War Diary: 75th Anti Tank Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 75th Anti Tank Regiment (Royal Artillery) August 1944 war diary covers the units actions advancing from Le Beny Bocage Eastwards to Amiens

National Archive Reference: WO 171/925

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LE BENY BOCAGE	1	119 Bty u/c 3 RTR 29 Armd Bde harboured for night N.E of LE BENY BOCAGE
		Many prisoners taken during course of day. 118 Bty and J Tp of 338 Bty u/c
		1 HEREFORDS in area LA FERRIERE. K & L Tps u/c 3 MONS deployed in area N.W.
		at LE BENY BOCAGE
		117 Bty with its role of protecting the Div Arty moved slowly down to. LA
		FERRIERE.
	2	119 Bty moved on to line of main road VIRE - AUNAY SUR ODON where they came
LES GRIPES		u/c of 4 KSLI at 2000hrs. 118 Bty and 338 Bty less K Tp deployed with
		1 HEREFORDS in area LES GRIPES
LE RECULEY		117 Bty having deployed in area MANGER-CARVILLE to protect the flank of 25
		Fd Regt and 77 Med Rest moved on to LE RECULEY area. Guns deployed West
		of LE RECULEY.
		(On this the fourth day of our rapid advance, the Prime Minister stated in
		the House that a break through has been achieved on the Second Army front)
	3	Counter attack by elements of 9 SS Pz Div. repelled, by KSLI with 119 Bty u/c

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
SOURDAVALLE		BQMS captured during night while delivering rations to I Tp. 3 Mons with K Tp
		u/c advanced and occupied area SOURDAVALLE. 118 Bty area unchanged.
LE RECULEY		A & B Tps deployed just EAST of BENNY BOCAGE, later A Tp moved to LE RECULEY
		area to protect 77 Med Regt from direct tank threat and B Tp transferred to
		pocket of CRA. C Tp in BEAULIEU area to meet threat from S.W.
FOGUES	4	A day of heavy shelling and mortaring by the enemy, and successful offensive
		action by 119 Bty.
		The latter having moved to FOGUES and reverted to comd of 3 RTR destroyed
		during the course of the day 2 Panthers, 1 Tiger and 1 SP Gun. The Tiger fell
		to H Tp during the morning after a very neat action by Capt Smalley with Bdr
		Roberts No.1. I Tp. destroyed a Panther and G Tp a Panther and an SF Gun
		G Tp had two men wounded and a gun damaged by shell fire. H Tp had two guns
		slightly damaged by shell fire.
SOURDAVALLE	4/5	During this time K Tp (338 Bty) were being subjected to the most concentrated
		shelling and mortaring the Regiment had yet encountered. Losses were heavy -

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			four gun towers, two guns and a carrier. Casualties to personnel included
			three missing believed killed by direct hits and thirteen wounded or
			evacuated suffering from shock. Owing to the severity of the shelling it is
			extremely unlikely that any A.tk. gun other than an S.P. could have moved to
			an alternative position.
	5	1400	C.Tp (117 Bty) moved to LE DESERT area in sp of 2 KSLI of 3 Brit Div. 119 Bty
			in position round Pt 218 u/c 3 RTR. I Tp still in action SOUTH of SOURDEVALLE.
	6		Another day of heavy enemy mortaring and shelling culminating in a strong
			counter attack by 9 SS Pz Div. I Tp had all guns temporarily out of action
			after particularly severe and concentrated mortaring. Sgt Hancock killed.
BURCY		1100	117 Bty placed u/c 185 Bde of 3 Brit Div. "C" Tp in area BURCY with 2 KSLI
			B Tp relieved G Tp in area LE BAS PERRIER at 1400hrs .
LE BAS PERRIER		1400	Lt. Ekeblad missing after reporting to O.C. 119 Bty at 707367 and then
			proceeding to LE BAS PERRIER on recce to contact G To Comdr.
		1600	9 SS counter attack preceeded by heavy shelling of LE BAS PERRIER area

