War Diary: 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Month and year: June 1944

The 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment’s June 1944 war diary records the unit’s arrival in Normandy, where they served primarily in a logistical and support role. Despite not being in a frontline combat position, the battalion suffered casualties from drowning, landing craft striking mines, and aerial anti-personnel bombs.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1264

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WO 171/1264 5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment

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Page 1 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Southampton	1		Bn. preparing for operation BIGOT-NEPTUNE. Role of Bn within No 8 Beach
	to		Group was providing beach companies for unloading supplies, a reserve company for emergency, and another company working with Ordnance.
	4		Bn. concentrated at C 2 Camp, Moorhill, Southampton. Moved by serials to Marshalling areas, converging on hards at Southamton Docks. Embarked
			in different craft.
English Channel	5		Throughout the night of the 4th and morning of the 5th Company serials
			in different craft proceeded on a SOUTHERLE course protected by strong Allied Naval units. No incidents on trip.
	6		D Day. Assault troops of 8 C.I.B. landed 0745 hrs and stretcher Bearer
Bernieres-Sur-Mer			Platoon and Company Recc Parties followed soon after on the beaches of Bernieres and Courseulles sur Mer. Enemy still occupied many positions.
			These had to be cleared before HQs could be established. Considerable Mortar and machine gun fire.
			Landing Casualties, as under, sustained by mined craft: 5345636 Pte Cloves E "A" Coy: Drowned after fall from ramp.
			5348030 Pte Butler T ) "B" Coy. Killed Landing craft mined 14577123 Pte winch H )
			5350396 Pte Cardy E "HQ" Coy. stretcher Bearer. Wounded. (B Coy) 5346195 Cpl Brooks E Landing craft mined.
			In fighting way across beaches to Coy Position the u/n were wounded 14200424 Pte Dunstone C )
			6412566 Pte East L ) "B" Coy. All these wounded were evacuated to England...
		H +75	Commanding officer landed.

Page 2 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	6	H+160.	Advance HQ established on Beach. wireless communication established. Rear HQ established 500 yards inland.
		1100	Elements of the Battalion continued to arrive until about 1600 hrs.
		1200	"A" Company proceeding from Green Beach to White Beach held up by unreduced positions in the dunes. TWO sections cleared the positions -
			a difficult job which was tackled with determination -thus preventing further casualties to following troops. Casualties as under:
			Wounded: Lieut Lucas; Cpl Cannons, L/Cpl Caddick (grenade splinters) Enemy casualties. TWO killed, six wounded, twenty five prisoners.
		1500	"D" Company proceeded to dump after being held up by fighting in Bernieres village. No casualties.
		1600	Beaches bombed. No casualties. Companies disposed as follows: "A" "B" and "C" on the beaches, "HQ"
			and part of "SP" Rear HQ area; "D" Coy with 14 Ordnance Beach Detachment at Stores and Anmunition Area. Mortar Platoon "SP" Company
			with 240 petrol Depot RASC; Carriers with 140 Detail Issue Depot, while the Anti-Tank Platoon established six gun positions in the
			forward area for emergency. snipers were active.
			Pioneers mine clearing in Company and Beach areas.
		2230	Air Raid developed, but this was not serious. Intermittent throughout the night, but no casualties.
	7	2300	"B" and "C" Companies proceeded to front battle area to
			cover left flank of the Canadian assault. Five mile march. Contact made with North Shore Regiment and company remained until morning to cover the forming up for an attack.

Page 3 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	7		D+1 During the day more elements of the Company arrived.
			Company positions fortified and improved. Patrols active for snipers.
			Unloading commenced on beaches.
		1100	"B" and "C" Companies return from Forward Area and commence unloading.
			Heavy seas hampered unloading. During day Prisoners of war were interrogated by the Intelligence Section.
		2230	"Stand To" ordered. Enemy parachutists reported. Nothing developed. Air raid developed. AP Bombs in beach area
		2345	Parachutists again reported. patrols sent out.
		2350	More A.P. Bombs dropped in area. Direct hit on pre-loaded 3 ton ammunition
			truck. More A.P. Bombs. Casualties as under: Killed 3304328 CSM Snowball J "Sp" Coy
			Wounded: 5347912 L/O Broad E "SP" Coy 5337410 Cpl Pearcey F "SP Coy
			5345657 L/R Wales C "SP" Coy. 5331129 Pte Rampling F "B" Coy.
	8	0330	Ammunition truck was near Rear HQ, and building evacuated to Advance HQ. Woman suspect held at the time was also safely evacuated. Building fired,
			but flames extinguished.
		0415	Recce patrol of BHQ staff return to Rear HQ. Reported clear.
		0430	Rear HQ Established.
		0500	Low flying attack by enemy aircraft. Machine gunning and A.P. bombs.
			No casualties
		0730	Rear HQ again caught fire, but extinguished by office personnel.
			During the day many enemy prisoners brought in and interrogated. German soldier disguised as French farmer captured. Evacuated to England.
		1500	Rear HQ moved owing to damage to building. HQ and S Companies also moved to same vicinity. Move eastwards, but distance inland remains
			unchanged.

