OFFICIAL WAR DIARY

 

June 1&2: Granville House, Hambledon.

Battalion resting in Marshalling area

 

June 2: Granville House, Hambledon.

20:30 Craft serials 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404 (consisting Carriear, A tk, Mortars and duplicate Battalion HQ) moved to GOSPORT for embarkation.

23:50 Above serials embarked.

 

June 4: Camp A2, Emsworth Common, Hants

Main body of Battalion – craft serials 394, 395, 396 ambussed in preparation for move to PORTSMOUTH. Operation postponed 24 hours and battalion returned to camp.

 

June 5: Camp A2, Emsworth Common, Hants

Main body moved to PORTSMOUTH and embarked in LCI(L). Remainder of day and night spent at sea.

 

June 6: France

07:25 Capt PHW Clarke. CSM Haycox, Lsjt F Smith, Lcpl W Barnes, Cpl W Kington, Lcpl C Martin landed with 185 Inf Bde in order to recce Bn Assembly area.

12:00 Main body Bn landed, very wet landing, waist deep in water. Beach being slightly shelled. Bn moved to assembly area in southern outskirts on LION. Snipers very active. 6 enemy aircraft attacked beaches- all brought down by AA fire

12:10 Patrol from A Coy commanded by Lt AF Henry sent off to reach CRESSERONS.

13:00 First casualty Pte Harmer C. 14391886 wounded by snipers bullet.

14:15 Vehicle party (Craft loads 399, 404) disembarked and joined main body.

17:00 Lt Henry’s patrol returned- unable to reach CRESSERONS owing to enemy strong point at LION SUR MER. 4801296 Pte Newsome E killed by shell fire. First fatal casualty.

18:00 Bn placed under command of Br Inf Bde with task of holding flank of beach head. Day’s casualties 2 OR killed, 1 OR wounded.

Night spent in assembly area.

 

June 7: France

Lt J Harrod appointed Bde IO in place of Capt Baptiste (wounded)

14:00 Comd 8 Br Inf Bde visited CO and gave orders for attack on beach head strong point at LION SUR MER. Capt DRF Hart MC wounded.

15:20 Bn moved to attack strong point. Phase 1 A & B Coys to take Chateau at HT LION. Phase 2 C & D Coys to capture strong point. Phase 1 successful Phase 2 abandoned owing to Bn moving at very short notice to ST AUBIN d’ ARQUENAY to take up def posn to protect left flank on river ORNE. Casualities: 1 Offr wounded 8 OR wounded.

 

June 8: France

Bn remained in def posn. Casualities Capt PHW Clarke wounded, 1 OR killed 8 OR wounded.

 

June 9: France

07:00 Bn O Group

10:00 Move to wood 1 km S of Cazelle to take over from RUR.

p.m. D Coy acted as protection to Bde O Group and sustained casualties from Mortar fire. 5 OR killed 7 wounded.

 

June 10/11: France

Bn moved to LE MESNIL relieving 1 Suffolks and reverting under Comd 9 Br Inf Bde. Lt DT Brown killed, Lt JR Bush, Lt WE Groocock wounded. 2 OR wounded.

June 11/12: France

Defences improved, enemy mortared posn, D + tpt arrived, information received that ‘F’ trucks lost at sea. Capt Raikes joined Bn. Casualties 1 OR killed, 3 wounded.

 

June 12: France

21:30 Bn HQ mortared. "IC Maj DR WILSON slightly injured- remained at duty. Capy Raikes injured. 1 OR killed, 12 wounded.

 

June 12/13: France

Patrols defence work- 4 OR wounded.

R Coy Officers arrived, Capt Hill Lts Sutton, Hamlet, Canner, Thornhill.

 

June 14/15: France

B Coy patrol to destroy MG post found empty but destroyed concrete emplacement. 1 OR wounded.

 

June 15/16: France

Bn relieved RUR in CAMBES WOOD 1 OR wounded.

 

June 16: France

Spasmodic shelling- routine patrols, D+9 tpt arrived. Lt EC Turner, Lt LA MUNTON arrived. 4 Ors wounded

June 17: France

Recce patrol to GALMANCHE. Lt Hamlet injured. Bn area shelled. 4 OR wounded.

 

June 17/18: France

C Coy fighting patrol to GALAMANCHE. Lt Pacey wounded. 8 OR wounded.

