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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peyworth III Camp Marshalling Area "A". | 1 | Comd. Offr, Staff Capt and Adjt remained at Camp to tie up final details of embarkation, with those landing third and fourth tides and residuals The remainder of the Battalion was in various marshalling camps in area "A" split up into craft serials. No-one was allowed to leave these camps but various entertainments. were provided. Second tide parties remained in these camps for four days. | ||
| 4 | During the day the movement order to proceed to embarkation points was cancelled | |||
| 2300 | Movement order received (verbal) | |||
| Portsmouth | 5 | 0743 | Convoys moved from camps to Embarkation points by vehicles and embarked on LCI(L) and vehicle parties on LST during the morning. No-difficulty was encountered and convoy assembled off the Isle of Wight during the afternoon. | |
| At Sea | 6 | 0500 | Warning order to sail (verbal) | |
| 0700 | Convoy sailed - voyage uneventful. - Sea, slight-swell. Sky, clear with occasional cloud. | |||
| 0800 | News heard that British and American troops had landed in NORMANDY | |||
| 1640 | Coast of FRANCE sighted. | |||
| 1900 | Convoy arrived at dismbarkation point LE BRECHE and was switched to QUEEN WHITE Beach | |||
| LE BRECHE | 2030 | Troops disembarked. One man wounded (almost drowned); The craft were unable to beach in less than five feet of water and many men had to swim the first few yards to the shore, | ||
| 2100 | Commanding Officer and 'R' Group assembled at 5 Beach Group Command Post. | |||
| 2200 | The situation was unsatisfactory, Enemy troops were still holding out in Strongpoint LION SUR MER and small numbers were sniping in OUISTREHAM and LE BRECHE. Recce of BMA impossible further WEST than 075812 owing to enemy fire. The decision was taken to expand the SSDs until the BMA was free of enemy. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2330 | Enemy aircraft flew over BMA and bombs. were dropped, but AA fire was intense from land and sea. Casualties: 1 killed 2 wounded (one of which mentioned above) | ||
| 7 | 0500 | 2 enemy discovered occupying same dugout as our men and promptly made prisoners. | ||
| 0600 | Decided that Lt Col Sale would command both Beach Groups owing to the death of CO 5 Beach Group | |||
| 1100 | JU88 shot down onto Command Post. No casualties. Butterfly bombs were scattered over the area. | |||
| 1700 | Coy dispositions as on attached trace. 1 Pl "D" Coy established in area LION SUR MER to relieve Commandos who had attached enemy positions. Enemy air activity was mainly fast runs down the beaches to bomb and machine gun, but only few appeared, and they suffered heavy losses. They were encouraged by low clouds. By night single- enemy planes were overhead continuously. | |||
| 8 | 0700 | Remainder "D" Coy relieved RM Commando at LION-SUR MER; where-they encountered enemy snipers. | ||
| 1000 | "D" Coy relieved by 9 Inf Bde, who were to assault the strongpoint. | |||
| 1130 | Single FW.190 jettisoned bomb on to SSD 3 while trying to elude British fighters. Petrol fire started with thick black smoke and ammunition soon involved. Lt. Col. Sale with great courage organised parties to extinguish the flames and remove amn to a safe distance together with Major Carse and Major Boehm. Much heroism was shown by officers and men. Lt. Col. Sale was seriously wounded and operated on in BDS. Major Boehm was also wounded but remained on duty. | |||
| 1530 | Fire died down. Major E.A. Carse assumed command of the Battalion and both Beach Groups. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2300 | Report received that enemy paratroops had landed in area HERMONVILLE. It was in fact British containers dropped in error. Wounded 2 NCOs and 3 men. Enemy shelling of the beaches began, but was sporadic. Weather dull and cloudy, Battalion HQ now established at rd jun 087807 with Command Post 091805. Pls of "D" Coy moved to Pet and Amn Dumps. | ||
| 9 | 1700 | Strong Point LION-SUR-MER finally captured by Bde. Report of enemy holding out in DOUVRES. | ||
