War Diary: 2nd Battalion The Cheshire Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiments August 1944 war diary covers the units actions from the La Senaudiere area of Normandy to Beauvais 75km North of Paris.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1276

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Page 1 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices

			Original War Diary for the month of August 1944
			of 2nd Bh the Cheshire Regt

			During this period the Bh was commanded By Lt Col. S.V. Keeling. DSO
			and under operational command of 50th (Northumbrian) Division

Page 2 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
La Senaudere M/R 783678 Ref 1/50000CAEN 7/F/1	1st	1330	C.O. Visits Coys and Bdes.
		1600	Returns to Main HQ.
			69 Bde are relieveing 130 Bde of 43 Div this evening prior to launching a
			right hook onto the Amaye-sur-Seulles - Villers Bocage features.
			Support onto the features will be given by "A" Coy who are approx 3000 yds
			from Villers Bocage with 56 Bde.
			Americans captured Pontorson on the Brest Peninsular. 11 Armd Div captured
			Beny Bocage just SW of Caumont. Coys are moving forward with Bdes.
			Locns: "A" Coy 618594. with 69 Bde HQ. Ref 1/50000 Torigni-sur-Vire 6/F/4.
			"B" Coy 773630 " 231 Bde HQ. " " Caen 7F/1
			"C" Coy 813679 " " " "
			"D" Coy 794706 " " " "
			Coys now under command as follows: "A" Coy and 13 Hvy Mor Pl - 56 Bde.
			"B" Coy and 12 Hvy Mor Pl - 231 Bde.
			14 Hvy Mor Pl - 151 Bde. "C" Coy in reserve. 15 Hvy Mor Pl in reserve.

Page 3 of 19

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
La Senaudierand		Little of interest to report today. Own tps pushing on fast with very
		little opposition. Coy locns no change. Weather fine and sunny.
	3rd	Nothing of interest today. Tps concentrating on capturing the Amaye-sur-Seulles
		feature. Amaye-sur-seulles was captured this afternoon by 69 Bde.
		Advance will now probably be a very rapid one. Coy locns unchanged.
	4th	Div front has now been reduced to a Bn one the 7 Green Howards.
		Villers Bocage captured at last. The American attack is going like wildfire
		St. Malo has been captured. "C" Coy have been warned that they are going
		on a mobile column with 151 Bde and 61 Recce Regt in sp of 7 Armd Div to
		attack the Mont Pincon ridge. South of Aunay-sur-Odon.
		Coy locns: "A" Coy. 753592. Torigni-sur-Vire, 1/50000. 6/F/4.
		"B" Coy. 773630. Caen. " 7/F/1.
		"C" Coy. 807651. " " "
		"D" Coy. unchanged.
		Main HQ. "

Page 4 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
La Senaudere	5th		All coys are now concentrated in their respective Bde areas.
			"C" Coy are concentrated at M/R 807672 awaiting the order to move with
			151 Bde Mobile Column to attack Mont Pincon ridge.
			No enemy air activity. Enemy seems to have withdrawn completely.
			Americans 30 miles off Brest and 40 miles off St. Nazaire.
			Weather fine and sunny.
	6th	900	C.O. leaves to attend 30 Corps Commander's conference. 50 (N) Div is
			planning a new attack.
		1030	C.O. returns.
			Mont Pincon ridge is apparently the new objective. N.T.R.
			Coy locns unchanged. Weather fine and sunny.
	7th	1745	Main HQ moves off to new locn SW of Villers Bocage.
		1845	Arrived at new locn M/R 772524 Nr Breuil. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/3.
			after a rather dusty journey through liberated Villers Bocage. The bombing
			of this town was absolutely devastating, leaving hardly one brick standing on another.

