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National Archive Reference: WO 171/1295
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Orailles | 3 | A Coy 762664 B Coy 766661 C Coy 764656 D 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 By 0200 hrs patrol were on way back having reported that enemy had withdrawn.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) |
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |