War Diary: 12th Devonshire Regiment

Month and year: June 1944

The 12th Bn Devonshire Regiment June 1944 war diary covers the units embarkation onto LCIs less A Company who emplaned into gliders, their arrival in France and fighting to the East of the Orne river

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1279

All diaries for this unit:

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

« Return to war diaries

Page 1 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1/2		Bn (less A Coy) stationed marshalling camps at GRAYS (personnel
			party) and PURFLEET (vehicle party) awaiting move to theatre of operation OVERLORD'
	3	0900	Bn (less A Coy) left marshalling camps.
		1200	" " " " embarked at TILBURY
		1430	Ships at anchor off SOUTHEND
	4	1100	L.C.Is (carrying Personnel party) sailed to SHEERNESS
		1630	Troops allowed ashore to visit camp.
		1940	Troops reembarked
		2020	L.C.Is returned to SOUTHEND
	5		Ships at anchor inside Thames Estuary Boom
	6	0445	Ships sailed in convoy.
			Convoy shelled in STRAITS OF DOVER A Coy under comd Major J.Rogers emplaned in gliders at FARRINGDON	"A"
			aerodrome and flew to area of operation. One glider crashed in sea 8 miles off French coast. 6 O.Rs missing
			Gliders landed in FRANCE in area F/7 1273 assembled and
			moved to Herouvillette Village held until arrival of Bn on 7 June. No casualties.
	7	Day	L.C.Is and Transport ships landed on coast of FRANCE off
			OUISTRENEM. All personnel landed safely. Some equipment drowned
		1600	Bn regrouped in unit assembly area 'HOMER'
Le Bas de RANVILLE		1700	Moved to Concentration Area Le Bas de RANVILLE and took up

Page 2 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	7		defensive posns from 12 Para Bn at 1800hrs
		2200	A Coy joined up with Bn
		2230	Bn 'Stood To'. 2315 Bn 'Stood Down'.
			3 P.Ws taken. TWO identified 125 Pz Gren Regt one 100 Pz Gren Regt. (one P.W a sniper captured by B Coy)
		2200	Bn positions subjected to enemy mortar fire. 16 O.Rs wounded
		2300	Bn positions MACHINE gunned and bombed by enemy aircraft. New
			type of anti personnel bombs dropped. / 3 O.Rs killed.
	7/8		Intermittent bombing and shelling by enemy on our positions
			during night. No casualties.
	8	1000	Bn positions subjected to heavy enemy mortar fire. 1 O.R killed and shelling
		1400	" " " " " " " "
			by sp guns. No casualties.
			Infm received of enemy forming for an attack. Enemy dispersed by Arty
		1630) -1830)	Increased shelling and enemy air bombardment on bridges. Arty replied with heavy barrage on enemy positions.
		2359	Bn sent a patrol to ring contour above STE HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE.
			Patrol reported enemy lorried inf moving up from STE HONORINE. 6 Airldg Bde informed. Arty fire brought to bear on enemy convoy.
	9	0800	Int O.P. est in fwd posn on NORTH side of ring contour above STE. HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE.
		1000	Bde informed Bn that enemy were reported to have left STE. HONORINE
			de CHARDONNERETTE and ring contour. 1 R.U.R. to send strong occupying force.
Le Bas de RANVILLE		1010	Bn mortar P1 blew enemy ammunition dump on SOUTH side of ring contour. Effects observed from O.P. Bde informed.

Page 3 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	9	1100	Comd 6 Airborne Div visited Bn. H.Q. and gave infm and orders to C.O. (1 R.U.R. moving fwd to STE HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE and
			12 Para Bn moving to LONGUEVAILE
		1105	C.O. left Bn H.Q. to accompany 'C' Coy patrol (str 1 Pl under comd Lt Vickery) to Orchard S.W. of ring contour. Posn under fire from
			enemy mgs and mortars. Pl withdrew under cover of smoke laid by 'A' Coy. No cas. Enemy appeared to still be in STE HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE.
			It was later learned that occupying force of coy of 1 R.U.R. had been forced to withdraw.
		1140	Two female civilians reported spreading "alarm and despondancy" in Le BAS de RANVILLE. Matter investigated by Bn Int Sec and F.S.P.
			Both civilians arrested by F.S.P. at 1345 hrs.
		1235	Bn posns subjected to enemy mortar fire. Snipers reported in area
			LE BAS de RANVILLE. Attempts made to eliminate them.
		1240	Deputy Comd 6 Airldg Bde visited Bn. H.Q.
		1645	Mortar pl instructed to fire two minutes rapid fire on enemy 104716 7/F.
		1655	Enemy mortars retaliated on Bn posns.
		1700	Recce patrol sent out in direction LONGUEVAL to check on enemy infiltration by River ORNE.
		1710/1735	Bn posns straffed by enemy fighter planes. O.P. reported sounds of heavy fighting in 1 R.U.R. area at LONGUEVAL. This had been
			in progress since approx midday.
		1745	BRIT arty shelled enemy area WEST of STE HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE
			and SOUTH of LONGUEVILLE Enemy replied with mortar fire.
		1840	O.P. reported further shelling of enemy posns at STE HONORINE.
Le Bas de RANVILLE			Enemy mortars fired on BRIT arty posns.