Page 5 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Breuil. M/R 772524	7th		Evening spent in settling in in new location. Apart from a couple of
			dead COWS to windward, area is clean.
			Coy locns : "A" Coy unchanged. Moving up with Bde tomorrow.
			"B" Coy unchanged, " " " " "
			"C" Coy unchanged, " " " " "
			"D" Coy. M/R 778528 Sheet 1/50000 7/F/3. Aunay-sur-Odon
			Bn HQ. M/R 772524 " " " " " "
			Weather fine and sunny.
	8th	1200	C and B Coys moved into their new locns.
		1400	C.O. to 151 Bde HQ and "A" Coy re proposed attack by 151 Bde tonight.
		1630	Returns to Bn HQ.
		1930	C.O. leaves for "B" Coy and 69 Bde HQ. Returns to Bn HQ at 2345 hrs.
			Bn HQ is moving tomorrow afternoon.
			"A" Coy moved off with 151 Bde to put in an attack on the other side of the
			Mont Pincon ridge S of Aunay-sur-Odon. Attack will take place tomorrow morning.

Page 6 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Breuil. M/R 772524	8th		Coy locns: "A" Coy M/R 815512. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/3 Aunay-sur-Odon.
			"B" Coy M/R 787477 " " " " " " " "
			"C" Coy M/R 775527 " " " " " " "
			"D" Coy M/R 778528 " " " " " " "
			"Bn HQ" M/R 772528 " " " " " " "
	9th	1130	Recce party leaves to find new area for Bn HQ through liberated Aunay-
			sur-Odon. even worse than Villers Bocage.
		1330	Recce part returns.
		1800	Bn HQ moves off to new location. Other coys also on the move.
		1900	Bn HQ arrives at new locn after a very dusty trip.
			Evening spent in digging in as the enemy has been doing some counter battery
			work in Bn HQ area. Shells landed in Div HQ about 15 minutes before Bn HQ
			arrived, killing 2 and wounding 8. "D" Coy lost one carrier whilst moving
			in to their new locn - driver was killed by a direct hit.
			Coy locns: "A" Coy M/R 838472 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/3 Aunay-sur-Odon. with 151 Bde.

Page 7 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
le Hamel. M/R 828492	9th		locns cont: "B" Coy M/R 838436 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/3 Aunay-sur-Odon, with 69 Bde.
			"C" Coy M/R 823472 " " " " " " " " " "
			"D" Coy M/R 838488 " " " " " "	Transcription note: may be 838488 two characters overlayed
			Bn HQ M/R 828492 " " " " " " " " "
	10th	1000	C.O. pays visits to all the coys and Bde HQ's.
		1430	C.O. returns.
		1600	C.O. to 231 Bde HQ re proposed attack tomorrow and returns at 1830 hrs to Main HQ.
			S.O. and L.O. contact 214 and 129 Bdes of 43 Div re attack tomorrow morning.
			Attack due to go in tomorrow with Bdes leapfrogging along the main road to
			Conde-sur-Noireau. Enemy air activity nil. Some enemy shelling on to Aunay-sur-Odon
			by 210's this evening
			Coy locns: - "A" Coy M/R 838488. Ref Aunay sur Odon sheet.
			"B" Coy +M/R 849436 " " " " "
			"C" Coy M/R 823472 " " " " " "
			"D" Coy M/R 838484 " " " " " Bn HQ unchanged.

Page 8 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
le Hamel M/R 828492	11th	0630	S.O. to "B" Coy to watch progress of attack this morning.
		1300	S.O. returns to Main HQ - attack is going according to plan although rather
			slowly. 1st objective has been captured an advance of approx 2000 yds.
			Attack postponed until this evening. 9 DLI captured final objective at
			2130 hrs this evening Pt 262. Certain amount of enemy Mortaring shelling
			on Div front today.
			Coy locns:- - "A" Coy M/R 843456 Ref Aunay-sur-Odon sheet.
			"B" Coy M/R 850435 " " " " "
			"C" Coy no change.
			"D" Coy no changes
			Bn HQ no change.
	12th		Americans have captured Alenson and are only 7 miles from Argentan, closing
			the Nazi's escape route from the Sourdeval and Mortain sectors. No enemy
			shelling today. Lt. Wynd arrived as reinforcement for Lt. Phillips "B" Coy
			who was wounded in action. Nothing of interest on Div front today.

