War Diary: 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment August 1944 War diary covers the units actions in the area around Mount Pincon and their advance ending the month at Gasny after crossing the River Seine.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1395

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WO 171/1395 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

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Page 1 of 4

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
1		Bn moved fwd to attack BOIS DU HOMME and Pt 361. Bn held up by lightly held enemy posn at R 728538. This was quickly dealt with, the Bn having 2 SP guns to its credit on move fwd to 361.
1/2		Bn dig in def posn on 361.
2		Major Metcalf 2 IC captured with Mail 15 cwt.
3		Quiet day
4		Bn regroup for move to MOUNT PINCON.
4/5		Bn in all round def posn MONTAMY.
5		Bn moved fwd to attack MOUNT PINCON. Held up by hy Mortar and shell fire on X Rds 801449. 'D' Coy crossed river and est brhead at 812448, but against hy opposition had to withdraw West of River. During this operation Major Thomas OC 'D' Coy was killed. Padre killed.
6		Owing to hy cas 'A' and 'B' Coy join forces, also 'C' and 'D' Coys before reaching start line.
6	1430	H for attack to clear MOUNT PINCON. 'A' 'B' fwd 'C' 'D' rear.
6		Bn reached X Rds 821448 having suffered hy cas incl CO. Adjutant although badly wounded carried on. Major Roberts, 4 Som LI took command of Bn.
6		When Major Roberts took over only 63 Riflemen out of 4 Coys were then in action. These were formed into all round defence to hold X Rds 821448, which was vital keep open the communications of the other Bns of the Bde and protect right flank which was otherwise completely open. Arty fire was brought on to predicted counter preparation tasks.
7		Bn held this posn under continuous shell and mortar fire and against enemy counter attacks until finally relieved by 5 DCLI at 1900 hrs.
7	1800	Bn relieved by 5 DCLI 214 Bde, and returned to 'A' Ech at 748460.
8		30 Corps Comd Lt Gen Horrocks addressed all NCOs and Offrs of Bde.
9	1800	Reinforcements arrived from R. Berkshire Regt."
10	0001	Bn moved to X Tracks 856454. Convoy shelled en route, several killed and wounded.
	1400	Bn moved HQ to 861448. Coys take up def posn area 864441.
11		Bn moved to LE JARDIN feature taking over from 2 Coys of 7 Green Howards, 50 Div in area 876412.
12		'B' Coy move fwd to attack LA VARDIERE. Enemy mortar fire brought down into our
		smoke. Major Ingles OC 'B' Coy wounded. Coy withdraw to posns.
		Occasional shelling. Major Henley joined Bn as 2 IC. Capt Norris took over comd 'B' Coy.

Page 2 of 4

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
13		'C' Coy gp moved fwd to LE VARENDE. No opposition. Few prisoners captured.
13	2030	'C' Coy relieved by Troop of 11 Hussars and returned to previous posns.
14		Quiet day.
15		Bn moved fwd to clear area LA RUE 9436. Area reported clear.
	1600	Bn take up def posn 171 944347.
16	0730	Bn moved to SL to cross River. SL 953351 to attack ATHIS. Bn crossed river owing to 214 Bde not having taken their objectives. Bn took up all round def posn area 947325.
17	900	Bn moved fwd to attack ST HONORINE LA CHARDONNE and ATHIS. Except for mines which were moved by RE and Bn Pnrs, Bn reached ST HONORINE by 1200 hrs with no cas.
18		Quiet day. New HQ located.
19		BnHQ 'A' nd S' Coys moved to new location EAST side of St. Honorine,
		Rev Hewis joined Bn.
20		Bn Church Service.
21		Quiet day.
22		Bn moved fwd to FROMENTEL. a distance of 20 miles.
24		Bn moved fwd to FRANCHVILLE 8543 - a distance of 60 miles.
25		Bn moved fwd to VERNON in preparation to cross R SEINE, a distance of 40Miles, and concentrated in FORET DE BIZY 4270
25	1845	Concentration of arty started.
	1900	'A' Coy started to cross R SEINE in storm-boats. First storm boat wrecked and cas sustained. 2nd stormboat grounded on sandbank but men got ashore. Coy continued to cross in remaining stormboats but these became wrecked or stranded. Eventually approx 60% of 'A' Coy completed crossing of river and one PL secured its objective astride the Rd VERNONET-GIVERNY on the RIGHT flank of Bn objective
	2230	Four DUKWS were then launched and three were grounded. 'C' Coy was ferried across in remaining DUKWS which continued to operate and eventually ferried the remainder of the Bn across. 'C' Coy was Commanded by Lt. Holly, with all Pls commanded by Sgts. The Coy secured their objective on the ridge about 453742 in spite of a stiff climb in the dark over un-reconnoitred country and against some enemy rifle and MG fire. Their objective was given to widen the Bn bridgehead and dominate the Rd VERNONET- GASNY. Meanwhile 'A' Coy was counter attacked three times and reduced to strength of approx 1 PL. Coy HQ was over-run and OC 'A' Coy ,Major Milne missing.

