National Archive Reference: WO 171/929
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cold foggy day. | |||
195 and 196 Btys 73 A TK Regt under comd. 195 Bty in reserve at BERNIER Bocage MR 7970. 196 Bty in reserve CALAGNOLLES area MR 7466. | ||||
Recce Regt on right, 11/60 KRR, 56 Bde, 69 Bde 231 Bde, 151 Bde (1 DLI between 69 and 231 Bdes). | ||||
Div front extends from CAUMONT 7059 to TILLY 8368. Major BALFOUR MC took over comd of 107 Bty from Maj RA BARNETT MC who goes | ||||
to RHQ as 2 i/c, to replace Maj DJ COWEN who has returned to England on compassionate leave to attend to urgent business matters. | ||||
107 Bty are in sp of 69 Bde and had two casualties - Gnr PIKE H and Bdr TAYLOR WC, both wounded. | ||||
288 Bty deployed in area HOTTOT. | ||||
2 | 107 Bty still being mortared and shelled. They had the following casualties | |||
Gnr LOVE WC, Gnr MARTIN KW (who later died of wounds). Gnr WHITE GH (at present attached from 25 LAA Regt) was also wounded. 288 Bty relieved 107 Bty. | ||||
288 Bty in sp 151 Bde deploy in area LE LION VERT cross-roads. | ||||
3 | 107 Bty still in sp 69 Bde in AUNAY-SUR-SEULLES feature. 288 Bty remain LE LION VERT area. | |||
4 | Sgt DAVIES P of 107 Bty mis-read his map, found himself in what had been | |||
VILLERS BOCAGE and captured three prisoners. 288 Bty remain LE LION VERT area. | ||||
5 | 50 Div virtually out of line. All Btys out. | |||
Baths and Mobile Cinema shows. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | All available officers and NCOs went to HQ Hants at MR 786614 to be addressed | |||
by Lieut-General HORROCKS, the new Comd of 30 Corps. The Corps Camd made three points about 50 Div being outstanding at (1) Anti-tank (2) Patrolling | ||||
(3) Assault. New M.O. Capt H. DALLAS arrives. | ||||
288 Bty concentrate in area LE LION VERT. | ||||
7 | RHQ move to near BREUIL MR 7752. 99 Bty with 69 Bde Gp to ONDEFONTAINE 7848. | |||
107 Bty with 151 Bde Gp to area AUNAY SUR ODON. 288 Bty resting in area BERNIER Bocage. | ||||
8 | 107 Bty with 151 Bde to just short of Mt PINCON, prior to advance to CONDE. | |||
288 Bty revert back to in sp of 231 Bde. | ||||
9 | Lieut BOTHERWAY killed at LE PLESSIS GRIMOULT MR 8444 during the attack down other side of Mt PINCON. | |||
107 Bty HQ ROUCAMPS. RHQ move forward through the remains of AUNAY SUR ODON 8251 to LE HAMIL | ||||
(8249 just South of AUNAY) 288 Bty move from rest area to area North of Mt PINCON | ||||
10 | Lieut MOORE killed in traffic accident. Lieut BOTHERWAY buried in the cemetery at LE ROGERIE. 107 Bty get nortared and shelled West of LE PLESSIS GRIMOULT. Two-casualties suffered, both wounded and evacuated - Bdr WRIGHT S and D/M BEASLEY. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 0300 hrs. 288 Bty move to assembly area 847442. 231 Bde attacking down South side of Mt PINCON. | |||
ST PIERRE LA VIELLE strongly held by enemy and by-passed. 288 Bty deploy in area LES FORGES. | ||||
12 | 107 Bty still in sp 151 Bde in area Pt 262 (907384),249 (894384). 231 Bde with 288 Bty in sp resume attack. | Transcription note: 907834 corrected to 907384 | ||
13 | 151 Bde with 107 Bty relieved and go into rest area South of LE PLESSIS GRIMOULT. | |||
ST PIERRE LA VIELLE occupied. 288 Bty deploy in area. | ||||
14 | Capt J.K. BOAG becomes Adjto Capt C.S. SPENCE to Capt G of 99 Bty. | |||
Capt H.C. BRYANT to B.C. 99 Bty ante-dated 1st Aug. Rest, cinemas, baths. | ||||
288 Bty shoot up enemy strongpoint with M.10s - 30 PW taken. | ||||
15 | Resting, maintenance, baths. New officers posted to 107 Bty - Lieut C.H. McFARLANE and Lieut G.H. LUCAS. | |||
231 Bde with the 288 Bty in sp spend day mopping up. | ||||
16 | 107 Bty still resting. 231 Bde advancing towards CONDE SUR NOTREAU - enemy withdrawing. | |||
17 | Pursuit of enemy by 30 Corps is now to take place. | |||
11 Armd Div leading followed by 50 (N) Div. Enemy to be driven into the FALAISE - ARGENTAN pocket. | ||||
107 Bty with 151 Bde. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | RHQ move forward to due East of ATHIS to LA BERNOTIERE 9427 having originally | |||
