4th Bn County of London Yeomanry War Diary: July 1944

The 4th Bn County of London Yeomanry July 1944 war diary covers armoured combat southeast of Caen, centred on Bras, Verrieres, and Ifs. The regiment supported the advance toward Verrieres Ridge, engaging enemy tanks, infantry, and self-propelled guns under heavy shelling

National Archive Reference: WO 171/856

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WO 171/856 4th Bn County of London Yeomanry

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War diaries that reference this unit

The 4th Bn County of London Yeomanry are mentioned in 2 other war diaries from July 1944.

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Page 1 of 3

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
July 1	1030	Moved to 792731. Now in Corps reserve, battle role long stop in case of enemy armd break through.
2		CO made recce of two possible battle posns 7971 and 8576. Normal train- ing being carried out in Regt school.
3		Lt M Lewis joined Regt.
4-16		Remained in location at JUAYE MONDAYE. Training at Regt school continued. Tanks did extensive infantry with tanks co-operation for fighting in the
		'bocage' type of country.
9	0430	Regt stood-to in view of concentration of enemy tanks facing 50 Div. No attack developed and Regt stood-down at 0700 hrs.
17		Moved from JUAYE MONDAYE to CULLY preparatory to further action. Received Firefly to make up full establishment; Recce still down in Honeys.
18		Moved as reserve Regt according to plan. 3 Germans surrendered to B Sqn.
19		Moved up in reserve to 3 miles EAST of CAEN at 095670 TROARN 50,000. Moved at 1700 hrs to exploit 29 Bde's capture of BRAS and HUBERTS FOLIE.
		HUBERTS FOLIE was not captured until 2030 hrs. Regt moved to posn 1000 yds NORTH of BRAS 0663 CAEN 50,000. Straffed by enemy fighters, other-
		wise no enemy interference.
20		Moved SW to attack VERRIERES feature 0460 1/50,000 CAEN. 2/Lt K.G.
		Horsley, BEM, shot by sniper when advancing in Recce veh. B Sqn estab- lished on Pt 72. Met opposition of infantry and A tk guns and a Mk IV,
		which was forced to move. Heavy barrage put down in TROTEVAL 0561, and A Coy 1 RB moved on with tanks of C Sqn in support. Opposition proved
		too much, Coy withdrawn successfully. A and C Sqns' posn EAST of main rd and NW of BRAS+0663.
	1615	Approx 7 Mk VI moved across our front to attack B Sqn. Engaged by Fire- flies of A and C Sqn: 2 brewed and one hit and rendered immobile. Medium
		guns engaged those out of view to us. Later confirmed by Cndns that 5 KO. A and C Sqns straffed by enemy rocket planes, no casualties.

Page 2 of 3

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
July 20		Moved all troops EAST of road to make room for Cndns attacking in big
		offensive from IFS 0463 to VERRIERES 0561. Support given by two troops C Sqn guarding left flank in the attack on TROTEVAL052613. Fireflies
		remained in former positions, remainder of tanks moved back to 068648; remained there for night.
	1830	C Sqn observed 8 Mk V tanks at 049614; engaged ineffectively by C Sqn at extreme range.
21	1930	C Sqn and Fireflies moved back to Regt area to leaguer for night. Considerable enemy shelling brought on by location of Canadian gunners
		around us. Attacked by enemy fighters (approx 10),no casualties.
22		Shelling continued. Regt moving for greater dispersion. Attacked by enemy fighters, one man seriously wounded, several slightly.
23		Shelling continued. NTR.
24		Liaison completed with Canadians operating on our right flank.
25		Moved from old location to Pt 72, took up posns on right of 1 R Tks.
		Enemy opposition met any attempt to advance in direction of VERRIERES 0560. Regt deployed round the Pt 72 feature. Enemy infantry engaged and
		several SP guns; 1 SP KO. Enemy tanks were seen moving about, but no claims were made. Heavy enemy shelling and mortaring was concentrated
		on Regt posns and A1 Ech throughout the morning, and on Regt posn through- out the day.
26		Regt continued to engage enemy infantry and SP guns. Indirect (RHA) and direct fire was immediately brought down on any German infantry who showed
		themselves. An air OP controlling Typhoons brought down intensive rocket attacks on targets indicated by us, and on tanks etc behind the
		far ridge to which they withdrew out of sight. whenever we fired at them. In the afternoon 1/5 Queens took over Regt posns and the Regt moved back
		to 1000 yds WEST of IFS. We claim one SP KO.

Page 3 of 3

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	July 27		Enemy shelling of IFS and surrounding roads. Considerable ammunition
			was expended by the enemy shelling a block-house on the crest in front of B Sqn which was unoccupied.
	28		Moved from old location to CARPIQUET, to commence the amalgamation of 4 CLY and 3 CLY.
	29-31		Remained at CARPIQUET, proceeding with details of amalgamation.

Units Referencing the 4th Bn County of London Yeomanry

The following units mention the 4th Bn County of London Yeomanry in their war diaries from July 1944: