War Diary: 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

Month and year: July 1944

The 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment July 1944 War Diary covers the units time in Normandy taking part in operation Goodwood and Charnwood

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1334

The "References to Appendices" column for this document was empty so has been omitted.

All diaries for this unit:

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

« Return to war diaries

Page 1 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	1		Bn. in area LE MESNIL near GAZELLE. Slight enemy shelling.
	2		Normal activity. Bn. supplied mine laying parties to work with R.E.
		1600	Bde. Comd. visited C.O.
	2/3		Recce patrol from 'D' Coy. encountered enemy patrol. Suffered one casualty.
			Two Germans believed hit but no confirmation.
	3		A Coy HQ hit by salvo from multi-barrelled mortar. Maj. S.J.Larkin,
			Capt. E.G.Hill wounded. Capt. J.Boys slightly wounded (not evacuated)
			3 O.Rs killed and 3 wounded.
	5		Bn. relieved by 5 South Staffs and moved by march route to BLAINVILLE.
	6	0430	Bn. complete in new area.
		0730	C.O. received preliminary orders for operation CHARNWOOD for which 2 Lincolns
			came under comd 185 Inf. Bde.
	7		Early morning Lt. G. R Canner was wounded on patrol to HEROUVILLE.
			Day spent preparing for CHARNWOOD - a 1 Corps operation for the capture of
			Caen. Role of 2 LINCOLNS to protect left flank of 185 Inf. Bde. on West

Page 2 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	7		bank of River ORNE.
		2330	Bn. advanced to Assembly Area at BEAUREGARD ready for attack on HEROUVILLE.
			One O.R. killed 3 wounded.
	8	0430	H' hour. 'B' Coy crossed S.L. and succeeded in reaching HEROUVILLE
			suffering casualties from A.P. mines and M.G. fire. Enemy shelled
			concentration area causing casualties. 'A' Coy and Bn. Comd group followed
			B' Coy. Enemy inf counter-attacked but were beaten off. During the
			attack Lt. Lodedale's pl was cut off by enemy fire and would not be
			relieved until evening, by which time all but seven of the pl were casualties.
		0900	Consolidation complete, 'C' Coy having moved up and 'D' Coy left as firm base
			on S. Line. S.P. A/Tk guns and Bn. 6 pdrs did not arrive for a further two
			hours. Comd. 185 Inf. Bde. ordered Bn. to remain in present location.
			During the day the enemy shelled and mortared the position very heavily and
			during the morning a formation of our own aircraft dropped bombs on our
			posns causing casualties in 'C' Coy.

Page 3 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	8		At about 2000 hrs the enemy counter-attacked with tanks and inf. 'C' Coy
			knocked out one tank with a PIAT and scored three hits on a second causing
			it to withdraw. S.P. A/TK gunners claimed 2 tanks hit. Attack then
			petered out.
		2100	Bde. Comd. visited C.O. and ordered Bn. to hold posn. Battle on other
			sectors reported as progressing very well. At last light enemy inf.
			again approached the posn but did not press attack and contented themselves
			with harassing M.G. fire. During the day about 30 prisoners were taken
			identified as G.A.F. personnel with men from 192 Panzer Grenadier Regt.
			Casualties :- Killed :- Capt. J.C.Roll. Lt. E.J. Richardson. Lt.G.C.Brown.
			wounded :- Capt. J.H. Ebbutt. Lt. A.H. Barney. Lt. P.N. Bowskill.
			Capt. J. Pawlett. Lt. H.Logsdale (Since died) Capt. P.Cliffe.
			Maj. W.H.B. Colvin and Capt. Kidney (both remained at duty).
			O.Rs. 22 killed and 113 wounded.
	8/9		A very quiet night except for occasional enemy M.G. harassing fire.