Page 4 of 12

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
9	1930	Enemy commenced hy barrage from SOUTH on to Bn posns, incl mortar, arty, and rocket projectiles.
	1940	Barrage continued. Int O.P. wiped out. 2 O.Rs killed. 1 injured.
	2000	Barrage continued. Coys ordered to 'Stand-to'
	2030	H.E. barrage terminated. Enemy laid smoke screen and launched attacked on 'A' & 'C' Coy fronts. Attack met by rapid small arms
		fire by Pls of 'A' Coy under comd Lts. Whiteway and Hobbs and by mortar fire from Bn & Coy mortars. 'C' Coy met that attack in
		similar manner. Enemy halted and eventually withdrew. Some shelling intermittently by both sides until dark. Enemy's cas for day thought
		to be very hy. Bn suffered total of 3 killed and 11 wounded. 1 missing
10		Intermittent shellfire and a/c attacks on Bn posns during early
		hours. This continued throughout the day except that the air attacks ceased as R.A F. air cover was provided.
10/11		Patrols sent out during night to obtain identifications, without success. Generally a quiet night. Total cas for day were 1 Officer
		killed, 2 O.Rs killed and 17 O.Rs wounded.
11	0800	Bn area shelled from BREVILLE.

Page 5 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	11	2015	Enemy movement seen on ring contour. Area engaged by our mortars. Total cas for day 6. O.Rs wounded.
	12	0815	Barge seen floating down River ORNE towards bridges. D Coy warned.
			Dealt with by 1 R.U.R.
		2200	D Coy received orders to move area LONGUEVILLE to come under comd
			12 Para Bn to counter attack BREVILLE. Hy arty conc on BREVILLE preceeded attack. D Coy caught in conc on start line. Major J.A.F.W.
			Banfylde killed, Capt J.H.W. Pengelly and Lt. P. Taylor wounded. 5 O.Rs killed and 18 wounded. Attack successful and composite
			force consolidated in village. 5 ORs missing
	13	0400	A Coy attacked ring contour "30" SOUTH of Le BAS de RANVILLE.
			Little opposition. Posn taken and held. This to secure flank of Camerons attacking STE. HONORINE, from LONGUEVAL. Hy arty conc
			preceeded these attacks. No cas. During the day slight shelling and enemy aircraft activity.
			Bn area handed over to 5 SEAFORTHS midnight. Total cas for day 1 O.R. killed 1 O.R. wounded.
	14	0130	Bn moved to "harbour area" Map ref F/7 134726. One Pl sent
			to Map ref F/7 141734 to hold posn between 52 L.I and 9 Para
	15		Normal patrolling. Quiet day.
	16	0430	Bn. stood to.
		0435	A very heavy conc of shell & rocket projector fire fell on bn area, very concentrated and lasted for approx 30 mins.
F/7 134726		0500	An enemy attack developed from ESCOVILLE area which was fairly

Page 6 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Contd from sheet 5)
	16		determined and lasted over three hours before they were finally driven back with losses by a Bn of 51st. Highland Div.
			Bn took up posns during the attack.
		2010	Short burst of shelling around Bn H.Q.
			Total cas for day 4 O.Rs killed 13 O.RS wounded.
	17		A quiet night. Slight intermittent enemy shell and mortar fire otherwise & quiet day. No casualties.
	18	0600	Patrols returned without having contacted enemy
		1030	Bn left concentration area which was taken over by 154 Bde H.Q. of 51 Highland Div.
		1100	Bn in reserve in new concentration area map ref 40/16 NW 132742 S.W. of BREVILLE. Day spent digging in. Nothing to report.
			No casualties.
	19		A quiet day, nothing to report.
	20	0345	Slight enemy shelling of Bn area 1 O.R. wounded
		1800	Bn moved out of Reserve position and took over front line posns of 2 OxfBucks. This change over was carried out by one
			coy at a time. All coys in position by midnight.
	21	0230	One shell dropped in B Coy area apparently from area 40/16 NW 144736 -147736.
		0900	B Coy O.P reported having seen no enemy in this area.
		0915	A patrol of one officer and three O.Rs were sent out to see
40/16 NW 136736			if the area was occupied by the enemy. Patrol were fired upon and it withdrew after locating 2 M.G. posts.

