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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Owing to change of general plan and situation on 50(N) Div front 7 Armd Div moved to thicken up rear of 50 (N) Div. 2 Glosters together with remainder 56 Inf Bde remained same area and now came under comd 50 (N) Div. Cas. 4 O.R's wounded. | |||
| 1/2. | Day and night patrols were sent out to maintain contact and take PW. | |||
| 2 | 2105 - 2117 | Bn area heavily mortared cas one Offr one O.R. killed. 10 O.Rs wounded. | ||
| night 2/3. | 2300- 0400 | Extensive patrolling was carried out. | ||
| 3 | 1210 | Patrol lead by Lt.P. Burton, B Coy, went out to capture PW, one was taken and sent back to higher formation. 30 Corps Comd congratulated the Bn on the results of patrol above. | ||
| 4 | 2100 | Bn dispositions were slightly changed, A Coy moved into res posn 744634. | ||
| 4/5 | 1800 - 0630 | Patrolling continued aggressively. | ||
| 5 | 1615 | Bn HQ moved and est 745635. Cas. 4 O.R's wounded. 1 O.R. missing. Strength Increase - Offrs. Lieut. J.N. Smith was posted to Bn. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July. 5/6 | 2000 - 0630 | Extensive patrolling in order to keep contact with BOCHE. | ||
| 6 | Strength Increase. 38 O.R's joined the Bn. | |||
| 7 | 0400 | A Coy relieved B Coy and B Coy moved into res 744634. Cas 3 O.R's wounded. | ||
| 0400 | Recce patrol of A Coy ambushed by enemy patrol, one man left behind who lay up and eventually rejoined his Coy 7 hrs later after having been subjected to our own mortar fire which he said was very effective and completely disorganised GERMAN posn. | See Appx "C". | ||
| 8 | 0800 | MAORI I 56 Bde attacked to secure line TORTEVAL - LA CROX DES LANDES. 2 Glosters remained firm base at present posns and were not in contact with enemy. All enemy counter attacks were directed against 2 SWB and 2 Essex. Cas 2 OR's wounded. | See Appx "D". 2 Glosters Op Instr No. 1. | |
| 2200 | Joint defensive post in area bridge 757637 was est with 2 SWB in order to stop enemy infiltration. | |||
| night 8/9 | Extensive patrolling was continued. | |||
| 9 | 1900 | Slight enemy shelling in Bn area. Day and night patrolling continued, in order to keep enemy away from our FDL's. Cas 2 OR's wounded. | ||
| 11 | Cas. 1 O.R. killed, 3 O.R's wounded. Strength Increase. 4 O.R's joined the Bn. | |||
| 12 | 0740 | B Coy changed posns with C Coy, and "C" came into Bn res. | See Appx "B". | |
| 1800 - 2045. | 2 Glosters changed over posns with 2 ESSEX. | |||
| 13 | Bn defensive posns were strengthened during the day and sniper patrols were sent out to contact the enemy. | |||
| 14 | 1810 | Bn defensive locality was revised and D Coy took over left fwd Coy from C Coy, B Coy took over left fwd Coy from 2 SWB. Bn now had two Coys fwd. | ||
| night 14/15 | 0230 - 0330 | Hy enemy fire was contacted by all Bn patrols. Bn HQ and Coy areas heavily shelled. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July. 15. | Cas. 1 OR wounded 3 OR's missing. Quiet on Bn front, patrolling during night 15/16 did not contact enemy. Bn area was shelled, delayed action shells were encountered. | |||
| 16 | The Bn prepared to move from BOIS DE ST GERMAIN Sector and take over area occupied by 3/41 Inf Regt, US Forces. Cas 1 O.R. killed. | |||
| 1740 | D Coy posns were taken over by 6 Green Howards. | |||
| 1720 | B Coy posns were taken over by 2 SWB. | |||
| 2116 | Bn HQ moved back to fm buildings 761664, Strength Increase. 10 OR's joined the Bn. | |||
| night. 16/17 | Bn was in res posn and no patrolling was done. | |||
