5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary: June 1944
The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment June 1944 war diary covers their D-Day assault at Gold Beach and subsequent offensive operations across La Rivière, Ver-sur-Mer, St Gabriel, and the Pt 103 area south of Bayeux. The period focused on the initial beach landings under Operation Overlord and consolidation of the bridgehead.
National Archive Reference: WO 171/1398
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All diaries for this unit
6
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The 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment are mentioned in 6 other war diaries from June 1944.
4
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This diary mentions 4 units with war diaries for June 1944.
Page 1 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 1) 2) |
Bn embarks on LSIs G 67 and G 68 from embarkation camps C14 and C15 for operation OVERLORD. Vehicle serials embark on LCTs on June 2. | ||
| 3) 4) |
Convoy collects in SOLENT. | |||
| 5 | 1830 | Convoy sails to join other naval forces engaged in operation. | ||
| France | 6 | 0725 | Operation OVERLORD begins. 5 E Yorks intention to assault beach KING RED | |
| at LA RIVIERE 9286 (ref map sheet France 1/25000 37/16) and reorganise on posn area LA PARC 8774. H hr 0725. Landing very wet-up to 4.' water. | ||||
| Rt assault coy-A Coy-landed against spasmodic opposition and went on to | ||||
| take coy objective, bty at MONT FLEURY with loss of 8 cas. A Coy took 30 POW? Comd of enemy bty committed suicide. | ||||
| Lt assault coy - D Coy - met strong opposition from LA RIVIERE and were pinned on beach by MGs and one 88mm firing from strong points to the EAST. D Coy | ||||
| suffered heavy cas. | ||||
| 0750 | B Coy-rt res coy-landed behind A almost unopposed and passed through A Coy to VER SUR MER. | |||
| C Coy-lt res coy-landed behind D Coy together with Bn HQ. Opposition still | ||||
| almost intact. Tps wading ashore through deep water were picked off by small arms fire and were unable to reach shore. With AVREs and DD tks in | ||||
| support C Coy moved in to left flanking attack and neutralised enemy posts, inflicting heavy cas. 45 POW taken from LA RIVIERE locality all of 736 Regt | ||||
| of 716 Inf Div. Own cas on beaches, killed and wounded, MAJOR K.C. HARRISON CAPT. W. SUGARMAN, CAPT.J H. WHITE (kia) LIEUTS A. DAVIES (kia) W. McILROY, R. APPLETON | ||||
| and approx 85 O.Rs |
Page 2 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tpt landed. BnHQ carrier and jeep drowned with all does and maps | ||||
| France | 6 | 1000 approx | C and D Coys reorganise to form one COY under comd CAPT. A.CONSITT | |
| Bn reorganise and moved off. From here until end of day snipers and small groups of enemy were encountered. Route through VER SUR MER | ||||
| VILLIERS LE SEC-ST GABRIEL BRECY. | ||||
| 1500 | C.O,L.t.Col. G. W.WHITE M.B.E, wounded. MAJOR J.H.F.DIXON assumed comd | |||
| Bn opposed by approx coy inf and two 75mm SP guns NORTH of ST GABRIEL. | ||||
| 1750 | ST GABRIEL occupied. POW taken were of FUS.Bn 352 Inf Div and 915 Regt. | |||
| MAJOR C.W.S. BELAS wounded. | ||||
| 1850 | Strong enemy posts with MGs and two 88mm guns in wood 884787 held up | |||
| advance from ST GABRIEL.LT.F.LOWE(MC) wounded, later died of wounds, 2/LT GRIEVE wounded. | ||||
| 2150 | Bde attack, supported by 4/7 DG pushed enemy back, through BRECY which was occupied by bn.approx 2300 hrs. Quiet night. | |||
| 7 | 0800 | Bn moved in rear of 6 GREEN HOWARDS to occupy original Bde objectives. Bn switched to ST LEGER feature 8675 occupied at 1000hrs. Enemy snipers | ||
