War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

The 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Anti Tank Regiment August 1944 war diary covers the units time in Normandy including the death of Lt Col WB Stewart after his jeep ran over a teller mine and friendly fire aircraft.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/921

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Page 1 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	1	Expect to move at any time, and are ready to do so. Do not move however
		until 1630 hrs. Leagured at 725612 for night and were bombed at about 0130 hrs 2 Aug. Fortunately, by great luck, no damage was done although a
		very large crater appeared in the middle of the leaguer.
	2	Adjt called to Rear Bde HQ at 0600 hrs. Ordered to move at 0830. Bde HQ had a number of cas from anti-personnel bombs during the night. Move to
		711591. TAC HQ is located at CAHAGNES 7356. Btys are in action on the CAHAGNES - AUNAY SUR ODON rd 8251. Adjt visited TAC HQ as usual during the day
	3	Fighting on the AUNAY SUR ODON rd is very bitter and the situation appears
		somewhat fluid. In the afternoon 257 Bty had an unpleasant time and lost some guns and about 15 men missing. Fwd tps were forced to withdraw about 2000
		yds. A total of 34 cas were sustained today.
	4	Starting at 0500 hrs the Adjt visited all Bty HQs in order to ascertain their exact state with a view to rfts of personnel, and also of equipt. At present,
		somewaht naturally, it would not be possible to man complete equipments. 258 Bty lost 2 M 10s yesterday, but the Tech Adjt spent all last night and managed
		to draw 2 new ones by the morning. During the morning the Adjt visited HQRA and the Corps Rft Camp, and at about
		1700 hrs, 60 rfts arrived at RHQ. News received that the GOC of the div has left, though, at present his
		new appointment is not known. The Corps is commanded by Gen HORROCKS who commanded 30 Corps until being wounded in an air raid just before the ITALIAN
		Invasion.
	5	The Germans have withdrawn from our front and, except for small pockets of resistance, seem to have gone to the EAST side of the R ORNE. One of 257's

Page 2 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	5	lost guns was recovered in a fit state. The remainder have been damaged in during the battle too badly to be of much further use.
		The Army starts to move fwd during the day. Lt FE LATTER RA joined the Regt.
		TAC HQ are expecting to move all day, but, in the evening, are under the impression that they will not move until midnight.
		News received late in the evening that Lt Col WB STEWART DSO MC RA had been killed when his Jeep ran over a TELLER mine sewn in the rd. The Regt is most
		sorrowful at this misfortune, and especially so at the circumstances about which the CO could do nothing in the way of counter-measures.
	6	The Padre and Adjt visited the site of the CO's decease and buried his
		body at 77254975. He was killed instantaneously. RHQ moved to 825545; TAC HQ moved to 865525. In the evening, Btys are
		reshuffled to Bns etc and the Div is divided into 3 colns - PEPPER, MUSTARD and SALT for an operation SOUTH down the AUNAY GRIMOULT rd.
	7	Adjt visited Div HQ to discuss the usual question of rfts. TAC HQ moved to 827495. Lt LATTER joined the Regt as a rft offr from 92 A tk Regt RA
		(9 Armd Div) which is being broken up. News received that Lt Col J GORING RA from 21 A tk Regt RA (GUARDS Armd
		Div) is to take comd of the Regt, arriving shortly.
	8	RHQ moved to 827519 at 0930 hrs. The day for RHQ was spent in maintenance, etc and from our point of view
		there is nothing to report.
	9	31 Rfts arrived. Our NCO situation due to battle cas is very weak, and there are few people who qualify for promotion. This draft of rfts incl
		9 Sgts 3 L/Sgts 10 Bdrs 5 Dvr Mechs and 4 other tradesmen who, being over establishment 2/11 are Being returned.