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
		2 Warwicks of 185 Bde withdrew to high ground behind village. One gun of B Tp
		knocked out. Three seriously wounded incl Tp Sgt and No. 1.
		Capt. .B. Crowther, who had led B Tp into position, missing.
		K.Tp withdrawn from position and returned to A Ech to refit.
	7	A quiet day. Lt. D.Orchard took over B. Tp. H.Tp sent out to take up positions
		previously occupied by G.TP with A. Sqn 3 RTR. I Tp returned u/c 119 Bty.
PRESTLES	8	J.Tp u/c i HEREFORDS occupied position SOUTH of PRESTLES 7236. Remainder of
		338. Bty withdrawn into reserve in area BEAULIEU 6939. B.Tp reinforced by a
		Bty of 91 A. tk. Regt.
ST CHARLES	9	117 Bty reverted to command HQRA and proceeded to concentration area 697403
		where they commenced taking over eleven 17 pdr M.10s.
NEAULIEU		J.Tp rejoined. 338 Bty in reserve. 119 BHQ and I Tp moved back to area BEAULIEU
		G.TP u/c 3 RTR in area LE GRAND BONFAIT.
LA MARVINDIERE area	10	118 Bty who had been in reserve with 1 HEREFORD during these ops moved to
		LA MARVINDIERE area where Tps were deployed u/c 1 HEREFORDS. H. Tp rejoined

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			119 Bty in BEAULIEU area.
LE BAS PERIER	11		D Tp moved u/c 1 HEREFORDS to LE BAS PERIER. Remainder of 118 Bty still at
			LA MARVINDIERE.
			C Tp of 117 Bty came u/c of 1 HEREFORD and moved to area HOUSSERIAGNE to act
			as flank guard for Gds Armd Div
	12		338 Bty u/c 3 MONS relieved Bty of 15 (S) Div. 117 Bty came u/c RHA less B Tp
			who remained under direct command of HQRA.
			118 Bty still at LA MARVINDIERE (slight Spandau activity) and 119 Bty resting
			at BEUALIEU.
	13	0200	C Tp returned to 117 Bty concentration area at ST CHARLES.
ESTRY		2000	117 Bty coming u/c 159 Inf Bde who are in process of relieving a Bde of 15 (S)
			Div moved to ESTRY area.
MONCHAUVET			119 Bty moved to MONCHAUVET u/c 29 Armd Bde.
	14		119 Bty at MONCHAUVET - no movement
			117 Bty now in 159 Bde Gp 118 and 338 Btys u/c CRA as Div Tps.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
		At 0700hrs A & C Tps of 117 Bty with 1 Herefords on the S.Ps advanced on
LE THEIL		LE THEIL. They were subjected to heavy shelling and two guns of A.Tp were
		out of action with splinters through the radiator. B Tp. reverting to command
		of Bty became Bde reserve.
		118 Bty moved to MONTCHAMPS
	15	117 Bty in LE THEIL area. B.Tp came u/c 4 KSLI at 1000 hrs and at 1200 hrs
		advanced to high ground 7835.
		119 Bty advanced to four miles NORTH of VASSY - H Tp u/c 23 H, I Tp u/c
		2 FF - no action.
	16	11 Armd Div with 159 Inf Bde Gp RIGHT and 29 Armd Bde Gp LEFT leading 30
		Corps advance to R. SEINE. ( See R.A.Op Instr No.6.) INNS of COURT Regt are
		covering the advance of the whole Div.
CERISI-BELLE-ETOILE via VASSY	16	117 Bty - with 159 Inf Bde Gp - advanced through VASSY - B Tp with 4 KSLI
		reaching CALIGNY and A & C Tps CERISI-BELLE-ETOILE.
		On left route 119 Bty reached LE PERTILLER.

