National Archive Reference: WO 171/867
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
ELLON | 1 - 3 | Regt moved to ELLON ref 803735, formed open leaguer. Maintenance. | |
4 | 1000 | Visit from GOC 7 Armd Div Maj Gen GWEJ Erskine CB DSO. | |
5-6 | Tk crews re-organised and made up to strength from a very small reserve. | ||
7 | Regt courses, Wireless, D and M and Gunnery commenced in tk crews. | ||
8-16 | Recce carried out for defensive positions in area ST LEGER, DUCY ST MARGUERITE and southwrds to FOLLIOT Casualties - 15th L/Cpl Lambert, Sgmn Williams (att personnel) and L/Cpl Goodman wounded by A/A shell landing in the leaguer. | ||
17 | Leaguer shelled in early hours of the morning, thought to be SP guns shelling newly constructed Air-field close to Regts location. | ||
Regt moved to CULLY area 9076 where Bde concentrated for big attack E of CAEN in which the Gds Armd Div, 11 Armd Div and 7 Armd Div were all taking part. | |||
Casualties - Killed - Cfn Davies (LAD) | |||
Wounded - S/Sjt Turner (LAD) L/Cpl Giles (LAD) Cpl Lynn and Tpr Harrison. | |||
CULLY | 18 | 0930 | Regt moved over London bridge immediately behind Northants Yeo, the last regt of 29 Armd Bde. CL took shape over open going to SUVERVILLE and then to DEMOUVILLE where the leading Sqn, "B" was ordered to deploy and move up abreast of Northants Yeo. The first incident was when an enemy tk 800 yds E of DEMOUVILLE opened up and knocked out a Firefly of "B" Sqn reserve tp and a Honey from Recce. Fire was immediately returned and enemy brewed-up. The CL was directed on GRENTHVILLE 0864 and advance continued to MESNIL FREMENTIL where several British tks were "brewing" including one from "B" Sqn. Meanwhile PsW had been coming in small groups to the number of 80. It was soon established that there were 4 Panthers in FOURS 0968. "A" Sqn were accordingly directed against GRENTHVILLE 1200 yds NW of FOURS and "C" Sqn came into position where they could watch and shoot into FOURS if necessary. "B" Sqn came into reserve "A" Sqn reached GRENTHVILLE and after short action against enemy inf, established themselves in the southern outskirts. The enemy re-acted strongly and attacked from FOURS with 2 Panther and 2 MkIVs. A Sqn lost 2 Tks and "C" Sqn KO'd 2 enemy tks the remainder withdrawing. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
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18 | "A" Sqn remained in GRENTHVILLE and the Regt leagured after dark in area MESNIL FREMEN TIL. Some shelling during the night. | ||
Casualties - Killed - Cpl Attle, L/Cpl Garratt, I/Cpl Needham. Wounded - 2/Lt D.J.Clarke, Sjt Hill, L/Cpl Ferguson, L/Cpl Sumners Tprs Rooke, Thomson, Watson, Trent and Lewis. | |||
Losses Own - 1 Firefly 1 Honey 4 Cromwells Enemy - 3 Tks 80 Psw. | |||
GRENTHVILLE | 19 | "B" Sqn plus 2 Platoons of "I" Coy 1 RB passed through "A" Sqn who had formed a firm base at GRENTHVILLE, and pushed into SOLIERS, clearing minor inf opposition on the way, which they then made firm. Spasmodic AP fire came from the direction of the left flank (direction of FOURS) but nothing was seen of the tks or SPs. "B" Sqn were ordered to put 2 tps in BOURGUEBUS which arrived in the outskirts after carefully working there their way there. A few minutes before, 3 Tigers and 2 Panthers came into the village. In the ensuing fight 2 Tigers and 1 Panther were brewed up for the loss of 1 Cromwell. The enemy then withdrew and at last light the 2 Tps of "B" Sqn returned to SOLIERS where the son leaguered for the night. | |
Casualties - Killed - 2/Lt P. Alexander, L/Cpl Taylor Wounded - Sjts Squires and Onions, Lt J.Peel, Lt J.P.Roberts, 2/Lt K.R.T.Crocker, L/Cpl Barker, Tprs Pariss, Heyes, Baudry, Bramley, Dodd Pearce, Spenceley, Waterson, and Wood. Missing - Tpr Sayell. | |||
Losses Own - 1 Firefly 2 Cromwells Enemy - 2 Tigers 1 Panther | |||
20 | "B" Sqn at first light moved into BOURGUEBUS and after a short fight in the outskirts a Tiger was brewed up. There was no other enemy in the village except 2 abandoned Panthers one of which was brewed up the other being towed back to Bde Wksps also 4 abandoned Nebelwerfers. The enemy continued to Shell heavily in BOURGUEBUS, SOLIERS and GRENTHVILLE. The Gds Armd Div by now had established themselves in FOURS. Later in the day, a "B" Sqn Firefly succeeded in stalking a Panther and 'Brewed it up', 800 yds SE of BOURGUEBUS. | ||
1700 | 8 Hussars relieved the Regt and open leaguer was formed near DEMOUVILLE. It was under observation and very heavily shelled. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
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DEMOUVILLE | 20 | Casualties - Wounded- Sjt Bennet (REME) L/Cpl Fry, L/Cpl Donald Losses - Own - NIL Enemy - 1 Tiger 3 Panthers (1 intact) 4 Nebelwerfers | |
21 | Sqn locations were adjustéd and an attempt made to maintain and re-organise. A1 Ech moved to the factory area in CAEN where the fitters were able to work without interruption. | ||
Casualties - Wounded - Sjts Kershaw, Tatum, Stokes, Cpl Topp, L/Cpl Adamson. Tpr Lewis 2 Vehs brewed in A2 Ech. | |||
22-24 | The Regt in reserve, maintenance carried out though there was a certain amount of shelling during the day and fairly heavy AP air raids at night. Casualties - Killed - Sjt Harbin Wounded - Cpl Bell, L/Cpl Booth, Tprs Moulton and Bayer. | ||
IFS | 25 | 0515 | Bde moved in support in area IFS 0463. The Bde was "two up" with the Regt in reserve behind 1 R Tks, 4 CLY. No progress was made and positions were prepared against what seemed a very probable counter attack: |
Casualties - Wounded - Tprs Sayer and Clarke J. Losses - Own - 1 Humber Scout Car. | |||
VERRIERS | 26 | Regt took up position of 1 R Tks and a Sqn was sent into VERRIERS in support of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Verriers was shelled badly and enemy attempted to infiltrate back into the village. Both tks and inf had several good shoots. Casualties - Killed - L/Cpl Hearne Wounded - Tpr Gowan | |
IFS | 27-29 | Regt moved to area 1/2 mile NE of IFS and remained in reserve. The Sqns in VERRIERS being changed daily. There were several good shoots. Casualties - Wounded - Tpr Manning. Losses - Enemy - Mixed bag of MT. 1 SP. | |
30 | 1600 | Regt moved back to ELLON, their positions being taken over by a Cdn Armd Bde, leaguering at MR 8073. | |
31 | Regt placed under Comd of 131 Bde and at night made an approach march to CAUMONT area. | ||
REF MAPS: FRANCE GSGS4250 1:50,000 7F1, 6F2, 6F4, 6F3 |