12^th May

0725. CO adj left for conference at Bde HQ.

0800. Message from Coys- ‘Stand by to move’.

0830. CO met Coy commanders- ‘Owing to break through Belgium front line, and parachute attacks behind line, 3 Div is moving to bolster up Belgium’s to positions as per plan D

0850. R & O groups left. O group to RV at 858580.

0915. Btn moved by Coys to position south and SE of Louvain.

LOUVAIN

0945. Report centre opened at 858570.

1115. Head of Bn passed report centre. Bn HQ established at 856567.

1400. 9 IB operation order no 1 received. C coy reported in position.

1430. OC 17 Fd Coy RE reported demolitions prepared.

1515. D Coy reported in position and in touch with Belgiums.

1515. CO conference at Bde.

1645. A coy reported in position.

1742. B coy reported in position.

1750. Bn reported in position to Bde.

1900. Message from carriers Pt ‘Half battery of 25 Pdrs in my area. Have not decided where to go but will be near my Pl HQ’

1945. A/T guns received by Bde A/T Coy.

1800. Officers patrop reported contact with South Staffs R at 833547.

1800. One 2 Coy Mx in position 837551.

1950. Message from YUKO, rptd all coys ‘Reported that in Norway Germans parachutists landed with hands above heads holding grenades. This lead to belief that parachutists were surrendering and that thus not fired on. More than six parachutists coming down from any one plane can definitely be taken as enemy. Enemy parachutists in Belgium have worn khaki uniforms.

1950. Message from YUKO. ‘Delay action bombs may have delay of one week’. ‘On hearing air raid warning all personnel will wear respirators in alert position and eye shields until all clear sounded’.

2023. ‘All know Germans will be arrested and handed over to Belgium military post. Belgium soldiers without steel helmets and without numerals in their cap will be dealt with in a similar manner’

2047. ‘Patrol gained contact with British tps on right at ROTSPOEL 8354’

2055. Tracing of Bn position sent to YUKO.

2058. A coy ordered to investigate green light flashing in their area.

2250. Message from D coy ‘Several A/T mines at bridge 873561 exploded by Belgium ambulance convoy. In my opinion road too barred for traffic. No casualties to British personnel.

2316. Message to YUKO ‘No bridges exist between right of this unit and left of British tps on our right’

13^th May

0233. Message from D coy ‘Right forward Pt report large white flares dropped and have fired on small patrol’.

0433. About 15 enemy parachutists seen to land 863579 at 0115 hrs.

0440. Rations arrived- evening meal of 12^th and breakfast and lunch for today. Delayed by refugees. No news of petrol lorry.

0530. Weather during the night has been fine, with little or no wind. Signal lines have been constantly broken. Intermittent small arms fire has been heard to our front.

0550. Bde Cmds and IO arrive and went with CO to right fwd Pt.

0630. Message from YUKO ‘Bn to find 2 OR’s to accompany Belgium anti-looting patrol’.

0700. D coy reported 18 Pt moved to 873568 owing to presence of six unexploded bombs at 871567.

0740. Bridge at 858569 reported prepared for demolition and mined.

0800. During the night Gds have received 1 KOSB who are to be in reserve 8156.

1000. Bde Cmds arrived.

1100. Mjr PGC Preston left unit to take over BM 9 IB.

1130. Representatives 15/19 H. arrived to enquire about unexploded A/T mines at bridge 873561, as they may need this route for withdrawal. Info that 12^th Lancers in contact with enemy east of TIRELEMONT.

1331. Message from YUKO ‘German steel helmets found at 855560. Some noise and firing had been heard at this point during the night, but patrol gained no information.

1442. Message from YUKO ‘Governors of Louvain prison has received telegram from minister of justice to evacuate 100 prisoners to Brussels and to obtain escort from British troops’.

1444. Message from YUKO ‘Three enemy parachutists reported to have landed at 871557. Anglo-belgium patrol sent out to intercept them’.

1500. CO conference at HQ Chasseurs a Pieds’.

1600. Officer establishing OP for 4.5 Hows visited Bn to ascertain FDLI.

1915. Message to Coys- Bridges and crossings will not be demolished without orders from HQ, if enemy action imminent demolition at Coy Cmds discretion.

2030. Belgium mobile troops are withdrawing through YUKO front, our mobile troops withdrawing through our front leaving two troops on roads entering Louvain from the east. Control posts on all bridges not yet demolished. A coy allotted 150 yds of wire.

2300. C coy to occupy seven pillboxes as marked. Three men and one Bren gun in each pillbox.

2310. Defensive fire plan discussed with gunmen.

14^th May.

