnaissance Regiment 1945 June - Oct.
    WO 169/23153 1 Reconnaissance Regiment 1946 Jan.- May



    WO 166/378 DIVISIONS: 2ND. DIVISION: Recconaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6181 2 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 172/453 2 Division: Recce Regt. 1942 May- Dec.
    WO 172/2250 2 Reconnaissance Regiment 1943 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 172/4253 2 British Division: Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.-Mar.
    WO 172/4591 2 Reconnaissance Regiment 1944 Jan., Apr.- Dec.
    WO 172/6953 2 British Infantry Division: 2 Recce Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 172/10053 2 Recce Regt. 1946 Jan.- July



    WO 166/394 DIVISIONS: 3RD. DIVISION: Recconaissance Battalion. 1941 May-Dec.
    WO 166/6192 3 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/10487 3 Recce. Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/418 3 Recce.Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/4133 3 Recce,Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8997 3 Recce Regt. 1946 Jan.



    WO 166/409 DIVISIONS: 4TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Mar.-Dec.
    WO 166/6208 4 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/10498 4 Recce. Corps 1943 Jan., Feb.
    WO 175/141 4 Recce. Regt. 1943 Mar.- June
    WO 169/8704 4 Recce. Regt. 1943 July- Dec.
    WO 170/419 4 Infantry Division: 4 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 170/4326 4 Infantry Division: Recce. Regt. 1945 Jan.- Nov.



    WO 166/424 DIVISIONS: 5TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Feb.-Dec.
    WO 166/6222 5 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan., Feb.
    WO 169/4081 5 Recce Regt. 1942 Mar.- Dec.
    WO 169/8724 5 Recce. Regt. 1943 Jan.- Aug.
    WO 169/8725 5 Recce. Regt. 1943 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 170/433 5 Infantry Division: 5 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- June
    WO 169/15777 5 Recce. Regt. 1944 July- Dec.
    WO 169/19929 5 Reconnaissance Regiment 1945 Jan.
    WO 171/4146 5 Recce.Regt. 1945 Feb.- Dec.
    WO 171/4147 5 Recce. Regt. L.A.D. 1945 Mar-Apr.

    WO 172/3992 11 Division: Recce Regt 1943 June - Dec
    WO 172/6490 11 East African Division: Recce. Regt 1944 Jan - Dec

    WO 166/456 DIVISIONS: 15TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1940 Dec.-1941 Dec.
    WO 166/6232 15 Indep. Recce Coy. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/10539 15 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-Apr., June - Dec.
    WO 171/474 15 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/475 15 Recce Regt. L.A.D 1944 Jan.- June, Aug., Sept., Nov.
    WO 171/4199 15 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8743 15 Recce 1946 Jan.- Mar.



    WO 166/470 DIVISIONS: 18TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Apr.-Dec.


    WO 166/6957 29 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron Reconnaissance Corps 1942 Jan.- Sept.


    WO 166/6243 38 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/10552 38 Recce Sqn. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/14271 38 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.-Sept.



    WO 166/500 DIVISIONS: 42ND. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Feb.-Oct.


    WO 166/6254 43 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/10567 43 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-June
    WO 166/10568 43 Recce Regt. 1943 July-Dec.
    WO 171/491 43 Recce.Regt. 1944 Jan.- Aug.
    WO 171/492 43 Recce.Regt. 1944 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 171/4215 43 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- June
    WO 171/4216 43 Recce.Regt. 1945 July - Dec.
    WO 171/8753 43 Recce 1946 Jan.- Apr.



    WO 166/527 DIVISIONS: 44TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6267 44 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 169/4138 44 Recce Regt. 1942 July- Dec.
    WO 169/8765 44 Recce. Regt. 1943 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 170/889 44 Reconnaissance Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 170/4372 44 Recce Regiment. 1945 Jan-Nov



    WO 166/542 DIVISIONS: 45TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6281 45 Recce Sqn. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/6282 45 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- July
    WO 172/698 45 Regiment Reconnaissance Corps 1942 Aug.- Dec.
    WO 166/10580 45 Recce Sqn. 1943 Jan., Feb.
    WO 172/2251 45 Reconnaissance Regiment 1943 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 172/4592 45 Reconnaissance Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec.



