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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 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
Page 2 of 17
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.
Page 3 of 17
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had withdrawn.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)
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 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
Page 6 of 17
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.
Page 7 of 17
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
Page 8 of 17
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
Page 9 of 17
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.
Page 10 of 17
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.
Page 11 of 17
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
Page 12 of 17
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.
Page 13 of 17
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
Page 14 of 17
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
Page 15 of 17
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.
Page 16 of 17
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
Page 17 of 17
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