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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 258099 (Sheet 9E) | Sep | U/C 2 Cdn Corps and 2 Cdn Div 'A' Sgn remained for some days SW of ROUEN at 258099 prepared at first to co-operate with the Cdns in an attack on DIEPPE. On 1 Sep Major Bryant took over comd of 'A' Sqn and Capt Storrar pined at Tac HQ. | |
| 780370 (7E/4&8E/3) | 5 Sep | As DIEPPE offered no resistance the Crocs were not required and 'A' Sqn soon became involved in Operation ASTONIA against LE HAVRE and on 5 Sep came u/c 1 Brit Corps and moved NE of BOLBEC to 780370 (Sheet 7E/4 & 8E/3), | |
| 629391 | 8 Sep | moving again on 8 Sep to 629391 NE of Le Havre. Between moves the Sqn was still fully occupied in testing the flame equipment and maintenance, for the Sqn had found its Crocs in a very bad state after their overhaul in a rather inexperienced Wkshps. It was fortunate indeed that the Sqn was not called upon immediately after its overhaul. | |
| 538348 | 9 Sep | For Operation 'ASTONIA' 'A' Sqn were allotted to 49 Div who were to do the initial break-through of the tough prepared posns north of LE HAVRE and west of MONTIVILLIERS, and on evening of 9 Sep the Sqn 'F' Ech moved into an FUP in the dead gd at 538348 into which they moved during the dark to avoid enemy observation. | |
| The big plan is very well shown on the att diagrams. 'A' Sqn were to sp 56 Bde sp by 34 Tk Bde in its attack on the EPRESESNIL feature going through the gaps made by the flails. This objective was to be taken by two, bns - on the left 2 Glos, on the right 2 SWB. Capt Hall with 4 and 5 tps (Sgt Roskilly and Lt Macksie respectively) was in sp 2 Glos - Major Bryant had 1, 2 and 3 tps (Lt Griggs, Lt Tunbridge and Sgt Wheatcroft) to sp the 2 SWBs. | |||
| The enemy strongpoints were numbered as follows. On the right , 6 and 7 centred respectively on 532318, 531315 and 528313. On the left 1, 2, 2A, 3, 4 centred on 539319, 535315. 541314, 539312, and 535309 respectively. | |||
| The affair was a set piece attack de luxe - and like all set piece attacks it did not work according to plan. The great thing of course is that it worked. | |||
| On the right the flails duly began the breaching feat and did magnificent work. Nevertheless for all practical purposes for the Crocs waiting to go in only one gap was made. The Croce went through this with the Inf and absolutely soaked posn 5 in flame. It was a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight and the Inf entered immediately afterwards. It was from here that a PW subsequently remarked that flaming tps in the open was definitely demoralising and that a pl crossing from 6 to 5 had been completely wiped out. | |||
| It was not "British" he declared. Darkness was falling by this time and Major Bryant was kept waiting, champing at the bit, for the next batch of Inf to take strongpoint 6. They did ultimately arrive, the strongpoint was flamed and taken and 7 likewise. | |||
| On the left too there was only one gap/marked, which the Crocs could not find. After milling around in search for some time Capt Hall's party was well set in the dillemas of a minefd. However nearby flails noticed his plight and came forward clearing a gap in front of him. Lieut Macksie and Sgt Roskilly pushed through and were on to strongpoint 2 with the Inf almost before either the enemy or the Crocs were aware of it - the posn collapsed without further effort. For strongpts 3 and 4 however flame did much to help the Inf in. Capt Hall had only three Crocs by this time, one having been lost in a sunken rd, en route to the FUP and two were blown up on the minefd. There was also another strongpt |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| at 543306, No. 9, which was neither the Croc pidgeon nor that of the Inf Bn with which they were co-operating. It is typical of intrepid Macksie who was later to distinguish himself at Boulogne that he should meet up with a similar character from the "yeomen". This latter gentleman - a pl comd - gathered together a few remnants and with Macksie's sp stormed and captured No. 9. Long afterwards the Inf Bde were debating as to whether it would be possible to use Crocs on this posn not knowing that it was already taken. | |||
| 588362 | 11 Sep | This was one of 'A' Sqn's field days without personnel cas. But the actions took place far too late for comfort and in the complete darkness Major Bryant was faced with the problem of gathering together his Crocs on the enemy side of a vast and almost unmarked minefd and getting them safely to the other side without jamming the exit of the other armr trying to do likewise. Nevertheless it was done and the Sqn replenished very late that night at 588362 near LE VASSEUR and by 0500 hrs 11 Sep was ready at 594328 to sp 147 Bde, no mean feat. Although the Sqn moved out from here in readiness it was not called for and returned to 588362 where it remained night 11/12 Sep. | |
