National Archive Reference: WO 171/1302
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Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
FRANGE | Aug. 1 | 1100 | Bn left the rest area at LA FIGETTES, Map Ref 7672 and moved by TCVs into the CAUMONT area, to relieve the 5 Bn The Dorset Regt (130 Bde) |
2300 | Relief Complete with Bn HQ 719594 (LE REPAS) A Coy 741594 B Coy 741595 (area BRIQUESSARD) C Coy 726601 and D Coy 719594. The relief of the 5 Dorsets took place later than it should | ||
have done owing to 7 Armd Div gaining priority to use the main rds. Not until 1930 hrs was the Bn able to move beyond | |||
GRANVILLE. | |||
2 | 1800 | As the reserve Bn, the Bn moved along the CAUMONT-BRIQUESSARD - AMAYE-SUR-SEULLLES rd, and occupied posns astride the rd in the | |
area of LE MESNIL (7558) Move completed by 2030 hrs with Bn HQ 745593 A Coy 746587 B Coy 753587 , C Coy 748592 D Coy 749584. | |||
4 | 1630 | Bn moved into the area AMAYE-SUR-SUELLES (7757) and occupied | |
positions on the high ground vacated by 7 Green Howards. Bn HQ 766577 A Coy 771580 B Coy 768576 Coy 769577 and D Coy 767579. | |||
5 | 1715 | Brig. F Knox, DSO and Capt Isaacs MC (Bde IO) lectured to all | |
officers of the Bn at Bn HQ on the situation in Normandy and Brittany. | |||
6 | 1600 | The Corps Comd, Lt Gen GB Horrocks, CB, DSOm MC. accompanied | |
by the Brig visited the Bn and spoke to all officers and senior NCOs on the situation in Normandy and Brittany. | |||
1830 | The CO held the first of several short Conferences on the loading of the Bn's vehicles. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
FRANCA | Aug 7 | 1600 | 2i/c, OC Sp Coy accompanied by 2i/c's A,B,C,D and Spt Coys |
proceeded by VILLERS BOCAGE to area NORTH of ONDEFONTAINE to | |||
make recce of Bn assembly area prior to the move fwd. | |||
2100 | C.O's Conference for all Coy Comdrs, IO, Adjt, SO, QM, RMO, 2i/c, | ||
and RSM. Details discussed for proposed move into Battle area. | |||
8 | 0930 | Bn left the area of AMAYE-SUR-SEULLES (7757) and moved to an | |
assembly area via VILLERS BOCAGE, JURQUES and ONDEFONTAINE, at 784777 | |||
9 | 0740 | Bn left assembly area in Troop Carrying lorries. | |
0815 | Bn de-bussed and assembled near POSTY 8447. | ||
1030 | C.O's orders for attack. | ||
1230 | Bn moved fwd for battle, A and B Coys riding on tanks. | ||
1430 | A and B Coys got off tanks in area 853434 | ||
1545 | H hr - start line on track 851427 - 856427. | ||
1630 | A and B Coys reached SAUCER - track 855419. C and D Coys | ||
ordered fwd to line SAUCER. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France | 9 | 1700 | A and B Coys fighting near village of CRAPOUVILLE855414 |
1745 | Resistance in CRAPOUVILLE overcome, A and B Coys moving forward | ||
together. 7 Green Howards, on left of Bn, had worked a similar line | |||
1830 | A and B coys, after fighting on high ground SOUTH of CRAPOUVILLE | ||
fell back to positions covering the village. | |||
2000 | C.O. confirmed that objective was now restricted. | ||
2130 | Contact re -established with C and D Coys. Position formed. | ||
10 | 0100 | One pl of D Coy went out on. recce patrol to BRIDGE 865407. | |
Finding the bridge intact and not defended, they remained there | |||
until relieved by a pl of 5 E YORKS at 0430 hrs. | |||
Enemy MG's opened up at several points along the Bn front during | |||
the morning. | |||
2230 | A Coy moved forward to SPUR 866403 and relieved B Coy 5 E YORKS | ||
there. D Coy followed and dug in the area SOUTH of ROUSSAVILLE | |||
on A Coys left, 870405 |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 10 | 2330 | A fighting patrol of A Coy went out and later established |
