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1-3 Jan 45 - Preparation for departure to marshalling area in Tidworth, England area.
4 Jan 45 - Motor convoy, consisting of 304 vehicles, 29 officers, 3 warrant officers and 561 EM, left Tidworth England, arriving in marshalling area C/RCP/1 (14th Post Staging Area C-13 Hursley Park, England.) Remainder of personnel remained at Tidworth preparing for departure the following day.
5 Jan 45 - 29 officers, 3 warrant officers, and 561 EM departed from 14th Post Staging Area, C-13, Hursley Park, England by motor convoy. Marched to Southampton and embarked on LST's. 13 officers and 280 EM dwparted from Tidworth, England by rail and embarked at Southampton.
6-7 Jan 45 - Sq disembarked at La Havre and Rouen, France and closed in billets vicinity Chateau de la Chapell du Bourgay (Longueville - 262563 - Sheet #110 NE, Scale 1/25,000)
8-9 Jan 45 - Remained in billets in vicinity above locations.
10 Jan 45 - Marched by motor convoy 170 miles to bivouac area 13 miles SE Reims, France.
11 Jan 45 - Remained in bivouac until 2230. Departed by convoy for billets vicinity Pont a Moussen, France, Scout Secs C & D Troops marked route for entire division.
12 Jan 45 - Completed march, 130 miles, arrived at billets approximately 1400 vicinity Nomey, France.
13 Jan 45 - Remained in billets, training and preparing for combat. Scout secs C & D Troops completed route marking missions.
14-17 Jan 45 - Remained in billets, above location, preparing for combat. Rcn platoons went on route rcn missions on road nets to northeast and south.
18 Jan 45 - quot;A" Troop attached to CCA for combat mission in vicinity Nenning, Germany (033022). Remainder of Squadron - no change.
19-21 Jan 45 - Squadron (less "A" Tr) in billets, training and preparing for combat.
22 Jan 45 - An accident killing 10 EM and 1 officer and injuring 4 EM, all from the 2nd plat., "F" Col, occurred when the officer was conducting training on foreign mines. Remainder of Sq - no change.
23-28 Jan 45 - No change. Route rcn missions to north and south. "A" Tr returned to Sq control (less 6 casualties).
29 Jan 45 - No change.
30-31 Jan 45 - Sq remained in billets, same vicinity, training and preparing for combat.
SECTION II - COMMENTS
a. It is believed that when long road marches are undertaken, this squadron should be allowed to march ahead of the heavier elements of the division at a faster rate of march, (the light tanks, M-24 and carriages, how M-8 are capable of maintaining this) thus permitting this organization to close in a given area sooner to prepare for the succeeding missions.
b. Closer cooperation between engineer sections and reconnaissance elements, as well as better distribution of road information form other sources will save a lot of duplicated effort.
c. The accident resulting in the deaths of 10 EM and 1 officer of the 2nd platoon of "F" Co. as a result of a booby trapped mine would not have happened if the officer had followed his instructions as taught in standard mine schools. Namely, do not handle foreign mines remaining on the battle field.
d. During the combat action of "A" Troop with CCA, it was observed that the casualties of this troop were light, while they were fighting as infantry. It is believed that this lack of many casualties is a result of the training in reconnaissance whereby men are used to working in small groups or two or three men and do stay well dispersed.
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