 

June 19: France

Normal activity. Major Fennell injured by shelling. 2 OR killed 2 wounded.

 

June 20: France

Recce patrols – spasmodic shelling.

 

June 21/22: France

Normal patrols. 1 OR wounded 21^st. 1 OR wounded 22^nd

June 23: France

Normal patrols. 1 OR wounded.

 

June 24: France

Maj RJH BURGHES joined unit. 1 OR killed.

 

June 25: France

1 OR wounded

 

June 26: France

Bn HQ shelled very large proportion of unexploded shells. 3 OR wounded.

 

June 27: France

10:00 Bde O Group for operation ABERLOUR in which 2 LINCOLNS to capture GALMANCHE and in the final phase to exploit to CUSSY. Maj EEHG DAWSON wounded by ricocheted bullet. 2 OR killed 2 wounded. Lt NA Barnes (Cdn) and 2Lt Webb joined unit.

18:00 Bn O Group. Attack planned with A & B Coys carrying out main effort.

 

June 28: France

06:00 Bn at one hours notice to attack (Lt Richardson LJ joined unit)

18:30 CO called to Bde operation ABERLOUR cancelled owing to 8 Inf Bde lack of success in initial attack on LA BIJUDE. 1 OR wounded.

 

June 29: France

00:01 B Coy fighting patrol to GALAMANCHE. Lt CURNOW slightly injured. At least 2 German claimed killed.

 

June 29/30: France

Bn relieved by 1 KOSB and moved to Bde reserve area at LE MESNIL. 1 OR wounded.

 

June 30: France

Lt Hancock AS joined. 1 OR wounded.

 

Bn. in area LE MESNIL near GAZELLE. Slight enemy shelling.

 

Normal activity. Bn. supplied mine laying parties to work with R.E.

16:00 Bde. Comd. visited C.O.

 

Recce patrol from ‘D’ Coy. Encountered enemy patrol. Suffered one casualty. Two Germans believed hit but no confirmation.

 

A Coy HQ hit by salvo from multi-barrelled mortar. Maj S.J. Larkin, Capt. E.G. Hill wounded. Capt. J. Boys slightly wounded (not evacuated). 3 O.Rs killed and 3 wounded.

 

Bn. relieved by 5 South Staffs and moved by march route to BLAINVILLE.

 

04:30 Bn. complete in new area.

 

07:30 C.O received preliminary orders for operaton CHARNWOOD for which 2 Lincolns came under comd 185 Inf. Bde.

 

Early morning Lt. G.R. Canner was wounded on patrol to HEROUVILLE.

Day spent preparing for CHARNWOOD – a 1 Corps operation for the capture of Caen. Role of 2 LINCOLNS to protect left flank of 185 Inf. Bde. On West bank of River ORNE.

 

23:30 Bn. advanced to Assembly Area at BEAUREGARD ready for attack on HEROUVILLE. One O.R killed 3 wounded.

 

04:30 ‘H’ hour. ‘B’ Coy crossed S.L. and succeeded in reaching HEROUVILLE suffering casualties from A.P mines and M.G fire. Enemy shelled concentration area causing casualties. ‘A’ Coy and Bn. Cond group followed ‘B’ Coy. Enemy inf. counter-attacked but were beaten off. During the attack Lt. Lodedale’s pl was cut off by enemy fire and could not be relieved until evening, by which time all but seven of the pl. were casualties.

 

09:00 Consolidation complete, ‘C’ Coy having moved up and ‘D’ coy left as firm base on S. Line. S.P. A/Tk guns and and Bn. 6 pdre did not arrive for a further two hours. Com. 185 Inf. Bde. Ordered Bn. to remain in present location. During the day the enemy shelled and mortared the position very heavily and during the morning a formation of our own aircraft dropped bombs on our posns causing casualties in ‘C’ Coy.

 

At about 2000 hrs the enemy counter-attacked with tanks and inf. ‘C’ Coy knocked out one tank with a PIAT and scored three hits on a second causing it to withdraw. S.P. A/Tk gunners claimed 2 tanks hit. Attack then petered out.