| 17 | Lt.Col. D.W. Biddle attended an investiture at 50(N) Div HQ., and received the D.S.O. from the Comd-in-Chief. Major J.K. Lance received the M.C. These awards await H.M. The King's approval. Bn moved to area LA ROUSSELLERIE 7462 and took over def posns from Americans. Major. S. Pether wounded, Capt. A.L.W. Soames took over command of "C" Coy. | See Appx "F" Op. ROUND-A-BOUT 16 July 44. | ||
| night, 18/19. | Patrolling continued to find out if enemy were withdrawing on our front. | |||
| 18 | Promotions. Offrs. Capt. A.L.W. Soames to A/Major. Lieut I.B. Wakefield to A/Capt. | |||
| 19 | 1100 | Bn area shelled. Contact with enemy fwd posts was close, fwd Coys reported MG fire over their posns at 1210 hrs. Cas 4 OR's wounded. | ||
| 20 | Bn area was shelled and mortared at intervals during the day. | |||
| 20/21. | Night patrols did not contact enemy. | |||
| 21 | 0750 | A fighting patrol was sent out in order to contact enemy outpost as it was presumed that 2 PZ Div were withdrawing. Contact was est and Bn posns remained as before. | ||
| night 21/22 | Patrolling continued. | |||
| 22 | 0945 | B Coy sent fighting patrol to known enemy locality, area 758622. Patrol | ||
| 1355 | found area mined and booby trapped and drew enemy fire. Patrol returned. | See Appx "G" |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 2245 | D Coy area shelled. Cas 4 OR's wounded. | ||
| Night. 22/23 | Patrols reported no enemy contacted. | |||
| 23 | Slight shelling Bn area during morning. | |||
| 23 | 1800 | A Coy sent out fighting patrol to known enemy posn LA VAUTRIE fm. 756612. Cas 5 OR's wounded 1 OR killed. | See Appx "H". | |
| 24 Night | 0330 | B Coy relieved D Coy. Cas 1 O.R. wounded. | ||
| 24/25 | Patrolling continued. | |||
| 25 | 1125 | Enemy mortared A Coy locality. Cas 3 O.R's wounded. | ||
| night. 25/26 | Night patrolling continued, patrols returned without having contacted enemy. Movement of enemy vehs heard during night incl H.D. tpt. It is thought that 320 Inf Div may be taking over from 2 Pz Div. | |||
| 26 | 0815 | D Coy recce patrol sent out to LA VAUTRIE fm area. Owing to very quiet day it seemed that 320 Div must have taken over on our front. | See Appx "J". | |
| 1715 | D Coy sent out recce patrol but Lt. Hughes was shot at pt blank range from well prepared enemy outpost. This is a new technique as hitherto enemy weapons have been opening up at much longer range. | See Appx "K" | ||
| night. 26/27. | Patrolling continued, but no contact was made with enemy during night. PW taken by 2 SWB now confirms that 326 Inf Div are now on our front. | See Appx "L" & "M" |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA ROUSSELLERIE 7462 | July 27. | Quiet on Bn front, slight enemy mortaring during day. | ||
| Map sheet 6F/2 | Night 27/28 | 2245 to 0530 | Standing patrols were fwd of FDLs - enemy were not encountered. | See Appx. "A". |
| 28 | 0005 | "C" Coy relieved "B" Coy and "B" Coy moved into res posns. | ||
| 0225 | British Arty fired leaflet shells into enemy held areas, some fell in Bn. fwd posns. | |||
| 0640 | A Coy located enemy Mortar posn, own Bn Mortars stonked the area. | |||
| 1015 | "C" Coy recce patrol sent out to recce LA VAUTRIE fm. This patrol was never seen again. | |||
| Night 28/29 | Bn Mortars laid H.F. on all known enemy posts at intervals. Recce Patrols continued. | See Appx "B" & "C". | ||
| 2300 | Bn. area shelled. Enemy aircraft were overhead but no bombs fell in Bn area. | |||
| 29 | In view of repeated likelihood of an enemy withdrawal in this sector Bn dispositions were changed. The two fwd Coys "B" & "D" Coys were relieved by two Coys 2 ESSEX at 1030 hrs and moved to res area LES FOUQUERIES 737634. | See Appx "D" 2 Glosters Op Orders Nos. 1&2 dated 29 Jul 44. | ||
