War Diary: 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

Month and year: June 1944

During the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders Regiment June 1944 war diary the unit witnesses the Airborne Forces in hundreds of planes, the advance party moves to france on the 11th and is followed up by the rest of unit later in the month

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1300

The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

All diaries for this unit

WO 171/1300 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Page 1 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
MUNTHAM	5	The Bn carried out a night exercise in the battle area behind FINDON. A
COURT		lovely night with a full moon and excellent visibility gave the Bn an
		excellent picture of an Airborn Force and an idea that Invasion had started.
		Some three hundred planes, Dakotas mainly, against a midnight moon, appeared
		at 2000 ft for two hours tugging gliders South East They reappeared
		almost immediately moving North West sans gliders.
	6	The Bn returned to camp at 0600 hrs. The news of the Invasion was
		broadcast at 0800 hrs.
	7	Traffic Control party consisting of Lieut Dingwall, Sjt Atherton and
		two O.Rs left the Bn at 1630 hrs for FRANCE.
	9	The finishing touches are put to waterproofing, loading trials, packing kit etc.
	11	Capt Wishart, Lieut Fairlie, CSM Kernohan and D.R. Stocker, left at 2045 hrs
		as Advance Party to the Bn's move to FRANCE.
NEWHAVEN	18	Main body of Bn embarked at NEWHAVEN for France. The journey was made
		in very rough weather in a large troop carrying ship. The other portion

Page 2 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
NEWHAVEN	18	of the Bn which was mainly the transport under the 2 i/c embarked at
		TILBURY on the ship EMPIRE FALSTAFF, 10,000 tons.
	19	This date still saw the Bn off the coast of France. The weather was
		extremely bad and landing was considered out of the question.
	20	Bn disembarked at ARROMANCHES and marked in parties to concentration area at
		VAUX-SUR-SEULLES831785 (Sheet 7F/1 CAEN).
	21-25	During this period the rest of the battalion landed in FRANCE in small
		lots. The transport party under the 2 i/c, disembarked at COURSELLES and
		moved to the concentration area between the 23 - 25 Jun 44. During the
		day 25, plans were completed for the first action of 15 (Scottish) Div. The
		plan was for 44 and 46 Bdes to adv through the Canadian line about Le
		Mesnil Patry and to capture a line through CHEUX. 227 Bde was then to
		pass through with 10 H.L.I. on right to take Granville-sur-Odon; 2 GORDONS
		on left to take COLEVILLE and TOURVILLE, 2 A. & S. H. were then to pass
		through 2 GORDONS and make a bridgehead over the River ODON at TOURMAINVILE

Page 3 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	25	2 GORDONS would then take over this bridgehead and the 2 A. & S.H. would
		hold the next crossing over the ODON to the West. The way would then
		be clear for the armour to go through and a complete break through was
		expected.
	26	During night 25 - 26 Jun, Bn moved from old conc area to a forward conc
		area and all day moved slowly up to our forming up place for the attack,
		just N. of CHEUX. The attack by 44 and 46 Bdes though successful, was
		slow and we were not able to form up with the supporting tanks until the
		evening. The Bn attack started at about 1830 with "A" & "B" Coys leading
		"C" & "D" Coys in the rear. A very heavy storm broke just as the
		Coys started and it was obvious that there would be no opportunity for the
		promised air support. The attack met with strong opposition from the
		enemy who had well placed M.Gs and several dug in tanks and A. Tk guns well
		positioned. Several of our tanks had been knocked out. "B" Coy were
		believed to have got through to COLEVILLE but "A", "C" & "D" Coys had been

Page 4 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	26	held up short of the village. All coys had heavy casualties particularly
		"A" Coy. The C.O. then decided on re-organising what could be collected
		of the Bn and a small defensive position was made beside the CHEUX -
		COLLVILLE road about 1 mile S. OF CHEUX. Majors Soutar, Aitchison, and
		Capt Wishart, and Lts Niven and Kiddie were killed in this action. During
		this very bloody action the work of our Medical Officer Capt MacPhail and
		his stretcher bearers was magnificient.
	27	When dawn broke our position was still secure. During the morning our
		tanks moved up on our left and the A. & S.H. passed through the Bn during
		morning, making for the bridge at TOURMANVILLE and we received orders to
		move on to COLLVILE. Soon after first light, "B" Coy's remnants joined us
		from the enemy lines where they had been cut off. The Bn took up a
		position in COLLVILLE in an orchard. "Sniper fever" was bad among the
		troops and it was several days before this could be stopped by practice of
		controlled fire. That afternoon we moved to TOURVILLE after having been

Page 5 of 6

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	27	relieved by the 9th SEAFORTHS (46 Bde).
		Our advance was held up by a German tank which had got into posn and was
		knocking out some of our tanks. The road was also being mortared. This
		was soon overcome and Bn moved into position south of the village in an orchard
		area.
	28	Spent the day in TOURVILLE where we were slightly mortared and had some
		trouble from a tank on the main rd behind us. During this time the
		armour was passing through our area and over the river. It was unable to
		make much progress and later had to withdraw.
	29	In the afternoon, the Bn received orders to move back to COLLVILE and be
		prepared to carry out a counter attack on the Cameronian posn at
		GRANVILLE-sur-ODON at dawn the next morning, should the enemy take it.
		Bn moved and several casualties were sustained during the move by enemy
		shelling of the road.
	30	The proposed counter attack by the Bn was not required and the Bn was then

Page 6 of 6