| 10 | Major Carse promoted to Lt Col. Major Boehm appointed 2IC. | |||
| First copy of Beachcomber produced by Lt. J.B. Johnston. | Appx "A" Issues 1-6 incl | |||
| 10/11 | Enemy aircraft active during night no casualties. | |||
| 11 | 1600 | Patrol from "B" Coy taken to LUC SUR MER to investigate two Germans reported living there nothing was found. | ||
| LION SUR MER | 12 | 0700 | Bn HQ moved to its intended posn in Orchard 069809 and all offices were dug in to a depth of 5ft. "D" Coy HQ to Pet Dop HQ from 087806. Casualties: 1 killed 1 wounded. | |
| 13 | 0015 | A per and incendiary bombs fell accross HQ and amn dump causing three stack fires. Casualties 4 men wounded. Casualties killed 1 man "B" Coy on a mine. | ||
| 14 | 1700 | OP established CHURCH TOWER, LION SUR MER to observe shelling of beaches. Visibility good, but observation unsatisfactory. OP established on beaches 086806. "D" Coy concentrated area 103800. Casualties. 1 NCO "B" Coy wounded. | ||
| 15 | 1000 | Heavy shelling of QUEEN BEACH. Six out of seven LCT hit on beaches. Casualties. 1 man wounded. | ||
| 2000 | Spitfire crashed on POL dump - fire put out at once, Pilot safe, |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 0800 | New HQ at OUISTREHAM, (Map ref 109794) sited. "C" Coy established def posns in area Lock Gates OUISTREHAM. | ||
| 1345 | New HQ shelled. Casualties - 1 wounded. | |||
| 1700 | OP withdrawn. | |||
| 2330 | Lt Shilling took patrol to end of PT DU SIEGE 134784. One enemy aircraft attempting to bomb lock gates was shot down | |||
| 17 | 1600 | OP established in enemy concrete shelter on bank of Canal (Map ref 117783). "D" Coy moved into OUISTREHAM (HQ 110788) to operate MOON ASSEMBLY AREA. Shelling of beaches was intermittent, | ||
| RIVA BELLA | 18 | HQ moved to new location 109794. All offices have been dug in to a depth of five feet and roofed with 6" timber. It was announced that no further copies of "Beachcomber" will be published. Selling diminishing in quantity. | ||
| 19 | Normal shelling and air activity by night | |||
| 20 | Normal shelling and air activity by night. | |||
| 21 | Normal shelling and air activity by night. Standing Orders issued. | Appx "2B" | ||
| 22 | 0650 | Lock-gates shelled with slight damage to Power House. 6 Beach Gp assumes responsibility for ground and air defence of bridge and Lock Gates 119787. | ||
| 23 | ||||
| 24 | 0110 | Bombs dropped near lock - one a delayed action of 2 hrs. | ||
| 0330 | Several leaflets dropped, written in very bad English. slang. FIRST LORD OFTHE ADMIRALTY visited LIGHTHOUSE OP: | No examples available. | ||
| 1700 | VICE ADMIRAL HAMILTON and REAR ADMIRAL TALBOT visited Beach Gp HQ. | |||
| 2340 | Further attempt to bomb locks - no damage. Enemy shelling directed against beaches and lock gates. | |||
| 25 | 1015 | Padre Dix MBE CF conducted C of E service in RIVA BELLA, Chalet Des Effants. | ||
| 2359 | Shelling of Port and beaches was increased. A permanent smoke screen is now laid from area 097803 to prevent enemy observation of the beaches from |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| area CABOURG - FRANCEVILLE PLAGE. Casualties: 2 ORs wounded from "C" Coy. Coy reliefs - see 6BC/0/1 dated 24 Jun. | Appx "C" | |||
| 26 | 2359 | Enemy shelling has increased again, the beaches and port area being the main targets, but although several direct hits have been obtained on the walls, the gates are still intact. | ||
| 27 | Comd 101 Beach Sub-Area laid down that 6 Beach Gp will be responsible for the defence of OUISTREHAM PORT. | |||
| 28 | 1300 | "B" Coy and exoavators working on canal bank shelled. One shell hit roof of coy stores, wounding 2 men. | ||
| 29 | 2350 | 2000 kg bomb fell on civilian house next to QM 108795 Rescue party organized by RMO. Bomb may have been aimed at Red Lamp put up by Pro. | ||
| 30 | 2359 | Operation Order Issued Entertainment plan | Appx "E" Appx "F" | |
| Corps Rest Centre and Recreation Centre opened at PETIT ENFER Occasional enemy shelling of beaches. Coy posns at end of month see Trace "Z" | Appx "D" |
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