War Diary: 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

Month and year: July 1944

During the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders Regiment July 1944 war diary the unit moved from area Bretteville L'Orgueilleuse to La Teinturiere while patrolling and clearing areas od German forces.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1300

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WO 171/1300 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

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Page 1 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	3-7	Three coys were formed in the re-organization of the Bn ("B", "C" & "D" Coys).
		"B" was commanded by Capt H.T. Slight, "C" by Major G.H. Hutchinson and
		"D" by Major R.M.M. Tindall. Re-organization and re-equipping continued
		throughout this period.
		The complete list of casualties sustained by the Bn during its battle
		engagements from the 26 Jun to the 2 Jul 44 were as follows:-
		Officers:- Killed 4, Wounded 7; Missing 1.
		O.Rs Killed 48, Wounded 195; Missing 11.
	7 - 13	Re-organization of Bn. New "A" Coy formed and Major Duke put in command.
		2 men wounded in "D" Coy by shelling. Shells were not confirmed to be
		from enemy gun.
	14	Bn moved from Bretteville L'Orgueilleuse to conc area 944647. Slight
		enemy mortar fire experienced.
	15-16	Bn arrived in assembly area near BARON village during the evening of the
		15th, were subjected to heavy mortar and shell fire from the enemy. Pnr

Page 2 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	15-16	3 ton truck was hit and destroyed. At 2245 hrs the Bn
		moved into the attack through BARON. "C" & "D" coys were leading followed
		by Bn HQ with "A" & "B" Coys follow up coys. The first objective was line
		of rd 928611 - 932610 - 934610 was taken and held. Whilst this action was
		in progress Brig Mackintosh-Walker, M.C. (Two Bars) commanding 227 Bde was
		killed in his forward HQ in BARON. Lt.Col Colville took over command of
		227 Bde, Major Sinclair took command of 2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders. The
		battle continued and "A" & "B" Coys on moving forward to pass through "C" & "D" Coys came
		under very heavy M.M.G. fire on fixed lines. Their progress was slow and when
		first light came they were still some 400 - 500 yds behind "C" & "D" Coys. The
		order was then given to dig in in these positions. In the early morning of the
		16th, 12 German planes circled Bn area three times and on the third occasion
		opened fire but caused no casualties among the unit. One plane was shot down
		by light A.A. fire. During the morning of the 16th, the enemy attacked at
		several points in the Bn front but was driven off by our weapons and the
		excellent shooting of our battery of the 131 Fd Regt under Major G.

Page 3 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	16	Campbell, R.A. At about 1210 hrs enemy tried another counter attack on
		"A" & "B" Coys posns from the left flank. This time tanks and inf were
		used. Good shooting by the A. Tk pl under Capt A.W. Parish broke up
		the enemy attack and with two guns firing from the area of Bn HQ, knocked out
		5 PZKW Mk IV tanks. Ps of W. taken up to 1300hrs 16 Jul 44 were 35.
		Considerable German equipment and a marked map of importance was found.
		Enemy continued to attack with mortar and shell fire during the afternoon
		and evening. Capt H.T. Slight was killed during the tank attack on "B"
		Coy's posn. At 2358 hrs, the Bn cam under command 44 Bde and were ordered
		to hold posns pending relief. The A. & S.H. and H.L.I. had been withdrawn
		earlier in the day. During the night of the 16th, "C" & "D" Coys were
		ordered to withdrawn to posns behind "A" & "B" Coys.
	17	Bn remained holding a defensive posn throughout the day; apasmodic attacks
		were made by the enemy but were broken up by arty fire. Bn was again
		subjected to severe mortar and shell fire during the evening. Several
		casualties were sustained. During the late evening, the enemy attacked

