Recollection of the Herouvillette Battle 8-9 July 1944 by Major Peter Cliffe.

I was the Anti-Tank Platoon commander with a Platoon Headquarters and three sections each of two 6 pdr A/tk guns. I think we left Cambes Wood during the evening of 5 Jul arriving on 6 Jul at our new position with the rest of the battalion to the South of Blainville to prepare for the attack on Herouvillette. After sitting the sections I occupied a slit trench which the enemy had vacated.

The next day, 7 Jul, I attended the C.O's. briefing of the Orders Group in the Chateau Beauregard within our Assembly Area. The battalion's role was to protect the left flank of 185 Brigade who were to liberate Caen. Our left flank was on the Orne Canal.

After the briefing we viewed the ground towards Herouvillette. I was not aware of an anti-tank ditch which was concealed beyond our Start Line. I understand this obstacle subsequently contributed to the delayed arrival of the A/tk guns on the objective. I then briefed my platoon.

During the evening we witnessed a heavy bomber raid by some 300-400 Lancasters and Halifaxes on the German positions covering Caen, the raid starting with the dropping of markers by the R.A.F. Pathfinders, and we thought what devastation it must be causing.

Later, during the night, my platoon moved into the Assembly Area. I next recall sitting on the floor in the Battalion H.Q., which was in a large room in the chateau - it might have been a billiard room, while the leading company, B Company, led the attack. Two German prisoners were brought into the room and one, fumbling, dropped a stick grenade which caused a moment of consternation! Shortly afterwards I was called forward by the C.O. who was now in Herouvillette.

I gave orders to my Platoon Sergeant to prepare the platoon to move forward to the village and then left on the back of the Platoon Orderly's motor cycle along the road on or close to our West boundary. (I think the orderly was Private Key). We were about to turn off left along a sunken lane which led into the village when I saw at the far end of it a carrier on fire, probably belonging to B Company. The dannert wire stretched across the lane in front of it had obviously held it up. A small group of soldiers standing at the corner of the road junction - I do not know who they were with - warned me that there was an enemy M.G. position in the top right corner of the small orchard bordering the right edge of the lane, obviously covering the battalion's line of advance. I thought I could run along the lane, pass the carrier, get over the low wire obstacle and enter the village. I told Pte Key to try to find a way over the field to our left and to meet me beyond the wire obstacle.

I had reached the burning carrier, its ammunition was exploding like firecrackers, and was about to pass it when I felt a kick in my lower back and right wrist and realised I had been hit from behind. I fell on to the verge to the left of the carrier and crawled back away from it. Then Pte Key, having been unable to get across the field to our rendezvous, roared up to me. I shouted to say that I had been hit and told him to tell the Platoon Sergeant to bring the guns forward. He then sped off back along the lane. I expected him also to be hit at any moment.

Being unable to walk I crawled to a small crater on the verge and hoped someone on our side would soon appear. While waiting, and hearing the noise of battle in the village and the shells and Nebelwerfer rockets passing overhead on their way to the chateau, I saw to my horror one of the three R.A.F. Boston bombers flying over on their way to the Colombelles factory drop a bomb short on to the battalion' s route into Herouvillette. I heard later that it had killed and wounded some of C Company who were moving up. All this time the German M.G. in the top corner of the orchard was firing intermittently, presumably at our follow-up troops advancing towards the village. Some of the rounds kicked up the soil uncomfortably close to my feet. Eventually the battalion 2 IC - Major D .R. Wilson - came along the lane with stretcher bearers. He said that the enemy M. G . had been dealt with. The stretcher bearers took me on the back of an armoured car to the R.A.P. from where I was evacuated by Jeep ambulance together with a wounded enemy P.O. W. to the Casualty Clearing Station or Field Hospital where the casualties were gathered in a large open barn. Here Captain John Pawlett, 2IC of the Carrier Platoon, who had been shot in the arm, found me and we exchanged experiences before I was taken into the Operating Theatre.

I awoke later in the hospital ward (a marquee) and found that the surgeon had tied a chipped 9mm bullet round my neck so I presumed that it was from a Schmeisser sub machine gun. While there Lieutenant Hugh Logsdail from, I think, B Coy called across to me and we exchanged a few words. I was saddened to hear later that he had died of his wounds. After about two days I was evacuated by Dakota back to the U.K.