War Diary: 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Month and year: July 1944

The 2nd Seaforth Highlanders’ July 1944 diary records their actions in Normandy in the areas around Ranville and Manoir du Bois. They endured frequent shelling and mortaring, and supported Operation Goodwood

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1369

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.

All diaries for this unit

WO 171/1369 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

War Diaries That Reference 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

The 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders are mentioned in 2 other war diaries from July 1944.

Browse all referring war diaries

War Diaries Referenced in this diary

This diary mentions 1 units with war diaries for July 1944.

Browse all referenced war diaries

Page 1 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
RANVILLE	1	0300	Change over with 1 GORDONS completed without incident.
1173 40/16 NW		0745	Brigadier 152 Inf Bde visited Bn HQ and inspected the Coy
1/25000			areas with CO.
		1200	New Chaplain, Capt NIXON, joined main body from 'B' Ech.
			Day spent in settling-in.
			Trace of new location att.	Appx 'A'

	2	0300	One pl of C Coy and Carrier Pl moved to ESCOVILLE area. See
			Appx 'B'.	Appx 'B' (152 Inf Bde
		0900	Church parade for C & D Coys & Bn HQ in C Coy area.	Op Instrn No. 3). Defence of ESCOVILLE
		1030	COs Conference for Coy Comds ref Op DUNDEE (Plan for counter-
			attack on ESCOVILLE if taken by enemy). See Appx 'C'.	Appx 'C'
			Policy in this area - Re-equip and re-organise - Baths and
			recreation. Only operational commitments - daily morning
			Stand To - Garrison of ESCOVILLE for periods of 24 hrs, in

Page 2 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		turn with other Bns - Preparations for counter-attack of
		ESCOVILLE if necessary.
	1045	Two New Officers joined the Bn: Lt CUNNINGHAM to B Coy -
		Lt CARTER (CANADA) to C Coy.
	1100	Church parade for A & B Coys.
		COs recce party to HERONVILLETTE area 122732 to view ground -
		ref Op DUNDEE.
		Liaison with B Coy 5 CAMERONS.
	2200	A Coy march off to take up night posns in Area ESCOVILLE -
		See Appx 'B'.
	2300	A Coy arrived ESCOVILLE 1271.

3	0400	A Coy mortared whilst leaving ESCOVILIE posn. One OR wounded.
	1000	R.C. Church parade in RANVILLE Church.
	1015	Div Comd inspected the Bn Area.

Page 3 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
		Day spent on inspections and general re-organisation.
	1630	Preparation and briefing of Lt V.I. URQUHART for daylight patrol
		on 4 July. IO and 2 IC go to LONGUEVAL 0872 to liaise with
		1 GORDONS.

4	0830	Daylight patrol under Lt URQUHART left Bn (Area for LONGUEVAL.
		Task of Patrol was to search WOOD area 080710 (a) for
		likely enemy posns & strong Pts (b) for minefields or booby
		traps. Lt URQUHART killed by sniper whilst on patrol.
		Report on Patrol is attached with Air Photograph.	Appx 'D'
	0930	Mobile baths for the Bn.

5	0300	One pl of B Coy and Carrier Pl proceed to ESCOVILLE area 1271.
	0330	Spasmodic shelling of Bn area - No damage or casualties reported.
	0530	- ditto -

Page 4 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1100	Major GILMOUR, MC, OC C Coy returned to duty after illness.
	1445	IO attended Conference at Bde HQ on Op to be carried out by
		5 SEAFORTH i.e. Raid on BUTTE DE LA HOGUE 1269 to capture PWs
		for identification and destroy as many enemy as possible.
		D Coy 2 SEAFORTH, in the ESCOVILLE posn, to provide two standing
	-	patrols at 119704 and 127702 and to protect S.L. of 5 SEAFORTH,
		area PRE BARON Track continued WEST - 120706 to 125706.
	1530	OC D Coy informed of his task. Capt NIXON (Chaplain) left Bn
		to take up another appointment.
	2200	D Coy marched to ESCOVILLE posn.

6	0400	D Coy, One pl of B Coy and Carrier Pl withdraw from ESCOVILLE
		posn. Standing Patrols N.T.R.
		Raid by 5 SEAFORTH reached objective but found it unoccupied by
		the enemy.