Page 3 of 4

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
26	0030	'D' Coy crossed by the one DUKW and adv in VERNONET and secured SOTHERN end by 0500 hrs.
	0200	1 PL 'B' Coy crossed and filled gap between remainder of 'A' Coy and the River on RIGHT flank.
	0245	BN HQ crossed and moved up behind 'A' Coy.
	0445	'B' Coy (less one PL) crossed and reorganised RIGHT flank astride rd on posn originally to have been held by 'A' Coy, taking remainder of 'A' Coy under Comd.
	0600	Bn HQ established near NE end of Br about 447742.
	1000	Patrol of 'B' Coy moved fwd to top of cliff 453739 and destroyed MG post
	1200	Carrier PL (dismounted) swept high ground overlooking the river.
	1400	Bn moved fwd to posns on high ground on general line 454745-454739.
	1800	Bn in all round def posn NE of VERNONET.
	2200	'F' Ech joined BnHQ at 451743.
27	0700	Bn adv up main rd VERNONET GASNY to secure posns holding edge of wood about 474735 'C' Coy leading, followed by 'D' and 'B' Coys.
	0830	'C' Coy held up by SP 37 mm. Patrol from 'C' Coy failed to eliminate opposition. Carrier PL ordered up and arty concentration put down. Carrier PL found enemy had withdrawn after arty conc. 'B' and 'D' Coys passed through 'C' Coy and took up posn. 'B' Coy astride rd about 474737 and 'D' Coy on RIGHT about 474734. BnHQ moved up to 470739 in Wood and 'C' Coy formed perimeter def round BnHQ Carrier PL moved to X Rds 481735 where they remained in posn for the night. Enemy SP 37 mm fire during night. Torrential rain.
28	0800	'C' Coy moved up and secured start line 485743-485737.
	1030	Bn crossed start line on two Coy front 'B' Right 'D' left, to attack LA CHAPELLE ST OUEN, supported by Arty conc on objective. One PL MG 8 Mx firing overhead on to Bn objective and then lifting EASTWARDS and one PL 4.2" Mortar 8 Mx firing on area of orchards 500728 to block escape routes. L Sqn 13/19 Hussars preceded Inf and over-ran enemy posns in cornfields about LA CHAPELLE. Carrier PL moved fwd to posns about X Rds 491734 to cover RIGHT flank. Tanks of Sqn 13/19 Hussars passed through and occupied Hill 142 500746. 'D' and 'B' Coys secured objectives and reorganised. 'D' Coy in area of buildings and woods 494744 and 'B' Coy about X Rds in LA CHAPELLE 496738, the Bn. capturing about 160 prisoners, 'C' Coy passed through and relieved Sqn of 13/19 Hussars on Hill 142.

Page 4 of 4

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
28	1800	Bn took up all round def posn at LA CHAPELLE ST OUEN. Ricks fired by enemy continued to burn and were extinguished by RE trailer pump to remove identification of target area possibly intended by enemy.
29	1400	Bn moved to GASNY
	1900	PL of 'D' Coy and Carriers patrolled to GOMMECOURT to mop up enemy det reported by F.F.I. but no enemy were found. Bn remained in GASNY and went into rest.
30		Quiet day in GASNY. Quiet day in GASNY.