Page 4 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	17	behind the lines with several fighters and bombers; many flares were dropped
		and A.A. defences along whole sector were kept busy for some time. One
		enemy plane was definitely shot down. A successful attack by a squadron of
		Typhoons was carried out on enemy tanks concs SOUTH of our sector. Great fires
		were seen burning in the EVRECY area after this attack. About 2300 hrs the
		WELSH BDE moved through our posns to attack the highground and the FERME
		DE MONDRAINVILLE sector. Welsh Bde did not succeed in the operation.
	18	Bn held posns throughout day till relieved, by the 7th Bn The WELCH R. in the
		late afternoon. The relief was completed by 1930 hrs. Bn moved back by
		march route to area of FARM 903648 N.W. of GRANVILLE-SUR-ODON to reorganise
		and rest. Casualties from the 14th - 18th Jul were Officers 1 Killed; 3
		Wounded; Nil Missing; O.Rs 11 Killed; 107 Wounded; 7 Missing.
	19 - 22	Period from 19 to 23 Jul was spent re-organising and re-equipping in area of
		903648. Capt E.R. Macdonald rejoined Bn and took over command of "B" Coy.
		Lt.-Col Sinclair appointed C.O. 2 GORDONS. Major Henderson became 2 i/c.

Page 5 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	22	1900	Recce party left unit under I.O. Capt R.G. Hogg to make recce of area
			NORTH of CAUMONT with view to the relief of 1st Bn of 2nd Regt of the 5
			U.S. Div. Positions selected in rear of American areas as U.S. posns were
			thought to be too congested.
	23		Bn left area of GRANVILLE and moved to CAUMONT to take up defensive posns as
			reserve Bn of 227 Bde. Role was counter-attack on CAUMONT should 10 H.L.I. be
			driven from the town by the enemy.
	24		Bn completed preparations for defence of sector "A" Coy forward on left front;
			"C" Coy in posn on the left forward flank by the 2 A. & S.H. "B" Coy were
			in posn on left rear with "D" Coy on right rear of Bn HQ, which was situated
			at 702625 (Sheet 6F/2 ST LO).
			A. Tk Gun and Jeep on rd attacked by plane. Casualties were 1 killed,
			7 injured incl Capt A.W. Parish who remained on duty. A recce patrol was
			sent out at 2400 hrs to patrol into enemy lines south LA REPAS sector.
			Patrol returned wth some information 0230 hrs but failed to reach main

Page 6 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
FRANCE	24	objective. No casualties.
	25	Quiet time spent in new area. Reeces were made and plained tied up for
		counter attack on LA REPAS and CAUMONT if either should be attacked and	AAtt Plan "A" and "B").
		overrun by the enemy. Patrol out during night. Unsuccessful.
	26	Standing Patrol out during night from 2400 - 0615 hrs to act as stop gap
		to 10 H.L.I. and 2 A. & S.H. during their patrolling. Patrol did not
		encounter enemy.
	27	Quiet day; recces of CAUMONT area made by Coy Comds. Fighting Patrol out
		under Lieut McIntyre. Patrol contacted the enemy and killed 3 of them. They
		did not succeed in taking a prisoner. We lost one man killed and two were
		wounded.
	28	Another day spent quietly in same location. Liason done with H.L.I. in
		CAUMONT. Standing Patrol sent out to stop gap between A. & S.H. and H.L.I.
		Patrol did not encounter enemy.
	29	Preparation for new task began. 'O' Gp at Bde revealed plan for Div attack
		SOUTH of CAUMONT. Loading and forming up arranged. Reeces carried out

Page 7 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	29	from A. & S.H. locality by C.O. and Coy Commanders along with tank
		commanders.
	30	Bn left area at 0215 hrs and moved into F.U.P. This move was completed by
		0315 hrs. The attack began at 0655 hrs. 2 GORDONS objective was LUTAIN
		WOOD 712582 (Viller Sheet No. 37/14 N.W.) Attack put in in two phases.
		"A" Coy right with 1 troop of tanks from 4 Gren Guards. "B" Coy left with
		1 tp tanks; "D" Coy with objective LIEU MONDANT in left rear. "C" Coy in
		reserve behind "D". "A" and "B" Coys met opposition by M.M.Gs and mortars
		but eventually managed to push onto objective with held of tanks. Second
		phase began after "D" Coy had cleared LIEU MONDANT and "C" and "D" Coys on its
		left supported by "crocodiles" started to sweep the wood. The coys got through
		the wood but "D" was forced to withdraw due to heavy casualties from enemy
		mortars firing into the trees. Outskirts of the wood were held by three coys
		up and "D" was put in reserve at the N. side of the wood. Bn HQ established
		itself along the edge of hedgerow at 712586 (Villers sheet No. 37/14 N.W.).
		Bn dug in and the other big phases began. It might be added that as a

Page 8 of 8