    WO 166/558 DIVISIONS: 46TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 July-Dec.
    WO 166/6293 46 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 175/165 46 Recce. Regt. 1943 Jan.- June
    WO 169/8777 46 Recce. Regt. 1943 July- Dec.
    WO 170/474 46 Infantry Division: 46 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- June
    WO 170/475 46 Infantry Division: 46 Recce Regt. 1944 July - Dec
    WO 170/4356 46 Infantry Division: Recce. Regt. 1945 Jan.- June
    WO 170/4357 46 Infantry Division: Recce. Regt. 1945 July - Dec.



    WO 166/6307 47 Recce Sqn. 1941 Dec.- 1942 Dec.
    WO 166/10590 47 Recce Sqn. 1943 Jan.-Sept.



    WO 166/584 DIVISIONS: 48TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Oct.-Dec.
    WO 166/6318 48 Indep. Recce Sqn. 1942 Jan.- Oct.



    WO 166/6331 49 Recce Regt. 1942 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 166/10607 49 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/506 49 Recce.Regt. 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/4234 49 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8763 49 Recce 1946 Jan.-Apr.



    WO 169/1202 50 Recce. Regt. 1941 Oct.- Dec.
    WO 169/4161 50 Bn. Reece Corps. 1942 Jan.- Mar.



    WO 166/634 DIVISIONS: 51ST. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6342 51 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- May
    WO 169/4171 51 Recce Regt. 1942 Aug.- Dec.



    WO 166/644 DIVISIONS: 52ND. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-July, Sept., Dec.
    WO 166/6354 52 Recce Regt. 1942 Feb.-Dec.
    WO 166/10633 52 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-May
    WO 171/547 52 Recce.Regt. 1944 Aug.-Dec.
    WO 171/4263 52 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8783 52 Recce 1946 Jan.-Mar.



    WO 166/661 DIVISIONS: 53RD. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6370 53 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/10642 53 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/565 53 Recce. Regt. 1944 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/4281 53 Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- Mar.


    WO 223/94, 53 Recce Regt.: account of operation "Veritable" 1945 Feb. (1947)


    WO 166/680 DIVISIONS: 54TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 May-Dec.
    WO 166/6385 54 Indep. Recce Coy. 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/10655 54 Recce Sqn. 1943 Jan., Feb.


    WO 166/6398 55 Indep. Recce Coy. 1941 Dec.-1942 Dec.
    WO 166/10665 55 Recce Sqn. 1943 Jan.-Oct.



    WO 166/721 DIVISIONS: 56TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6411 56 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.-Oct.
    WO 175/178 56 Recce. Regt. 1942 Oct.- 1943 June
    WO 169/8836 78 Infantry Division: 56 Recce. Regt. 1943 July- Dec.
    WO 170/506 78 Infantry Division: 56 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- June
    WO 170/507 78 Infantry Division: 56 Recce Regt. 1944 July - Dec.
    WO 170/4395 78 Infantry Division: Recce. Regt. 1945 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 170/4396 78 Infantry Division: Recce. Regt. 1945 May - Dec.
    WO 170/7881 56 Reconnaissance Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 1946 Jan.



    WO 175/179 'Blade' Force 1942 Nov., Dec.


    WO 166/736 DIVISIONS: 59TH. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/6425 59 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/10675 59 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/577 59 Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.-Sept.



    WO 166/750 DIVISIONS: 61ST. DIVISION: Reconnaissance Battalion. 1941 Sept.-Dec.
    WO 166/6439 61 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/10686 61 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/14314 61 Recce.Regt. 1944 Jan.-Mar.



    WO 166/6452 76 Recce Sqn. 1942 Jan.-Nov.


    WO 166/6461 77 Recce Sqn. 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/10707 77 Recce Regt. 1943 Jan.



    WO 166/6470 78 Recce Regt. 1942 Sept.


