War Diary: 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: June 1944

The 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment June 1944 war diary covers their embarkation at Felixstowe and their disembarkation and advance through Normandy to Parfouru l\'Éclin

National Archive Reference: WO 171/865

All diaries for this unit:

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

« Return to war diaries

Page 1 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
1 June		The tanks, which were now in the marshalling area on the Ipswich -
2 June		Felixstowe Rd., went forward as called for, and were embarked on L.S.T.s
3 June		at FELIXSTOWE, Embarkation was completed by 3.6.44. On that day, Unit
		Personnel were paid in French francs, and issued with 48 hr Ration Packs.
4	1300	The party at S5 Camp were embussed to travel to Tilbury Docks.
	1400	Party moved off.
	1600	S5 party arrived at the docks and were taken by lighter out to S.S. IGNATIUS
		DONNELLY, an American Liberty Ship, which was lying out in the stream.
5 "		This was planned to be 'D' Day, but owing to adverse weather conditions,
		the landing operation was postponed for 24 hrs,
	2200	The L.S.T. convoy with the tanks of the unit sailed from FELIXSTOWE.
6 "		D' Day. The initial assault proved highly successful.
7 "	0600	S.S."IGNATIUS DOMNELLY" sailed from the Thames with a large convoy of
		Liberty Ships.

Page 2 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	7 June	1000	This convoy was shelled from the French Coast as it passed through the Straits of Dover. No damage was sustained.
		1400 - 1600	The L.S.T. convoy had now arrived off the French coast. From 1400 - 1600 hrs
Map Refs			the tanks of the Regiment were disembarked. This operation was completely
FRANCE			successful. The tanks went to SOMMERVIEU, 825808, where they leaguered
CAEN-FALAISE			and carried out de-waterproofing. The Unit leaguered at this place for
1/100,000.			the night,
		2200	The Liberty Ship convoy, which had been sailing close to the English Coast
			now stopped for the night.
	8 June	0400	Liberty Ships went on, sailing almost due South, and arrived off the
			French Coast at ARROMANCHES at 0800 hrs. It was found that disembarkation
			was 24 hrs behind schedule owing to bad weather, and that the wheeled
			vehicles would not disembark until the 9th JUNE. Conditions on board
			the Liberty Ship were not good. Officers and men slept in a hold and the
			cooking facilities consisted of one steam boiler. This was in sharp

Page 3 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
8 June	0800	- contrast to the LST's on which Unit personnel were well accomodated
		and fed. The day passed without incident on board ship. The tanks
		remained at the same point on land.
	2200	From this hour there were several air raids on shipping lying off ARROMANCHES.
		No damage was sustained by the ships of our convoy.
9 June	0800	Disembarkation of wheeled vehicles from S.S. IGNATIUS DONNELLY began, Vehicles
		were lifted out of the holds by the ship's derricks, and slung into Landing
		Craft alongside. At the beginning, this operation was very slow, but it
		speeded up as the day went on and all vehicles were disembarked by evening.
		On landing, wheeled de-waterproofed and then went on to the leaguer area
		at SOMMERVIEU825808.
	1200	It was considered possible that the enemy might launch a counter attack
		with tanks, and our own tanks were therefore moved forward to the area
		RUCQEVILLE 8777, where they took up a battle position. RHQ was at 873775.

Page 4 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
9 June	2000	CO held a full conference. 22 Armd Bde were to push forward on the next
		day. 5 R Tks to move forward to"JERUSALEM" 815724, and thence South West
		to BERNIERES BOCAGE. 4 CLY to move on the axis of the Tilly road to
		BUCEELS830701. 1 R Tks in reserve, to move forward to CONDE SUR SEULLES
		825737
10	0430	Reveille.
	0500	The tanks moved forward to CONDE SUR SEULLES, and leaguered around RHQ
		which was at 836745. The rest of the day was uneventful
11	0430	Reveille.
		The day was uneventful.
	1800	COs conference. The method of advance was to be changed. 131 Bde had
		now arrived on land, and 1/5 and 1/6 Queens supported by B & C Sqns were
		to advance along the axes as before, B Sqn right and C Sqn left. It was
		hoped that this method of advence would prove more succossful than the
		purely armoured advance, which had been very slow owing to thick country.