Page 4 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	9		Bn. was heavily shelled and mortared during the morning but owing to
			advances by the remainder of the Corps this subsided during the afternoon.
		2100	Bde. Comd. visited C.O. and ordered advance to original objective next day.
			13 O.R. killed and 13 O.Rs. wounded.
	10	0430	Bn. advanced on a one coy. front ('D' Coy). Objective was occupied without
			opposition and Bn. consolidated. Two prisoners were taken and a quantity of
			enemy equipment inc. a 2 cm A.A/N/Tk gun complete.
		1500	K.S.L.I. advancing from CAEN contacted forward coys and reported no
			opposition. Bde. Comd. visited Bn. and stated that relief would be made
			next day. 4 O.Rs. killed, 18 wounded by shelling. The following Offrs
			joined the Bn. to-day :- Capt. F.D.Gates. Capt. W.H.B.Berrir. Lt. J.M.Wheelock.
			Lt. A.D. Pinnington.
	10/11		Night quiet except for occasional shelling from E. bank of River ORNE.
	11		Bn. moved back in M. T. to rest area at LION SUR-MER, reverting to Comd 9
			Br. Inf. Bde. 3 O.Rs wounded.

Page 5 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	12/14		Period of rest and training - baths - NAAFI supplies and cinema shows
			available.
	15	A.M.	C.O. received orders to move to concentration area at AMFREVILLE by night.
	16	A.M.	C.O. called to Bde to receive preliminary orders for operation GOODWOOD.
			This information was passed to Coy. Comds only.
	17		C.O. received full orders for operation GOODWOOD which was planned to be a
			general offensive by Second Army involving the passing of three armoured
			divs to the E. of the River ORNE. Role of 3 Br. Inf. Div. to secure left
			flank of advance and 9 Br. Inf. Bde. to secure and hold TROARN.
		2000	Bn. O Gp. Bn. to be at 1/2 hours notice from H hr(0815 hrs 18 July).
			and to move to preliminary area at HEROUVILLETTE and await orders to move
			in 9 Br. Inf. Bde. reserve to attack on TROARN.
	18	0600	Preliminary air bombardment started and Bn. moved forward at 0915 hrs to
			HEROUVILLETTE where they remained util 1700 hrs. Reports received at
			intervals indicated that the battle was progressing well.

Page 6 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE		1700	Advance to area West of SANNERVILLE. Bn. advanced with tracked vehs in
			order. 'D' Coy. Comd. Gp. 'C' Coy. Carrier pl. 'A' Coy. Bn. HQ. 'B' Coy.
			Mortar Pl. tp. 45 A/T Bty. Regt. HQ E.R.Y. Just before dark Bn. Gp.
			moved off through SANNERVILLE to take up posn in orchard 143680 on left
			flank of 1 K.O.S.B.
	19		Bn. remained in posn, sending patrols forward from 'D' Coy to contact
			enemy posns. At 1700 hrs orders were received to advance and attempt to
			work forward towards TROARN. 'D' Coy. supported by tanks commenced
			advance but were held by very heavy M.G.fire. The enemy then shelled
			the area very heavily and a salvo from a Nebelwerfer wounded the C.O. and
			Bde. I.O. Lt. Bucknall. Maj. D.R Wilson assumed command. Bn. then
			received orders to consolidate in previous posn where they spent the night.
			Harassing fire, M.G. and gun, was intermittent during the night.
			The Bn. was now rather tired and food could not be broght up before 0300 hrs.
	20		Bn. was ordered to move forward during the day to orchard 147675. This was

Page 7 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	20		done by Coys moving up at intervals and move was complete by 1630 hrs.
			At 1700 hrs M.G. fire broke out and SUFFOLKS, on Bn. right flank,
			reported enemy approaching their psn. This did not develop into an
			attack and enemy withdrew.
		1900	Very heavy shelling of Bn. area for two hours causing considerable
			casualties. There was intermittent shelling throughout the night.
			During the shelling, Capt. Chambers, the Adjt., was wounded.
			Casualties :- Offrs. wounded :- Maj. F.J.M. Burghes. Maj. R.S. Hunter.
			Capt. J. Boys. Capt. W. R. Chambers. Capt. D.J. Kidney. Capt. W.W.J.Berrie.
			Lt. A.F. Henry. Et. W. Walker. Lt. R. Thornhill. Lt. M.J. Whellock.
			O.Rs. 18 killed and 211 wounded.
	21	0800	Bde. Comd. visited area and said that E. Yorks would be relieving Bn.
			Capt. Harrod returned from Bde. to become Adjt. Relief by E.Yorks was
			cancelled during the day and arrangements made for S. Lancs to relieve
			Bn. the next day. Recce parties were sent to ESCOVILLE to new area.