    WO 166/10722 80 Reece Regt. 1943 Feb.-Dec.
    WO 166/14331 80 Recce.Regt. 1944 Jan.-July



    WO 173/636 81 `C' Sqn. Recce 1943 Apr.
    WO 172/4056 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1943 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 172/6594 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1944 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 172/6595 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1944 May - Aug.
    WO 172/6596 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1944 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 172/9549 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1945 Jan.- June
    WO 172/9550 81 West African Division: Recce Regt. 1945 July, Aug.



    WO 173/644 82 Recce. 1943 Aug.- Dec.
    WO 172/6611 82 West African Division: Recce Bn. 1944 Aug.- Dec.
    WO 172/9564 82 West African Division: Reece Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 172/11301 82 Recce Regt. 1946 Jan.- Aug.



    WO 166/6958 148 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron Reconnaissance Corps 1942 Jan.- May


    WO 166/10666 161 Recce Sqn. 161 Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps (Green Howards) with effect from 1943 October 12 1943 Oct.-Dec.
    WO 166/14606 161 Reconnaissance Regiment 1944 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/16617 161 Reconnaissance Regiment 1945 Jan.-May



    WO 166/6911 Airborne Light Tank Squadron 1942 June- Dec.
    WO 166/11099 Airborne Light Tank Squadron 1943 Jan.-Nov.
    WO 171/435 6 Armd. Recce. Regt. 1944 Jan., Mar.- Dec.
    WO 171/4161 6 Armd Recce.Regt. 1945 Jan.- July
    WO 169/23154 6 Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1946 Jan.



    WO 166/6955 1 Air Landing Squadron Reconnaissance Corps 1941 Dec.- 1942 Dec.
    WO 175/185 1 Air Landing Brigade Recce. Corps 1943 May, June
    WO 169/8674 1 Airborne Recce Sqn. 1943 July, Aug.
    WO 169/8846 1 Air Landing Recce. 1943 Nov., Dec.
    WO 166/14612 1 Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron Royal Armoured Corps 1944 Jan.-May
    WO 171/406 1 Airborne Recce.Sqn. 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/4121 1 Airborne Recce.Sqn. 1945 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 171/8471 1 Airborne Recce. Sqn. 1945 May - Sept.
    WO 171/8472 1 Airborne Recce. Residues 1945 May, June



    WO 166/1384 ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS: 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry. 1939 Aug.- 1941 Dec.
    WO 166/6901 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1942 Jan.- Apr.
    WO 169/4493 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1942 May.- Dec.
    WO 169/9331 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 171/850 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1944 Jan.- Aug.
    WO 171/851 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1944 Sept.- Dec.
    WO 171/4696 2 Derbyshire Yeomanry 1945 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/8985 2 Derby Yeo. 1946 Jan., Feb.




    Cheers
    Paul
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Thanks Paul.

    You've helped me identify the reason why I could never find the 49 Recce Diaries.

    If you type either 49 or Recce in the mandatory word or phrase box in the National Archives search engine, nothing comes up.

    If you type recce.regt in that box, you will get most of the recce regiments who fought in NWE listed under WO171.

    This is typical of how inconsistent the wonderful NA search is and why you can get so frustrated with it.

    If I can now find the 49th Infantry Division's war diary for 1944/45, I will be very happy indeed.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Paul,
    The Recce Battalions for 50 Div were:

    1) Pre-3 September 1939 to 5 March 1941 - 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusliers;
    2) 6 March 1941 to 26 November 1941 - 50th Recce Regt;
    3) 12 December 1943 to 18 January 1944 - Yorkshire H
    4) 24 January 1944 to 30 November 1944 - 61st Recce Regt.

    NB. Dates are approximate!

    The 50th Recce Regt was raised from the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers; the latter had been the 50 Div's Recce Battalion whilst in Belgium and France with the BEF in 1940. No War Diaries are listed in your analysis.

    The 50th Recce Regt was detached from 50 Div and joined 22 Armoured Brigade in November 1941. It was decimated in the action at 'Knightsbridge' in June 1942. It was never reconstituted and so, never rejoined 50 Div. It appears its final War Diary covering April to June 1942 is 'missing' and will probably remain so. No War diaries are listed in your analysis for pre-Octber 1941.

