National Archive Reference: WO 171/865
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | 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. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Place | 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 - |