| and small parties of inf continue to harrass bn throughout day. (Sketch map1) | ||||
| 8 | Bn remained ST LEGER area. a.m. 8 Armd Bde through bn and reached area PT 103 8570 before dark. | |||
| 9 | No change in location. Maintenance of vehicles, weapons and equipment. | |||
| C and D Coys reconstituted and reorganised. First packet of mail from England arrives. Lts. LEWISHON, EARLE- WELBY (both to LOB) and 50 ORs | ||||
10 |
as reinforcements. MAJOR H.C. COCKING from OC S Coy to OC C Coy . No change. LIEUT. HAMPSHIRE and 23 ORs rfts reported. | (Appx'D') (Appx'A1') | ||
| 11 | 1500 | Bn ordered to move to area PT 1038570 to relieve 1 DORSETS as part of Bde plan to est.firm base as pivot for 7 Armd Div. Bn moved off at 1500 hrs | ||
| 1800 | via AUDRIEU and HAUTES D'AUDRIEU overcoming slight opposition from MGs and snipers. A and B Coys moving into posn SW of HAUTES LES VENTES | |||
| became involved in armd counter-attack by enemy directed on PT 103 Coys not being dug in were ill-protected. |
Page 3 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 11 | 1800 | Tk battle continued 1830hrs to dusk when enemy withdrew. Bn withdrew | |
| to compact area around X- rds in HAUTE D'AUDRIEU. Cas from days fighting MAJOR J.H.F.DIXON died of wounds, killed MAJOR H.C. COCKING LIEUT.J.L. SYKES, and 1O ORs, missing 2/Lt. N. WHITE | (Appx'C1') | |||
| wounded 25 ORs. MAJOR A.M.N.RICE assumed comd of bn. | ||||
| 12 | 0900 | Bn took over 1 DORSET posns on PT 103 area. Handover complete at | ||
| 1130hrs. 4/7 DG in support of bn. POW taken 1700hrs gave identification 901 PG Regt of 130 PzLehr Div. Sunny warm day, quiet night. | (Appx 'A2') | |||
| 13 | Bn continued to hold area PT 103. 24 Lancers came under comd | (Appx 'A3') | ||
| 0660hrs. Patrols reported ST PIERRE 8568 clear of enemy and CRISTOT 8770 still held. Attack by enemy against 56 Bde holding | ||||
| sector to NORTH of TILLY SUR SEULLES on right of bn failed. | ||||
| 2300 | Bn relieved by 4 LINCOLN (146 Bde, 49 Div) complete by 2300hrs. | |||
| Bn moved by march route to CONDE SUR SEULLES 8274. | ||||
| 14 | Rest and maintenance. Baths in BAYEUX. Rfts-6 offrs and 69 ORs | |||
| 1500 | Bn at 3 hrs notice to move to area 7971 preparatory to Bde advance SOUTH to area LE LION VERT 7964. | |||
| 15 | 1430 | Bn moves by march route to 700810 ready to exploit success of 231 Bde pushing SOUTH from rd LA BELLE EPINE 7669 LA SENAUDIERE 7868 | ||
| 231 Bde not successful. Bde orders for attack on JUNE 16. Bn to mop up woods WEST of LONGRAYE 7866. | ||||
| 16 | 0930 | Bn with under comd one tp AVREs advanced SOUTH from track 765667. C | ||
| and D Coys fwd. Heavy opposition from MGs in wood 7765 -7766. (Sketch2) Some cas incl ,killed LIEUTS.R.CHANEY and J.R.MAY. 7 GREEN HOWARDS | ||||
| 1130 | on rt along axis of rrd running SOUTH from LES ORAILLES met heavy opposition incl SP 88MM guns. Bn ordered to reorganise where It was. | |||
| Mortaring and shelling of bn area throughout remainder of day. |
Page 4 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 17 | 0900 | Bn relieved by 7 GREEN HOWARDS and reorganised in area immediately SE of LES ORAILLES 7666. 6 GREEN HOWARDS move to area 7868 and | (Appx 'A4') |
| attack to take high ground in square 7966. Attack only part successful and to close gap bn found patrols at 780668 and 785674. MAJORS | (Appx 'B1') | |||
| WOODRUFF and BLEAKELEY (ROYAL SUSSEX) joined bn - to comd B and D Coys respectively. | ||||