that the enemy was defending ST PIERRE LA VIELLE. | |||
11 | 0500 | Junction point with 7 Som L.I. established at 851413 | |
0530 | A further patrol of A Coy was sent out and confirmed that the | ||
enemy held PIERRE LA VIEILLE. | |||
0900 | A heavy concentration of shelling and mortar fire was brought down | ||
1100 | on A and D Coys ,D Coys especially suffering. They were also fired on | ||
by a tank and MG on their Ieft. During the afternoon and evening | |||
various warning orders were received for the Bn to move fwd | |||
in support of 231 Inf Bde. | |||
12 | 0001 | Finally the Bn moved out to an area round 876397, vehicles | |
moving via CARVILLE 869428 and marching personel by roads and | |||
tracks, through 868406 and 874404. | |||
0045 | Marching tpts encountered heavy mortar fire, causing casualties | ||
including one killed near FARM 872405. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 12 | 0130 | Marching Tps slightly disorganised by mortar fire and subsequent |
shelling of their route, reached their new area on time. | |||
0230 | Vehicle arrived, their entry into Bn H.Q. co-incuding with an | ||
attack on the HQ area by mortar or field artillery. | |||
0815 | The Bn moved fwd again to LES FORGES 876384, to form part of firm | ||
base for 151 Inf Bde attack eastwards. 10 PW gave themselves | |||
up to the Bn as it took over from the 1 Devons. | |||
0915 | Enemy mortars, field and 88 cm guns began a series of concentrations | ||
on the Bn area. This continued almost without intermission until 1900 hrs. | |||
1330 | 9 DLI attacked Eastwards from the Bn area. They mistook our fwd | ||
troops for an objective and sprayed them with small arms and | |||
tank MG fire, fortunatly without casualties. | |||
1700 | Bn ordered to move NORTH to picquet road NORTH of LES FORGES | ||
C Coy left at 1700 hrs and other Coys followed, D Coy with the CO | |||
Tac HQ leaving at 2030 hrs. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 12 | 1700 | Cont. -- By 2100 hrs the Bn was in positions shown in Appx A. |
The road was frequently shelled by the enemy particularly | |||
round X-rds 276389, where A Coy were unable to dig in until after | |||
darkness had fallen. Maj Norton OC C Coy and three of his men were wounded | |||
by a sniper during this move. | |||
During the day the Bn RAP at 877387 did great work in coping | |||
with the stream of casualties from the Bn itself, 9 DLI and others | |||
using the road. | |||
13 | 0900 | Several shells, fired by British Artillery shelling ST PIERRE | |
LA VIEILLE, fell in Bn area | |||
1730 | 12 reinforcements (OR's) ex Kings (Liverpool Irish) arrived at Bn.H.Q. | ||
2130 | Maj C.M.Hull, MC, 2i/c Bn, returned and resumed his duties vice | ||
Maj R. Lofthouse, MC, who resumed command of D Coy. | |||
News of the award of the Victoria Cross to CSM Hollis late D Coy | |||
received at Bn.H.Q. A telegram was sent to him by air |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 14 | 0800 | Bn left LES FORGES rd for rest area NORTH of MOUNT PINCON 8346. |
Here the Bn concentrated to check equipment and receive reinforcements. | |||
1900 | Capt JMB ISAACS MC, Bde IO, Lectured to personel of the Bn on the excellent war situation. | ||
15 | The Bn received a welcome allotment of bathing facilities. | ||
1900 | A performance by the TT concert party was given in the Bn area | ||
for the Bde personel. | |||
17 | 2000 | One Officer and 64 OR's arrived as rfts from Sth Staffs Regt | |
ex 59 Div. By order of higher fmn they were all posted to C Coy, | |||
most of the existing , C Coy split up. | |||
18 | 0920 | Bn moved from rest area to a concentration area SOUTH of ATHIS 9127 | |
