National Archive Reference: WO 171/1298
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 Jun | 1930 | Marching tps left Camp B7 ready for war in TCVs under control | ||
of Movement Control. Refreshments were given on the way and Embarkation took place at LYMINGTON. The Bn was split up on three | ||||
LCIs as follows:- | ||||
LCI 2906 A & B Coys. LCI 2907 part Bn HQ, D and S Coys | ||||
LCI 2908 Bal Bn HQ. C Coy. | ||||
2100 | LCI's sailed to Southampton Docks. | |||
SOTON NEW DOCK. | 4/5 | Tps were allowed to disembark on quayside for recreation and meals. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 1930 | LCI's sailed from SOTON DOCKS to join convoy to FRANCE without | ||
incident. | ||||
6 D DAY | Crossing to the FRENCH COAST went well in a rather rough sea. Some ranks were sea sick but this passed off before the time for | |||
landing. All ranks have shown great interest the assaulting Bdes (231 Bde Right - 69 Bde left) going in; also the naval | ||||
bombardment on 50 (N) Div beachhead, and everyone was in good spirits and keen to get on with the job. | ||||
2 Glosters were reserve Bn of 56 Inf Bde Gp acting as reserve Bde to 50 Div. | ||||
1158 | Three LCI's touched down on the NORMANY COAST at area HABLE | |||
DE HEURTOT 9807 map sheet 7 E/5. Each Gp quickly cleared KING RED beach area and began to advance along coast rd towards | ||||
Bn conc area at BUHOT. Some mortar fire was encountered along this rd and pockets of enemy resistance were still holding out | ||||
in area BUHOT and high ground to SW of this village. BUHOT was finally cleared by marine Commandos and the Bn. arrived at conc | ||||
area as arranged. | ||||
1607 | Bn. HQ arrived conc area and Rifle Coys arrived complete except for two cas. | |||
1735 | RYES was reported clear of enemy by Right assault Bde (231 Bde) | |||
BUHOT | 1900 | 2 Glosters conc was completed. | ||
1940 | Bde decided firm base for the night, 2 Glosters were still res | |||
Bn and advanced Southwards as follows :- B Coy Gp. A Coy. Bn. HQ. D and C Coys. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
PW taken 31. Cas 4 O.Rs wounded. | ||||
MAGNY. 8182 | 7 D plus 1 | 0026 | 2 Glosters reached conc area and dug in. Extensive patrolling | |
was carried out. 1 tp 10.5 cm guns was captured intact. Enemy snipers were active but no cas were inflicted on own tps. | ||||
0830 | Bn. moved Southwards with object of clearing BAYEUX with 2 Essex and was held up on outskirts of town while 2 Essex | |||
cleared area of rly sta. | ||||
1130 | Adv continued. | |||
BAYEUX | 1220 | Bn. entered BAYEUX. Civilian population very pleased to see Br tps. Fighting continued throughout the afternoon and | ||
the high ground SW of town was gained. Bn. occupied and dug in posns as follows:- | ||||
Bn. HQ. 783790. A Coy 783788. B Coy 779787. C Coy 780795. D Coy 784793. Recce patrols were sent out to contact enemy | ||||
night 7/8 Jun. PW taken 9. Cas 1 Offr wounded 2 O.Rs wounded. | ||||
8 D plus 2 | The task of 56 Bde was now to contact the Americans on our | |||
right flank, and 2 SWB were given the task of clearing SULLY West of BAYEUX. 2 Glosters altered posns slightly and | ||||
covered the western approaches to BAYEUX. 2 Essex remained covering Southern approaches. Carrier Pl patrolled well | ||||
South and returned intact with valuable infm that no enemy were contacted for approx. 6 to 8 miles South of BAYEUX. | ||||
1135 | First German aircraft seen over BAYEUX. | |||
1830 | Bn. HQ WGS est in school buildings 784802. PW taken 12. Cas. 1 OR missing believed killed. 1 OR wounded. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
BAYEUX | 9 D plus 3 | 1100 | Contact with US 26 RCT was est. | |
2200 | Posns were handed over to 2 Devons and Bn moved to same conc area as for 7 Jun. PW taken 50. Cas. 1 OR killed. | |||
10 D plus 4 | 56 Inf Bde became under Comd 7 Armd Div, working with 22 Armd Bde. Plan was to adv Southwards towards TILLY-SUR-SEULLES, | |||
2 Glosters were adv Bn with 2 Essex Right and 2 SWB in Res. | ||||
0857 | The adv behind the armr began, order of march B Coy Gp under comd 2 i/c, A Coy, Bn. HQ C and D Coys. | |||
