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Out of the War Diary of 24. Pułk Ułanów:

After resting until 29th August the Regiment was made up to strength in tanks and men. Lt.Col. Dowbor Romuald took over command.
On the 29th at 13.00 hr the regiment set out in the direction of the crossings of the Seine. Rain and the bad condition of the roads made the march verytroublesome.

On the 30th the Regiment was at Les Fieffes Mancels naar Elbeuf (Rouen) in a safe assembly awaiting the crossing.
On the 1st of September at 0100 p. m. the Regiment passed over the bridge across the Seine at Criqueboeuf. On the way to Abbeville through Neufchatel.

During the march the sad news arrived of the death of the former C.0. Lt. Col. KANSKI Jan from wounds.

The leading elements of the Regiment met with resistance in the area of Bagny. Then the news arrived that Abbeville hat been occupied by the 4th Canadian Armd Division. The speed of the march was reaching the maximum endurance of the tanks.

On the 2th Sep at 07.00 hr. advancing towards Abbeville. The Regt. went past the first flying bomb sites. Small groups of Germans surrendered without fighting.

It then became known that Abbeville was still in enemy hands. The Regiment was given the task of seizing the bridgehead on the river Somme. Regimental Head Quaters was at Myenneville. The 2nd Squadron and recce troop engaged in a shooting match with the enemy defending the crossings of the river. The 3rd Rifle Brigade had to seize the crossings. On the right of the Regiment tanks of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division were seen on the left the 3rd Canadian Infantry Divivision.

On 4th Sept the Regiment passed over the river, having been ordered to make a deep penetration from the east of the enemy, who were in defence on the river La Cauche in the area of Hesdin. The 2nd Squadron with the recce troop in the front line, reaching Blangy at 1400 p. m. saw that the bridges on the crossing were destroyed. During the action the Regt. met recce detachments of the 53rd (Welch) Inf. Div. of the 2nd British Armv. The 1st squadron was charged with liquidating the enemy 3 km S. of Blangy. At 16.00 hrs. the 1st squadron took prisoners and fired enemy columns retreating behind the crossing. The Regt. crossed the river at the ford and fell upon the enemv rearguards defending the main road junction from Hesdin in the town of Ruisseauville.

Here the Recce troop in a charge destroyed two anti-tank guns and one S.P. gun. Thus breaking up the local defence. The 3rd squadron took retreating detachments of German cyclists by surprise and inflicted a loss of about 200 dead Enemy resistance grew. The lst sqaudron after performing its task joined the Regt. The enemy yielded many prisoners and making use of the nightfall retreatet northwards. The Regt. halted for a safe assembly place. Fires illuminated the front line.

On 5 Sep the Regt. was ordered to seize the crossing on the Canal of De Neuf Fosse south west of St. Omer. The 3rd squadron with the Recce Troop saw that the bridges were destroyed and defended by the enemy. The 1st squadron fired at enemy columns retreating in the direction of St. Omer. The Dragoons arrived and attacked what was left of the resistance point. The Regiment had losses from artillery fire. In the evening a delegation of St. Omer requested the occupation of the town saying that the enemy had withdrawn to the north. Sec. in Comd. of 2 Sqn. with two troops of the 2nd squadron in support of the Dragoons entered the town.

The Bde Comd arrived at Regimental H.Q. to congratulate personally the Regiment on its activity of september 4th and 5th.

On 6 September the Regiment with the main body of the Brigade crossed the Belgian frontier on the march for Ypres.

Bridge Nr. 2

actions.

After the campaign through Belgium the Poles set foot on Dutch ground for the 1st time on the 16th of September 1944.

See [the battle of the Axel-Hulst canal]

to Abbeville