Page 8 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	22		By 1015 hrs relief was complete and Bn. established in new area by
			1230 hrs.
	22/24		Bn. reorganised in new area. Men obtained baths and visits to 3 Div. Club
			at LUC-SUR-MER were organised. Recce parties visited E. Yorks posn in
			brickworks 146688 preparatory to taking over on 25.
			Capt. R.L. Griffiths. Capt. W.J.Parsons and 2 Lt. M. J. Ives joined the Bn.
	25	0800	Bn. commenced to move to new area. Relief complete by 1200 hrs. Day
			quiet except for slight shelling and Coys settled in new posns.
			Capt. J.L. Iremonger, Lt. R.H.Mercer. Lt. J.C.R. Welch and 2 Lt. F.H.Plaistowe
			joined the Bn.
	25/26		Recce patrols made contact with flanking units (R.U.R. K.O.S.B.)
			and 'B' coy sent fighting patrol to church 156694 (known as Piccadilly
			Circus). This patrol was unable to find any enemy.
	26		During day area was mortared, shelled and nebelwerfered, with little effect.
			Snipers established posts fwd of our posn, but made no contact.

Page 9 of 11

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	26	Lt. E. C. Turner and Lt. M.J. Ives interviewed by Bde. Comd. Reported on
		A.F. 194 as unsuitable as Inf. Offrs. Sent to 104 C.R.C. pending
		posting. Three O.Rs. wounded.
	26/27	Contact patrols to flank units, and fighting patrol to Piccadilly Circus
		which again failed to contact enemy. Considerable enemy air activity
		during night. Enemy dropped flares and bombs but none hit Bn. area.
		To-night and on previous occasions, Germans have fired green verey lights,
		presumably to indicate their fwd tps to their own aircraft.
	27	Day quiet. Bn. received visit from Capt. J.H.Boys (I.O. 70 Bde. )
		Normal patrols at night. At first light 28 July 'C' Coy. and 'B' Coy.
		changed over positions.
	28	Comd. 185 Bde. visited area. 'C' Coy sent recce patrols to Piccadilly
		Circus during day which brought back useful information.
		Enemy aircraft dropped A/P bombs at last light but none fell in Bn. area.

Page 10 of 11

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	28/29	Normal contact patrols. 'C' Coy patrol with detachment from 3 Recce
		unable to proceed beyond Picadilly Circus.
	29	Maj. R.D.Williams , a former member of the Bn. now 49 Recce visited C.O.
		C.O. Norfolks and Coy. Comds. visited area to recce posns before taking
		over next day. This take-over was later postponed to 31 July.
		During the day 'C' Coy kept a recce patrol in Piccadilly Circus area to
		observe enemy, who had infiltrated during the previous night. Efforts
		to obtain a prisoner were not successful. It. A.Hempsall and Lt. D.D
		Queskey joined Bn.
	29/30	Normal recce and contact patrols during the night.
	30	A very quiet morning. During the afternoon a captured Nebelwerfer was
		fired from ESCOVILLE. Germans retaliated by firing two Nebelwerfer salvos
		into Bn. area. During the evening information was received that a
		different formation would be relieving Bn and that adv parties would
		arrive 0800 hrs 31 July. 4 O.R. killed and 6 wounded.

Page 11 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
FRANCE	31	0530	Bn. advance parties set off to recce conc area at BIEVILLE. Adv. parties
			of relieving Bn. arrived. Relieving Bn. was 4 LINCOLNS and many old
			friendships were renewed among members of the two Bns.
			The body of an East Riding Yoemanry Officer (240871 - Moreton) which had
			been recovered the previous evening from Piccadilly Circus, was buried.
		1400	Relief now complete and Coys marched to new area at BIEVILLE.
		1800	Bn. established in new area. Information received from Brig. that Bn.
			was now in Army Reserve (3rd Div. and 51st (H) Div) and was at 4 1/2 hrs
			notice to move.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

Layers

War Diary: 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

Month and year: July 1944

Viewing map locations