 

21:00 Bde. Comd. visited C.O. and ordered Bn. to hold posn. Battle on other sectors reported as progressing very well. At last light enemy inf. again approached the posn but did not press attack and contented themselves with harassing M.G. fire. During the day about 30 prisoners were taken identified as G.A.F. personnel with men from 192 Panzer Grenadier Regt. Casualties:- Killed – Capt. J.C. Roll, Lt. E.J.. Richardson. Lt. G.C. Brown. Wounded – Capt. J.H. Ebbutt; Lt. A.H. Barney; Lt. P.N. Bowskill; Capt. J. Pawlett, Lt. H Hogsdale (since died); P. Cliffe; Maj. W.H.Bl Colvin, and Capt. Kidney (both remained at duty). O.Rs. 22 killed and 113 wounded.

 

A very quiet night except for occasional enemy M.G. harassing fire.

 

Bn. was heavily shelled and mortared during the morning but owing to advances by the remainder of the Corps this subsided during the afternoon.

21:00 Bde. Comd. visited C.O. and ordered advance to original objective next day. 13 O.R. killed and 13 O.Rs. wounded.

 

04:30 Bn. advanced on a one coy. Front (‘D’ Coy). Objective was occupied without opposition and Bn. consolidated. Two prisoners were taken and a quantity of enemy equipment inc. a 2 cm A.A/A/Tk gun complete.

15.00 K.S.L.I. advancing from CAEN contacted forward coys and reported no opposition. Bde. Comc. visited Bn. and stated that relief would be made next day. 4 O.R. killed, 18 wounded by shelling. The following Offrs joined the Bn. to-day: Capt. F.D. Gates; Capt. W.H.B. Berrir; Lt. J.M.Wheelock; Lt. A.D. Pinnington.

 

Night quiet except for occasional shelling from E. bank of River ORNE.

 

Bn. moved back in M.T. to rest area at Lion-Sur-Med, reverting to comd 9 Br. Inf BDFe. 3 O.Rs wounded.

 

Period of rest and training – baths – NAAFI supplies and cinema shows available.

 

a.m. C.O. received orders to move to concentration area at AMFREVILLIE by night.

 

a.m. C.O. called to Bde to receive preliminary orders for operation GOODWOOD. This information was passed to Coy. Comds only.

 

C.O. received full orders for operation GOODWOOD which was planned to be a general offensive by Second Army involving the passing of three armoured Divs to the E. of the River ORNE. Role of 3 Br. Inf. Div. to secure left flank of advance and 9 Br. Inf. Bde. to secure and hold TROARN.

 

20:00 Bn. O Gp. Bn. to be at 1/2 hours notice from H hr (08:15 hours 18 July) and to move to preliminary area at HEROUVILLIETTE and await orders to move in 9 Br. Inf. Bde. Reserve to attack on TROARN.

 

06:00 Preliminary air bombardment started and Bn. moved forward at 0915 hrs to HEROUVILLETTE where they remained until 1700 hours. Reports received at intervals indicated that the battle was progressing well.

17:00 Advance to area West of SANNERVILLE. Bn. advanced with tracked vehs in order. ‘D’ Coy. Comd. Op. ‘C’ Coy. Carrier pl. ‘A’ Coy. Bn. HQ. ‘B’ Coy. Mortar P1. tp. 45 A/T Bty. Regt. HQ E.R.Y. Just before dark Bn. Gp.moved off through SANNERVILLE to take up posn in orchard 143680 on left flank of 1. K.O.S.B.

Bn. remained in posn. sending patrols forward from ‘D’ to contact enemy posns. At 17:00 hrs orders were received to advance and attempt to work forward towards TROARN. ‘D’ Coy. supported by tanks commenced advance but were held by very heavy M.G. fire. The enemy then shelled the area very heavily and a salvo from a Nebelwerfer wounded the C.O. and Bde. I.O. Ltd. Bucknall. Maj. D.R. Wilson assumed command. Bn. then received orders to consolidate in previous posn where they spent the night. Harassing fire, M.G. and gun, was intermittent during the night. The Bn. was now rather tired and food could not be brought up before 03.00 hrs.

 

Bn was ordered to move forward during the day to orchard 147675. This was done by Coys moving up at intervals and move was complete by 16.30 hrs. At 17:00 hours M.G fire broke out and SUFFOLKS, on Bn. right flank, reported enemy approaching their psn. This did not develop into an attack and enemy withdrew.

