War Diary: 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment August 1944 war diary starts with the unit moving from the leaguer area at Ellon and advancing through Normandy to Louviers

National Archive Reference: WO 171/865

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WO 171/865 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 6F/4	1 Aug	0800	Regt moved from leaguer area ELLON to leaguer area 725595 arriving at 1200 hrs
1/50,000		1500	Regt moved behind 131 Bde through CAUMONT 705594 and then SE. through
		2200	CAHAGNES 732566 and on to ROBIN X Rds 758533 where they leaguered for the night.
Sheet 7F/3	2 Aug	0530	"B" Sqn adv East to the area SAUQUES775520 where determined opposition was
1/50,000		1100	encountered: there was much A.P. fire and mortaring and at about 1100 hrs
			"B" Sqn had to withdraw, It was then decided to put in a small set piece attack
		1700	with Artillery and Inf cooperation. This started at 1700 hrs and a feature
		2000	N of SAUQUES at 780526 was taken by C Sqn. The tanks remained in this
			position during the night, while the rest of the Regiment leaguered at
		2300	"ROBIN" X Rds 758533.
	3 "	0530	Reveille. 5 R Tks took over from the Unit in the Area SAUQUES and continued to push on East against determined opposition, The Regiment remained in reserve
			at "ROBIN" X Rds with "B" Sqn in the area 761524 maintaining observation to
			the S.W. The day passed quietly.
		2300	Regiment leaguered in same area as previous night.

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 7F/3 1/50,000	4 Aug	0530	Reveille. Regiment remained in reserve at "ROBIN" X Rds. 5 D.Gs made some
			progress to the East around HERMILLY 7954 and good progress was made by 43 Div towards ONDEFONTAINE 7848. There were indications that the enemy
			was pulling out.
		2300	Leaguer in the same area as previous night.
	5 Aug	0530	Reveille. The enemy was thought to have pulled right out to the East and
			22 Armd Bde was to follow up in the direction of AUNAY SUR ODON 8251.
		1000	The Regt moved from "ROBIN" X Rds to LA POSTE 7956 and thence through
			MAISON CELLES PELVEY 7955, LONGVILLERS 8354, COURVAUDON 8752 and BONNEMAISON
			8649, to the Ridge BUTTE DE LA RUEKKE in Squares 8548 and 8648. A &.B. Sqns
			took up positions on this ridge where they remained for the night
		2300	RHQ and C Sqn leaguered at 858495. There had been no contact during the day,
	6 Aug	0530	Reveille When the morning mist lifted, A & B Sqns pushed on, A Sqn to the
		1200	X Rds L'ACCARD 872458 and B Sqn to the area of the village CAMPANDRE VALCONGRAIN.
			861461. There was very heavy mortaring of both these possitions and also of

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 7F/3	6 Aug	1200	the road, from VALLEE 8847 Westwards. RHQ was at 868475. No further
1/50,000			progress was made and the Sqns stayed in position for the rest of the day.
		2300	RHQ leaguered with the 1/7 Queens RHQ at 868475.
	7 Aug.	0530	Reveille. The plan for today was for 22 Armd Bde with 8 H leading, to push
			on S towards CONDE SUR NOIREAU. The Unit remained in position as on the
			previous day as a firm base, and were shelled and mortared intermittently
			all day. 8 H encountered heavy opposition and could only progress to the
			area of CAUVILLE 8742.
		2200	Orders were received for 22 Armd Bde to pull out at first light on the
			following day for a rest.
		2300	Leaguer as for previous night,
	8 Aug	0500	Reveille,
		0590	Unit moved through CAMPANDRE VALCONGRAIN 8646 and ROUCAMPS 8347 to rest
			area N. of MT. PINCON835465 where it arrived at 1000hrs,
			Remainder of day spent on maintenance.

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 7F/3	9 Aug	0600	Reveille. Normal Field Routine. Maintanance and refitting.
1/50,000	10 "	0600	Reveille. Nomal Field Routine.
	11 "	1000	Unit was visited by Lt Gen HORROCKS, Comd 30 Corps, who talked to officers
			and senior NCOs on the general situation in FRANCE. He said that it was
			highly encouraging.
	12 "	0600	Reveille. Normal Field Routine.
		1400	Unit was visited by the new Bde Comd, Brigadier MACKESON who talked to each
			Sqn in turn on the War Situation.
	13 "	0600	Reveille. Normal Field Routine.
	14 "	0600	Reveille. Normal Field Routine, Orders were received that the Unit was to
			go under Comd 1 Cdn Corps, and to move on the following day to the area East
			of CAEN.
Sheet 7F/3	15 "	0600	Reveille,
and 7F/4		1000	Unit moved from MT PINCON to X Rds. L' ACCARD 871458, VALLEE 8747 ST HONORINE
		2000	DUE FAY 9356, LARE LAVILLE 0157, CINTHEAUX 0754 to a leaguer area at 105545 where it arrived 2000 hrs.