BAYEUX- TILLY Rd. | Progress was very slow owing to close country, which aided the small enemy pockets of resistance, who were engaged by the fwd elements 7 Armd Div. | |||
1910 | Bn. was given the task of clearing woods area JERUSALEM 8172. Method - 1 Coy each side of the main BAYEUX - TILLY rd, A Coy | |||
Right C Coy Left, B and D Coys remained firm base. Enemy | ||||
opposition was slight and the woods were cleared successfully, several prisoners being taken. | ||||
Bn. occupied firm base this area night 10/11 Jun. Bn. est 818727. PW taken 4. Active patrolling carried out during the night B Coy moved fwd to occupy posns area ST BAZIRE 8270. | ||||
JERUSALEM | 11 D plus 5 | Recce patrols est the fact that the enemy were in BUCEELLS, | ||
MARCEL WOOD 8269 and PONT DE LA GUILLETTE. Plans were made for 2 Glosters to clear the village of BUCEELLS in order that | ||||
the tanks could adv. The op was delayed owing to the difficulty of getting tks across the river. | ||||
1250 | Assault finally went in and the high ground South of village reached. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
1715 | Bn then pushed on to assault TILLY. This attack went in on two Coy front, right A Coy - left C Coy. B and D sp and | |||
mopping up. Arty sp was provided by 86 Fd Regt. Fighting within the village became very close and confused, street and | ||||
house fighting developed. Enemy snipers were everywhere, incl the Church and Infirmary which was later burnt out. | ||||
the Posn became so obscure that it was decided to withdraw out of the village and to occupy the high ground to the NORTH, | ||||
the intention being to pass 131 Inf Bde through our posns at first light 12 Jun to complete the occupying on TILLY. | ||||
2200-2230 | Bn. withdrew out of TILLY inflicting Cas on the enemy and | |||
occupied the high ground area 8369. Following incidents occurred during the attack and withdrawal which warrant | ||||
recording:- One of the Pl Comds of A Coy who captured an enemy DR on the | ||||
rd leading South into TILLY, rode pillion behind the German and escorted him back to Bn. HQ. The M/C then became the | ||||
property of A Bn. DR whose bike had been run over by a carrier. During the withdrawal the left fwd Pl. Comd of A Coy Lt. J.O. | ||||
Levine (Canloan) was cut off with one Bren gp of his pl and two Bren gps of another pl while covering the withdrawal of the | ||||
Coy. The total number was 14 men, one of whom was wounded. They lay concealed and returned to our lines seven hours | ||||
afterwards bringing with them the wounded man. An unarmed private of A Coy who got lost in the wood and cut | ||||
off during the withdrawal was confronted with a German armed with a crowbar. The German hit him and broke his nose. He got | ||||
away from the German and hid in the wood. Later rejoining his Coy at 0730 hrs 12 Jun 44. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 Pl. C Coy were nearly surrounded during the fighting in TILLY, the enemy counter attacked again and again with grenades but the | ||||
Pl remained intact and inflicted many cas before withdrawing. The Germans holding TILLY were identified as elements Pz LEHR | ||||
Div. PW taken 23. Cas Lt. J.B. Evans killed. 3 O.Rs killed. Lt.R.H. Bentley wounded. 21 O.Rs wounded. | ||||
5 O.Rs. missing. | ||||
OUTSKIRTS TILLY. | 11 | 2330 | Bn posns were strengthened by one Coy 2 SWB which provided patrols. No further incidents occurred during the night. | |
12 D plus 6 | 0500 | 131 Bde passed through Bn. front with tank sp to take TILLY. | ||
Heavy fighting took place throughout the day. Little progress was made and the situation again became very confused. | ||||
1700 | Bn. HQ moved to an orchard on the reverse slope owing to enemy mortar activity. | |||
Queens posn became untenable and they were ordered to withdraw back through our lines. 2 Glosters were also ordered to withdraw after covering the withdrawal of the Queens. This op | ||||
was carried out successfully. The only enemy interference was a fighting patrol which followed up our withdrawal, but | ||||
contact with enemy was successfully broken. Bn. occupied posns ST BAZIRE 8270 and dug in. Patrols were | ||||
