War Diary: 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

Month and year: June 1944

The 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry June 1944 war diary covers the units embarkation at East India Docks, arrival in Normandy at Le Hamel and advance inland to Rauray

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1292

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Page 1 of 7

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
1/4 Jun	At the beginning of the month the Bn. was stationed at Riddlesworth Park Camp,
	Thetford, Norfolk, where it had been for some four months. During this time, much
	valuable training had been carried out in all aspects of Warfare and in particular,
	practice in fighting in close wooded country had heen made possible by the nature of
	the country. The early days of June were employed in carrying out final checks to
	ensure complete operational readiness and in resting. Most Coy Comds. took their Coys
	out for short non-operational Camps.	Field returns for officers and ORs attached (appendix 1)
	Advance Party.
5/11Jun	Left for Marshalling area and on night of 8/9 Jun embarked at East India Docks,
	London, sailing on the evening of 10 Jun and landing in France in the late evening
	of 11 Jun.
	Vehicle Party.
6/13 Jun	Left for its Marshalling area at Woodford, Essex. On arrival, vehicles were
	waterproofed for the voyage, the final stages of waterproofing being completed on
	8th Jun. On 9th. Jun, they embarked at East India Docks and the following day their

Page 2 of 7

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			craft moved up the Thames Estuary and lay off Southend pier. On the evening of 11 Jun
			they finally sailed and having remained on board off Le Hamel for some 24hrs, they
			disembarked in France on 13 Jun and joined the Bn. in the Conc. Area at St. Gabriel.
	7/13 Jun		On 7 Jun the Marching troops left Thetford by train in the morning and later in the day reached the marshalling area at Firle north of New Haven. There, conditions
			were admirable and there were adequate facilities for recreation and resting. The Bn.
			remained there, making final preparations and briefing until 11 Jun, when, at 1330 hrs
			it left by road for Newhaven and embarked on three L.C.I's (L). At 2200 hrs the craft
			sailed and apart from experiencing a roughish sea, the crossing was uneventful. All
			L.C.L's (L) did not land at the same time and Bn. parties came ashore at Le Hamel
			independently, and by 1700 hrs. on June 12, the Bn. was fully concentrated in the
			St. Gabriel area. The vehicles joined gradually and had all arrived by the morning
			of June 13.
			A stay at St. Gabriel of some 24hrs. ensued, during which time "dog fights"
			were frequently witnessed, and, whilst having the satisfaction of seeing several Hun

Page 3 of 7

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			planes brought down, we learned respect for the German A/A fire.
	14 Jun		The Bn. being temporarily under command of the 146 Bde, moved up in the
			afternoon to Conde-Sur-Seules and the remainder of 70 Bde formed up as Div Reserve.
	15 Jun		The Bn. remained at Conde and witnessed further aerial activity.
	16 Jun		Realising the need for 100% efficiency in fighting in the villages and very
			close country in which we now found ourselves, a house and wood clearing practice
			was organised, but the two Companies who commenced it were recalled about noon when
			the Bn. left by road for Le Pont Roc. There the Bn. was deployed defensively and
			had its first taste of enemy mortar fire which caused 6 casualties in "D" Coy.
	16/17 Jun		Snipers were sent out and patrols to "feel" for the enemy with the particular
			object of finding out his strength in the TILLY and ST PIERRE areas. A standing
			patrol was out during the night. On the morning of Jun 17, a patrol was sent
			into ST PIERRE to see if it was occupied by the enemy and reported that it was
			empty except for some odd snipers.
			At 1600 the Bn attacked ST PIERRE. Heavy mortar fire was encountered on

Page 4 of 7

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		the slopes leading down to the village and more opposition than expected was met with. This came
		mainly from a wood practically on D Coy objective. B Coy though delayed, reached its objective and
	17	dug in, next morning, D Coy put in an attack on the wood, The attack
		revealed the presence of some 50 enemy with spandaus. D Coy brought the Hun to his knees but expended
		their amn. in doing so and were forced to leave the job uncompleted at the moment when complete
		victory seemed assured,
		During this time, St. Pierre was securely held to accompaniment of heavy Mortar and Spandau
		fire from the enemy.
18 Jun		C Coy prepared in the morning to attack the wood which had troubled us yesterday and from which
		spandau fire was coming intermittantly. Whilst doing so the enemy launched a counter attack with a
		few tanks on our left front. This was driven off eventually and C Coy proceeded with their attack,
		which proved entirely successful and few casual were sustained.
		Enemy Shelling and mortaring continued throughout the day. Three prisoners were taken.
18/19 Jun		At night a patrol of 1 Offr. and 1 O.R. (Lt Johnston) went out to a quarry at 855678 to
		ascertain whether the enmy had a position there. The patrol returned with one prisoner, a Pole,