Page 7 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	21	(contd)	from Sheet 6
		0840	One Officer and 3 O.Rs of Recce Pl went on patrol to see if wood 500x E.N.E of C Coy occupied by enemy. Patrol reported
			that when on West side of wood they were sniped at from east side. No M.G. fire. Patrol withdrew after patrolling South side
			of wood without further infm, and reported back ay 1040 hrs.
		1510	Mortar barrage laid on area 2 M.G. posts facing B Coy.
			During the day enemy fired a small number of shells and mortar bombs on B and D Coy posns. Casualties 2 O.Rs wounded.
	22		SP Gun reported firing on B Coy posns. Location of this enemy gun worked out and 6 Airldg Bde informed.
		1220	120 mortar bombs dropped on enemy M.G. posts facing B Coy.
			Bombs reported on target. Standing patrols made no contact with enemy during the day.
	23	0001	C.Coy sent out recce patrol to find if wood 500x E.N.E of
			Coy occupied by enemy. Patrol contacted enemy strength estimated one sec and withdrew. Listened for 1 hr but no further infm obtained.
		0430	B Coy patrol driven off Coy O.P. by enemy. One man missing.
		0640	B Coy standing patrol reoccupied Coy O.P. and found missing man wounded.
		1015	C.Coy reported enemy mortar fire from 143742. The F.O.O. was informed.
			During the morning a strong German counter attack with tanks
F/7 136736			could be seen approaching from CULVERVILLE in the direction of STE HONORINE which was occupied by bns of 51 Highland Div

Page 8 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	23 (cont'd)		Counter Attack was beaten off by our artillery and fighter aircraft.
		1820	Enemy laid mortar fire on B Coy O.P. and posns. Also some
			eneny M.G fire Coy Comd requested arty fire on enemy mortar posns and this was carried out by R.A. Enemy firing lasted
			about 40 mins but no enemy attack developed.
		2005	A Coy reported enemy firing 5 c.m. mortar and sp guns. Arty replied
			Total casualties for the day :- 3 O.Rs wounded.
	24	0001	C. Coy sent out recce patrol of 1 Officer and 6 O.Rs to ascertain whether any enemy in Northorn half of wood 144744 (40/16 NW).
			Enemy were heard on other side of wood but no enemy were contacted in wood. Contact was made recce patrol 1 RUR. Patrol returned
			at 0400hrs.
		1800	A. Coy took over B Coy area on Bn flank. B Coy moved over
			to left flank. Change over completed by 2300 hrs
		2300	Heavy firing started along the front of 5 Para Bde on our right. On the right of 5 Para Bde the enemy attacked 7 Black Watch
			with a lighter attack sup by mortars and arty on 7 & 13 Para Bns.
	25	0130	6 Airldg Bde reported slight infiltration on 5 Para Bde front.
			Bn "Stood To". At 0140 tks were heard moving approx 2 miles S.E. of Bn HQ but Bde confirmed that these were British tks.
			By 0230 position was restored and battle died down. Bn Stood Down" at 0245.
Fr 40/16NW 136736			D.Coy ambush patrol timed for 0030hrs was postponed as element of surprise was lost.

Page 9 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	25	(cont'd)	Total casualties for day : NIL
	26	0040	A fighting patrol, Lt Strawbridge and 6 O.Rs, was sent out
			to obtain identification from M.G. post at 144756. At 0100 patrol heard small arms fire and shouting 7 saw verey lights
			from area 144743. At 0120 more voices were heard, incl English in area 148743. At 0145 4 mortars opened fire from same area.
			Coughing was heard in hegerow 50 yds North of M.G. At 0240 Lt Strawbridge decided to attack M.G. post to obtain an
			identification . The patrol attacked from 15 yds with 36 grenades and sten guns. Immediately the enemy opened fire with M.gs
			from areas 145740 and 144736. Sgt Trebell rushed a trench and killed three of the enemy at point blank range.
			Efforts were made remove a body from the trench without success and 1 O.R was injured and LT Strawbridge and 1 O.R slightly
			injured by grenades. Patrol retired carrying woundedman. They were subject to heavy mortar during return journey.
		0340	C Coy reported enemy shelling from 700x range. No casualties.
			The F.O.O. R.A was informed.
		1500	C.O. attended a conference of Commanding Officers at 6 Airldg Bde HQ
			A quiet day on the Bn front.
	27	0001	C.Coy sent out a patrol of one officer (LT Hartland) & 6.O.Rs to recce and ambush at South of wood 144741. Rain and wind made
Fr 40/16 NW 136736			it difficult for patrol to hear sounds of movement and no enemy