Page 3 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	9	At 1830 hrs RHQ moved to 828502 in order to be SOUTH of AUNAY which is normally very congested with traffic and difficult to get through. There is
		not one single house standing in the town and bulldozers are busy clearing debris to make decent rds.
		News received that the Div is to be withdrawn tonight for a few days rest. At 2100 hrs the Adjt recced areas for 257 and 259 Btys at 833504 and made
		arrangements for a guide to meet them as from 0500 hrs tomorrow and lead them in.
	10	At 0700 hrs 257 and 259 start to occupy their leaguer areas, The Adjt recced areas for 258 and 260 in the area 837500. They will move there
		later today. RHQ at present is not allowed to move, as no traffic is allowed to use the AUNAY-GRIMAULT rd from this division.
		RHQ move at about 1030 hrs to 833504 and TAC join them at about the same
		time in the new area.
		Remainder of today spent in personal maintenance, ie cleaning of webbing equipment, etc.
	11	At 1030 hrs all offrs and NCOs assembled with similar parties from other units to hear an address from Lt Gen HORROCKS (Comd 30 Corps) on the war in
		FRANCE. All were greatly inspired by his talk. The Regt was congratulated on its turnout by the General.
		Maj JJ BARCLAY MC RA (2 IC) is informed that he is to comd the Regt and is, subject to confirmation, temporarily to hold the rank of Lt Col.
		News received that THE CRA, Brig R MEWS, DSO is leaving the Division.
	12	Day spent in maintenance. Concert parties, baths, cinema and sea bathing are started, and in the latter instance about half the Regt are spending the day
		down at the sea. At 1400 hrs a promotion conference for NCOs is held.

Page 4 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	13	At 1130 hrs the new CRA, Brig LYON-SMITH, visited the Regt and talked with offrs and NCOs of all Btys.
		Further parties went to the sea to bathe, and baths, etc continue.
	14	A party of 5 offrs and 50 ORs who had been sent for a few days restat the 30 Corps REST CAMP on 10 Aug returned this afternoon and a further party
		of 1 offr and 30 ORs went. Maintenance, leave, etc, baths, cinema, etc continue. Weather during the last few days has been perfect and the battle
		news is extremely good.
	15	News received of a landing in Southern FRANCE. The Adjt prosecuted at a Court Martial in the afternoon.
		The CO held a conference on trg at 1800 hrs. Trg for 5 hrs a day is to start in earnest tomorrow.
	16	At 0100 hrs last night orders were received that the Div is to come under
		comd 2 CDN CORPS and is to move at first light to the CAEN area. As we expected to be in the present area for the next four days at least, a certain amount of
		equipment in the Regt is stripped down for overhaul, there is a party away at the REST CAMP and certain other minor worries. The remainder of the night is spent
		in laying everything on. At 0430 hrs the route, time to start etc is received. SP - AUNAY, 0845 hrs;
		route - VILLERS - NOVERS 8862 - VERSON 9665 - ETERVILLE 9864 - Area IFS 0463. At 0600 hrs the Adjt went to Br at 006644 and with an offr from 257, 258 and 259
		met an offr from 2 CDN CORPS. An Assembly Area near IFS was recced, in readiness for the arrival of the Regt (260, as usual, are under comd 22 Armd Bde).
		At about 1000 hrs, the head of the Bde Coln arrived, but news was received
		that we would not leaguer in the areas recced, as we are now to come under comd 1 BR CORPS. The Recce Part accordingly went to the area CONTEVILLE 1257
		and recced a further area. At about 1600 hrs the Regt arrived in this area.

Page 5 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	16	RHQ leaguer at 117567. The dust on cross country routes is as bad as any desert track, and convoy travelling is consequently rather unpleasant.
		At 2030 hrs the CO was called to HQRA for a conference and, immediately on his re turn by 131 Bde to a further conference. Orders were given to "bed
		down" and be ready to move at first light.
	17	CO gave orders at 0600 hrs. 257 are under comd 22 Armd Bde, and the remainder of the Regt under 131 Bde. The div is to pass through 51 (Highland)
		Div, directed on LISIEUX, 131 Bde leading. At present the enemy line in this
		sector, runs just to the EAST of ST PIERRE SUR DIVES 2469. TAC HQ move about 1200 hrs to 207527.
		Lt Col GORING (vide entry in this diary for 7 Aug) joined about 1900 hrs. At 2100 hrs MAIN HQ moved to 201530, arriving about 2220 hrs.
	18	Main HQ moved at about 0830 hrs to 236514.
		The CO visited MAIN HQ (having until now been to TAC where he is living and the Btys) at 1430 hrs and talked to the men individually.
		During the night bombs were dropped in the vicinity of RHQ. No damage and no cas.
	19	At 0830 hrs MAIN moved to 277497 and leagured in a very nice orchard. The
		country here is very pleasant and the weather all day is warm and sunny, as it has been for some weeks. In the evening, however, light rain started and
		continued most of the night. Again, bombs were dropped close to us at night but no damage or cas were caused.
		Now that we are located close to the "Gap from which the Germans withdraw tps from the almost encircled "pocket", cases are occurring of our own aircraft
		straffing and rocket-firing at our own tps. 258 today lost 1 man killed and 3 M 10s damaged and put temporarily out of action.

