View MapView MapNational Archive Reference: WO 171/856
All diaries for this unit:
Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.
Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted
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.
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | First party of Regt move at 1630 hrs to docks at FELIXSTOWE; loading of | |||
| LSTs and LCTs commences. | ||||
| 2 | Loading continues. | |||
| 3 | Ships anchor in rivers ORWELL and STOUR when loaded. | |||
| 4 | Delay of 24 hours due to weather; remain at anchor. | |||
| 5 | Move out from river 0915 hrs, move along coast of SE England, passing STRAITS OF DOVER in darkness. | |||
| 6 | D Day. Pass BEACHY HEAD in morning, arrive at bridgehead and anchor at 2200 hrs. Slight aerial activity. Some tks of Regt unload. | |||
| 7 | Aerial activity 0400 hrs. Landing continues by RHINOS and beaching. Move to concentration area, area 813806. 3 AFVs drowned. 1 OR wounded. | |||
| 8 | For Orders see Appx A. CO makes Recce as ordered in instructions for 8 Jun, sent out evening 7 Jun. 4 CLY in suppont of 151 Bde. See Appx | Appx A Appx B. | ||
| B. Recce Sqn sent patrols out, no clashes with enemy. Patrols reach area 810740. 1 OR wounded in action, | ||||
| 9 | Regt remain in concentration area. Sqn Ldrs go out to recce battle posns in support of 151 Bde. C. Sqn at 1900 hrs move up to support 6 DLI, 151 | |||
| Bde, area 815740. No contact with enemy. Bde Comd issues orders for move 10 Jun. Orders - see Appx C. Lt G.E. Moxon killed by shellfire in evening. | Appx C | |||
| 10 | Regt advanced through 6 DLI area 813745; Recce Sqn leading, followed by | |||
| A Sqn left, B Sqn right, C Sqn reserve on centre line. Advance very slow. C Sqn take up posn protection right, area JERUSALEM 8172. C Sqn KO MK IV | ||||
| at 809719. Two Cromwells A Sqn KO'd by friends area 830720. Impossible to cross stream SOUTH of rd, try to work round right flank. | ||||
| Locations in evening: B Sqn EAST of MARCEL 827694 | ||||
| A " 830705 | ||||
| C " NORTH of STE. BAZIRE | ||||
| RHQ 828707 |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 (cont) | 1 Cromwell B Sqn KO in evening. Leaguer at 830707. One Coy Gloucester | |||
| Regt in support, who mine bdges at MARCEL (829693) and bdge at 833697. Enemy infiltrated into BUCEELS during night. | ||||
| Casualties: Lt G.Milford-Cottam wounded in afternoon. 4. ORs killed and 4 ORs, wounded in action. 3 Cromwell IV and 1 Stuart V KO. | ||||
| 11 | Recce Sqn advance to bdges at first light. Bdges held by enemy, but kept under observation. Attack by two coys Gloucester Regt on left-hand bdge.; | |||
| one coy Gloucester Regt with C Sqn in sp attack right-hand bdge. Both attacks successful, and first objective, the rd parallel to river at 834695, | ||||
| gained. A and B Sqns remain in reserve area BUCEELS. Two patrols Recce Sqn pass through infantry., but held up at 839687 by two Panthers, one | ||||
| disabled on rd and one covering. 2 Tp C Sqn go round to left and destroy disabled Panther; infy with PIAT destroy other. C Sqn advance to short of | ||||
| village TILLY-SUR-SEULLES in sp Gloucester Regt, who entered TILLY (8468). C Sqn withdraw to outflank town to right; close country encountered and | ||||
| one tp is ambushed area 832690 (3 Cromwells, 1 Firefly under Lt T. S. Vine). C Sqn and Recce withdraw to battle posns NORTH side of river (830695) to | ||||
| sp Gloucester Regt, who were being counter-attackced. Leaguer NORTH of BUCEELS830705. | ||||
| Casualties: Lt T.S. Vine missing, 17 ORs missing, 2 ORs wounded in action. | ||||
| 12 | Recce Sqn ordered to advance down CL. Order of march B Sqn, RHQ, A Sqn, | |||
| C Sqn. VERRIERES (815692) strongly held by enemy. Recce withdraw to high ground to NORTH. B Sqn left in battle posns on ridge 810708-820712. | ||||
| New orders in afternoon - Regt move at 1600 hrs to outflank to right. Orders given verbally - see Appx D. Opposition encountered at LIVRY | Appx D | |||
| (735613). A Coy 15 Rifle Brigade attack, supported by B Sqn on right. Village cleared by last light, Leaguer at Xrds 733817. | ||||