Page 9 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
le Hamel M/R 828492	12th	(cont)	Coy locns:- No change.
	13th	1730	Commanding Officer leaves to attend a conference. at 231 Bde HQo
		1930	Returns to Bn HQ
			Now only one Bde forward on Divisional front i.e. 231 Bde with u/c "C" Coy
			and 14 Hvy Mortar Pl. Remainder in reserve. About 750 Fortresses passed over Mont
			Pinson ridge this afternoon about 1300 hrs. Object to bomb the Nazi'a escape
			route between Falaise and Argentan. The Nazi's are pulling out with what they
			can save from the Mortain-Sourdeval pocket, through a gap which is rapidly being
			closed and is under constant air and land bombardment.
			Coy locns:- "A" Coy M/R 837487. Ref Aunay-sur-Odon sheet.
			"B" +Coy no change.
			"C" Coy M/R 824477. " " " " "
			"D" Coy no change.
			Bn HQ no change.

Page 10 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
le Hamel. M/R 828492	14th	1100	"C" Coy moves to M/R 867404 Ref Aunay-sur-Odon sheet.
			Very little of interest to report on Div front today. Heavy bombers are still
			pounding the escape gap through Falaise and Argentan.
			Coy locns: no change apart from "C" Coy as above. Weather fine.
	15th		69 Inf Bde and 151 Inf Bde are now in reserve with "B" and "A" Coys respectively
			and 12,13 and 15 Hvy Mortar Pls. 231 Bde plus "C" Coy and 14 Hvy Mor Pl are
			still in action. Quiet day. Little air activity. Shelling and strafing
			of ever closing gap goes on. Coy locns:- no change. Weather fine,
	16th	0900	Adjt to Admin conference at Div. HQ.
		1030	Returns to Bn HQ. Div admin instruction in being issued tonight.
			Bn HQ is moving tomorrow. Weather fine and sunny. Coy locns unchanged.
	17th	0930	Bn HQ moves off to new location. M/R 899334 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/5. Flers.
		1045	Arrive at new locn - quite a pleasant spot apart from 5 dead COWS which were
			quickly burnt. Div have moved on a matter of 10 miles so we shall have to
			move after lunch.

Page 11 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 899334	17th	1530	Bn HQ moves. off to new location M/R 940276 just East of Athis. Ref 7/F/5 Flers sheet
			New locn quite pleasant. All Coys are moving forward with their Brigade groups.
			"B" Coy with 69 Bde Group. "A" Coy with 151 Bde group and Coy with 231 Bde group.
			Coy locns: "A" Coy M/R 934266. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/5 Flers.
			"B" Coy M/R 887249. " " " " "
			"C" Coy no change.
			"D" Coy M/R 946286. " " " " "
			Bn HQ M/R 940276. " " " " "
			Weather fine and sunny. On above journey moved through Conde-Sur-Noireau and
			St. Honorine-la-Chardonne. Moving off again tomorrow.
	18th	0945	Moved off through Taillebois over the Bailey Bridge to M/R 025210 near the
			village of Chenedouit. Locn quite pleasant. Weather fine and sunny.
			Coys are still moving forward with their respective Bdes.
			Coy locns:- "A" Coy no change.
			"B" Coy M/R 886249. Ref Flers sheet.