Page 5 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1245	CO to Bde HQ for Conference.
	1400	CO and IO go to area 138714 to look over the posns of the
		7 A & SH.
	1700	CO and IO return to Bn HQ.
	2100	COs Conference for Coy Comds - 2 SEAFORTH will relieve 7 A & SH
		on 8 Jul.

7	0800	Adv party under IO leave for 7 A & SH location.
		Coys prepare for move.
	1200	Coy Comds visit 7 A & SH posns.

8	0830	Relief by 2 SEAFORTH of 7 A & SH began.
	1430	Relief completed without incident.
		Orders for relief and defence of new posn - See Appx 'E'. .	Appx 'E'
		Major M.J.D. DRUMMOND (2 IC) leaves the Bn on Staff appointment.

Page 6 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
9	0930	LO from 154 Inf Bde visited Bn to clear up posn re Minefields.
	1030	Comd 152 Inf Bde visited Bn.
	1245	154 Inf Bde Mortars firing on enemy A tk guns.
		Small patrol from A Coy penetrated into the Wood on their front
		and located three enemy MG posns in area 147713.
	1745	Own 3-in MOR: carried out shoot on these MGs.
	1900	128 Fd Regt shelled TRIANGLE Area (See Appx 'E' ) .
		Note: TRIANGLE area was the centre of the enemy opposition
		in this area and received constant attention from
		all weapons.
10	1100	Enemy a/c over Bn area, one a/c hit and one set on fire.
	1135	Bn area again straffed by enemy a/c.
	1305	Heavy 25 pdr and 3" Mor conc in Triangle area.
		Enemy seen crossing rd by sniper.
	1445	Comd 152 Inf Bde visited Bn HQ.

Page 7 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	1630	Arty Prep for two Coy attack by 7 Para Bn (Left Flanking Unit)
		on FARM 146724, began - Resulted in considerable retaliation
		by enemy in Bn area causing 3 killed and 2 wounded.
	1900	Lt FAWNS took out Recce patrol on A Coy front, located two MG
		posns and shot one German soldier.

11	0345	) Bn area shelled - C Coy report considerable use of Verey
		) lights by enemy during night, probably due to nervousness.
	0520	Nebelwerfer fired from. the NE lading just NORTH of the Bn area.
	0655	Three ME 109 flew low over the Bn area.
	1000	Bde Comd visited Comd Post.
		7 Para Bn relieved by 8 Para Bn - liaison made by OC 8 Para Bn.
	1415	Bn area shelled - one OR killed.
	1830	OC 128 Fd Regt visited Command Post.
		Two enemy deserters were brought in.

Page 8 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		Pl of B Coy relieved A Coy's standing patrol in the Outpost
		posn on A Coy Front.
		OC 5 CAMERONS visited Bn Area, in view of possible C/A by that
		Bn, should 2 SEAFORTH posn be overrun.
		Recce patrol on A Coy front fired upon and withdrew.
	2245	A Coy report Fwd Section (B Coy Pl) being attacked in Inf.
		MOR: D.F. task brought down 200x EAST.
		German Inf cross Rd by Barricade from EAST to WEST - Intermittant
		unaimed Spandau fire from triangle during evening and night.
	2305	MOR ordered to cease fire.
	2345	A Coy report, all quiet - No harm done.
		Posn remained unchanged.
12	1030	Enemy a/c over the Bn area. Engaged by AA.
		Spasmodic shelling of the Bn area.
		Considerable enemy movement from EAST to WEST seen on Rd, in

Page 9 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		area of Barricade.
	1400	D Coy relieves C Coy during afternoon.

13		Intermittant unaimed Spandau fire from triangle during night
		12/13.
	1500	Bde Comd visited Comd Post.
	1600	Para Bn ranging with their Mortars, brought down retaliation
		on Coy areas by enemy Mortars.
	1645	Own Arty shelled Triangle Area - Enemy Mortared Bn area in reply.
	1650	Bde Comd visited Comd Post.
	1720	Our a/c straffed area SOUTH of TRIANGLE, our arty also shelled
		same area.
	2100	CO to Conference at HQ 152 Inf Bde.

14	0855	OC D Coy reports one casualty due to own Mortars falling short.

