War Diary: 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers

Month and year: August 1944

The 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers August 1944 War diary covers the unit crossing the river Risle and advancing to the Seine at La Mailleraye Sur Seine.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1380

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Page 1 of 9

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
1	In the morning "D" Coy supported by the flame-throwers attacked the village	appx "A" - AF3.W.3008-9E
	of ST GERMAIN D'ECTOT and secured it, firm-basing themselves on the Southern
	side of the village. Patrols were pushed forward to CANDON and eventually	appx "B" - adm order No.1. dated 3 aug 44
	"A" Coy got forward to CANDON and established themselves on the bridge.
	Bn HQ moved up to LA COUARDE and "C" Coy took over the orchard at 767625.
	By this time the REs, a Pl from 233 Fd Coy had cleared all the mines in	appx "C" - wireless log.
	the area, and had marked those which did not need lifting. Schu mines
	were found and together with the Assault Pl they did a very good job. All
	was quiet that night.
2	"B" and "D" Coys moved forward and occupied the Eastern end of the LAUNAY
	bridge, linking up with the ESSEX on the right and 231 Bde on the left.
	"C" Coy took over a position at the bridge 776621 and Bn HQ moved up to
	CANDON. That night the enemy shelled the Bn area a little.
3	Bn remained in same positions.
4	Bn moved out at 0830 hrs to a rest area at CHOUAIN 8372 as the Bde had been

Page 2 of 9

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
4 contd		pinched out of the line and we were due for a rest. Concert by GEORGE
		FORMBY.
5		Bn resting. Bn came under command 59 Div at 0800 hrs.
6		Drumhead service for the Bde.
7		Bn resting.
8		Bn resting.
9		Bn moved to concentration area 8951 and later to area 908505.
10	1100	Bn crossed the ORNE and concentrated area 963496. That night "A" and "C"
		Coys moved forward to capture the high ground known as The Court Genets
		feature at 975473 and "B" and "D" Coys the high ground area 972463. Bn
		HQ moved to FORGES-RA-CAMBRAGE. All moves were completed by 0500 hrs 11
		Aug 44.
11		Bn area heavily mortared and shelled. Bn HQ moved to area 967489. "A" and
		"C" Coys particularly badly shelled and mortared. Sqn of Churchills from
		34 Tank Bde went forward in support of "A" Coy and "C" Coy and came under

Page 3 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	11 contd		heavy fire.
	12		Bn remained in position. Shelling was quieter.
	13		"C" Coy sent patrol during the night 12/13 to LE MARCEL which allowed the
			Sqn of Churchills to come out. They moved back at 0730 hrs. All quiet
			during the day. During the night Coys moved forward under cover of Fighting
			Patrols and occupied the village of PLACY, 9845.
	14		Bn HQ moved to PLACY at 0630 hrs. At 1000 hrs forward body set off and
			formed a protective screen on high ground pt 187 9643, no enemy being
			encountered. As the Bn came up pt 187 was heavily shelled and mortared
			and the Bn dug in in a defensive position on the reverse slope.
	15		"B" and "D" Coys, covered by Fighting Patrols moved forward to high ground
			at 9542 without encountering any opposition. Patrols went forward to the
			river and reported no enemy. Bn HQ moved to 913429. That night Patrols from
			"A" and "C" Coy went out to deal with a report of Germans in the ST REMY area.
			They returned without meeting any opposition.

Page 4 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	16		Bde ordered 'Stand down' and Bn rested.
	17		Bn moved to take over Bn position area 0335 from 7th R.W.F. After take
			over "C" Company improved their position by going fwd to the railway at
			0632 and "A" Coy sent a fighting patrol to pt 231 0833. This
			reported no enemy and the Coy moved up and established itself on 231.
	18		At 0100 hrs fighting patrols from "B" & "D" Coys went south through "A"
			Coy to get on to the high ground at 082320 and 079320. Patrols heard
			digging area LE VAL wood 087318. By 0800 hrs "B" & "D" Coys were both
			on their objectives though "B" Coy were having trouble from LE VAL wood
			on their left. At 1240 hrs after an arty conc "B" Coy attacked LE VAL
			wood. Two Plns succeeded in getting into the northern edge of the wood
			but were unable to get further. As a result of this one pl was pulled
			out and together with the reserve platoon tried to get into the wood from
			the western side. After a tough battle the Coy Comd. decided that the
			opposition was greater than was at first thought, and so withdrew to

