War Diary: 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment

Month and year: July 1944

The July 1944 War Diary for 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment covers their advance deeper into Normandy from Les Orailles to Launay.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1295

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Page 1 of 17

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Les Orailles	1	56 Bde were informed that 7 armd. Div were to be relieved by the 2 US Armd Div by 0600 hrs 2nd July and 56 Bde, with 8th Hussars 3rd R.H.A. and 2 Btys a/Tk under command would be under the operational command of 50(N) Div
		It was proposed that A. Coy officers and selected N.C.O's should liase with 1 R.T.R. for tank inf trg. To facilitate this, it was arranged for A & D Coys to exchange Coy localities. This was completed by 0900 hrs 1 July 1944.
		There was some shelling on B Coy during the evening. no casualties
		During the late evening an ambulance dvr and orderly of 13 F.D.S. entered D Coy lines and

Page 2 of 17

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Les Orailles		reported that they had lost their way and had driven their ambulance through enemy lines and had been finally shot up. Their passenger, a sgt, had been wounded and was still lying up in the fields. 2 i/c major Lance organised a patrol and rescued the sjt. 2 Essex Op. Instr No 1. Issued Lt Caimeross accidentally shot with revolver.
	2	Brig E.C. Pepper announced that he was taking command of 131 Bde and that Brig. M Ekins would relieve him. Little operational activity
	3	0900 hrs. Bde Comd visited Bn active patrolling ordered.

Page 3 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Les Orailles	3		A Coy 762664B Coy 766661 C Coy 764656D Coy 760657 S Coy 762666 The HQ 760658
	3-6		Quite operationally with active patrolling and snipers constantly out in no mans land. Granville Rd - Bois de St Germaine
	6	0136	'H' Hr Exercise "Panther". See operation inst. To capture & kill enemy in amed FM HO 773649 to cause destruction in general area Bois de St Germain - St Germain D'Ectot. By 0200 hrs patrol were on way back having reported that enemy had withdrawn.	(2)

Page 4 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
LA BUTTE	7		a day of preparation for big battle stream of visitors of various sp arms all day as attack was laid on at very short notice . Orders to sp arms 1200 hrs	O.O. att and trace (3) & (4)
		1800	Final orders to Coy. Cmdrs. Reville fixed for 0400 hrs
			The Bn prepared cheerfully for battle and all appeared very calm and normal at eventide.
	11		a rest day at conclusion of battle. Bn gets breath back - Bn. HQ back to cottage. 'C' Coy comd of 6th Green Howards for day. Bde cmdr congratulates Bn on Tac and Strategical info given by prisoners. Reports 276 Div very badly shaken. P.W. reports "our offr told our

Page 5 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			general it was terrible and we will not attack again.
La Butte	12		Change of location with GLOSTERS Bn moved to PONT MULOT (745635) a quieter slot . The enemy facing across valley chiefly arty fighting. Move uneventful
		2035	Bn HQ. established
PONT MULOT	12	2100	Village between Bn HQ and Coys and still has cafe open in spite of enemy fire. a period of vigorous patrolling about to start for Bn. attacks and counter attacks unlikely. Major M. St G. PALLOT reported to Bn as 2 IC. Our opponents now are 2nd Pz Div
PONT MULOT	12	0300	D Coy in position

Page 6 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	13		Quiet day. Little activity either side. Contact made with III/41. The american Bn on our right. L.O. calls daily and a joint allied Post has been formed on Bn boundaries.
PONT MULOT	14	1300	a salutary warning on our right. 2 German deserters were calling KAMERAD, but when two sentries went to bring them in, they were killed by egg grenade.
PONT MULOT	15	1300	14493515 Pte HARLEY. J. "C" Coy killed by shellfire. The enemy are sending over a very high percentage of dud shells and their fire is very distributed , but their fire seems drowned under anglo-american barrage.

Page 7 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	16		Patrol activity as usual. Recce ptls infrm. very flexible N of ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT RD. Padre held service 1200 hrs in small front room in village. French choir, Essex congregation.
		1900	S.W.B. report 6 Essex dead area BOIS ST GERMAIN.
	17		Indications enemy are pulling out, and patrolling is more vigorous.
		1600	Rev T Thomas S.J. decorated with M.C. by Gen. Montgomery for outstanding gallantry in battle of ESSEX WOOD - MONDAYE. Gloucesters take over sector from III/41 U.S.A.
PONT MULOT	18		5 A.G.R.A. have barrage on ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT concentration of tanks and tps there.
		1500	BDE order vigorous patrolling, indications of enemy pull-out

Page 8 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	18	1500	fighting patrol under LT MILLER sent out but met 2 SPANDAUS cleverly concealed and difficult to detect in close Norman country. Patrol achieved purpose but suffered 7 casualties. Killed St Miller 2 ORs wounded c/e 10.R. 2 Pts.
		1800	Wounded and back with patrol. L/C clark who had bad flesh wound in stomach, but refused to be evacuated from R.A.P. until interrogated, and though in pain insisted on waiting until all questions had been asked. One sniper missing from snipers patrol. These snipers discounted another fully occupied and signposted German position - which led to the fighting patrol being sent out.
PONT MULOT	19	1230	Quiet day for Bn usual lunch time arty on

Page 9 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	19	1230 (cont)	our positions. They shell nearly every day at meal times. a nebelwerfer appeared on scene by night but did no damage in Bn area. "C" Coy have me 110 over their positions.
PONT MULOT	20	2100	"A" Cot report Parachute mines on Coy front two come down. Probably from falling bomber. In "C" Coy area, 6032624 L/C Isaac and a carrier driver Pte Rose were killed by shellfire, also 2 O.R's wounded.
PONT MULOT	21	1000	Possible move in process owing to S.W.B. advance A.B. and C Coys at 2 hrs notice. "D" Coy (reserve) at 1 hrs notice. Pig set off trip wire in front of coys.
PONT MULOT	22		Quiet day. Patrolling and Shelling.

