131st Field Regiment Royal Artillery

War Diary for July 1945

Commanding Officer: Lt-Col J. N. D. Tyler, OBE, MC RA
Place Date Hour Summary References to Appendices
KASTORF 2 Frontier Posts referred to in last month's diary made contact with the Russians this morning. The second performance of the Regt Concert Party "THE AIRBURSTERS" held this evening, attended by Div Comd and members of his Staff.
3 Captain C.J. Codner leaves on posting to 7th Mountain Regt RA
7 Bridge Guards maintained all week (see last month's diary)
8 Capt C.E. Montague promoted acting Captain
10 10 Commander in chief's inspection at MOLLN.Captian P.M. McCardel RA rejoins unit from Hospital
11 Major H.D. Stewart, TD RA and Capt (QM) J.F. Duff leave unit on release from service. Guards on bridge removed.
13 Captain D.F.D. Brown, Captain C.E.Montague, Lt L.A. Warman and Lt J.N. Barber leave unit en route for SEAC Registration of Displaced Persons begun, but will be a long job, owing to the wide dispersion through the Villages in the area of this class of personnel. It is hoped to be able to concentrate them later.
14 Guard on one of the Frontier posts picked up a Russian Soldier who stated he was a deserter. He was shortly Collected by a Russian Major and Captain. 96 Polish PWX brought into Regt area and billeted in three villages. The weather has been very warm of late.
15 Captain J. Downie R.A. arrived on posting to unit. Fraternisation restriction relaxed.
17 Lt. A.J. Hollington and Lt. P.R. Frost leave unit en route for SEAC. Census has been made of factories in the area with a view to getting them into production to produce accommodation and other stores required by the Allied Forces.
18 Trouble from a few Polish PWX occurred in GROSSE SCHENKENBURG,consisting of cattle stealing and general "Terrorisation". The area was patrolled by armd car and armed patrol but no arrests were made.
19 Frontier Posts at 135724, 141717, 110738 taken over from 15(S) Recce Regt RAC. One Captain and 66 Ors are employed on this duty.
20 Villages of NUSSE, RITZERAU, KOBERG, POGENSEE, WALKSFELDE, PANTEN, MARIENWOHLDE, HAMMER, MANNHAGEN, LANKAU, ANKER and GRETERBERG taker over from 102(NH) A TK Regt RA. The weather has been rather mixed lately with some showers, but generally fair. Registration of non-discharged German Service personnel begun. Four Polish DP were arrested at KLEINE BODEN for cattle stealing and being in unlawful possession of firearms.
25 Captain I.K.Colburth leaves unit for short War Gunnery Staff Course at School of Artillery.
26 Captain B.C. James posted and joined unit.
30 Hand over to 102 (NH) A TK Regt RA of villages LINAU, RITZERAU, POGENSEE, LANKAU, PANTEN, HAMMER, MANNHAGEN, KOBERG, NUSSE, WALKENFELDE and SIRKSFELD., begins.
31 Lieut. C. Edge posted and joined unit.