War Diary: 1/5 Welch Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 1/5 Battalion Welch Regiment August 1944 War Diary covers the units time in Normandy, initially in the area Gournay before advancing east to area Les Quatre Hertes

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1386

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WO 171/1386 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment

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This diary mentions 1 units with war diaries for August 1944.

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Page 1 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
GOURNAY	1	15	A recce patrol of two ORs commanded by Lt. D.J. Davies started from 16 PL
			HQ of D coy, MR 949633. Their route was from 14 PL HQ by magnetic bearing
			of 143 degrees to Wood MR 958623. Their object was to find out if there
			were enemy in Wood MR 958623 and in what approximate strength. The first
			enemy were seen at MR 953619 when an enemy NCO was seen to be visiting
			what appeared to be three enemy posns astride their route. The patrol
			bye-passed these to the NE. An enemy 1/2 track vehicle was then heard on
			the track running NW from Wood objective. The veh was proceeding NW and
			stopped at approx 956617. Picks and shovels were unloaded and the
			vehicle returned. Patrol proceeded to a point approx 200x NW of objective
			and listened for about 30 mins. During this time an enemy MG and a captured
			Bren LMG opened fire from objective. Apparently fire was not directed
			against patrol. Strength of enemy was not estimated, but from previous
			knowledge it was thought that the strength was one Sec. Patrol returned
			without loss into D Coy HQ at 0415 hrs.

Page 2 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
GOURNAY	2		Bn came under comd 71 Bde and moved to the area of QUEDEVILLIE 8864 and took
			over the posns of the 2/6 Bn Staffordshire Regt. The enemy was reported to
			be holding the area of NOYERS 8862, but a deserter ofrom 989 G.R. of
			277 Inf Div said that his Bn was withdrawing at 2300 hrs, leavin a small
			rearguard party.
QUEDEVILLIE	3	0900	2 more deserters from 989 G.R. said that their Bn had withdrawn during the
			night leaving a small party in the area of the village of NOYERS.
		1615	This was confirmed by a recce patrol which found the Church at NOYERS to
			be clear, but they found two enemy in a house at 877627. It was decided
			in view of this information to send platoons fwd to CARELET 875617, Pt 123
	4		(884623) and HAUT DU PARC 898622. This was accomplished by 0430 hrs, the
			pls involved encountering numerous booby traps and anti- personnel mines.
MALTOT	4		Bn was transferred to 158 Inf Bde and left NOYERS area at 1300 hrs to take
			up posns in the area of ETERVILLE. The Bn was in position approximately
			one hr when orders were received to take over from 7 RWF at MALTOT.

Page 3 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
MALTOT	4		This was accomplished by 1745 hrs. The night was spent in MALTOT, the Bn
			area being spasmodically mortared and shelled. An intended plan for pushing
	5		fwd to 7 RWF from FEUGEROLLES-sur-ORNE the following morning involved the
			probable move of the Bn to take over their posns.
	5		This plan was not put into operation and a patrol was sent to the R ORNE
			to recce for crossing places.
	5	1500	The Bn moved to the area of St MARTIN and took over the posns of the 6 RWF.
			Listening posts were sent down to the R ORNE by B coy and stayed all night.
			The Bn spent a peaceful night.
ST MARTIN	6	0800	Parties were sent to LE BON REPOS to disinter the bodies of 20 men of
			A coy who had been buried by the Germans after their attack in which A coy
			was lost. The bodies of Maj R.H. Northcott, Capt. W.J. Picton and 13 ORs
			were identified. The Pioneer PL spent the day clearing the roads in the
			villages of ST MARTIN and VIEUX.
		2330	Bn received orders to proceed to a concentration area at VACOGNES913554

Page 4 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
ST MARTIN	6		with the eventual object of crossing the R ORNE in the area of GRIMBOSQ 9553
VACOGNES	7	0730	Bn left ST MARTIN for area VACOGNES and Bn HQ was established at 913554
			by 1500 hrs, with Coys in close concentrationa The Bde came under operational
			control of 59 Div.
VACOGNES	8	0945	The Bn was visited by the Brigadier who spoke to the Offrs. A Mobile Bath
			Unit was set up and all personnel had a Shower Bath. Parties also went to
			a cinema show at Bde HQ. The Bn received 30 Reinforcements. A Echelon
			joined the Bn and it was found possible to open a Canteen. The Bn spent a
			peaceful day and night.
VACOGNES	9	0900	Bn "O" Gp was ordered to stand by for orders at 1100 hrs and the CO received
			orders to take over the posts of 7 S Staffs who Were holding the area of
			GRIMBOSQ 9653 in the bride ehead of the R ORNE.
GRIMBOSQ	9	1900	Bn HQ was established at 955532. As the enemy was reported to have
			withdrawn from the FORET de GRIMBOSQ and FORET de CINGLAIS, the Bde intention
			was to follow up on a thrust line, the objective being TOURNEBU 0444.