Page 10 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	23	0900	Padre holds service in village.
		1100	Div and Bde comdrs visited Bn.
		2300	H.2 mortars on LA PERELLE by nights
PONT MULOT	24		Friendly aircraft dropped pamphlets entitled "Eine Kleine Clique" over German lines. Several M.E. 109's came over and machine gunned at lunch time and one aircraft was brought down.
		1500	The afternoon with U.S. A.A. Bty offrs all trying to claim plane brought down. On evening 14 TYPHOONS assisted by arty target indicator smoke, flew over to attack Enemy Bde position.
		2300	Patrols report Horse Tpt on ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT RD. Possibly inf div receiving 2 Pz div.

Page 11 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	25	0900	Bde Cmdr visited Bn. more horse tpt reported by patrols. Loudspeaker on Div front. Deserters addressing German tps and especially Polish Tps. Full propaganda value being got out of the Hitler assassination plot of July 20th.
PONT MULOT	26	0500	Bn warned to be ready for counter attack, as "anything might happen". 6 D.L.I. said to have been counter attacked. Whole A.G.R.A. came down, but turned out to be only a pln. fighting patrol. news arrived the 2nd Pz Div is being replaced by 326 Inf Div. previously on coastal defense in CALAIS - BOULOGNE area.
			Fighting patrol sp by arty went out and 2 IC

Page 12 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	26	1930	(MAJOR PALLOT) spotted German S.P. gun through field glasses. Bty fire from 465 Reg R.A. came down for five minutes and finished gun.
PONT MULOT	27	1300	Some shells landed in the Bn HQ area and knocked out M14 which was replaced within the hour. Patrolling still continuing.
PONT MULOT	28		Patrols return with info of 2 enemy seen to our front. Regimental shoots of arty brought down. Ordered to take over positions of 2 coys of GLOUCESTERS and spread out our line. Repercussions of the great american thrust on our right. Move to take effect tomorrow. All plans changed. Large air activity as well as shelling.

Page 13 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	29	0730	A&C Coys move positions
		1315	Move completed
		1330	4 snipers sent out on patrol 2 captured. A joint patrol with S.W.B.
		1520	Snipers report bound man, woman and child (French) in stable 75906315
		2200	2IC takes over HQ in Glos area to command 2 Coys there owing to Bn line being extended for Glosters & S.W.B. attacking 0600 hrs Essex in reserve objectives on Trace attd.
PONT MULOT	30		The day was spent in reserve of an attack by GLOSTERS & S.W.B.
	30	0800	2 deserters from 751 Reg reported to 'C' Coy
	30	1225	'Stand by' to Coys
	30	1600	'C' Coy HQ at LA PERELLE

Page 14 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT	30	1727	'B' Coy report spandaus 758618
	30	1730	BN HQ 749639
	30	1900	B Coy held up by enemy fire from farm
	30	2120	6 Typhoons to attack 767609
	31		Affx attd describes battle
		0605	Patrol leader reports booby trapped slit trench 756614
		0647	Bulldozer arrives
		0750	Bde orders active patrolling, Small enemy pockets must be destroyed.
		0835	Sharp counter attack on 231 Bde
		1135	Attack fizzles out
		1156	Enemy gun fire. R.A. unable to image.
		1200	LA NOTRIVE AND LA PERELLE

Page 15 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PONT MULOT LAUNAY	31	1207	Enemy post at 755615. Sniper report
		1350	1 P.W. 9 Coy 751 GR.R. reported
		1432	Bn O.P. established in C Coy area.
		1455	Bn to be prepared to attack at 1800 hrs "O" Sp 1545
		1700	Tanks reported 788617. Str unknown
		1705	"O" Sp
		1855	Bde Cmdr visited H.Q.
		2000	attack begins
		2004	"A" Coy reports SAAR. HQ established 755625
		2030	"A" Coy reports 'PIG'
		2124	'Thames' shot
		2128	Bn H.Q. moving
		2136	"B" Coy passes SAAR
		2138	fire falling W. of OUSE.

Page 16 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
LAUNAY	31	2141	"a" coy 50' from objective
		2145	"A" coy on objective
		2155	mortars fire M.7 5 mins
		2205	'B' Coy meet spandaus fire on left flank, require Hedgehog
		2215	Mortars fire M7 & M8 for 5 mins
		2218	R.A.P. est BURNT FM.
		2225	B Coy consolidated
		2226	Bn HQ 764615
		2230	Mortars fire M& & M9 5 mins
		2245	'D' Coy First point

Page 17 of 17

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
LAUNAY	31	2030	"B" & "D" coys called fwd
		2042	"A" coy report 'COW'
		2043	"B" report 'PIG'
		2045	"A" coy report 'DOG'
		2049	"A" coy ordered to return to "COW"
		2050	"A" coy ordered to remain at DOG
		2052	"C" & "D" coys are 100 x N of SAAR
		2059	Enemy opposition slight
		2100	"C" & "D" to move. Barrage re-opens
		2105	"A" & "B" to move when barrage reopens
		2106	"B" coy report 'COW'
		2108	3" Mortars to fire KENTUCKY II & 374' for 5 mins
		2110	amended THAMES fired
		2111	Bn HQ Prepare to move
		2114	7 P.W. have so far been captured

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War Diary: 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment

Month and year: July 1944

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