Page 6 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
Field	20	Weather good again. Nothing of interest to report today. At 1900 hrs MAIN HQ moved to 408744. TAC HQ now at 422752. A few bombs
		were dropped a few fields away during night 20/21.
	21	During last night, and most of today there has been some medium-heavy rain. At 2000 hrs MAIN moved to 419749, owing to the discovery of 3 large
		UXBs in the last area.
	22	MAIN HQ moved at about 1200 hrs to 462742 and halted there temporarily while the Centre Line (Main rd LIVAROT - LISIEUX) clears. At 1900 hrs, moved again
		to 502786. TAC are now at 497808.
	23	Weather last night and today wet. Maj RS BURTON RA - OC 259 Bty is promoted to Lt Col and posted to 61 A tk Regt RA in 51 (Highland Div). He is to leave the
		Regt tomorrow.
	24	Weather still wet. TAC moved at about 1900 hrs to area L'HOTELLERIE 6686. Orders received from Rear Bde for HQ to move at first light 25th.
	25	The enemy has withdrawn a long way, and the div is making considerable advs. MAIN HQ moved at first light (0630) to L'HOTELLERIE 6686, arriving there at about
		1000 hrs. At 1945 hrs again moved to 785903. TAC are in this location at present.
	26	At 0900 hrs approx TAC moved to 903957. MAIN moved at about 1600 hrs to 835945 (St BENOIT DES OMBRES). The Bde Gp is withdrawing to this side of the
		R RISLE with a view to an adv on a new CL. The new CL is NORTH and slightly EAST from HONTFORT 8601.
	27	News received that the Div is to be withdrawn from the present sector of the
		front and go under comd 12 Corps further SOUTH. RHQ remained in same location.

Page 7 of 7

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field	28	MAIN HQ moved at 1300 hrs to 850993 which is in the area allotted to 131 Bde for conc on withdrawal from the present sector of the line. The withdrawal
		took place during the late afternoon, and TAC HQ are temporarily ordered to go with 22 Armd Bde to area ST GEORGE DU VIEVRE 8096. 260 are also concentrating
		with 22 Armd Bde. Orders are issued "No move before 291600B"
	29	At 1000 hrs the CO held a conference with BC's - the first opportunity available since the CO assumed comd. An Agenda of general points was covered. (TAC HQ
		had previously moved at 0900 hrs and come into MAIN HQ Leaguer.) The remainder of the morning was spent in general adm and the clearing up of outstanding matters.
		At 1615 hrs RHQ moved to a new conc area. Btys moved; 257 and 259 with Bns of 131 Bde, 258 and 260 with 22 Armd Bde. Route - PONT AUTHOU 8895 -
		BRIONNE 8990 - HARCOURT 9486 - NEUBOURG 0283 to leaguer at MARBOEUF 0783. 257 and 259 Btys are in the same area as 258 and 260 are in the area GRAVERON -
		SEMERVILLE - 0777. RHQ arrive in their new location at 1900 hrs.
	30	Day spent in maintenance. In the morning orders are issued "No move before
		2300 hrs" In fact at 2030 hrs RHQ MOVED a short distance to link up with Bde HQ - TAC with MAIN and MAIN with Rear - which is normal battle grouping.
		An operation to cross the SOMME is to start at Dawn tomorrow, and Comd 131 Bde addressed all offrs of the Bde Gp at 1800 hrs. At 2000 hrs the CO briefed RHQ and various orders from the Div Comd regarding traffic discipline were read out.
	31	TAC HQ move off at First Light, Main HQ at 0730. Supplies having been delivered by B echelon during the night, we are now self sufficient for four days, and probably more.
		Attached as an Appx is the Regt Op Order for the Operation. In fact, Main HQ had only just passed the SP at 2230 hrs this evening and	Appx D
		leagured at 635529 for the night.

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War Diary: 65th Norfolk Yeomanry Regiment

Month and year: August 1944

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