Page 5 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
GRIMBOSQ	9	1900	Pt.221 0142. Bn was placed at 2 hrs notice to move but that there would be
			no move before first light. The night was spent quietly, a standing patrol
			being sent to LASSERAY 9653 and also to the Br at 969533.
	10	0615	The Bn was ready to move on a thrust line, the role being to follow up
			behind 1 E Lancs R and 7 R.W.F. This role was not carried out as the fwd
			recce elements and 56 Inf Bde Were required first to clear Forge and CAMBRO
			9648 of the enemy.
		2100	CO attended a Bde 'O' Gp and Bn was placed at 2 hrs notice to move from 0600
			hrs the following day. This was subsequently altered to 2 hrs notice from
			0800 hrs. There was no shelling or mortaring of the area during the night.
	11	0800	Bn was placed at 2 hrs notice to move from 0800 hrs.
		1745	Bn moved and by 1830 hrs was concentrated in area 986520 where the night
			was spent quietly.
ST LAURENT DE-CONDEL	12	0630	CO was giver orders that Bn would capture and hold FRESNAY-LE-VIEU 0048 -
			H hr being 1100 hrs. A Squadron of tanks were in support, the whole Corps

Page 6 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
ST LAURENT DE-CONDEL	12	0630	Arty being concentrated on the objective for 20 mins. The plan was that
			'D' Coy were to proceed to the village to the rt and est themselves on the
			Rt flank, 'B' Coy at the same time proceeding around the left of the village.
			'A' Coy would then, starting at H + 10, mop up the village. 'C' Coy were to
			be held in reserve.
		1225	'B' Coy reached their objective, but 'A' and 'D' Coys were being held up by
			by Spandau fire from the village.
		1514	CO decided to put 'C' Coy in on the left and they cleared the village as
			far as the Church
		1554	situation was stabilised except for a certain amount of mopping up.
		1600	Reviewing the battle it was found that 45 enemy had been killed and 280
			taken prisoner. The prisoners were from 3 Bn 978 G .Reg t and were only too
			willing to talk and seemed pleased to be captured. There was a good percent
			-age of Russians, Poles and Sudeten Germans amongst them.
		1900	The Bn was reorganised and it was found that casualties amounted to Major

Page 7 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
ST LAURENT DE-CONDEL	12	1900	G.S. Seaton, Lt Trudeau killed, Capt D.R. Morgan wounded and 30 ORs killed
			and 60 wounded. The night was spent quietly.
FRESNAY- LE -VIEUX	13		The day was spent reorganising. The dead were collected and buried in the
			area of Bn.HQ at 001491.
		1800	The Div Concert Party gave a good concert which was appreciated by all ranks.
	14	1000	The mobile bath visited the Bn and also the Mobile Canteen. News was
			received from the Senior Chaplain that certain members of the Bn had been
			discovered by the Americans and a hosp in RENNES. They were personnel of
			'A' Coy which was lost when attacked at LE BON REPOS.
	15		Bn moved into Harbour Area at 0440 preparatory to moving off on a thrust line
			following the 1 E Lancs R on the rd from LEFFARD 0638 to FALAISE and the
			objective to be secured by the Bn was Pt.255 1529. The night was spent in
			the Harbour Area.
MARTIGNEY	16		Bn advanced down rd from LEFFARD to MARTIGNEY 0736 contacting a
			sqradron of tanks of 155 Regt. The Bn moved off with 'C' Coy leading