Page 10 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	27 (cont'd)		was seen. At 0100 mortar was heard firing from NW corner of wood
			and flares seen fired from NE corner of wood throughout the night. Patrol returned at 0400hrs.
		1700	9 Para Bn sent out recce patrol in front of the Bn area. All Coys were informed. Patrol returned at 2200hrs.
		1840	Mortar PI fired 120 rds of HE at triangular wood known to be held by the enemy. The fall of bombs was not visible.
		2300	B Coy sent out a patrol of one officer (Lt Nuttall) and 6 O.R.s to recce and ambush at SE corner of wood 144740. Patrol were
			unable to ambush enemy. Laid up SE corner of wood for one hour . It was fired at by M.M.G from the wood and two rifle shots were
			heard. Enemy also fired verey lights. Patrol returned intact at 0400hrs.
	28		At "Stand To" (0415) and during the day A Coy O.P. observed
			enemy movement in area of enemy M.G. posns 144735. At 1355hrs 9 PARA Bn on our right flank mortared this area and during the
			day and again at night they sent patrols out in the same area.
		1700	30 tks were seen in the area 082649 occupied by the enmy about
			5 miles to S.W. of BN Hq. 6 Airldg Bde HQ were informed.
		2330	D Coy sent out a patrol of one officer (Lt Grange) and 6 O.Rs
			to recce and ambush for identification area hedgerow junction 145738 - 145740 and if unsuccessful to obtain infm for future
			patrols. At 0300hrs at pt 143739 patrol saw an enemy sec (10 to 12 men) moving slowly down same hedgerow. Patrol laid up
Fr 40/16 NW 136736			for 1 1/2 hrs while enemy passed but was unable to ambush. Infm

Page 11 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	28 (cont'd)	2330	for future patrols. Patrol returned before 0390 hrs owing to a raid by 45 Commando due to start at that time.
	29	0300	"A" Tp of 45 R.M. Commando (on left flank of 6 Airldg Bde) raided
			area 147750 with intention to destroy all enemy within that area. Our Bn Mortar Pl gave sp fire for five mins from 0309 to 0314hrs
			on target at 154753. Raid was successful and 16 enemy posns and two strong points were dealt with.
		1410	D Coy sent out a patrol of one officer and 2 O.RS to patrol same area as that during the night to ascertain if enemy along hedgerow
			north of A Coy O.P and if any enemy booby traps had been laid in the same area. Lt Grange left one man at O.P. to give covering
			fire whilst he went to South edge of wood (144741) where he threw a grenade. He also threw two more grenades in thick
			hedgerow on his return journey but no enemy seen or heard. No enemy booby traps were located. Patrol returned at 1430 hrs.
		2300	9 Para Bn sent another patrol in front of Bn area.
		2358	Cries were heard of wounded man in front of D Coy posns. Lt
			Ogden and one O.R. went fwd to investigate and found Cpl Simpson of 9 Para Bn wounded The assistance of another O.R
			had to be obtained before the N.C.O. was brought back to our R.A.P. 6 Airldg Bde and 5 Para Bde were informed.
		2305	B Coy sent out a patrol of one sgt and 4 O.Rs to cover a det of Pioneer Pl who were to lay booby traps at hedgerow 100yds
			N. of O.P. (143738). and to ambush any enemy patrol moving South along hedger towards O.P Patrol contacted A Coy Standing
Fr 49/16 NW 136736			Patrol at O.P. but had no encounter with the enemy. Booby Traps

Page 12 of 12

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	29 (cont'd)	2305	were successfully laid and patrol returned at 0140 hrs.
	30	1700	Mortar Pl (Lt D.D.Bowman) mortared two enemy posns.
		1925	Bn mortar posns mortared by enemy. Casualties 1 O.R slightly wounded.
		2300	A Coy sent out patrol of one officer (Lt Hobbs) one sgt and
			six O.Rs to capture an identification by forming an ambush in area of tracks and orchard junc 144741 and to recce
			approaches from ambush North to NE corner of hedgerow with a view to guiding raid in this locality the next night.
			Also if time permitted to recce alternative route round East flank through field where enemy horsedrawn vehicles had been
			reported. If identification available without forming an ambush patrol to return at once.
			At 0100hrs patrol contacted enemy MG post frontally. Patrol then withrew 25yds to get through hedge and saw an enemy patrol of
			eleven strong moving down east side of hedgerow towards O.P Lt Hobbs sent a runner back to warn Standing Patrol at O.P
			but the enemy patrol returned within 3 mins. At 0150 hrs a 2nd MG post was contacted 50 yds East 144741 and at 0320 hrs
			a 3rd MG post at orchard and hedge junc 145741. Patrol unable to ambush enemy but successfully withdrew with fire sp from
		-	Mortar Pl laid on area 145741. Lt R.A. Vickery att 3 Para Bde was wounded by enemy shell fire
			on 29 Jun. Field Returns of Officers and O.Rs were submitted to GHQ 2nd Ech	"B", "C", "D". ,
Fr 40/16 Nw136736			on 10th, 17th and 24th.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

Layers

War Diary: 12th Devonshire Regiment

Month and year: June 1944

Viewing map locations