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    War Diary: 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

    Month and year: June 1944

    The June 1944 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment war diary covers the unit arriving in Normandy and their fighting inland from Lion-sur-Mer to Galmanch.

    National Archive Reference: WO 171/1334

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    Page 1 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    GRANVILLE HOUSE, HAMBLEDON.1 & 2Battalion resting in Marshalling area.
    22030Craft serials 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404 (consisting Carriers, A tk,
    Mortars and duplicate Battalion HQ) moved to GOSPORT for embarkation.
    2350Above serials embarked.
    Camp A.2. EMSWORTH COMMON HANTS.4Main body of Battlion - craft serials 394, 395, 396 embussed in preparation
    for move to PORTSMOUTH. Operation postponed 24 hours and Battalion returned
    to Camp.
    5Main body again moved to PORTSMOUTH and embarked in LCI(L). Remainder of
    day and night spent at sea.
    FRANCE60725Capt PHW Clarke. CSM Haycox, Lsjt F. Smith, Lcpl W. Barnes, Cpl W Kington,
    Lcpl C. Martin landed with 185 Inf Bde in Order to recce Bn Assembly Area.
    61200Main body Bn landed, very wet landing, waist deep in water. Beach being
    slightly shelled. Bn moved to assembly area in Southern outskirts of LION.
    Snipers very active, 6 enemy aircraft attacked beaches - all brought down
    by AA fire.
    Page 2 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    FRANCE61210Patrol, from A Coy Commanded by Lt AF Henry sent off to reach CRESSERONS.
    1300First casualty Pte Harmer C. 14391886 wounded by snipers bullet.
    1415Vehicle Party (Craft loads 399, 404) disembarked and joined main body.
    1700Lt Henry's patrol returned - unable to reach CRESSERONS owing to enemy strong
    point at LION SUR MER. 4801296 Pte Newsome E. killed by shell-fire.
    first fatal casualty.
    1800Bn placed under Command 8 Br Inf Bde with task of holding flank of beach head
    Day's casualties 2 OR killed, 1 OR wounded.
    6/7Night spent in assembly area.
    7Lt J. Harrod appointed Bde IO in place of Capt Baptiste (Wounded)
    71400Comd 8 Br Inf Bde visited CO and gave orders for attack on beach strong point
    at LION SUR MER. Capt DRF Hart MC wounded.
    1520Bn moved to attack strong point. Phase 1 A & B Coys to take Chateau at HT LION
    Phase 2 C & D Coys to capture strong point. Phase 1 successful but Phase
    but Phase 2 abonded owing to Bn moving very short notice to ST AUBIN d'ARQUENAY
    Page 3 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    FRANCE71520 (cont)to take up def posn to protect left flank on River ORNE. Casualties 1 Offr
    wounded 8 OR wounded.
    8/9Bn remaind in def posn. Casualties Capt PHW Clarke wounded, 1 OR killed
    8 OR wounded.
    90700Bn O Group.
    1000Move to Wood 1 kilometre S of Cazelle to take over from 2 RUR.
    9p.m.D Coy acted as protection to Bde O Group and sustained casualties from
    Mortar fire. 5 OR killed 7 wounded.
    10/11Bn moved to LE MESNIL relieving 1 Suffolk and reverted under Comd 9 Br Inf Bde
    Lt DT Brown killed, Lt JR Bush, Lt WE Groocock wounded, 2 OR wounded.
    11/12Defences improved, enemy mortared posn, D + 4 tpt arrived, information
    received that 'F' trucks lost at sea. Capt Raikes joined Bn. Casualties
    1 OR killed, 3 Wounded.
    122130Bn HQ Mortared. 2IC Maj DR WILSON slightly injured - remained at duty.
    Capt Raikes injured. 1 OR killed, 12 wounded.
    Page 4 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    FRANCE12/13Patrols defence work - 4 OR wounded.
    R Coy Officers arrived, Capt Hill Lts Sutton, Hamlet, Canner, Thornhill.
    14/15B Coy patrol to destroy MG post found post empty but destroyed concrete
    emplacement. 1 OR wounded.
    15/16Bn relieved 2 RUR in CAMBES WOOD 1 OR wounded.W.D. 1.
    16Spasmodic shelling - routine patrols, D + 9 tpt arrived. Lt EC Turner,
    Lt LA MUNTON arrived. 4 ORs wounded.
    17Recce patrol to GALMANCHE. Lt Hamlet injured. Bn area shelled. 4 OR wounded.
    17/18C Coy fighting patrol to GALMANCHE. Lt Pacey wounded. 8 OR wounded.W.D. 2.
    19Normal activity. Maj Fennell injured by shelling. 2 OR killed 2 Wounded.
    20Recce patrols - spasmodic shelling.
    21/22Normal patrols. 1 OR wounded 21st. 1 OR wounded 22nd
    23Normal patrols 1 OR wounded.
    24Maj RJH BURGHES joined unit. 1 OR killed.
    Page 5 of 5
    PlaceDateHourSummary of Events and InformationReferences to Appendices
    FRANCE.251 OR wounded.
    26Bn HQ shelled very large proportion of unexploded shells. 3 OR wounded.
    271000Bde O Group for operation ABERLOUR in which 2 LINCOLNS to capture
    GALMANCHE and in the final phase to exploit to CUSSY. Maj EEHG DAWSON wounded
    by ricocheted bullet. 2 OR killed 2 wounded. Lt NA Barnea (Cdn) and 2Lt
    Webb joined unit.
    1801Bn O Group. Attack planned with A & B Coys carrying out main effort
    280600Bn at one hours notice to attack (Lt Richardson LJ joined unit)
    1830CO called to Bde operation ABERLOUR cancelled owing to 8 Inf Bde lack of
    success in initial attack on LA BIJUDE. 1 OR wounded.
    290001B Coy fighting patrol to GALMANCHE. Lt CURNOW slightly injured. At least
    2 German claimed killed.
    29/30Bn relieved by 1 KOSN and moved to Bde reserve area at LE MESNIL. 1 OR wounded.
    30Lt Hancock AS joined. 1 OR wounded.

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