Page 5 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	18 (CONT)		the high ground which he had originally occupied. PW stated that there
			were about 80 men in the wood. At 2200 hrs the whole of the Corps Artillery
			was concentrated on the wood and two fighting patrols from "A" & "C" Coy
			went in after it. They found the enemy still in occupation and had to
			come back.
	19		"A" & "D" Coys attacked LE VAL wood, zero hour at 1100 hrs. "B" Coy were
			in a cut off fire position at 082320. "C" Coy were in reserve. "A", "B"
			& "C" Coys moved to an FUP in area 100328 and advanced after an arty conc.
			The attack was successful and 33 PW passed through BN HQ. Mines were
			found in LE VAL village. "D" Coy occupied objective. "A" Coy concentrated
			with the rest of the Bn at 0833, Bn was relieved by 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers
			and "D" Coy were able to withdraw and complete the Bn concentration
			by 1700 hrs. At 1900 hrs Bn moved to area PENDOUZE 1960. Move completed
			by 2100 hrs.
	20		Bn came under Comd 49 Div and rested. C of E Service.

Page 6 of 9

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
21	Bn still resting. "C" Coy disbanded and "A", "B" & "D" Coys made up
	owing to lack of reinforcements. 60 reinforcements arrived from Tyneside
	Scottish, 3 Coys now up to strength.
22	Nothing happened except Recce party went off to BONNEBOSQUE.
23	Battalion moved to area BONNEBOSQUE 4396.
24	Bn resting atb BONNEBOSQUE.
25	In the morning Bn following up the advance of the ESSEX, and GLOSTERS moved
	to area of BANGY LE CHATTEAU 5898 where it spent the greater part of the
	day. In the evening Bn moved to conc area at LA CHAPELLE BAYVELLE 6690	Transcription note: 6690 should be 6600?
	where the night was spent.
26	In the morning Bn, with fwd body consisting of "A" Coy and elements of "Sp"
	Coy moved to a position west of PONT AUDEMER. The afternoon was spent
	in recces for the crossing of the RIVER RISLE. Tac Bn HQ was est in
	PONT AUDEMER and a convenient spot chosen for the crossing at 775199.	Transcription note: 775199 should be 775099?
	Tape was laid from fac Bn HQ to the crossing, the route running through

Page 7 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	26 (CONT)		a Maquis HQ and a tannery. At 2130 hrs "B" Coy left the Assembly Area and crossed
			the river at 2230 hrs followed by "A" Coy. "B" Coy were fired on by a Spandau force
			which they dealt with successfully before reaching their objective 400 yds
			beyond the river on the high ground. "A" Coy took up a position on their
			right without difficulty. "B" Coy suffered 12 casualties.
	27		Locations remained unchanged until the afternoon, although there was
			shelling and sniping at PONT AUDEMER. In the evening "D" Coy crossed the
			main bridge at PONT AUDEMER, as this bridge had only been partially
			destroyed. All Coys concentrated into a firm base around X rds 773104 in
			the evening and Bn tpt moved into the town.
	28		At first light Bn HQ and Bn tpt joined the Coys and Bn HQ was est at
			773106. In the afternoon Bn moved to new concentration area at 892112
			At 2230 hrs "D" Coy gp moved to deal with an enemy pocket at 867107. Patrols
			were sent out to contact enemy but whilst the Coy was forming up for an
			attack it was subjected to heavy enemy mortar and shell fire. This broke

Page 8 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	28 (CONT)		up their attack and the Coy having suffered 18 casualties, returned to the
			conc area.
	29		The Carrier Pl with Mortars in sp moved out to maintain contact with
			a/m enemy at 867107. After lifting some mines they were subjected to
			spasmodic sniping and MG fire throughout the day but succeeded in keeping
			contact with enemy and suffered two casualties. They were withdrawn in the
			afternoon to prepare for Bn move.
			At 1830 hrs, the Bn with fwd body of "A" Coy and elements of "Sp" Coy
			moved through the FORET DE BRETONNE and reached the SEINE at LA MAILLERAYE
			SUR SEINE 9621 without difficulty. A firm base was formed at LA MAILLERAYE
			for the night.
	30		There was no fighting throughout the day but a stream of PW arrived at Bn
			HQ. The Carrier Pl took up a position of observation at LA HARELLE
			HEURTEANVILLE 9817 but no contact was made.
	31		Bn positions remained unchanged as follows:- "A" Coy 964214, "B" Coy

Page 9 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	31 (CONT)		968209, "D" Coy 951201, Bn HQ 953207. Prisoners continued to come in,
			Total of PW for the LA MAILLERAYE position was 407. Within the Bn area
			over 300 damaged and destroyed vehicles were left by the enemy.
			During afternoon and evening a small patrol crossed the SEINE by boat,
			located shipyard containing a damaged U Boat in process of construction,
			took over 11 PW from Maquis and returned without loss.

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War Diary: 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers

Month and year: August 1944

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