Page 12 of 19

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 899334	18th	"C" Coy. M/R 871388. Ref Flers sheet.
		"D" Coy. M/R 032211. " " "
		Bn HQ. M/R 899334 " " "
	19th	Stayed in the same location all day. Weather fine. Coys are still moving
		forward. Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 129223. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/6 Falaise,
		"B" Coy. no change.
		Coy. M/R 908251. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/5 Flers.
		"D" Coy. M/R 180209. " " " 7/F/6 Falaise.
		Bn HQ no change.
	20th	Stayed in the same location all day. Rained during the night. Everyone and
		everything absolutely soaked. No issue of bivouacs has yet been made to this
		Division. Moving off tomorrow.
		Coy locns:- "A" Coy. M/R 258226. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/6 Falaise.
		"B" Coy. M/R 947248. " " " 7/F/5 Flers,
		Coy. no change.

Page 13 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 899334	20th	cont.	Coy locns:- "D" Coy. no change.
			Bn HQ. no change.
			Weather wet.
M/R 174210	21st	1000	Bn HQ and "D" Coy leave for new location moving through PUTANGES to Montgaroult.
		1130	Arrived new location.
			Moving off again tomorrow. Raining most of the day. Coys are still moving
			forward with Bdes. Little of interest to report - it is impossible to keep
			up with the retreating enemy.
			Coy locns;- "A" Coy. M/R 258226 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/6 Falaise.
			"B" Coy. no change.
			"C" Coy M/R 167193 " " " " "
			"D" Coy M/R 175208 " " " " "
			Bn HQ. M/R 174210 " " " " "
	22nd	1200	Bn HQ Moves off to new locn M/R 517468 Ref Sheet 1/50000 8/F/5. Gace.
			Move through Exmes to locn about 1 1/2 miles from Gace. Enormous amount of German

Page 14 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 517468.	22nd	cont.	transport knocked out on the sides of the road. Majority by the R.A.F.
			Germans are using a colossal amount of horse drawn transport.
			Country through which we travelled was very picturesque. Raining again
			this evening. Moving off again tomorrow.
			Coy locns: "A" Coy M/R 416496. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 7/F/6 Falaise. Just South of Chambois.
			"B" Coy M/R 614484 " " " 8/F/5 Gace.
			"C" Coy M/R 885405 " " " 8/G/2 Verneuil.
			"D" Coy M/R 527474 " " " 8/F/5 Gace.
			Bn HQ. " 517468 " " " " "
			Weather wet.
	23rd	900	Moving off to new locn M/R 750442 Route through Gace - St.Evroult-du-Bois
			Locn in wood. Bn HQ spent evening combing woods of Foret de St. Evroult for possible
			German stragglers. Moving off again tomorrow. Weather wet.
			No time to settle down - HQ remains ready packed most of the time,
			Coy locns:- "A"Coy. M/R 928438. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 8/F/6. Breteuil.

Page 15 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 750442	23rd	cont.	Coy locns:- "B" Coy M/R 750458. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 8/F/5 Gace.
			"C" Coy M/R 885405. Ref " " 8/G/2 Verneuil.
			"D" Coy M/R 733443. " " " 8/F/5 Gace.
			Bn HQ. M/R 750442. " " " " "
	24th	1000	Moved off to new locn through Gace and Laigle to M/R 916419.
		1130	Arrived at new locn. HQ situated in Bourth Railway Stn Buildings - quite
			a pleasant spot. Raining most of the day. Bn HQ have also taken over a
			large building which was previously used as an SS HQ. Off again tomorrow
			morning. Off at 0630. Reveille 0430.
		2000	Move cancelled until the day after tomorrow.
			Weather cleared up in the evening.
			Coy locns:- "A" Coy no change.
			"B" Coy no change.
			"C" Coy 883494. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 8/G/2 Verneuil.
			"D" Coy 918431. " " " " "