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FLERS	17		117 Bty advanced through FLERS and at 2000hrs B Tp took part in attack on
			enemy at ST OPPORTUNE.
			119 Bty reached LA BLANCHERE.
	18	0700	117 Bty commenced advance at 0700hrs C Tp. with 1 HEREFORDS leading at
ECOUCHE			0830hrs A & C Tps deployed North of Centre Line in area 0017 to cover tank
			threat from this flank. By 1700 hrs reached area WEST of ECOUCHE.
	19		119 Bty advancing with 29 Armd Bde Gp reached PUTAN.
			117 Bty reached MONTGAROULT passing through 2nd French Armd Div waiting for
			word to dash to PARIS.
ARGENTAN	20		117 Bty advanced to area three miles EAST of ARGENTAN where they leagered for
			the night.
			119 Bty advancing on Northern route leagered night in ECOUCHE area.
	21		NORMANDY "sack" definitely closed last night. A major disaster for the Germans.
			H tp (119 Bty) brewed up a S.P.Gun On Mk. III carriage at 273258.
GACE			On Southern route C Tp. lead advance with L HEREFORDS, B Tp later leading with

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
		4 KSLI who took GACE. Leagered in GACE area.
	22	Div advance continued on Right Centre Line with 29th Armd Bde leading. 119 Bty
		reached L'AIGLE without opposition receiving a great welcome from the
		inhabitants. 117 Bty reached ST ANDREE D'ECHAFFOUR.
L'AIGLE	23	Regiment in Div concentration area WEST of L'AIGLE. During this last
		advance 118 and 338 Btys u/c C.R.A. moved with RHQ who also had 198 Bty of
		73 A.tk. Regt attached since 16 Aug. Moving on Right Centre line none of the
		three Btys had occasion to deploy.
	24	Resting and Maintenance. 43 Div passing through towards R. Seine.
	25	GOC 11 Armd Div visited RHQ and spoke to the C.O. 2 i/c and B.Cs. He
		reviewed the past operations and mentioned the coming ops.
	26	CRA and BMRA visited RHQ and had lunch with the C.O. and 2 i/c
	28	11 Armd Div advanced to concentration area between R. EURE & R. SEINE.
NW of VERNON	28/29	Regiment reached concentration area NW of VERNON in early hours of 29th
		having left L'AIGLE area at about 1800hrs. Distance covered appox 60 miles.

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
	29	11 Armd Div. as part of XXX Corps commenced advance on AMIENS. R.SEINE crossed
		at VERNON (Goliath" Bridge) 29 Armd Bde leading. 119 Bty u/c 29 Armd Bde, 118
		and 338 Btys with 159 Bde. 117 Bty u/c 159 Bde for movement only and for
		deployment under the orders of the G.O.C.
GOURNAY		119 Bty harboured for night just SOUTH of GOURNAY
VILLERS VIXEN		338 Bty u/c 4 KSLI reached VILLERS VIXEN, all tps having deployed.
THILLIERS EN VEXIN		118 Bty with F.Tp u/c 3 MONS D. & E Tps u/C 1 HEREFORDS reached LES THILLIERS EN VEXIN
CANTIERS		117 Bty and RHQ harboured at CANTIERS
ST GERNER DE FLY	30	Advance continues with only slight opposition. H Tp (119 Bty) captured
		intact 1 Armd Car and 1 S.P. 150 mm gun with crews.
		Having reached ST GERNER de FLY it was decided by Higher Formation that after
		a very brief halt for replenishing the Div should continue the advance throughout
		the night in order to reach AMIENS by dawn
AMIENS	31	119 Bty with 29 Armd Bde reached AMIENS area at 0700 hrs and took up
		positions SW of town. Passed through AMIENS crossing R. SOMME at about 1300 and harboured

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			for night about three miles past VILLERS BOCAGE.
			118 & 338 Btys with 159 Bde Gp reached AMIENS about 1100hrs. Tps deployed in
			Town.
		Noon	RHQ (Less Tac HQ who had advanced with 159 Bde Main HQ) left St GERNERS de FLY
			at noon with 159 Bde Rear HQ. After a short halt about 7 miles SOUTH of AMIENS
			they harboured for night just NORTH of the town, together with 118 Bty who
			moved out of the town in the evening.
			A tremendous and very moving welcome given to troops in AMIENS and, in fact
			in all villages passed through since crossing the SEINE
			During the day H.Tp destroyed a 150.mm gun Lorse team and limber by H.E. fire.

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War Diary: 75th Anti Tank Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

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