| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Hondschect, Belgium |
| Entry | 0045: Bde O.O No. 9 received for Defence of Bde Sector on CANAL 0210: Lt-Col Moore, on verbal instructions from Brig Dempsey, orders Bn to stand by. A & D Coys sent S to block roads. Information is that enemy APVs have broken through and are in the area S and WEST of the canal. Carriers sent to the road blocks. 2/Lt WIDNELL sent as officer's patrol to TUBIZE Refugees and Heavy traffic passing through HONDZECHT 0430: Bridge blown up and explosions of bridges heard at intervals from CHARLEROI CANAL 0500: Lt-Col Moore round line, fwd Coys. W D sent on to TUBIZE 0530: W B sent 600x along ENGHIEN Rd W C sent in reserve in wood NORTH of HONDZECHT 0600: 2 Div and refugee road traffic eased up considerably 0625: Brig Dempsey arr. to give information to Lt-Col Moore on general situation. Demolition of Bridges, and possible withdrawal tonight. Vehicles fwd running very short of petrol. Hardly any air activity in early hours of morning. 2 Secs carriers detailed to RES as escort during preparation of demolitions over Charleroi's Canal and R. SENNE bridges 0720: W B ordered to move to Eastern side of road. Bde Op Inst No.20 received 0730: Bn HQs commenced to move to posn by Canal crossing 1 mile to WEST. Lt-Col Moore and Capt Woolnough with Sig Office remained at old HQs 0810: Liaison offr Army Tank Bde called to ascertain the situation on Bn front 0830: Petrol lorry of 2 Div stopped and 529 galls petrol issued to coys and carriers 0715: Message to coys to use reserve rations for breakfasts as days supplies have not yet come up to SMP. MG Pl 9/Manch reported 0900: Coys informed of SAA dump 12,000 rds at Bn HQs, old location 0957: Brig PLATT, Comd Army Tank Bde, visited Bn HQs to find out situation in this area: speaks to Capt Rock on telephone 1100: 'B' Echelon of Inf Bdes passing through. A TK and Fd Art passing through 1230: Air dive bombing attacks a few miles ahead - north of HAL, by Seven German planes. 1245: Lt-Col Moore out on ground with Capt Lord Arundell 1305: 7 Mk II Inf Tanks passing through from HAL to SOUTH WEST 1315: 2/Lt Graham BIO to Bn HQs with letters and information 1320: Supply lorries arr. Transport lines at BELLINGHEN 1335: Last of Inf Tanks passed through 1345: Man sent in by 'A' Coy for interrogation because he was trying to cross the canal 1410: Carrier Section with W D withdrawn to Bn res, and W D dispositions changed, and moved further North 1422: HAL Br blown up 1500: Lt-Col Moore on recce of W A area 1600: D/R sent to locate HQs. 1 Army Tank Bde returns with information that the Bde has moved off under GHQs orders 1630: Brig Dempsey arr for discussion with Lt-Col Moore: no new information as to action of Bde 1717: 17 Enemy aircraft flew over Bde HQs and Bn Rear HQs at about 2-3000 ft and dive bombed the wood. One attack was made, and engaged by all AA Brens. 4 British fighters engaged the enemy aircraft and brought down at least 4 of them 1736: Second attack on HONSECHT by enemy aircraft, engaged by LAS. Delay action bombs dropped in both attacks, which continued exploding for some hours. 1800: Desultory gunfire from between HONDSECHT and the canal, presumably from our own artillery 1930: No further information as to our action. An Offr of 7 R. Berks Rg (48 Div) to Bn HQs, this coy 300x up the road towards HAL, having marched 10 miles yesterday 1940: Message from Lt Macklin R.E, asking whether to blow up two bridges at 510 392 and 407 388. Bde to give answer later 1945: Brig Dempsey informed Capt Woolnough that enemy had bumped 2 Inniskgs at HAL and were advancing down towards the canal. Increased art fire under Air direction 2015: Message to coys ordering all tps less one truck per coy, mortars, sigs and pioneers and MO to RV 2200 hrs to go to tpt line 2030: Bn HQs moved to new location, 1 mile in rear and all movement round old location reduced owing to vulnerability and a target for shelling and bombing 2100: Message from W B that the SOS signal was put up between the French and ourselves. This reported to Bde and Lt-Col Moore immediately summoned to a conference 2103: Message sent out retaining 'A' Ech Tpt with coys. Intermittent gunfire during evening 2200: Lt-Col Moore returned from Bde with orders for withdrawal at 1100 hrs [sic] tonight, and retirement to take up a rearguard posn from x roads at COQUAINE 4140 to TERLINDEN 4142, along the road. D coy to leave present posn at 1100 hrs [sic] 2300: Bn HQs, and all coys dep HONDSCEHT area by road and march route via SAINTE and PETIT - ENGHIEN - COQUIANE. Slight drizzle 2320: Major J.H. Peacock wounded by an officer of 2 Cameronians, on leading A Coy from coy posns, being mistaken for a party of the enemy. Art fire fairly heavy along front. Heavy art shelling ENGHIEN 2358: Carriers, Bn HQs arr as rearguard posn. Bn HQs put at rd junc 412 407. Coys arrived later at intervals. 4th Ox & Bucks L.I already on posn, with same orders as This unit Reference to Appendices: App 'U' and 'V' |
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