A document for Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is for remembering the dead above all.  But I also remember my father, who was not among the dead of the Second World War but saw a lot of service at the sharp end during the Second World War.

This is an excerpt from the regimental War Diary of 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry, Sixth Armoured Division, British Army, operating as armoured reconnaissance in Sherman and Honey tanks. It summarizes the last day of front line combat for Lieut. Vincent Moore, commanding 2 Troop of "B" Squadron a little north of Perugia in central Italy. 

As military historians know, Official War Diary daily entries are brief and full of acronyms and "inside" knowledge. They can still be dramatic and personal at times: 

June 23 [1944]      "A" Squadron No. 2 Troop was on right at 697963. In the morning it was moved forward to the Y-roads (Sheet 122) 701969, but was heavily shelled and retired to its former position and remained in observation.  Nos. 1 and 3 Troops on the left as far forward as the farm (Sheet 122) but were eventually spotted and retired after being shelled with HE to (Sheet 122) 687963 where, with the help of the Medium Regt. O.P. [observation post] working to his regiment, and with their own direct fire, they engaged several suspected targets.  "C" Sqn in the centre were still compelled to limit their activities to the Y-roads by SAN MARCO owing to the high ground on either side of the road being occupied by enemy O.P.s who, with excellent observation, could bring very accurate fire to bear wherever they wished, whilst no amount of shelling on our part appeared to disturb them in any way.

              "B" Squadron was put directly under command the Grenadier Guards in a supporting role in case of a counter-attack after the Grenadiers achieved their objectives.  Major Trollope, at a conference in the morning, had a narrow escape from some shelling, one of the Guards’ Colonels being wounded. The squadron, drawn up along on a road and unable to disperse, came in for a severe “stonk.” Later a bridge on which Lieut. Moore’s (M.C.) tank was, collapsed whilst the Squadron Leader was in the turret with him and they were trapped for an hour when the tank turned over.  When eventually they did get out, still under shell-fire, Lieut. Moore was wounded in the “bottom” and evacuated.  However, they achieved their intention, and the Guards occupied their intermediate objective before the squadron was withdrawn for the night. 

My father was taken for treatment at a military hospital in Todi and then recuperated at Sorrento. The regiment having replaced him and moved on, he was transferred to staff duties with Divisional Headquarters when he recovered, and he survived the war.