0300 A coy reported that the level crossing has been closed.

0422. No rations as yet.

0428. Rations arrived.

0500. C coy report HQ at 840566.

0646 HQ armoured reece Bde will be crossing the A/T obstacle from W to E between 0700 and 0800 hrs and all concerned warned.

0725. Col Broadway arrived with orders to fit in another coy between KOSB and our right coy.

0747. Message from YUKO ‘On being attacked by aircraft small arms fire will not be opened’

1030. 8000 sandbags arrived.

1135. RAP moved to house 856568.

1200. Roads 835570 and 843570 bombed by aircraft between 0900 and 1100. No Casualties.

1502. Message from YUKO ‘Mobile troops in contact with enemy infantry and withdrawing according to plan on both roads. Bridge in A coy to be blown now. Bridges in B and D coy areas not to be blown until further notice. C cou occupied new position in area south of road 8457.

1550. B and D coys instructed to blow all bridges on their front and close gates where they exist.

1517. Message from YUKO ‘Reliable information that the enemy likely to use gas’

1555. B coy reported that Belgium commander was informed by civilian that 3 enemy parachutists lande 10 kms south of Louvain dressed as civilians and placed bombs and explosives in road.

1612. Message from YUKO ‘Bn HQ closed and moved to NW of wood 854565 at 1715hrs’.

1710. Message from YUKO ‘Blow remainder of bridges’

1810. B coy instructed to prepare road on far side of bridge and obstacle for A/T mines.

1837. C coy reported their HQ 845572.

1840. A coy report 80 nuns and clergymen taking refuge in their area 856561 and refuse to move.

1850. Message from YUKO ‘In the event of withdrawal: No 1 Sec will proceed to junction 854575 and cover all roads, No 2 Sec will proceed to Xrds 859574 cover roads N to S, No 3 Sec will proceed to Xrds 864566 until all coys clear’.

2200. Message from YUKO ‘Ration lorries to be met at Xrds 854576 at 2359. No refugees will be allowed through posts during the hours of darkness.

2205. 2/Lt Fennell liaison officer for Bde reports that the enemy have broken through on RUR front and that our own carrier Pt is to get into contact with RUR and re-establish the position.

2230. Carrier Pt under command of Cpt Rowell left to this task.

2230. Intelligence section sorties sent out to find out if Xrds 865572 clear of enemy.

2230. Enemy arty opened up shells just skimming the top of our wood.

2300. D coy sent out fighting patrol under 2/Lt Burbridge to get in touch with carrier platoon and RUR and report situation.

15^th May

0200. Capt Rowell returned having gained contact with RUR.

0230. Rations arrived and distributed to coys.

0740. Enemy arty shelled area 8457 throughout night. Enemy digging in about road 879569.

0920 A coy report enemy HE landing to left of position. Troops reported on front.

1005. B coy reported heavy shelling of wood 867560, enemy appears to be massing in wood 872556.

1020. D coy asked for arty fire in cemetery on left of area, too close so mortar suggested.

1110. B coy reported enemy OP in house 859555, also own arty fire falling dangerously close to 11 Pt.

1120 Cpl Steele MM killed and Sjt Dale wounded by small enemy infantry gun, situated in cemetery by D coy area.

1205. Message from Bde saying that burial grounds will be selected by Bde areas. Divisional burial ground exists at 768554.

1455. A coy report enemy parties in front of centre platoon. Inflicted casualties on enemy. Enemy in house 755556 would like this position shelled.

1954. D coy report Hq moved to pharmacy 150yds south of present position.

2000. B coy report continued conc of enemy troops in wood 870550. Pigeons continue to be sent from house 870550. Sniper in front of 10 Pt shot and killed.

2145. B coy report red very light put up from house 874561.

2245. C coy report SOS put up on right.

2315. B coy report enemy ridge 865556.

16^th May

0320. A coy report centre platoon engaged by mortar behind house 855556.

0630. B coy unable to state exact no of enemy at ridge 865556 but 12 Pt report at least 20 men seen.

0644. A coy report centre Pt fires on by mortars and sub machine guns.

1106. Bde reports ‘ Enemy shelling at 0930 828572 two rounds HE followed by gas shell believed Phosgene.

1515. C coy report shelling 845567. A coy left Pt engaged with enemy LMGs. Enemy OP still in house 867555.

1750. Message from YUKO ‘Withdraw same night through Brussels’

2100. Coy start withdrawal.

2230. All coys out safely. Blankets and stoves left behind and buried.

2245. Six German motor cyclists seen, chase given by carriers, cyclists got away through wood.

2300. Bridge blown by order of Capt Role.

2310. Road block blown. Carriers en route for Brussels.