| 18 | Patrols continue. 1630hrs B Coy directed to seize and hold LONGRAYE supported by 4.2" mortars and MMG. Objective reached | (Appx 'B2') (Appx C2) | ||
| by two fwd pls who were then heavily counter attack by inf with one tk in support and heavy morter fire. B Coy withdrawn and | ||||
| reorganised area AUDOT 780699 and later brought back to original posn about 768665. Some cas.Lt.WELSH amongst 30 missing of B Coy. | ||||
| I9 | Heavy rain throughout day from 0600hrs to 2200hrs. Lt. Col JAMES took over comd of bn. Quiet night. | (Appx'B3') (Sketch 3) | ||
| 20 | Quiet day spent chiefly in maintainance of weapons, vehicles & equipment. | |||
| Attack on X-rds 7765 planned for 21 JUNE postponed indefinitely. Lieuts. AKESTER, WHITE HINES, 2/Lt HACKSON and 9 ORs arrived as rfts. | ||||
| Patrolling continues. | (Appx'A5') | |||
| 21 | 1400 | Bn moved fwd to areas shown at SKETCH 4. Only opposition to advance | ||
| was several bursts of small arms fire. Later enemy mortared posns | ||||
| causing no cas. 1 sgt and 62 ORs reported to 'A' 'Ech.as rfts. Patrols make no contact with enemy. | (Appx'B4') | |||
| 22 | Warm sunny day. 1100hrs visit by Div Comd. 1530hrs enemy patrol infiltrated close up to fwd coy posn and inflicted cas one killed | (Appx'E1') | ||
| three wounded _ A Coy. Movement of enemy posts and patrols observed and action taken by arty and 3" mortars in intermittently through out | ||||
| day. Quiet night. night. MAJOR C.G. PERCY - HARDMAN, apptd 2i/c arrived p.m. | ||||
| Rfts reported to 'A' Ech, Lieuts WARD BAILEY, BRAATHWAITE, SCARR, 2/Lt. MISKIN and 38 ORs. | (AppxF1) |
Page 5 of 5
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 23 | Clear sunny day. Increased mortaring and shelling activity by enemy throughout day. Cas one killed one wounded. Enemy small | (Appx'B5') (Appx'E2 - E3') | |
| patrols in area LA VARDERIE 7865. Own patrol to LONGRAYE suffered cas, one killed, one wounded by MG fire. Tellermines, unfused but | (Appx'F2') | |||
| fitted with anti-lifting devices, found fwd of coys at 777656. | ||||
| 24 | Spasmodic shelling and mortaring of bn area throughout day. Clash between patrols fwd of A Coy 1405hrs. Warm clear day - | (Appx'E4-E5') (AppxF3) | ||
| aircraft active. MAJOR GIBSON posted to bn - to comd B Coy vice MAJOR WOODRUFF posted away. Bde Comd inspected C Coy locality | ||||
| at 1800hrs. Quiet night. | ||||
| 25 | Enemy activity very light. Fine sunny day to 1800hrs then heavy showers. 35 ORs rfts to "A" Ech. | (Appx C3 E6 E7) (Appx F4) | ||
| 26 | Absence of enemy activity during morning - fwd coys began advance | (Appx 'C4-5') | ||
| and inflicted cas on enemy, later withdrawing.Lt. WARD and ONE OR killed by snipers. | (Appx 'E8 -9') (AppxF5) | |||
| 27 | Showery weather continued. 1300hrs pl B Coy moving fwd to occupy | (Appx'C6') | ||
| LA VARDERIE encountered booby traps. Cas, died of wounds Lt MUNDY wounded one OR. | (Appx 'F6') (Appx E10 - E11) | |||
| 28 | Bn front continued quiet. Showery day. | (Appx C7) (Appx F7) (Appx E12) | ||
| 29 | 0900 | Bde Comd inspected B Coy locality. MAJOR HELPS posted to bn - | (Appxs B6 - F8) | |
| to comd C Coy. Patrolling continued. Heavy rain. Enemy mortaring A Coy area 2230hrs caused cas killed ONE OR wounded Lt. BRANSON | (Appxs C8 - 09) (Appxs E13 E14) | |||
| and FIVE ORs. | ||||
| 30 | Very quiet day? Only enemy activity enemy mortaring of Bn area at 1740 1740hrs. One wounded.A Coy changed posns with C Coy at 1800 | (Appxs E15 E16 (Appx F9) | ||
| hrs 2/Lt. SMITH posted to bn. | (Appx C10) |
Units Referencing the 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
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