started to go to area ST DENIS DE MERE 9033 and having been diverted en route. 107 Bty reach locn 935275 with 151 Bde. | ||||
19 | RHQ move to CHENOUDOUT MR 0321. | |||
Crossed the "ORNE" and and at last became "East of the ORNE". 107 Bty also crossed the ORNE with 151 Bde. Few hundred prisoners captured | ||||
by 8 DLI in area PULANGES. 288 Bty in sp of 231 Bde move from area PROUSSY and concentrate in area 911259 | ||||
20 | Recce parties moved off 2000 hrs. | |||
L/Bdr COULSBY was blown up, while bringing in a captured vehicle, and killed. 21:00 hrs. L/Bdr COULSBY buried in the village churchyard. | ||||
107 Bty move with 151 Bde to MR 121217. 288 Bty remain in area 911259. | ||||
21 | Pouring rain. RHQ move to North of MONTGROULT MR 1720. 107 Bty move with 151 Bde to area 2023. | |||
288 Bty move with 231 Bde to area North of ECOUGHE 1816. | ||||
22, | C.O. goes off early to a Tac Conference at Rd Junc 4645 just East of EXMES on the main road to GACE. They move straight off to cross-roads 5145 and found no enemy in GACE, 73 A Tk Regt less one 151 Bde, which had been supporting | |||
151 Bde comes under CO's comd. Not knowning 73rd's locn and being out of | ||||
all wireless comunication, the situation was difficult. Roads crowded. | ||||
231 Bde moving up followed by 69 Bde. Both Brigadiers at the Conference. | ||||
In absence of enemy 231 to hold GACE area, 69 Bde to push on to ST EVROULT- DU-BOIS. Country to left had not been cleared and contained Boche. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
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22 contd | RHQ moved to area 516472. | |||
Heavy rain at night. 73 A Tk Regrt HQ moved into area 5047. 2200 hrs. C.O. sent for rep from 73 A TK Regt. Adjt arrived and C.O. told | ||||
him. | ||||
99 Bty with 69 Bde GP. | ||||
288 Bty with 231 Bde Gp move to area 519462. 107 Bty with 151 Bde Gp area CHAMBOIS or later called the "CHAMBOIS Shambles". | ||||
289 Bty were sent back for by C.O. during the afternoon and came up and deployed covering left flank between 69, Bde and 231 Bde, from rd junc 5748 | ||||
to cross-roads 6148 both incl. | ||||
23 | RHQ move West of L'AIGLE to MR 762446. Wet afternoon - very wet night. | |||
107 Bty with 151 Bde move through CHAMBOIS via GACE, L'AIGLE, to area of BOURTH. 288 Bty with 231 Bde move to area 523463. | ||||
231 Bde clear Forest de Evroult. 20 BY taken. 1930 hrs. 231 Bde with 288 Bty move on again. | ||||
24 | RHQ move to LA JARRIERE 9040. | |||
Conference re crossing of the SEINE. 231 Bde with 288 Bty in sp arrive area 892410. | ||||
25 | Warning order to move to take over MANTES Bridgehead but on CRA's return from Bridgehead it was all cancelled and we were told we were now going | |||
to VERNON Bridgehead, probably tomorrow. | ||||
26 | 0700 hrs. RHQ move forward to AIGEVILLE area MR 3964 where we leaguered in a bit of American territory. We got away with it. | |||
107 Bty with 151 Bde in area 434657. 288 Bty with 231 Bde in area 892410. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 99, 107 and 288 Btys caught up. 288 Bty with 231 Bde area 390687. 99 Bty with 69 Bde. | |||
107 Bty with 151 Bde, arrived on their own, after 151 Bde who came themselves the previous-day. | ||||
28 | 107 Bty no move. 288 Bty no move. | |||
29 | Informed that 30 Corps consisting of Guards Armd, 11 Armd, 8 Armd Bde and 50 Div with 1 US Army on right and 12 Corps on left would push on over the | |||
SEINE as fast as possible. After much order, counter-order and moisture the river SEINE was crossed by SAUL Bridge (other bridges DAVID and GOLIATH) | ||||
and RHQ arrived at MR 476738. Starting at 2000 hrs arriving after midnight. | ||||
288 Bty no move. | ||||
30 | Four Btys 73 A TK Regt come under comd O.C. Northunberland Hussars and | |||
relieve 107 Bty with 151 Bde, taking over the protection of the left flank of the Corps. | ||||
107 Bty come under direct control of C.O. and move in protective role to Div HQ. 288 Bty crossed River SEINE and concentrated in area 6484. | ||||
31 | RHQ moved to near CHAUTOISEAU MR 8398. | |||
231 Bde with 288 Bty in sp move to area 8195 and concentrate. |