Page 5 of 7

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	who talked freely and the occupation of certain positions the enemy was confirmed,
20 Jun	Mortaring and counter mortaring. Mortar and arty fire brought on to quarry-subject of last
	nights patrol-which was apparently silenced.
20/21 Jun	At night a patrol went out which clashed with the enemy and obtained inf. re their defensive
	layouts Bn. HQ. bombed by enemy aircraft, A large crater some 50 yds away showed considerable
	good fortune on examination the next day as no casualties sustained	Appendix 2 King's message
21 Jun	Mortaring and shelling continied with counter-bty work
21/22 Jun	Three patrols went out - one with intention of forstalling the enemy by arriving at a known
	position of theres before they did. On approach enemy spandaus opened up. Erratic shooting by enemy
	and instant action by patrol saved lives, but one fatal caualty resulted. Patrol indicted a
22 Jun	permanent enemy position there and in the afternoon a platoon of A Coy attacked this position with full
	support from supporting arms. The attack was entirely successful and excellently carried out. Some 25
	of the enemy were the killed and three prisoners were taken
	but whilst on the objective two enemy tanks fired on our men at close range from Montilly wood area and they were forced
	to withdraw, One of our 6 pdrs opened up and claimed to have knocked out a tank before being itself
	knocked out. A platoon of C Coy then relieved A's platoon. 17 pdrs failed to provide a solution and

Page 6 of 7

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
		position remained undecided. Late in evening, tanks heard withdrawing under cover of their own
		mortar fire, Patrols again went out during the night.
23/25 Jun		Intermittent shelling and mortaring causing a few casualties, and our own counter bty work continued
		A standing patrol to prevent infiltration out each night, Lines prepared for attack. 146 Bde
25 Jun	0415	attacked through us with 70 Bde forming a firm base - 4 Lines passed through our Bn positions and we
		gave them fire support. During this attack, which was entirely successful, a heavy mist slowed up
		everything and all our positions were heavily mortared and shelled.	appendix 3 10 DLI O.O No.1.
	2230	In the evening, Bn, H.Q. moved up to 849685 and A and B. Coys moved futher forward to half-moon
		shaped wood
26 Jun		Three patrols sent out during morning to Fontenay - Juvigny road to ascertain whereabouts of
		enemy and one of these entered Juvigny and reported prescence of enemy there and killed two.
26/27 Jun		At night a patrol probed the enemy side of the Juvigny - Fontenay road and brought back valuable
		information sustaining one casualty and wounding two Huns.
27 Jun	0800	Bn Moved to Fonteney where it awaited news of a further attack to secure ground around La Gde
		Ferme by 4 Lincs. This took longer than was thought and Bn Moved for night into Conc area at St

Page 7 of 7

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			Nicholas farm. 11.D.L.I. attacked Rauray.
	28 Jun		11. D.L.I's attack on Rauray had stopped on the far edge of the village and at 1000 hrs. the Bn.
			advanced to Rauray. - C. Coy leading to secure the start line. Some opposition met there, Attack went in
			with one ten Sherwood Rangers in support. A Coy. was shelled on start line. However objectives were reached and Bn. dug in.
			Shelling and mortaring continued
	29 Jun		Enemy Counter attack with tanks firing but still concealed. Buildings near Bn. H.Q were hit
			and casualties resulted. A and B (forward) Coys heavily shelled and mortared - Enemy Inf
			advance against B Coy but were beaten off largely by mortar fire. C Coy had to deal with enemy infiltration during afternoon.
	30 Jun		Mortaring and shelling continuously. Counter Bty work Relieved in evening by T.S. and
			we returned for a rest to Parc du Boislonde area.

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War Diary: 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

Month and year: June 1944

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