Page 10 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
		0905	Para Bn report they will carry out Mortar Shoots every hour
			EAST of their area.
		1145	Bde Comd visited Comd Post.
		1230	8 Para Bn fire MGs into WOODS EAST of their posn in order to
			harrass the enemy.
		1400	RE officer arrived at Comd Post to check minefield - considerable
			doubt was experienced as to the accurate state of the Minefields
			in the Bn area and it was found necessary to have an officer
			check on ALL of them, known and suspected. This was done
			both on the Bn front and in the 5 SEAFORTH area.
		1630	Major D.A. BLAIR, MBE, arrived to take over appointment of 2 IC.
		1715	Bn area mortared - B Coy report. one Casualty - All Coy lines
			put out of action.
		1840	All line comn restored.
		2125	Harrassing fire put down by ten Brens of Carrier Pl. on fixed lines.

Page 11 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			General situation at this time
			The enemy consisted of elements of I & II Coys 857 Regt of 346
			Inf Div. The BOIS DE BAVENT 1471 consisted of close, bushy
			woods with occasional clearings and rides. At the most, fields
			of fire did not exceed 100 yds and 30 yds was the average.
			The enemy were definitely nervous and there was no doubt that
			we were on top. From the first, the CO ordered a policy of
			vigourous harrassing of the enemy in every way - Small patrols
			were sent out during the day. It was found impossible to
			patrol at night owing to the thick undergrowth. No casualties
			resulted on any of these Patrols.
			Other means used to harrass the enemy included: sudden
			concentrations fired by up to twenty 2-in Mors, firing as a Bty,
			fixed line fire by Brens of Carrier Pl on harrassing tasks,
			sometimes augmented by massed Browning guns from the top of

Page 12 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		Tks under comd, the laying of mines, booby traps, the firing of
		Brens from the top of trees, and the use of remote controlled
		Stens firing on fixed lines at night and operated by wires.
15	0150	Many flares observed from D Coy in enemy lines - no obvious
		reason.
	0515	2-in MOR Shoot by A Coy & A tk Pl silenced an enemy MG post.
		Intermittant shelling & Mortaring by both sides for remainder
		of day.

16		Morning quiet.
	1400	Spasmodic shelling and Mortaring by both sides.
	to 1635

17	0915	CO to co-ordinating Conference at HQ 152 Inf Bde.
	1145	Enemy heard digging and cutting wood and knocking in posts about

Page 13 of 20

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			300 yds from O.P. 139710 along 143°, 148°, 163° Grid bearings.
			Noise of MT along rd ESCOVILLE - TROARN 1567.
		1345	CO's 'O' GP Conference on Op GOODWOOD. (British and Canadian
			forces to push due South of CAEN. 152 Inf Bde under comd 3
			BRIT Div were to protect the left flank on the high ground
			BOIS DE BAVENT - TROARN. 3 BRIT Div's objectives included
			TOUFFREVILLE 1369, SANNERVILLE 1368, TROARN 1567. 5 SEAFORTH
			were to capture and consolidate the TRIANGLE area. 5 CAMERONS
			to consolidate in area CHATEAU145703. 2 SEAFORTH to remain
			firm in present locn. Should 2 SEAFORTH be required to push
			further South of 5 CAMERONS , 12 DEVONS would take over present
			locn.
		1630	OC 12 DEVONS visits CO to liaise take over of Bn area if ordered.
		1700	CO to Conference with Bde Comd on final pts in connection with
			Op GOODWOOD.

Page 14 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
18		Op GOODWOOD.
	0520	Own hvy bomber programme begun.
		B Coy moved back some 300 yds to conform with bomb line.
		Flares were removed from Diagonal Path between 2 SEAFORTH and
		5 SEAFORTH as it was to be used as a forming up area for 5 SEAFORTH.
	0625	Bombing ends.
	0630	Arty barrage opens.
	0700	Second wave bombing begins.
		CROCODILES (Flame-throwing CHURCHILL Tks) push forward to 5
		SEAFORTH start line, with 17 pl D Coy as escort through Gap in
		minefields prepared the night before. 17 Pl suffered some
		casualties from enemy D.F. Bn experienced intermittant mortar
		and shell fire all the morning.
	1400	CO to Bde HQ.
	1420	CO returns. Bn to be relieved by 12 DEVONS as soon as possible,

