5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary: July 1944

The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment's July 1944 war diary covers defensive holding, patrolling, and limited advance operations in Normandy. The period centred on the battalion's positions near Les Orailles and the Le Croix Des Landes – Le Lion Vert road, alongside spells in brigade and divisional reserve that included training, maintenance, and an awards presentation by General Montgomery

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1398

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WO 171/1398 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

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The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment are mentioned in 3 other war diaries from July 1944.

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Page 1 of 3

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Normandy LES ORALLLES	1	Bn remained same location. Heavy rain all day made living conditions difficult. Enemy activity slight. Aggressive patrolling by night.	Appendices A1, A2, B1
	2	2/Lt SMITH joined Bn - to A Coy for duty. Wet weather continued. Enemy activity slight except for mortar fire on	" A2, A3, A4, B2
		Bn area approx 1700 hrs and increased enemy small arms fire by night. Patrolling continues.
	3	Capt FISHER joined bn - to be 2IC D Coy temporarily; to be OC Sp Coy wef 5 Jul. 0400 to 0530 hrs approx 100 mortar bombs on bn area, otherwise	" A4, A5, B3
		no enemy activity. Heavy rain.
	4	Showery day. Enemy activity continues slight. Unit bathhouse started.
		First party of 25 left for 30 Corps Rest Camp at LE MESNIL 7987 for stay of three days. Visit by Div Comd 1750 hrs. 2230 hrs 2 deserters came	" A6, A7, A8, B4
		into Bn lines from 988 Inf Regt.
	5	Fine warmer day. Patrolling continues. 3 deserters 1220 hrs.	" A8, A9, B5
	6	0135 hrs harassing fire plan on enemy FDLs by arty, 4.2" mortars, 3" mortars, MMGs and small arms co-ordinated with fire support for raid by
		2 Essex on right. Enemy activity slight throughout day. Rain.	" A10, A11, B6
	7	Enemy on bn front generally inactive. Brush with enemy snipers at
		LA VARDERIE 771658 where buildings were engaged by PIAT to good effect. Showery day.	" A12, A13, B7
	8	Heavy rain. Quiet day on bn front. Enemy inf concentrations prior to counter-attack on 2 Essex engaged by own 3" mortars. P.W. later reported	" A14, A15, B8
		heavy casualties. D Coy moved to area X rds 776654
	9	Own patrols made no contact by day. Showers.	" A16, A17, A18, B9
	10 11	Wet weather continues. Quiet day. Enemy on bn front inactive. Visit of mobile canteen - first since	" A18, A19
		landing in France.	" A20, A21, B10
	12	Quiet day. Own patrols by day made no contact.	" A22, A23, B11
	13	Intermittent shelling and mortaring of bn area only enemy activity. Showery day. Visit of official war artist	" A24, A25, B12, C

Page 2 of 3

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
14	1400 hrs Bn relieved by 7 Green Howards. Bn moved into Bde res in area 780685.	A26, A27, A28, B13, B14
15	Day spent in maintenance of weapons, vehicles and equipment and in training. Warm sunny day.
16	Bn notified of following immediate awards to personnel of Bn:- MC - Maj A.M.N. Rice; Capt W. Sugarman; Maj Woodruffe; Capt W.R. Lamb
	(RAMC att 5 E Yorks); MM RSM F. Gibson; CSM McDougall; Sjt Webber; L/Sjt E.P. Smith; Ptes Clare and Emson; L/Cpl Mills.
	Warm sunny day. Visit by Div Comd. Residues of Bn Lt Cook and 53 ORs arrive with Bn with balance of bn tpt.	A29, A30
17	Bn moves to area astride rd at 764676 - move completed by 1215 hrs. 1500 hrs presentation of awards by General Sir B.L. Montgomery. Training
	on range. Quiet day. Fine weather.	A31, A32
18	Training. Warm weather continues.	A33, A34
19	Bde began move fwd to maintain contact with withdrawing enemy. 1830 hrs Bn followed 6 and 7 Green Howards who had taken up position SOUTH of rd
	LE CROIX DES LANDES - LE LION VERT and moved into position astride rd at 779651. Enemy reported still in BOIS de ST GERMAIN were NOT located by
	patrol of D Coy during night. 1700 hrs enemy shelling of bn area caused casualties 1 killed 1 wounded. Warm fine day.	A35, A36, B15
20	Bn remained same location. Enemy generally inactive. 10 booby traps located and removed in Bn area. Heavy rain p.m.	A37, A38, A39
21	Heavy shelling of Bn area during night of 20/21. Approx 40 shells caused no casualties and little damage. Heavy rain continued.	A39, A40, A41
22 23	No change in locations. No enemy activity. Showers. Locations of A and B Coys adapted better to meet possible threat from	A41, A42
	SW direction. No enemy activity. Stray spent bullet caused casualty 1 wounded.	A43, A44
24) 25)	Bn locations remain unchanged. No enemy activity. Fine weather	A45, A46, A47, A48

Page 3 of 3

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
26	1040 hrs visit by Div Comd. No change.	A49, A50
27	Fine day. 1700 hrs Bn relieved by 1 HAMPS (231 Bde) and move to area 7772. 69 Bde in Div reserve.
28	Maximum entertainment and bath allotments. Maintenance of weapons, vehicles and equipment. Rest. Showery day.	A51, A52
29	Training. Showers continue. Maj D.J. PENWILL, DSO, rejoins bn - to command C Coy.
30 31	Fine day. Bn church parade. No change. Training.

Units Referencing the 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

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