Page 8 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
MARTIGNEY	16		followed by the Sqn of Tks and the two remaining Coys. When 'C' Coy arrived
			at 081356 they saw enemy at 095350. An attack was planned with 'B' Coy going
			around the Left flank to objective 095347. 'C' Coy were to advance on their
			right flank and tks to sp the infy by fire. H hr was 1930 hrs. Wireless comn
			between Bn.HQ and 'C' & 'B' Coy s failed and 'B' Coy were last seen at 2000 hrs
			crossing the rd at 095350.
MARTIGNY	17	0001	The situation was still vague but at 0100 hrs, OC 'B' Coy, Capt T. Watkins
			returned to Bn.HQ with 27 remaining men of his coy. Having discovered that
			'C' Coy were not on his rt flank, he decided that his posn was untenable and
			withdrew. 'B' Coy had repelled one counter-attack whilst across the rd,
			killing 55 Germans. 'C' Coy were also ordered to withdraw and the Bn took
			up posns around Pt.223 0835, Bn.HQ having been est at 0200 hrs at 076357.
			'B' Coy casualties were reported as 33. Prisoners taken by '8' Coy were
			identified as belonging to the Bakery and Slaughterhouse Coys
			of 271 Inf Div and there was also a German from a Br Gp of 271 Inf Div.

Page 9 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
MARTIGNEY	17	0001	They had not eaten for five days neither had they had water. They had been
			employed in the digging of trenches. A considerable number of civilians were
			met in MARTIGNEY and BALFOUR who gave the Bn a very warn welcome. They were
			evacuated to a refugee centre at LEFFARD.
	18	0900	Bn was ordered to take Pt.245 1330. The Carrier PL leading the Bn, was held
			up by fire from German MGs when approaching Pt.245. These MG s were dealt with
			by Carrier PL and 'A' Coy and Bn est itself upon Pt.245 by 2200 hrs wi th Bn.HQ
			at 136314. There was considerable sniper activity, one OR being killed. Two
			prisoners were taken, one Pole and one Czech from 271 Inf Div.
Pt.245	19	1900	BA handed over to 2nd Bn Glasgow Highlanders and were told to take up posns
			upon Pt.135. Carrier PL again leading, Bn reached Pt.135 without encountering
			any opposition. Bn HQ was est at 1600 hrs at 195316. Co was told that Bn
			would probably be remaining in its present location for 48 hrs and that
			personnel would rest, carry out maintenance and bathe.
Pt.135	20		Bn spent day resting and carrying out maintenance. The mobile canteen

Page 10 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Pt.135	20		visited the Bn.
	21		Bn spent day in same location. A film show was given, 20 men from each Coy
			attended.
	22		Bn remained in same location.
	23		CO was told that Bn would remain in present location for 2 or 3 days. The
			day was spent with the Bn resting and carrying out maintenance.
	24		There was no change in the situation. A film was shown and there was also
			an ENSA concert at NECY 2028.
BAILLEUL	25	1500	Bn moved to area BAILLEUL where the Bde was concentrating for the night.
			Bn. HQ est at 282248.
	26		Bn remained in present location and personnel carried out maintenance in
			preparation for next move.
	27	0700	Bn moved by march route to GRAND VAL525538 passing thro the 'KILLING GROUND'
			in the area of "CHAMBOIS". The Bn conc and spent the night in Harbour Area.
		2030	14 TCVs reported to the Bn for the purpose of transporting the Bn on

Page 11 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
BAILLEUL	27	2030	tomorrow's move to GROS-LA-FERRIERE en route to the crossing of the SEINE
GRAND VAL	28	6350	Bn moved by TCVs to GROS-LA-FERRIERE and conc in the area 800540.
	29	1525	Bn moved in TCVs to BERENGEVILLE-LA-COMPAGNE, arriving and establishing
			Bn HQ at 141786. Bn received orders to cross the R. SEINE the following
			morning.
BERENGEVILLE-LA-COMPAGNE	30	1800	Bn left embussed for next objective
	31	0135	Bn crossed the SEINE by Class 9 br which crossed at MUIDS 3389
		0545	Bn HQ was established at 452990 LA MESNIL VIREIEVE and Brigade O Gp WAS
			called for 0700 hrs.
		0700	Bn was given the task of clearing wooded area between rd MORGNY-GOURNAY
			en-BRAY and rd LYON-LA-FORET and LA FEUILLE. This was done by
LES QUATRE HERTES			1725 hrs, Bn HQ being est at 582107. Two prisoners! were taken and no
			cas were suffered.

Units Referenced in this war diary

The following units are mention in this war diary and have their own August 1944 war diary

1st Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment, August 1944 War Diary