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 7F/4	16 Aug	0600	Reveille, Unit stayed all day at leaguer area ST. SYLVAIN, Normal Field Routine.
	17 "	0600	Reveille, Normal Field Routine Lt Col E. H. GIBBON D.S.O. left the Regiment
			and Lt Col, P.R.C. HOBART M.C. assumed Comd.
			Commanding Officer :- Lt Col, P.R.C. HOBART M.C.
	18 "	0600	Reveille.
		1400	Regiment moved East through MAIZIERES 1749, ERNES 1949 to 215493, where it
			arrived at 2100 hrs.
		2200	Leaguered for the night at 215493.
	19 "	0600	Reveille.
		1400	Regiment moved from leaguer area ST PIERRE SUR DIVES to a leaguer
		1800	area at CAREL260478, arriving at 1800 hrs. All vehicles in the area were
			continuously and effectively straffed by RAF planes during the afternoon,
			despite all attempts to stop them through higher formations,
		2300	Bombing attack by G.A.F. Many anti personnel bombs dropped in the leaguer
			area, causing a number of casualties.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 7F/4	20 Aug	0800	Regiment moved from CAREL to BOISSEY 3275 arriving at 1100 hrs.
		1400	Regiment moved on, as 131 Bde (Queen's) Bde were pushing on steadily towards LIVAROT.
		1530	Arrived at LIVAROT. 4672 and received orders to push on East as far as
			possible before night.
Sheet 8F/3		1600	Advanced from LIVAROT, "A" Sqn leading. Regiment followed 5 R Tk to
			X Rds 509754 and then went N to Pt 182. 495794. Sqns found very little
			opposition and carried on after dark to reach the objective about midnight.
Sheet 8F/1	21 Aug	0500	Reveille. "CW Sqn now pushed on to the area S.MICHEL DE LA LIEUE at 5284,
			which they reached about 1200 hrs. Considerable damage was inflicted on the
		1400	enemy. B Sqn were then ordered to take the high ground in Sq 5585 and to
			secure crossings over the stream. They pushed on to the high ground but could
			get no further owing to much A/T fire and they stayed on the high ground for
			the night,
		2300	A & C Sqns leaguered on either side of the rd., in sq. 5183.

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 8F/1	22 Aug		"C" Sqn was ordered to push up through the town of LISIEUX and try to get
			on to the high on the E Side in Sq. 5488. This operation was not a
			success, as the town was far from clear. C Sqn managed to got to the Start
			Line, the N - S rd., running through 537880, but after some casualties, they
			came back to their previous position and the situation remained as before.
	23 Aug		The plan was now for the 57 (Highland) Div. who were pushing into LISIEUX from
			the N, to clear the town which they were to do by 0700 hrs. A &.C Sqns then
			were to push up through the town. to the high ground to the E.
		0900	This operation started, and was successful. The tanks established themselves
			around 545880 and 543874 with B. Sqn remaining on the ridge at 535842.
			LISIEUX was still not clear all day however, and there were many. M.G. posts
			and snipers there,
		2200	There were indications that the enemy withdrawing and the Squadrons
			remained in position all night. they

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 8F/1	24 Aug	0600	Reveille. All indications were that the enemy had pulled out of LISIEUX.
		0700	RHQ moved forward to 534865.
		1000	22 Armd Bde were ordered to follow up the enemy as fast as possible. 5 D.G.
			were to lead the advance and 1 Tks to follow the Bde, in Reserve.
		1500	Regiment moved through LISIEUX and East along the main road to X Rds 703863
			where it turned N through ST AUBIN DE SCELLON 716890, LE FAVRIL 759900,
Sheet 8F/2			GIVERVILLE 787912 to area NOTRE DAME D'EPINE 820908 where leaguered for the night,
	25 Aug	0530	Reveille,
		1400	B Sqn was ordered to the area N of ST GEORGES DU VIEVRE, and around LE QUESNEY
			840000 some quite determined opposition was encountered, thought to be from the same SS troops as were around LISIEUX.
		1800	After sustaining some casualties, B Sqn was ordered to pull out S from the
			thickly wooded area in which they were operating and maintain observation from
			the area ST PIERRE DES IFS 835988.

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Sheet 8F/2	25 Aug	2200	B Sqn leaguered in ST GEORGE DU VIEVRE 8096. Remainder of the Regiment
			leaguered in the same area as previous night,
			During the night 1 R Tks was put u/c 131 (Queen's) Bde and the plan was to
			push on over the R. RISLE to ROUTOT 9210.
	26 Aug	0600	Reveille
Sheet 8F/6???		0830	Unit moved to cross R. RISLE at PONT AUTHOU 8895, thence to 928962. At 1300 hrs
			Regt was ordered to push through GLOS SUR RISLE 8798, MONTFORT SUR RISLE 8601,
			and thence to cut rds leading E from ROUTOT. Opposition was encountered by
			C Sqn in area 8807 and A Sqn which moved around to the East was also
			held up. A & C Sqns leaguered in battle posns, RHQ and B Sqn area 8806.
	27 Aug		Fighting all day in the area SW of ROUTOT. Opposition was determined and casualties fairly heavy.
		2200	At nightfall, the Sqn Leaguers were all N of the main lateral road and one troop
			of B Sqn had reached the road running E from ROUTOT at 910105.
			There were indications that the enemy was pulling but.

Page 10 of 10