| 11 Sep | One tp however did go out with Capt Hall and Carried out a very successful action in sp of 146 Bde on the wood at 564283, photographs of which subsequently appeared in the Press. About 400 PW came from this posn. | ||
| 812392. Sheet 7E/4 & 8E/3 | 12 Sep | On the next day 'A' Sqn was released from Op' ASTONIA preparatory to moving to Boulogne area and as a preliminary move u/c 2 Cdn Corps it moved to YEBLERON818393. | |
| 810562 | 14 Sep | From there, now u/c 3 Cdn Div the Sqn moved up piecemeal to 810562 (1/50,000 Sheet 49) at LE WAST east of Boulogne and spent the next few days in completion of the move and maintenance. As a Sqn however it was destined not to take part in Boulogne though it provided both Crocs and Offrs (Lts Macksie, Saunders, Andrews, Brereton) to the Armd Colns which set out on 'WELLHIT' (See Appx 'A'). | |
| 773675 Sheet 38 | 18 Sep | From 810562 the composite Sqn which had gone out formally as 'A' Sqn moved to LEUBRINGHEN sheet 38 SW of CALAIS where on 20 Sep it once more gathered itself into 'A' Sqn proper. | |
| 773675. | 20 Sep | For the CALAIS operation 'A' Sqn was divided into two half Sqns u/c Cdn Inf Bde - Sqn HQ with 1 Tp (Lt Griggs) and 2 Tp (Lt Saunders) to the Regina Rifles, with 4 and 5 Tps under Capt Hall to the Royal winnipegs. 7 CIB were taking the Right of the offensive against the outer defs on the high gd SW of CALAIS before pushing on into the town itself. Thus in this first phase Regina Rifles were to take the strong posn running east and north-east of Bellevue, whilst the Winnipegs were scheduled to seize another strong posn extending between VIEUX COQUELLES and COQUELLES (see att Def Overprint) | |
| 24 Sep | on 24 sep both half Sqns moved into Fwd Assembly Areas, Major Bryant moving to 805729 south of PEUPLINGHUE and Capt Hall to BONNINGUES LES CALAIS 8171. On 25 Sep the action began. | ||
| BELLEVUE | 25 Sep | On the left a Sqn of Shermans went fwd to sp the Inf who were taking the BELLEVUE objective from west to east, the Crocs were held in state of readiness. 'C' Coy Regina Rifles duly went in and cleared a line from BELLEVUE as for as the copse at 768753. At this juncture they came under very heavy fire from the fort at 762757. The Sherman tks which were supporting the Inf from a crest in 8075 retured behind the ridge, leaving Capt Bristow (acting as LO to the Inf BnComd in his tk) as the sole gun tk providing protective fire to the Inf. still carrying on the good work he wirelessed back his |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| solitary condition to the remainder of the party. The Crocs trotted up to the fire posn vacated by the Shermans, from which pt of vantage they proceeded to pour shot and derision into the offending Hun until he quietened down. Subsequent examination found this fort full of dead and wounded Germans, ample testimony to the excellent Croc 75mm and Bren marksmanship (shades of Warcop and the pellet range). | |||
| From the copse 'D' Coy took up the battle eastwards, and after successfully clearing five local strongpoints were stopped by heavy fire from posts at 816756 and 817757. The above sp of Crocs was called for and the normal series of Croc mishaps got under way. Out of 6 Crocs only three were available - one had lost a trlr from shellfire, two had acute pressure trouble. These three survivors however dutifully turned up at FUP (812755) where the 'A' & 'B' Sets of Lieut Saunders packed for the rest of the battle and his starter engine refused to have anything more to do with the War. A tow from Capt Bristow did the trick but nothing could be done about Lt Grigg's flame gun which chose this moment critique to throw a temperament. Nothing really unexpected in these Croc antics - the party ultimately started with Lieut Saunders and his Cpl only. Closely followed by the Inf these two pursued their tortuous path along the north of the quarry from 815756, flamed an undergd dump at 817757, took n painfully long five minutes to turn round and then flamed a mushroom pillbox at 816756. Here, right on the target, Saunders developed a runaway run - almost appropriate moment - and for long afterwards the pillbox was still burning, defying all investigation of its contents. This was the limit of assistance possible - the Crocs were on a track bounded on one side by a sheer drop and on the other a sheer height. One bazooks manned by even a half-hearted man could have easily written off both. This half Sqn then proceeded to the copse at 805727 to which it returned as a firm base until 29 sep. | |||