sent out. Str increase :- 46 O.Rs joined Bn this date. | ||||
ST BAZIRE | 13 D plus 7 | Bn. posns were strengthed during the day and Brit Arty was very active. Enemy tks were reported in wooded areas LINGEVRES and VERRIERES. Patrolling was again very active during night 13/14 | ||
Jun in order to pin point enemy posns. Cas. 1 OR wounded. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 D plus 8 | 2 Glosters came under Comd 151 Inf Bde as res bn for attack on LINGEVRES - VERRIERES the attack was preceeded by RAF bombing | |||
and intense Arty barrage. Strong enemy resistance was encountered but in the late afternoon it became apparent that | ||||
9 DLI were in danger of being surrounded by a counter attack of 20 Panthers in the village of LINGEVRES. 2 Glosters | ||||
were therefore ordered to relieve enemy pressure and assist in the mopping up of the village. 9 DLI were very successful | ||||
in dealing with the Panthers knocking six of them out, but lost heavy cas. | ||||
LINGEVRES | 2110 | Village was finally cleared A and D Coys took up covering posns SE and ST of village. C and B Coys firm based in the rear. | ||
2125 | Bn. HQ est 806689. | |||
2225 | PW. 1 Pl of 352 Pz GREN REGT, Pz LEHR DIV surrendered to B Coy | |||
from their half-tracked Vehs. Total PW taken 1 Offr. 44 ORs. Cas 1 O.R wounded. | ||||
Patrolling was carried out during the night. No enemy were encountered. | ||||
15 D plus 9 | Brit Arty was active along Bn. front. A Coy accounted for an | |||
enemy DR during the morning. Every effort was made to est a Bn. OP but observation was NIL owing to thick trees and | ||||
orchards. | ||||
1400 | Posns were handed over to 8 DLI and the Bn together with | |||
remainder 56 Inf Bde less 2 Essex moved into res and Bn. conc rest area 799743. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
ELLON. | 15 | Str. Increase. 12 O.Rs joined Bn. | ||
16 | A.H.R. Promotions - Offrs. Capt. A.H.R. CHALMERS to acting major vice Major for F.D Goode. Major Chalmers now becomes O.C. D Coy. | |||
16/18 | Bn. equipment overhauled and renewed. All ranks bathed at BAYEUX. | |||
18/19 | Night | 2 Glosters carried out a night exercise to practice and tie up all difficulties of a night attack. | ||
19 | Bn. had 40 vacancies for concert at BAYEUX "STARS IN BATTLE DRESS" | |||
19/20. | Planning began for a proposed attack by 56 Inf Bde through 1/6 | |||
Queens posns to capture BRIQUESSARD and high ground area BOUSSIGNY 7357 and to capture CAHAGNES. Bn O Gp recced the | ||||
area in co-op with Queens Bns in 131 Bde. | ||||
20 | Str Increase. Lt. E.P. Cockeram. Lt. E.V. Moulder. Lt. H.F.McAuley. joined Bn on this date. | |||
21 | All plans for the BRIQUESSARD attack were cancelled. Bde. is now in 30 Corps res. | |||
23 | Planning began for 56 Inf Bde attack to capture ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT provide firm base for future deployment 7 Armd Div. | |||
Str Increase. 10 O.Rs. joined Bn. | ||||
24 | Recces for ST GERMAIN battle were continued. New conc area | |||
for Bn was recced by OC HARBOUR PARTY in area SE of LA BUTTE 6469. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 | 930 | Preliminary orders for ST GERMAIN battle were given by the CO on cloth model to Bn O Gp. Coy Comds spent rest of day | ||
rec for lines of approach. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
ELLON. REST AREA. | June. 26 | Preparations for battle of St Germain D'Ectot continued and was codenamed "Ocean Swell". 2 Glosters Operation Order was issued. 56 Bde remained in 30 Corps res. Strength Increase. Capt.F.H. Burnaby (Cdn Forces) joined the Bn. Strength Decrease. 2/Lieut Jones was posted to 205 Reception Camp. | See Appx A 26.6.44. | |
28 | 0800 | Bn left rest area and moved to 56 Bde Conc area. Intention was to relieve 1 R.B. area LARFOURU L'ECLIN 7463. Change over took place after dark without incident. | ||
2300 | Bn HQ est 748633, all posns were fully occupied by 2359 hrs. | |||
PARFOURU L'ECLIN. 7463 | 29 | 0001- 0400. | Extensive patrolling. Brit arty active 0230 hrs. | |
29/30 | Contact with enemy maintained by patrols. | |||
30 | Cas. 2 wounded. |