Page 16 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 916419	24th	cont	Bn HQ M/R 916419. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 8/G/2 Verneuil. Bourth Railway Stn.
" "	25th		Day spent in locn at Bourth Railway Stn. Day spent in cleaning and drying
			clothing which has been wet through for the past 4 days. Moving off
			again tomorrow to Pacy sur Eure. M/R 3866.
			Move cancelled again this evening.
			Coy locns unchanged, Weather fine and sunny.
" "	26th		Day spent in repairing damage done by the rain of the past few days.
			Now able to catch up with work it has not been possible to do whilst we were constantly
			on the move. Weatherfine.
			Moving off tomorrow. to Pacy-sur-Eure.
			Coy locns:- "A" Coy nochange.
			"B" Coy M/R 967561. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 8/F/6 Breteuil.
			"B" Coy M/R 392692. " " " 9/F/5 St.Andre de L'Eure.
			"D" Coy no change.
			Bn HQ no change.

Page 17 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 916419 Bourth.	27th	1000	Moved off to Pacy sur Eure and after quite a fast and orderly trip, through
			Breteuil - St.Andre de l'eure - Pacy sur Eure arrived at new locn. Situated
			about 6 kilos from Pacy-sur-Eure. Locn in a large chateau.
		1130	Arrived at new locn. M/R 412652.
			Recce party broke down on the way to recce the area this morning. L.O. had
			to continue the journey on the back of a M/C much to the detriment of his eyes.
			The 2/i/c Major H.R. Moon was recovered by the L.A.D. at the tail of the column.
			All D.R.'s are suffering very badly from sore eyes, due to the fact that the
			goggles issued by the army are absolutely useless against the dust which is
			prevalent in this district.
			Rest of day spent in this locn. Weather fine.
			Coy locns: "A" Coy. M/R 425674. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 9/F/4. Mantes-Gassicourt.
			"B" Coy. M/R no change.
			"C" Coy. no change.
			"D" Coy M/R 410675. Ref 1/50060, Sheet 9/F/3. Evreux.

Page 18 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 412652	27th	cont.	Bn HQ. M/R 412652. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 9/F/3 Evreux.
	28th		Day spent in this locn. Chateau very pleasant. Oocupied by the Nazis
			before us who were not too clean, but house was soon put in shipshape order.
			Orderly Room, C.O, Adjt and I.O's offices were installed inside.
			Some trouble with the Americans about our locn. They finally condescend
			to let us stay.
			Coy locns:- unchanged. Weather raining most of day.
	29th		Moving off this evening across the Seine at Vernon, We will cross at
			approx 2130 hrs and laager on the side of the road for the night - preparatory
			to moving off on a mobile column tomorrow morning, The night was very dark
			and owing to the amount of traffic using the bridge at Vernon it is only
			possible to send the vehicles across in groups of ten. Leading group followed
			closely by the remainder cross the bridge and contact the L.O. and move into
			new area. All vehicles safely in by 2300 hrs. Number of the trucks bogged
			on the way in . Vehicles with 4 wheel drive are very essential now.

Page 19 of 19

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
M/R 497730.	29th		Coy locns:- Coys moving forward with Bdes.
			Weather wet.
	30th		Day spent in this locn. Weather wet pouring with rain all day the ground
			is absolutely sodden and a number of trucks are bogged. Possibility we may
			move off tomorrow.
			Coy locns:- Coys still moving forward with respective Bdes.
	31st	0900	Moved off to new locn at Chantoiseau M/R 834982 Ref 1/50000 Sheet 10/E/5 Beauvais.
			locn in some open fields. Raining most of day.
			Coy locns: "A" Coy. M/R 568023. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 9/E/6 Gournay-en-Bray.
			"B" Coy. M/R 474728. Ref " " 9/F/4 Mantes Gassicourt.
			"C" Coy. On the move with Bde.
			"D" Coy. M/R 834983. Ref 1/50000 Sheet 10/E/5 Beauvais.
			Bn HQ. M/R 834982. " " " " "
			Majority of the month was taken up by keeping on the tail of the retreating
			Germans, during the latter Bn HQ remaining on wheels most of the time.

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War Diary: 2nd Battalion The Cheshire Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

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