| Casualties: Lt F.D. Mortimer wounded in action. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | Regt move fwd first light towards VILLERS BOCAGE (8157),A Sqn leading, | |||
| followed by A Coy RB. No opposition, and A Sqn reach feature EAST of VILLERS BOCAGE (area 8358). Coln split at 823578 by two Tigers, RHQ | ||||
| brewed up complete. A Sqn continue and take up battle posns. B Sqn hold town, but unable to get through to A Sqn. A Sqn surrounded and | ||||
| attacked at 1000 hrs by Tigers and infy. Call for immediate assistance, but none could get through. At 1030 hrs, CO, who was with A Sqn, reports | ||||
| posn untenable, withdrawal impossible. 1035 hrs all stations go off the air. B Sqn ordered to hold village at all costs. 4 Tp B Sqn, with infy | ||||
| and A tk guns under Lt L. Cotton, MM, after a 6 hours street battle, destroy 4 Tigers and 3 Mk IV, 1600 hrs. B. Sqn reports village still held by us, but | ||||
| infy in area 820575. 1/7 Queens attack, but fail to clear opposition. B Sqn Ldr (now acting CO) ordered to withdraw Regt to 780580. This | ||||
| carried out without further loss. C Sqn cover withdrawal. Major I.B. Aird takes over command of Regt, Major E.P.MacColl 2IC | ||||
| Capt F.A. Jarvis, MC, commands B Sqn, Capt K. H. Hiscock commands C Sqn. Missing: Lt Col The Viscount Cranley, MC (CO),Major A. Carr. (2IC),Major | ||||
| P.M.R. Scott, MC & bar (A Sqn Ldr),Capt B.W.G. Rose (Adjt),Capt R.R.B. Brown, Capt A.R. Smith, Lt D. Colvin, Lt W.F. Garnett, Lt D.L. Sellers, Lt | ||||
| L.P. Hurley (UDF),Lt P.H. Strode, Lt R.S.A. Ingram. Wounded:- Lt J.S.W. Simonds, MM, Capt H.I.C. MacLean (remained at duty), | ||||
| Capt P. Dyas (remained at duty) 76 ORs missing, 5 wounded in action, 4 killed in action xVeh casualties see footnote | ||||
| 14 | Regt in reserve, two Tps forward covering A tk guns. Nothing during day. 2000 hrs enemy inf attack at 785576. C. Sqn go forward to seal break- | |||
| through. Enemy driven back with heavy losses. 2230 hrs posn restored. C Sqn withdraw to reserve | ||||
| xVeh casualties, 13 Jun: 20 Cromwells, 4. Fireflys, 3 Humber SCs, 3 | ||||
| Staurts, 1 1/2 - track. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | 0015 hrs Regt withdraw to 730672. One Firefly drops out, but recovered | |||
| later. 1 Stuart V lost EA. Still in reserve. Reorganisation on two Sqn basis. Nothing to report. | ||||
| 16 | In reserve. | |||
| 17 | Shelled 0030 hrs.; 2 ORs killed, 2 ORs wounded. | |||
| Capt F.A. Jarvis, MC, to be Major, commanding B Sqn; Capt K.H. Hiscock to be Major, commanding A Sqn (temporarily commanding C Sqn until arrival of | ||||
| 18 | new CO). Lt L. Cotton, M.M, to be Capt. A Sqn re-forms and organises on two tp basis. | |||
| 19-20 | NTR. | |||
| 21 | Recce by CO of battle posns of 1 R Tks, area 752645-756645-758651. | |||
| 22 | Recce by Sqn Ldrs of 1 R Tks area. New CO arrives 2100 hrs. Lt Col Rankin takes command of Regt, Major I.B.Aird 2IC | |||
| Major E.P. MacColl, MC, OC C Sqn, Major F.A. Jarvis, MC, OC B Sqn Major K.H. Hiscock DC A Sqn | ||||
| 23 | B Sqn take over from 1 R Tks at 0800 hrs. Tps at areas 750645, 756645, 759651. Recce Sqn link tps at 750645 and 756645. Sqn HQ and reserve tp | |||
| at 742657. RHQ move to 745662. C Sqn in area 750661. A Sqn with A 2 Ech area 733694 No enemy seen on B Sqn sector. B Sqn leaguer with | ||||
| Recce Sqn at 742657. | ||||
| 24 | NTR. | |||
| 25 | Slight mortar and MG activity on B Sqn. Cpl Hoar returned to our lines from VILLERS BOCAGE. | |||
| 26 | Relieved by 8 H at 0800 hrs; moved to 746692. Offensive on Eastern sector begins. | |||
| 27 | Moved to 748700 to make room for 56 Bde in the evening. 2/Lt K. Horsley, BEM, joined Regt from 59 Trg Regt, to B Sqn, 2/Lt T. Tunni- | |||
| cliffe from 57 Trg Regt, to B Sqn, and 2/Lt D.P.M. Evans, from 59 Regt to RHQ. | ||||
| 28 | Recce by CO of possible battle posns in case of armd break through |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | Lt N.R. Cleaver joined Regt. to A. Sqn. | |||
| 29 | NTR. A Sqn still in process of re-forming. | |||
| 30 | NTR. |
Found this useful?
If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.