Page 4 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	8		Unloading continued throughout the day and until mid night. For the
			next few days the beach companies worked from five 8 o'clock in the morning until midnight. "D" Company at Ammunition Dump had a platoon each
			night continuing all through the night. They were handling 10 tons of ammunition per man per day.
			Slight raid at night. No damage or casualties. Tonnage discharged for first three days: 3182
	9		Weather favourable. Visibility good, very slight breeze. Unloading
			continued; Tonnage: 2612.
	to		No incidents. Tonnage 2909 "A" Coy handed over their beach to 4 Beach group and moved east to white Sector
	11		Battalion issued first of Daily News Bulletin for all Companies and sub units. Situation map also included, and French builletin also
			prepared twice daily for inhabitants. This was found to be much appreciated, as shortage of news was felt generally. It also had the effect of
			preventing rumour. Tonnage: 3108. Companies aiming at 4,000 tons.
	12	2000	Shelling in Ammunition and stores area. No damage or casualties.
	12		Companies continued to work well on the beaches. Tonnage 4224. weather continues favourable.
		2030	Typhoon crashed in Ammunition and Stores area. No damage. pilot baled out.
			No representative of Civil Affairs had arrived. Commanding Officer
			issues authority to the acting major to take necessary steps for welfare of civilian population.
		2315	Enemy aircraft over Beach Maintenance area, but no bombing

Page 5 of 8

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres	13	2100	Slight shelling in ammunition area. No casualties.
			Tonnage: 4287. Prime Minister landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer on visit to front.
	14		weather continues favourable; sun, good visibility, little wind. Tonnage discharged: 2200.
			Air activity at night. No casualties.
	15		Tonnage:3007. Nothing: to report
	16		Tonnage 2678. weather less favourable. H.M. The King arrived at Courseulles on his way to front.
	17		No incidents: Tonnage 3313.
	18		Pilotless plane reported over beaches. Did not drop in Allied lines.
			Tonnage: 2490.. weather becoming less favourable.
	19		Tonnage: 1419. Cloudy at times. north easterly breeze springing up begins to hamper unloading. Message of Congratulations from 2nd Army Commander	Appx "A"
	20		Weather bad. Visibility poor. Tonnage: 1260.
		1730	Two FWs 190 destroyed over Beach area
	21		Weather worstens. High winds prevent unloading at times. Tonnage 367.
		2020	Beach area shelled. Nine shells in all. Two houses damaged, and A.A.
			Generator. Casualties among 144 Coy, Pioneer Corps. Fragments of shell obtained, and together with other information forwared to
			County Battery Officer 4th AGRA, Main Coprs HQ. Officiality disclosed: 17 cm gun firing 160lb shell. Possible range 20,080 yards.

Page 6 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres	22	Wind still high. Impossible most of day for DUKS to go out.
		Tonnage: 138 tons
	23	Weather improves. wind decreasing. Low clouds. Tonnage: 3049.
		In early hours two enemy bombers destroyed over bridgehead.
	24	No incidents Tonnage 4217.
	25	No incidents Tonnage 4699.
	26	No incidents Tonnage 4716
	27	No incidents Tonnage 5300
	28	No incidents Tonnage 5509. Record tonnage discharged. Special
		Order of the Day from Beach Group Commander (Lieut-Col A.L. Taffs, O.B.E)	Appx "B"
	29	No incidents Tonnage 4450.
	30	Tonnage 4452. "D" Company had earlier moved from Ammunition dumps, and carried
		out any emergency jobs. Re-called for urgent loading on two occasions. Moved to Transhipment Area.
		"S" Company elements also returned to Company area, and carrying out emergency. Training programmes were being carried out at nights.
		Fatal accident 199 G.T. Coy. One man killed in DUKW accident.

Page 7 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	30	General Observations of the month. From 6 June to 30 June 73,586
		tons of supplies were discharged on the Company beaches. These figures would have been even higher but for the fact that weather considerably
		hampered the work at times. Reports from Companies show that even more could have been handled if
		there had been the transport to take the stores away. AIR REPORT Enemy air activity did not interfere with the work of the
		Companies. Apart from the bombing on "D" Day daylight activity in the beach area has been practically nil, and at nights the raids have only
		been scattered, and were not materially effective in hindering the work of the Companies.
		All ranks have been given day by day bulletins of news, and at nights a jeep with loud speaker attached has announced the latest news.
		Companies have kept situation maps showing the latest position as it has been received from 2nd Army. If the men know what is happening in the
		sector it is an added stimulus to the work. They were also kept informed of the daily discharge of supplies.
		The military position at the end of the front was regarded as satisfactory. In the Eastern sector of the front British and Canadian troops had
		successfully pinned down the main force of Rormel's armour, while the Americans were pushing forward up the Cherbourg peninsula. When their
		objective was achieved General Montgomery pushed forward in the Caen Sector. During the period when the eastern sector
		were "holding" Rommels armour, large reserves of supplies were built up..
		Honours R.S.M. McColm was awarded the M.B.E, during the month for long and distinguished service.
		On the beaches in the early phase of the invasion the Companies showed conspicious determination and coolness when faced

Page 8 of 8

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	30	with the enemy. The standard of training as infantry men had not suffered
		at the expense of the intensive specialist training they had undergone as Beach Companies. Recommendations for awards have been submitted.


		Appendices: "A" Message from Army Commander
		"B" Special order of the Day. Beach Group Commander.
		Field Return. Officers and O.R.S for 10, 17 and 24 June. "C" Message of Supreme Commander.