Page 15 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
		2 SEAFORTH to conc for night in 5 CAMERONS area preparitory for
		move next morning.
	2045	Take over by 12 DEVONS complete.
		2 SEAFORTH settled. in in area 130717.
	2100	D Coy ordered to move fwd to CHATEAU area 145703 to assist
		5 CAMERONS in consolidation of their posns in this area.
	2145	COs Conference with Coy Comds - Bn to move first light 19 Jul
		to take up posns area South of CHATEAU145703.
		Lt CHRISTIE and Lt CUNNINGHAM B Coy wounded,

19	0730	Comd 152 Inf Bde and CO with Bn Recce Party move to CHATEAU
		area where Bde Comd allots Bn area. See trace (Appx 'F)	Appx 'F'
	1130	Bn complete in new locn without incident.
		Patrol reconnoitred CHATEAU area under Lt TANNAHILL, D Coy,

Page 16 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
20		Day quiet but heavy rain resulted in very muddy conditions -
		the soil in this area was mainly of clay and slit trenches
		became completely flooded.
		C Coy relieved D coy.

21		Weather conditions remain bad - showers all day. Enemy were
		believed to have two or more MG posns in Orchard 145704, just
		North of CHATEAU, and two conc of 2-in MOR and one of 3-in MOR
		were put down there. Results unknown. C Coy Patrol report
		enemy defence in Orchard.

22		Quiet day - little to report. B Coy relieved C Coy.

23		Morning quiet - weather still overcast.
	1645	Heavy and accurate enemy mor conc on Bn HQ. - Casualties : -

Page 17 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		FOO and two ORs of 128 Fd Regt - Capt C.O. REAY (Adjt),
		Capt A.S. TODD (OC HQ Coy),Capt R.S.A. AITKIN (QM),ten ORs wounded.
	2130	Bn HQ moved to new posn in area 143696.
		During afternoon, hvy conc of 2-in MOR, 3-in MOR, Arty and fire
		from tks was put down on Orchard area and wooded area East of
		CHATEAU - during conc, raiding party from B Coy searched
		buildings around CHATEAU for enemy or traces of his occupation
		during night. None found.

24	0700	B Coy patrol report noises of digging to North of Orchard.
	0830	B Coy patrol searched buildings North of CHATEAU but no sign
		of enemy.
		Continual enemy Mortaring of Bn area.
		RAP located in Ho 135699.

Page 18 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
25	1115	4.2 MORs of 1/7 Mixed laid hvy smoke conc on wood East of
		CHATEAU in order to set it alight but without success.
	1400	Mobile baths arranged for one Coy at a time in area RANVILLE,
	0530	B Coy patrol fired on by Spandaus from orchard area.
	0600	B Coy patrol reports stables just North of CHATEAU clear of
		enemy.
	0900	Endeavour to obtain O.P. in area of CHATEAU unsucessful.

26	0700	Stables reported clear by patrol from B Coy.
	0900	Enemy shelled Bn area - no casualties.
	1100)	)Mobile baths continued.
	1400	)
	2000	C Coy relieved B Coy.
		During night hvy bombing in vicinity of Bn area - no casualties.
		Party to Corps Rest Camp left during afternoon.

Page 19 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
27		Mainly quiet with intermittant mortaring of Bn area.
		Patrol from C Coy located enemy Spandau post in orchard.
		Mobile baths arranged for today - cancelled.

28		Adv Party 1 BW arrived to examine Bn area for take over.
		Mobile baths for remainder of Bn.
		Little activity on Bn front.

29		Bn relieved by 1 BW.
		Bn moved to ANISY to rest and reorganise. Locns as per trace
		(Appx 'G').	Appx 'G'

30		Church Parades.
	1030	RC
	1200	Pres.

Page 20 of 20

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
		General tidying up by Coys.
		Lt H.D. ROBINSON arrived and pstd to C Coy.

31		Continued reorganisation and Inspections.
	1000	Bde Comd spoke to all Offrs & Sits giving them a general review
		of the campaign to date and a forecast of future operations.
	2000	Balmorals Concert Party gave a show to Bn.

Units Referencing the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

The following units mention the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in their war diaries from July 1944:

Units Referenced in this war diary

The following units are mention in this war diary and have their own July 1944 war diary

12th Devonshire Regiment, July 1944 War Diary