| 1430 | Plans were made for 56 Bde to attack the ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT ridge at first light 30 July with 2 Glosters on the right, 2 SWB on the left. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LES FOUQUERIES 737634. | July. | 2300 | Bn. posns were handed over to 2 ESSEX and the Bn. was conc area LES FOUQUERIES 737634. "D" Coy remained in area LA ROUSSELLERIE in order to put in silent dawn attack on known enemy locality, area WOODS 758623. | |
| 30 | 0500 | Enemy aircraft dropped two bombs, one blew up Bn 3 tonner amn truck, inflicting some cas in "C" Coy. Coy Comd. was injured and the Coy 2 i/c Capt. A.M. Rogers was killed. Capt. R.A. Graham-Smith took over Comd. "C" Coy. | ||
| 0545 | "D" Coy moved and formed up for the attack, which went in at 0600 hrs. Fighting became bitter and the whole area was heavily mined and booby trapped as was already known from frequent patrolling. The Bn. fwd body moved up and assisted "D" Coy. This body was under Comd. Bn. 2 i/c, Major J.O. Hopper who was later killed in the fighting. Major J.K. Lance M.C. assumed duties of Bn. 2 i/c. | |||
| 0945 | "A" Coy moved fwd in readiness to assist but were not committed. During rest of morning and afternoon fighting was confused and consisted of a series of platoon battles, which were greatly assisted by a troop of Sherman tks. | |||
| 1746 | Enemy were finally cleared out of wooded area and line of road LIVRY - ST GERMAIN was firmly held in the Bn. area. "B" & "D" Coys were fwd under comd of Major B.F. Stephens and "A" & "C" Coys were in the rear. | |||
| PARFOURU L'ECLIN. 7463. | 1845 | Bn. HQ moved to area fm 747634. Magnificent work was done by the Bn. Pioneer Platoon clearing the mines and booby traps. 300 horseshoe type mines were lifted by them in this area and 8 booby traps. "Flails" under Comd also cleared numerous enemy minefields. Defensive posns were occupied and active patrolling was carried out in order to ascertain enemy strength and localities. In order to rest "B" & "D" Coys "A" Coy relieved "B" Coy and "C" Coy relieved "D" Coy fwd for the night. "B" Coy moved to fm 755634 and "D" Coy to area Pt 133 749633. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July. 30. | Casualties - Officers. Killed in action. T/Major J.O. Hopper T/Capt A.M. Rogers | |||
| Wounded in action. Lt. D.B.E. Paine. A/Major A.L.W.Soames. Lt. R.B. Nordbruck. T/Capt. J.R.G.Higgs. Lt. E.F. Cockeram. | ||||
| Casualties - O.Rs. 16 Other Ranks killed. 44 Other Ranks wounded. PW taken - 35. | ||||
| PARFOURU L'ECLIN 7463. | 31 | 0710 | A German patrol was seen and shot up by "A" Coy. During the day patrolling was carried out to line of river 7661, posn was quiet and no enemy were encountered. To enable 2 ESSEX to conc in order to push through the Bn posns "B" Coy moved during the afternoon and took over their fwd Coy locality area 750616. D" Coy moved fwd to area LA CALVERIE 753627. 4 PW were taken. | |
| Strength Increase - Officers Lieut J.R. FAYNE M.C. joined the Bn. | ||||
| Promotions - Officers. A/Capt I.B. Wakefield to A/Major. T/Capt. R.A.Graham Smith to A/Major. Lt. P.R. Burton to A/Capt. Lt. S.C.S. Farmer to A/Capt. Lt. D. Bicknell to A/Capt. Lt. E.J. Thacker to A/Capt. | ||||
| 2000 | 2 ESSEX formed up for attack behind our FDLs and attacked, under very effective creeping barrage, the LAUNAY ridge feature. This feature was secured that night. | |||
| 2300 | "C" Coy moved fwd onto the LAUNEY ridge and came under comd 2 ESSEX for the night. "D" Coy moved into "C" Coy area. |
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