War Diary: 241 Provost Coy

Month and year: June 1944

The 241 Provost Company’s June 1944 war diary recounts its landing in Normandy on D-Day under intense enemy fire, where men were killed and wounded as they established vital traffic control on the beaches. In the weeks that followed, the company carried out demanding beach and town duties around Ouistreham and Lion-sur-Mer, maintaining order and movement within the growing bridgehead despite constant shelling and storm damage.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/3386

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WO 171/3386 241st Provost Company

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Page 1 of 4

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
ENGLAND	1. )	Company still in Marshalling Areas under M.C. (Exercise "Overlord").
	2. ) 3. )
	4	L.C.I. and L.S.T. craft loads embarked.
	5	"D" day. Postponed 24 hours owing to rough weather.
FRANCE	6	"D" day. Beach Corporals landed H + 20 (H = 0730 hrs).
		O.C., Lieut. Beard and Beach Sections landed at H + 45. Lieut. Jones and Dump Sections landed at H + 120.
		Remainder of Company in various Serials all landed by H + 5 hrs. During early stages extremely heavy mortar and gunfire was directed on the
		beach. Many landing craft were hit and assault troops had a very difficult time until approximately H + 6 hrs. Exits were completed by H + 4 hrs
		and traffic on the Lateral, apart from the vicinity of the gun areas, was flowing well by H + 8 hrs. Signing equipment was lost up to 25%
		but pointsmen who were following up the advancing troops manned all points up to and including the "B" Lateral by H + 6 hrs.
		At H + 8 hrs Lieut. Jones commenced B.M.A. recce. with 2nd i/c 6 Beach Group but did not complete it as the "C" Lateral was still being
		contested up till H + 16 hrs. After this time darkness prevented further reconnaissance and even in the a.m. of D + 1 the reconnaissance was still
		uncompleted owing to many strong points on "C" Lateral. Liaison with O.C., 245 Provost Coy, C.M.P. was maintained all night and a new T.C.
		plan put into execution at 0800 hrs. D + 1.
		Cpl. Tweedale and L/Cpl. Hilliard were killed in action during "D" day on the beaches.

Page 2 of 4

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	6		L/Cpls. Blake, Dewhurst, Murdoch, Cook, Lawson and Squire were wounded
			during "D" day and evacuated to England during "D" night.
	7	0200	At 0200 hrs Cpl. Brook.B. was severely wounded at Company H.Q. and
			evacuated to England via B.D.S. Night was very noisy with plenty of bombing and long range shelling.
			Lt. Col. D.W. Board, C.O. 5 Beach Group killed by snipers.
		0800	New T.C. plan was put into operation by this Company.
		1000	245 Provost Coy, C.M.P. arrived on beaches in force. Advanced units arrived during early a.m.
		1600	241 H.Q. Provost Coy, handed over B.M.A (2nd Kay plan) circuit to 245
			H.Q. Provost Company.
			241 H.Q. Provost Coy. lent Lt. Jones and one section (Sgt. Birley C.M.P) to O.C., 245 Provost Coy, G.M.P. to complete their signing.
	8		Bombing and shelling all day and night.
			Assembly Areas set up on road to OUIESTREHAM. No casualties.
			5 Beach Group combined with 6 Beach Group under command Lt. Col. Sale.
	9		Shelling and bombing continues. Signing in 2nd stage of completion.
			No casualties.

Page 3 of 4

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	10		R.S.M. and 6 N.C.Os on town duties in OUIESTREHAM area.
			Lieut. Jones and 1 section back from 245 Provost Coy. Shelling and bombing continues.
			No casualties.
	11 ) 12 )		Big signs being erected and static duties assumed. Shelling and bombing every day and night.
	13 )		L/Cpls. Offer and Horner wounded on 13/14 night and evacuated to England.
	14 ) 15 )		Block signing continues. Shelling and bombing continues every day.
	16		Admiral Vian and Admiral Talbot, RN, C. in C. B.W.E.F. arrived to visit
			beaches. Shelling and bombing continues.
	17		Shelling from inland enemy artillery. No casualties.
	18	1400	D.A.P.M. left 101 Beach Sub Area to take up appointment at H.Q. 11 L. of C.
		1430	Memorial service to Fallen in Burial Ground
	19		Storm off coast. Unloading delayed. Craft damaged by storm.
	20		Storm off coast. Company H.Q. moved to LION SUR MER area. A.P.M. 11 L. of C. visited area.
			Shelling and bombing continues.
	21		241 and 245 H.Q. Provost Companies changed areas owing to new T.C. plan. Shelling and bombing continues.

Page 4 of 4

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	22		ORD circuit changed to P.O.L. dump area near P.O.W.
		2230	AMN coaster set on fire on Queen Red Beach by enemy shell fire.
	23 ) 24 )		Shelling and bombing continues. 5 Beach Group moved to new location in LION SUR MER.
	25		Transhipment Area opened near 101 Beach Sub Area.
		1030	Interview with D.A.P.M. and A.P.M. 11 L. of C. at Revieres. Record tonnage, 3500, across beaches.
		1430	O.C. 5 Beach Group inspected new Peter Green Beach at Petit Enfer. Shelling and long range mortar fire from TROUVILLE area.
	26		Heavy shelling during day and evening.
		0130	Pte. Bell, 5 Bn. Kings Regt, attached this Company, killed on point duty. Two N.C.Os on special coaster duties.

	27		Two N.C.Os. on special L.S.T. duties; relieved by Royal Marine Provost. Main residue due to arrive.
	28		Heavy shelling from TROUVILLE area and by 17 c.m. gun from inland all day and night.
		2000	R.S.M. 244 H.Q. Provost Coy, C.M.P. visited Company from Star Area.
	29/30		No lights on lateral during night. Rest Camp at Luc Sur Mer opened by 1 Corps.
	30		Sgt. Wood's section taking over Hermanville from Sgt. Birley.