Page 5 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
11 June	2100	B & C Sqns left CONDE to join 1/5 and 1/6 Queens respectively.
	0330	Reveille.
	0400	A Sqn in Reserve, moved forward to the area FOLLIOT813716, where they.	See Report by Lt. Col. R.M.P. CARVER, DSO.MC. at App. C.
		remained all morning.
		RHQ, consising of the Colonel's and Adjutant' tanks, and the I.Os Scout
		Car, moved to 818717, which was a point of vantage affording a good view
		of the battle area. Although in an exposed position, these vehicles were
		apparently not spotted by the enemy all day.
		Fighting went on all day but little propress was made.
	2030	Enemy tanks were reported at VERRIERES 8069. B & C Sqns were moved round
		to deal with these, and after some fighting the tanks were driven off.
	2300	The Squadrons and A1 Ech moved into Leaguer at 816718. Orders were	See COs Report at App. C.
		received that the Regt was to pull out next morning and move round
		to the BRIQUESSARD 7459 Area, in support of the rest of the Division, which
		had made good progress on this front all day.

Page 6 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
13 June	0400	Reveille.
	0800	Regt moved via SUBLES 7576, LA BUTTE 7469, STE. HONORINE DE DUCY 7365
	1200	and leaguered at 738637.
	1230	COs conference. Immediate task was to protect flank from PARFOURU-L'ECLIN
		7463 to LA BELLE EPINE 7769. and Recce Tp were each allotted sectors
		which they recced during the afternoon.
	1900	Regiment leaguered at 733615.
		COs conference. 5 R Tks and 4 CLY were in the area VILLERS BOCAGE and the
		road BRIQUESSARD-AMAYE-VILLERS BOCAGE had been cut by the enemy. The task
		of 1 R Tks on 14 June was to open the road and keep it open until the other Regiments had pulled out.
14 June	0400	Reveille.
	0430	Sqns moved out along the axis of the BRIQUESSARD - VILLERS Road. It was
		opened and positions were taken up on either side of the road.

Page 7 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
14 June	1500	The enemy was active in front of our positions all afternoon, but in the
		evening it become clear that a counter attack was to be launched in some
		strength.
	2000	About 2000 hrs this attack came in, but it was adequately dealt with by the
		Unit. Many German infantry men were killed by machine gun fire from the
		tanks and at least two "PANTHER" Tanks were KO'd.
	2300	The attack petered out as it got dark, and at 2330 hrs the Regiment moved
		into leaguer alongside the main rd. No sleep was allowed, but the enemy
		did not attempt a night attack.
15 June	0430	In the early morning, 4 CLY & 5 R Tks moved out along the road to
		BRIQUESSARD and 1 R Tks followed them out. The move was completed without
		enemy interference.
	0700	The Unit arrived back at the leaguer area 733615. Vohicles were replenished
		and B & C Sqns moved to hold the flank between LES ORAILLES764668 and
		PARFOURU L'ECLIN 748635.

Page 8 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
15 June	1200	Regiment moved into Leaguer. at 633646.
16 "	0430	Reveille.
	1000	C.O. talked to the Regiment, reviewing the last 3 days' action.
17 "		The flank being shortened, it was held by one Sqn; Sqns took daily turn
		of duty. C Sqn on duty. 17 June, They were not in contact with the enemy
		though their forward post was at 756652.
	1430	Conference.
18 "	0900	A relieved C Sqn.
	1800	Conference
19 "	0900	B. Sqn relieved A )
20 "	0900	C Sqn releived B ) There was very little enemy activity on our front during this time.
21 "	0900	A Sqn relieved C )
22 "		A Sqn continue on duty.
23 "	0800	A Sqn of 4 CLY relieved A Sqn.
	1100	CO talked to the Unit on the subject of the general war situation.

Page 9 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
24 June		)
25 June		) Normal field routine
26 June		)
27 "	1100	Lt Col R.M.P. CARVER DSO. MC told the Unit that he was leaving to command
		4 Armd Bde. He left almost at once, as 4 Armd Bde was in action at the time.
		Major E.H. GIBBON. DSO, promoted A/Lt Col and assumed Comd 1 R Tks.
		Major C.L. SPROULL MC. apptd 2 i/c Regiment.
		Major J. J. DINGWALL apptd O.C. 'C' Scn.
			Commanding officer:- Lt Col.E.H. GIBBON.DSO.
28 "		Normal Routine.
29 "	1400	C Sqn carried out an exercise, cooperating with infantry and using No 38 set.
30 "	1400	B Sqn carried out an exercise cooperating with infantry and using No 38 set.
		Appendices attached to Original Diary,
		No. 1. - Report an Regtl Operations during period 12 - 15 JUNE 44.
		No. 2. - Overseas Admin Order No. 2.
		No. 3. - ABs. W. 3008 for 10,17 & 24 JUNE 44
		No. 4. - AFs. W. 3009 - do -

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

Layers

War Diary: 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: June 1944

Viewing map locations