War Diary: 147th Essex Yeomanry

Month and year: July 1944

The July 1944 War Diary of the 147th Essex Yeomanry covers the units fighting in Normandy engaging SP guns, enemy aircraft and infantry.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/995

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Page 1 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	1	Busy day firing at GERMAN counter-attacks and in particular supporting 24 Lancers. Many HF tasks during night.
	2	Church service held on gun position in morning. HF tasks fired PM and during night.
	3	Fire plan fired at 1817 hours in support of recce force by 11 RSF at JUVIGNY.
	4	8 Armd Bde withdrawn to rest and re-equip. Solitary ME 109 attacks F Troop gun position about 1400 hrs. One SP equipment holed in two places; fighting efficiency unimpaired. 341 Battery go to 'B' Echelon area for equipment, overhauls and maintenance - Battery out of action wef 2000 hours.
	5	Counter Battery fire plan taken on at 1800 hours.
	6	GOC 30 Corps visits Regiment AM. Inspects gun positions.

Page 2 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	6		431 Battery back in action 2000 hours. 413 Battery to go to 'B' Echelon area to rest, re-equipt and carry out overhauls of equipment.
	7		Local OP at Pt 103 carries out anti-mortar shoot in conjuction with OP of Flash-spotting Battery. Otherwise little firing during day or night.
	8		A quite day with little firing. Commanding Officer inspects MT in afternoon. 511 Battery go to 'B' Echelon area for rest and refit.
	9		FOOs from 413 Battery join SRY for attack on HOTTOT. Little firing by day or night.
	10		A quite day. Fire plan fired in morning in support of foray by 146 InfBde. 511 Battery back in action 2200 hours.
	11		Regiment takes part in Fire Plan in support of 231 InfBde

Page 3 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	11		attack on HOTTOT in morning. Regiment in direct support SRY.
	12		Comparative calibration by Air OP in afternoon; 413 Battery completed.
	13		Anti-mortar shoot conducted by Air OP in the morning. Gun position shelled by German HF about 1400 hours - no casualties. Comparative calibration completed pm with assistance of Air OP.
	14	1400	413 Battery shoot dow ME 109 over their gun position. Other- wise nothing to report.
	15		Fire plan to "soften up" JUVIGNY - VENDES" area taken on in evening.
	16		Fire plans engaged throughout day in support of 59 Div attack. Barrage "Woodpecker" not engaged. "Partridge" 'H' Hour 1730.

Page 4 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
16		Extensive HF programme evening and night.
	17	Regiment under command 8 ArmdBde as from 0900 hours. RHQ moved to area 740671 pm. In position by 1500 hours. Guns reported in action in new area by 2200 hours. Wireless to be used as little as possible. OPs in observation, One from each Battery. 413 Battery in support 61 Recce Regt; 431 Battery in support 12 KRRC; 511 Battery in support 2 Glosters.	appx "B"
	18	Wireless communication to be kept to a minimum. One SP gun knocked out by 413 Battery after shelling 8 Armd Bde HQ. LO maintained at 50 (N) Div RA.
	19	Enemy Battery engaged; believed one gun destroyed.
	20	One shell landed RHQ area about 2000 hours.

Page 5 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	20		Targets engaged by OPs during day. Mostly enemy infantry movement.
	21		Enemy positions engaged during day. Shells landed RHQ area 0700 hours. No damage or casualties. Heavy rain during day - Air OP unable to engage enemy battery responsible. Engaged by AGRA under order CBO pm. No further trouble.
	22	0600	Enemy mortars and AFVs engaged at request 12 KRRC.
		1630	Enemy OP successfully engaged by 511 Battery.
		1940	Enemy infantry engaged by 413 OP. Casualties caused.
	23		Enemy mortars and SP guns engaged during day, but results unobserved.
		2050	413 Battery OP engaged enemy infantry as M Target and caused casualties.
	24	0100	Enemy MT moving in area BRIQUESSARD village was engaged by 511.

Page 6 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	24	0100	OP and fires were started.
		0400	More movement reported in same area, but no results observed after engagement.
		0845	Shells from 105 and 150 mm guns landed in RHQ and 511 Battery areas; 511 Battery suffered two casualties.
		1720	413 Battery engaged enemy infantry with airburst and caused casualties.
		2245	Fire plan engaged in support Coy attack by 12 KRRC. Targets registered by Air OP.
	25	0050	Enemy MT heard in areas 739597 and 740596 and engaged by whole Regiment.
		0200	Enemy infantry engaged at 740590 by 413 Battery OP and dispersed with casualties.
		0450	431 and 511 Batteries fired on enemy positions at 747601, 752602 and 745602, where enemy activity had been reported.
		0855	511 Battery OP engaged enemy SP gun at 748589 and forced it to withdraw.
		1100	SP gun re-appeared at 756585. Again engaged and driven off.
		1330	Enemy infantry at 769579 engaged and casualties inflicted.
	26	0610	Engaged SP at 751584. SP moved to 788585
		0745	Troop shoot on enemy vehicles at 785604. Results not observed.
		0755	SP observed at 75835768

Page 7 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	26	0930	Battery target - enemy Infantry at 76055814 engaged. Casualties caused.
		1020	Target 76055814 repeated with satisfactory results. HF fire put down during the afternoon on enemy cookhouse 738596 - no brew up reported.
		1830	Engaged fired plan 'MOONSHINE' as follows:- 1 Bty - enemy mortar posn744594; 1 Bty - enemy mortar posn734593; 1 Bty - enemy cookhouse 738596; 12 KRRC (Mortars) A/Tk HQ at 73905990; 61 Recce (Mortars) MGposn at 73605964. At conclusion propaganda shells - one each Polish and German - fired.
	27	0615	SP gun at 740598 engaged by 431 Battery. Regiment moved to new location SOUTH of LA BUTTE at 1030 hr. RHQ established 744692; 413 Bty746689; 431 Bty746687; 511 Bty remains old location. OPs remain as before.
		1945	431 Battery OP reported large enemy convoy moving WEST along road at 782565, and shot AGRA on to target.
		2120	413 Battery reported enemy SP at 817587 and engaged with 511 Battery. Propaganda shells fired at last light by 511 Battery.

Page 8 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	28	0400	511 Battery position shelled - no casualties.
		1315	One Troop 413 Battery engaged enemy Infantry in area 761583.
		1500	D Troop 431 Battery engaged active enemy mortars at 745604.
		1725	A Troop 413 Battery engaged enemy in house at 758585 and bolted them.
		1930	413 Battery destroyed enemy vehicle at 736596.
		2020	Considerable enemy MT and half-tracks reported by 413 Battery OP at 812562. Propaganda shells fired at last light
	29		No shooting. Moved to 733624. Came under command 43 Div. One gun of 413 Battery receives direct hit from enemy artillery during night - out of action. Two casualties to detachment.
	30		Regiment takes part in Operation 'BLUECOAT' in support 50 Div for first part of Operation and 43 Div, and in close support 8 ArmdBde. Extensive HF tasks engaged. FOOs with 4/7 DGs, 13/18 Hussars and Sherwood Rangers.
	31		Operation 'BLUECOAT' continues. Again extensive HF tasks fired throughout day.

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War Diary: 147th Essex Yeomanry

Month and year: July 1944

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