 

19:00 Very heavy shelling of Bn. area for two hours causing considerable casualties. There was intermittent shelling throughout the night. During the shelling, Capt. Chambers, the Adjt., was wounded. Casualties:- Offrs. Wounded – Maj. F.J.M. Burghes, Maj. RS. Hunter, Capt. J. Boys, Capt W.R. Chambers, Capt. D.J. Kidney, Capt. W.W.J. Berrie, Lt. A.F. Henry; Lt. W Walker, Lt R Thornhill, Lt M J. Whellock. O.Rs. 18 killed and 211 wounded.

08:00 Bde. Comd. visited area and said that E.Yorks would relieving Bn. Capt. Harrod returned from Bde. To become Adjt. Relief by E.Yorks was cancelled during the day and arrangements made for S.Lancs to relieve Bn. the next day. Recce parties were sent to ESCOVILLE to new area.

By 1015 hrs relief was complete and Bn. established in new area by 1230 hrs.

Bn. reorganised in new area. Men obtained baths and visits to 3 Div. Club at LUC-SUR-MER were organised. Recce parties visited E.Yorks posn in brickworks 146688 preparatory to taking over on 25.

Capt. R.L. Griffiths. Capt. W.J. Parsons and 2 Lt. M.J. Ives joined the Bn.

08:00 Bn. commenced to move to new area. Relief complete by 1200 hrs. Day quiet except for slight shelling and Coys settled in new posns.

Capt. J.L. Tremonger, Lt. R.H. Mercer. Lt. J.C.R. Welch and 2 Lt. F.H. Plaistowe joined the Bn.

Recce patrols made contact with flanking units (R.U.R K.O.S.B.) and ‘B’ coy sent fighting patrol to church 156694 (known as Piccadilly Circus). This patrol was unable to find any enemy.

During day area was mortared, shelled and "Nebelwerfered", with little effect. Snipers established posts fwd of our posn, but made no contact.

Lt. E.C. Turner and Lt. M.J. Ives interviewed by Bde. Comd. Reported on A.F. 194 as unsuitable as Inf. Offrs. Sent to 104 C.R.C. pending posting. Three O.Rs. wounded.

Contact patrols to flank units, and fighting patrol to Piccadilly Circus, which again failed to contact enemy. Considerable enemy air activity during night. Enemy dropped flares and bombs but none hit Bn. area. To-night and on previous occasions, Germans have fired green verey lights, presumably to indicate their fwd tps to their own aircraft.

Day quiet. Bn. received visit from Capt. J.H. Boys (I.O. 70 Bde.) Normal patrols at night. At first light 28 July ‘C’ Coy and ‘B’ Coy changed over positions.

Comd. 185 Bde. visited area. ‘C’ Coy sent recce patrols to Piccadilly Circus during day which brought back useful information.

Enemy aircraft dropped A/P bombs at last light but none fell in Bn. area.

Normal contact patrols. ‘C’ Coy patrol with detachment from 3 Recce unable to proceed beyond Piccadilly Circus.

Maj. R.D. Williams, a former member of the Bn. now 49 Recce visited C.O. C.O. Norfolks and Coy Comds. visited area to recce posns before taking over next day. This take-over was later postponed to 31 July.

During the day ‘C’ Coy kept a recce patrol in Piccadilly Circus area to observe enemy, who had infiltrated during the previous night. Efforts to obtain a prisoner were not successful. Lt. A. Hempsall and Lt. D.D. Queskey joined Bn.

Normal recce and contact patrols during the night.

A very quiet morning. During the afternoon a captured Nebelwerfer was fired from ESCOVILLE. Germans retaliated by firing two Nebelwerfer salvos into the Bn. area. During the evening information was received that a different formation would be relieving Bn. and that adv parties would arrive 0800 hrs 31 July. 4 O.R. killed and 6 wounded.

05:30 Bn. advance parties set off to recce conc area at BIEVILLE. Adv. parties of relieving Bn. arrived. Relieving Bn. was 4 LINCOLNS and many old friendships were renewed among members of the two Bns.

The body of an East Riding Yeomanry Officer (240871 – Moreton) which had been recovered the previous evening from Piccadilly Circus, was buried.

14:00 Relief now complete and Coys marched to new area at BIEVILLE.

18:00 Bn. established in new area. Information received from Brig. that Bn. was now in Army Reserve (3^rd Div. and 51^st (H) Div) and was at 4 1/2 hrs notice to move.

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