23rd Hussars War Diary: June 1944
The 23rd Hussars June 1944 War Diary covers the regiment’s preparations in Aldershot and their subsequent move to Normandy as part of the 11th Armoured Division. After embarking from Tilbury and Gosport, the unit landed on Juno Beach around 13–16 June and concentrated near Coulombs. From 26 June, the regiment took part in its first major actions supporting the 15th (Scottish) Division near St. Mauvieu, Cheux, and Hill 112, encountering fierce resistance and suffering heavy casualties. Despite the losses in men and Shermans, the 23rd Hussars helped secure key ground during Operation EPSOM and the early battles west of Caen.
National Archive Reference: WO 171/847
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War diaries that reference this unit
The 23rd Hussars are mentioned in 2 other war diaries from June 1944.
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This diary mentions 1 units with war diaries for June 1944.
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 1-8 | Preparations to move | |
| 4 | 1 15-cwt Truck received for LAD. 1 15-cwt Truck sent away. | ||
| 5 | Regt. small arms competition at ASH Ranges. | ||
| 7 | 5 Stuarts III received. 1 Stuart V, 9 Shermans V and 4 Humber Sc Cars sent away. | ||
| 8 | Major A.D. WIGAN and 55 ORs dep with light vehs. 4 Shermans V sent away. | ||
| 9 | Advance party leaves under comd Major V.A. DUNKERLY. 1 15-cwt Truck received, | ||
| 1 4-str Humber car and 1 15-cwt Bedford Truck sent away. | |||
| 11 | Main body leave Aldershot for Marshalling Area. Light party embarked TILBURY. | ||
| 13 | Light party disembarked M beach COURSUELLES sur-Mer. | ||
| 14-15 | Main party embarked GOSPORT. | ||
| 15-16 | Main party disembarked M beach | ||
| France | 16-25 | Regt concentrated COULOMBS | |
| 26 | 'F' Ech advanced behind 15(S) Div. First contact with enemy by 'C' Sqn at | ||
| 1900 hrs. Lt. Da CUNHA wounded by shrapnel at ST. MAUVIEU, 1 OR wounded, | |||
| 27 | 0700 | 'A' Sqn engaged 88mm guns South of CHEUX, 'B' & 'C' Sqns advance in support |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 27 | of 15(s) Div towards MONDRAINVILLE. | |
| 1200 | B & C Sqns up to line of main rd CAEN - VILLERS. Held up by ants. | ||
| 1900 | C Sqn followed by B and half HQ make bridgehead over R. ODON at TOURMAUVILLE | ||
| and harboured there. Remainder of HQ and A Sqn held up at MONDRAINVILLE, Lts. KERTON & WEINER missing believed killed, Capt. TAYLOR and Lts. RUSSELL, BYARD, | |||
| RILEY wounded. 16 ORs killed. 20 wounded. 12 missing. | |||
| 28 | 0530 | Advanced towards Pt 112, 'B' Sqn leading. | |
| 1200 | B and C established North half of Pt 112. HQ with 'A' Sqn in reserve move | ||
| up. 8 Shermans from FDS come up and put under comd 'B' Sqn. | |||
| 1530 | Relieved on posn by 3 RTR owing to shortage of amn. Withdrew to orchard South | ||
| side of TOURMAUVILLE, Capt R. G. CLARK and Lt. P.G. HELYAR killed. 2 ORs killed. 5 ORs wounded. 6 ORs missing. Lt. D.F. KING suffering from exhaustion. 2 3-ton lorries received. | |||
| 29 | 1330 | From orchard move forward to posn South of Calvary TOURMAUVILLE, Enemy counter- | |
| attack developed 1500 hrs from West (area of ESQUAY). Beaten off by 1900hrs. 3 ORs missing. 3 ORs wounded. | |||
| 30 | 0330 | Withdrew to CULLY. 3 ORs killed. 3 ORs wounded. | |
| 26-30 | Destroyed by enemy action:- 3 3-tonners, 1 Jeep, 1 M/C, 2 Crusaders A/A, 3 Stuarts V, 12 Sherman V, 1 ve | ||
| Enemy tks destroyed: 7 Tigers + 1 K.O., 2 Panthers + 1 K.O., 4 Mk. IVs. (Minimum figures). |
Units Referencing the 23rd Hussars
The following units mention the 23rd Hussars in their war diaries from June 1944:
Units Referenced in this war diary
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