| 805727. BONNINGUESS | 25 Sep | From this pt onwards the battle for CALAIS rapidly developed into John Hall V. the Rest. On the first day the Winnipegs achieved their objective and reached COQUELLES with little difficulty and did not call the Crocs away from BONNINGUES. | |
| FME TOURN 8278 | 26 Sep | On the next day however Capt Hall was called to a RV. BHQ of the Cdn Scottish at 809754. These Cdns were attempting to break into CALAIS along the coast rd and had reached as for as Fme Tournant 819782 where it was held up by MMG and 20 mm airburst from posns in the dunes in 8978. 'A' Coy Comd was a little surprised to see the Crocs (as he had requested only gun tks (all the pillboxes were well out of flame range from the road and completely un-accessible because of mines and wire). Needless to say he was not displeased - what a Panacces for all operational ills is the magic word "Crocs", He assured Capt Hall that there were no mines en route, on the rd. Fortunately Capt Hall is a canny specimen and elicited from the Sappers that the rd outside the Church in SANGATTE had nine naval shells and mine mines lined up - disposal instructions were promptly arranged. For this action Capt Hall had his own Comd Churchill, 2 Crocs and a tp of Shermans from 'A' Sqn 6 Cdn Armd. He had a call on flails, 9 AVRES remaining at BELLEVUE: | |
| The Shermans headed the procession as far as FME TOURNANT where the Inf were lying in the rdside ditches, and poked their noses beyond the bldgs at 824783. Here they came under hy shell fire and declared the rd ahead impassable because of craters. It was obvious that to maintain impetus someone must be prepared to "take the can" and nothing daunted the Crocs took over the role of the gun tks and pushed ahead shooting up the left as they went. The whole time they had arty smoke |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| down the 84 Grid Line and the Canal Des Crabes as called for by the LO (Lt Tunbridge). Capt Hall recced the route on foot and finally, still shooting in the Inf, the Crocs reached FME TROUILLES 836784 when the Inf disappeared. Capt Hall contacted them on foot and found them perfectly happy. This happy state was not so very remarkable in view of what transpired when, a few minutes later, Capt Hall met a cautiously advancing pl comd of 'C' Coy who declared he was attacking FME TROUILLES. 'A' Coy had apparently well overshot their proper objective (FME OYEZ) owing to bad map reading. The Crocs remained at FME TROUILLES shooting east and being shelled until they were withdrawn after dark to PEUPLINGHUE. | |||
| FME TROUILLES | 27 Sep | On the morning 27 Sep the Cdn Inf had been withdrawn to 84 Grid line in view of the heavy bombing programme for CALAIS and the enemy had reoccupied some of the posns lost the previous day. The Cdns thus required sp to get back into FORT LAPIN848785. A somewhat fatuous suggestion was made to put the Crocs in but the wiser counsels of Capt Hall prevailed and he finally took comd in his own tk of a tp of Cdn Shermans with the Crocs, AVRES and flails in call at BELLE VUE. The Shermans he lined up abreast at FME TROUILLES and shot the Inf into pillboxes fwd on the left. One caught fire and another showed a white. flag. This drew heavy shell fire from CALAIS and the Shermans promptly without orders retired some 200 yds leaving Capt Hall to shoot it out in solitary splendour until sundown when he rejoined May Bryant at 805727. | |
| HAUT BUISSON 7970 | 29 Sep | On 29 Sep the whole Sqn moved back to HAUT BUISSON 7970 but the party was not yet over. | |
| 858788 | 30 Sep | On the next day Capt Hall made his final appearance in the CALAIS party when he took 2 Tp (Lieut Saunders) and a tp of AVRES to assist in capturing the fort at 858788. 'B' Coy of the Cdn Scottish were already in the area 862783 with 'C' Coy in LES BARRAQUES. There were also 4 X 17-pr Shermans from 'C' Sqn 6 Armd in the area of the Church at LES BARRAQUES to give sp. The assaulting pl from 'C' Coy was to work its way south over the Canal de la Riv Meuve, thence linking up with 'B' Coy and assaulting from that area. Two Verye lights and smoke were to be the signal for the Crocs at 858786 to shoot up and flame the fort. The flame had to be shot across the water and in fact only reached half-way up the bank. Nevertheless at sight of the flame the fort surrendered and coincidence or otherwise, white flags appeared simultaneously as far away as FORT RISBON and the billets at 864783. So ended for 'A' Sqn the months Battle of the Channel Ports. |
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