National Archive Reference: WO 171/1251
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CHARING | 1-10 | Conversions of one Tank per Tp back to 6PDR consequent | ||
upon the arrival of new ammunition. | ||||
Shooting at Thornecliffe | ||||
Leave stopped beyond 10 mile radius. | ||||
Sand-table exercise for offrs and Tk commanders in | ||||
view of information brought back by Capt Farrell | ||||
from Normandy. | ||||
The A.A tp was enlarged by arrival of two more Tanks | ||||
The two American air-borne Tks "Locusts" which had been | ||||
given to Recce Tp to experiment with were sent away | ||||
having been found not up to requirements. About this | ||||
time the Recce Tp also were given one Stuart VI | ||||
which was considered excellent Tanks for | ||||
its job. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
CHARING | 9th-10th | No2 Sqn did an exercise in Eastwell Park | ||
10th | The Bn. was warned to prepare to move to the Portsmouth | |||
area by the end of the week prior to going to | ||||
Normandy. | ||||
11th | Bn signal exercise | |||
12th-14th | Everyone worked very hard making final preparations | |||
for the move. | ||||
14th | All ranks of the BN were paid 200 francs | |||
15th-16th | The tank trains left Charing for Portsmouth area. | |||
MARSHALLING AREA | 17 | D+41 | The road party moved to Camp A11 in the | |
marshalling area north of Portsmouth arriving about | ||||
1730 hours. All vehicles were then immediately | ||||
marshalled. 6 L.S.Ts were earmarked for the Bn one | ||||
of which was shared with an E.N.S.A party | ||||
containing George Formby. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
19th | The first 3 L.S.Ts left England | |||
20th | The remainder of the Bn left England the E.N.S.A | |||
party having been given priority over at least one | ||||
shipload of the Bn!!!!. The chief point which | ||||
stuck in the minds all ranks was the lack | ||||
NORMANDY | of urgency displayed by the permanent staff | |||
who loaded the ships especially as of urgency | ||||
had impressed upon them the great need for | ||||
speed in turning round craft. | ||||
819798 | 20th - 22nd | The Bn landed on beaches near Courseulles and | ||
Arromanches and by midday 22nd had concentrated | ||||
in some fields 2 miles east of Bayeux Bn H.Q. | ||||
was in a farm M.R. 819798 a plentiful supply | ||||
camembert cheese was immediately obtained | ||||
819798 | 24th D+48 | The Commanding officer and Int. Officer visited the 5th |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gds Armd Bde H.Q. and the 1st Bn ColdStream to learn about | ||||
the recent Tank action south east of Caen | ||||
819798 | 25th D+49 | The Commander in Chief talked to all officers in the | ||
Bde down to Sqn Commanders at his Headquarters | ||||
about the whole campaign including present | ||||
operations. | ||||
819798 | 26th D+50 | The commanding officer held a conference for all | ||
officers to co-ordinate the large number of divergent | ||||
views on tactical points which various officers | ||||
had brought back from their visits to the 31st | ||||
and 34th Tank Brigades. A large number of | ||||
modifications were decided upon including | ||||
the addition a large number of Track links | ||||
as placed almost all around the tanks. | ||||
27th D+51 | The BN carried out normal activities of maintenance |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
28th D+52 | A warning order was received at 1700 hrs to the effect | |||
that Bn would be ready to move at 2000 hrs. The | ||||
Bn moved at 2130 hrs to an area North of Caumont | ||||
a difficult night drive was well carried out by | ||||
soft vehicles and Tanks the latter drove | ||||
throughout the night. For the fire time the | ||||
Bn was within range of enemy guns. | ||||
29th D+53 | The morning and afternoon were spent in | Appendix B. | ||
reconnaissance and liasion with 15th (S) Div. During | ||||
the afternoon F echelon moved to an F.O.P. West | ||||
of the Caumont ridge and Caumont itself | ||||
arriving by past light. Here the final orders | ||||
were given out by the Commanding Officer | ||||
for the attack the following morning. | ||||
30-31 Aug. | See Appendix A for full account of battle by | Appendix A and B |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lt Col Sir W de S Barttelot Bart. | ||||
31st D+55 | Lt A.M. Palliser Wounded. | Appendix A and B |