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Sunday 11 June was not a good day for 6th Green Howards. The 8th Armoured Brigade with 1 Dorsets and 8 D.L.I under command had pushed forward towards TILLY against opposition which seemed small in numbers but determined. 8 D.L.I. had been driven out of TILLY by a counter-attack the country was exceptionally thick with high hedges on banks, deep ditches, belts of trees and standing corn. During the morning I was sent for to meet the Brigade Commander and to go to H.Q. 8 Armoured Brigade. 69 Brigade were to cross the railway and secure the left flank of the armour while linking up with tired Canadians at PUTOT on DESIN. Armoured patrols, a squadron of Shermans at a time, had pushed forward into the thick country towards CRISTOT meeting much small arms fire and some determined men with sticky bombs. It was not known how strong the enemy were; but they appeared to be in strength including amour at PONTENAY on the road CAEN - TILLY. 6th Green Howards were to occupy a position in the CRISTOT area.

The Colonel of the 4/7 Dragoon Guards, who was out on recce in that area, was more than helpful on his return. His regiment were to support the Bn in their attack with artillery support from the Essex Yeomanry and two batteries 90th Fd.B company 2 Cheshires were available if they could be used. 4/7 Dragoon Guards did not underrate the opposition; but they could naturally not give sufficient information of enemy locations to make out a complete artillery support programme. After a hurried recce and conference in country where you could hardly see a field the plan was made for an attack on a two-company front with one squadron in support of the leading companies, one squadron moving with the reserve companies and the remaining squadron ready to escort up the support weapons of the Bn to their objective. The guns were to fire on known enemy targets and one hedge ahead of the advance. In this thick country a lane passing through a farm called Les Hauts Vents was chosen as the Bn axis.

The enemy waited until the tanks had passed before they opened up on 13 company on the right. This company had fairly heavy casualties, but largely owing to the efforts of the Coy Comd, who walked about the fields in full view of the enemy with total disregard for his own safety they pushed on until the company commander, 2 i/c and several N.C.Os were casualties. ‘C' company on the left were also pinned by short range spandau fire. The company commander C.S.M. and one officer were killed and another officer wounded. 'A' company were ordered to move round the right of E company and D company to clear the axis up to Less Haunts Vents. Largely owing to the brilliant leadership of the Coy Comd, A company got to within a field of the objective. There, their supporting tanks came under heavy fire and the squadron leader lost his tank. B company joined up with A company, but the two companies were temporarily cut off. D company forced their way up the axis supported by tanks, took 25 - 30 prisoners of war in Les Hauts Vents and joined up with A company. This helped C company to get on. The position was now that the Bn was together one field short of its objective with heavy M.G. and anti-tank gun fire in front. In the meantime an attack by Mark VI tanks had developed behind us on the position of 8 Armoured Brigade. These tanks were almost across our axis. I ordered the Bn. to reorganise where it was and sent for the supporting weapons to come up. But losses in officers and N.C.Os. had been heavy; there was considerable sniping; 4/7 were losing tanks. The Brigade Commander told me that I could use my discretion about; withdrawal. I ordered the Bn to withdraw and sent word to the 2 i/c to recce positions further back in consultation with the Brigade Commander and O.C. 5 East Yorks

The Bn. withdrew in good order leaving behind about eight men, wounded in enemy hands. Positions were taken up as recced by the 2 i/c. 8 armoured Brigade were still being attacked and occasional shells were landing in the Bn. area. At 0400 hours orders were received to move to a defensive position North of the railway at AUDRIEUX.