    I have no information about the Yorkshire H (RAC), except a single 'Order Of Battle' listing in 'A Short History Of The 50th Northumbrian Division', Major's AHR Baker RA and B Rust TD, RCT. Does the 'H' stand for 'Hussars'? Do you know who this outfit is?

    The 61st Recce's War Diaries were never completed for the period 23 Feb 1944 to 30 September 1944 and that for the period after, until disbandment in January 1945, they were either never completed or are 'missing'. So, there are no War Diaries covering its attachment to 50 Div (until 30 November 1944) or its life as an Independent Recce Regt thereafter.

    Do you have the War Diary information for indents 1) 2) and 3) or sources of further information for the War diary gaps at indents 2) and 4)?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2019
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    I have no information about the Yorkshire H (RAC), except a single 'Order Of Battle' listing in 'A Short History Of The 50th Northumbrian Division', Major's AHR Baker RA and B Rust TD, RCT. Does the 'H' stand for 'Hussars'?

    Yes. Wiki has a small entry on the Yorkshire Hussars - a Yeomanry regiment - that fills out the story a bit.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks Paul.

    You've helped me identify the reason why I could never find the 49 Recce Diaries.

    If you type either 49 or Recce in the mandatory word or phrase box in the National Archives search engine, nothing comes up.

    If you type recce.regt in that box, you will get most of the recce regiments who fought in NWE listed under WO171.

    This is typical of how inconsistent the wonderful NA search is and why you can get so frustrated with it.

    If I can now find the 49th Infantry Division's war diary for 1944/45, I will be very happy indeed.

    Cheers - Rob

    Rob, You're obviously not using the Excel Spreadsheets of all the war diaries I posted ;)
     
  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Thanks Idler, I don't know how I missed that. I probably mispelt either Yorkshire or Hussars in my web-search!

    Wiki states:
    The 61st Div was training to fight in NW Europe, but were reverted to 'Home' duties. I know that the CO of the 61st Recce (Mount - who incidently is/was our Prime Minister's - Cameron - granddad) did a lot of lobbying to get reassigned to 50 Div and achieved his aim. It looks like the Yorkshire Hussars went in the opposite direction. This makes sense, as the 61st Recce was fully trained and equipped, whereas the Yorkshire Hussars required retraining and equipping.

    Again, many thanks.

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2019
  7. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Rob, You're obviously not using the Excel Spreadsheets of all the war diaries I posted ;)

    I did!! It did not help me I'm afraid.:huh:
     
    Nfr1974 likes this.
  8. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Paul, on your list of the recce units is also 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, but why then you didn't also put there 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry which was recce unit of 6th Armoured Division during the war.
     
  9. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Sol 2nd Derby Yeo are considered to be honourary members of the Recce Corps and have the same obat whereas 1 Derby Yeo have a different obat being attached to an Armoured Div not an Infantry Div.

    Steve my list is only for the Recce Corps 1941-1946. Have changed title to show this, sorry for any confusion.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I did!! It did not help me I'm afraid.:huh:

    If I remember correctly I've written in the thread how to find divisional units because they don't mention them by their divional title, ie 50 Div signals etc. and they are in a sub series which is within the spreadsheet.

    A
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Paul, Can you make this a sticky for future ref-I just found it very useful-Thanks

    A
     
  12. grunson

    grunson Member

    One more for 44 Recce.

    WO 170/4372 44 Recce Regiment. 1945 Jan-Nov.
     
  13. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Thanks for that

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  14. georgedorrian

    georgedorrian Junior Member

    Hi,

    Just checking - is the diary listed as 'WO 166/6293 46 Recce Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec' available anywhere to view online?

    Many thanks
    George
     
  15. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    I don't believe so. I don't have it at the moment, but over the next 3 years I will have it & will post it on the forum.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    :lol:
     
  17. daisy1942

    daisy1942 Junior Member

    Were there any Arygll and Sutherland highlanders in the 18th Battalion?
     
  18. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Hi. Whats the procedure for obtaining copies of these war diaries. Im after some for 5 Recce where my grandad served.

    Thanks. Jim.
     
  19. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  20. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    I have them but have been unable to upload them on forum due to my accident.

    Cheers
    Paul
     

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