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War Diary: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS, Jan - Dec 19441944 September 1
0630 hours
Battalion 'O' Group.
Own troops: The Corps plan is to cut the ARRAS - ST. POL road by getting 5th BRIGADE up on to the high ground by AUTOVAN and 29th BRIGADE on their left around CROSS ROADS 3307.
Enemy: Little is known of the enemy moves, but no strong opposition is expected.
Intelligence: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS will attack and capture ARRAS.
Method: The BRIGADE plane is to be carried out in five stages.
(1) HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY REGIMENT cross the SOMME and make straight for the BRIGADE objective.
(2) No. 1 Company of 1st Motor Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS and No. 1 Squadron of 1st Armoured GRENADIER GUARDS take up a position so as to contain ALBERT which is strongly held by the enemy(3 ) 2nd Recce Battalion WELSH GUARDS followed by the remainder of the GRENADIER GROUP and two Batteries of 153 Field Regiment ROYAL ARTILLERY make straight for the BRIGADE objective and take over from HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY REGIMENT.
(4) COLDSTREAM GROUP with Battery 153 Field Regiment ROYAL ARTILLERY and Q Battery 21st Anti-Tank capture ARRAS.
(5) BRIGADE H.Q. followed by 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GAURDS move up to objective.
The COLDSTREAM GROUP under the command of the Commanding Officer move as soon as the Centre Line is clear in the following order:-
1st Armoured Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS and Q Battery, Advance Battalion H.Q., No. 3 Company, No. 4 Company, Support Company, F.2.
No. 2 Company is to remain behind and guards the bridges over the SOMME till relieved by 32nd BRIGADE when the will rejoin the Battalion.
The Centre Line runs: -
CROSS ROADS 251643; HEDAUVILLE 3274; AYETTE 4487; BEAMETZ 3695; WARZUS 3799, ARRAS.
Before entering ARRAS the Companies will form up as follows:-
No. 1 Company at BERNEVILLE objective in ARRAS the RUE ST HUBERT and the bridges beyond.
No. 3 Company at BEAURAINS objective in ARRAS the Railway Station.
No. 4 Company and Battalion H.Q. will enter ARRAS by whichever way meets least opposition.
The Battalion moved off behind the 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS at 1100 hours.
Enemy were reported to be resisting strongly in ALBERT but there was a clear run along the Centre Line except for one point under fire from an enemy mortar and by 1300 hours the 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS reported back that they intended to go straight into ARRAS from the South, and the Commanding Officer ordered the leading Company to turn off the Centre Line and follow them in.At 1415 hours the Battalion halted so as to get the column closed up and organised ready to enter the town as soon as the tanks were safely in.
The Commanding Officer then went forward to the 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS H.Q.
There was a certain amount of resistance and sniping from houses, but this was soon dealt with and from a joint H.Q. set up at the Station No. 1 Company was ordered to debus and move on to its objective on foot.
By 1500 hours the firing had stopped and No.s 3 and 4 Companies drove in in their T.C.L.s, followed by No. 2 Company which had caught up the Battalion column and was given the tasks of round up and guarding the numerous prisoners captured.
At 1550 hours orders were received for the COLDSTREAM Group to move on up to ECURIE and join the rest of the BRIGADE, leaving No. 3 Company behind in ARRAS, till relieved by the 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS.
By 1700 hours the Battalion was established up on the ECURIE feature, where no enemy opposition was met with, though a considerable number of Germans came and surrendered, just in time to be bombed by an enemy aircraft.
1700 hours
The Commanding Officer gave out orders for the consolidation of the position as follows:-
No. 2 Company CROSSROADS 465037;
No. 4 Company CROSSROADS 473035;
No. 1 Company CROSSROADS 460035;
Battalion H.Q. on the ROAD at 465030.
The Battalion is to remain here for the night while the 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS with No. 3 Company under command go on to DOUAI.
During the day a total of 1,300 Prisoners were collected in ARRAS, the Battalion’s contribution including the R.T.O. of ARRAS, S.S. Troops, G.A.F. Troops, several Mongolians, and a great variety of Infantry Regiments.
1830 hours
2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS and No. 3 Company were reported to have cleared DOUAI, though some opposition was met with, and No. 3 Company had some casualties.
SOURCE: WW2Talk
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Cordialement
Mathieu