The Bn formed the advance guard of 69 Inf Bde and moved via | |||
VASSY 7934 and LE PONT 8529. The Bde was following up 11 Armed | |||
Div and no contact was made with the enemy. The new area was occupied | |||
at 1230 hrs. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 19 | 0930 | The Bn moved a further short distance to LA CALNEILLE 9523, |
arriving without incident at 1015 hrs. | |||
1500 | Five PW's, Russian "volunteers" were brought into Bn, HQ by men of the | ||
local resistance movement, and were sent up to Bde, HQ. one of | |||
the PW's, identified from his papers as a vet, later returned to examine a wounded | |||
horse in Bn HQ area. | |||
20 | 1000 | Bn moved by MT to an area WAST of PUTANGES 1021. | |
2110 | Bn made further MT move through PUTANGES to VAUX LE BARDOULT 1621 | ||
which was reached at 0030 hrs, 21 Aug. | |||
21 | 0130 | The new area was occupied without incident, in heavy rain. | |
1400 | Coys changed areas to secure hard standings for vehicles, as fields were | ||
becoming very wet. | |||
1500 | 16 reinforcements (OR's),ex 6 DWR, arrived and were posted to B Coy. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 22 | 0800 | The Bn moved on in MT through ARGENTAN 2618 and EXMES 4545 |
to a conc area 4845 where orders were given for a quick resumption | |||
of the advance. The Bn moved in at 1230 hrs. | |||
1315 | The Bn moved on with B Coy as Vanguard riding on taks. After | ||
passing GACE, forward troops passed through 159 Inf Bde near | |||
LA TRINITE des LAITIERS 6048 and henceforward the Bn formed the van of the | |||
"Liberating Army" except for armoured cars and recce units. | |||
1530 | B Coy reached ST EVROULT ND DU BOIS 6647, where the enemy had | ||
cratered the road at 671471. The route was passable with | |||
difficulty. B and D Coys, leaving, moved over on foot and occupied | |||
a covering position while essantial vehicles and tanks got | |||
round the craters. Several French civilians were injured by | |||
mines and booby traps but the Bn suffered no casualties. | |||
The enemy had left in the morning, in the direction of LAFERTE FRESNEL |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 22 | 1530 | Cont - All main roads NORTH and SOUTH of the village were |
picquetted with carriers and A TK guns, remaining Coys de-bussed | |||
short of the obstacle and the Bn moved on towards LAIGLE 7843 | |||
after a delay of about 30 minutes. | |||
1700 | Leading troops reached cross roads 702472 and was ordered to halt | ||
and dig in for the night in this area, some four miles short of | |||
LAIGLA. The Bn had advanced 40 miles in a day, the last ten miles | |||
as leading troops. No enemy were encountered. | |||
1815 | A Carrier patrol under Lt Scholes reached the approaches of | ||
LAIGLE, was shot at by an enemy anti-tank gun and return with | |||
useful information. One carrier was hit and burnt out another | |||
Became bogged while trying to return cross country and had to the left. | |||
2000 | The Bn Completed occupation OI its position WEST OF LAIGLE. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 23 | 0700 | The Bn continued to act as advance guard to 69 Inf Bde, with |
A Sqn 4/7 DG and other supporting arms under Command. B Coy | |||
still led. The route led NORTH of LAIGLE by X-rds 791467 through | |||
RUGLES 8548 and AMBANAY 8650. | |||
1000 | Recce and vanguard held up by Tellermines, then by road-block | ||
of felled trees. These obstacles were NOT defended and imposed | |||
only a shortdelay. A detour was eventually found by the CO, | |||
who was the first in the Bn to enter RUGLES. | |||
1230 | Leading troops entered RUGLAS amid tremendous enthusiagm. | ||
The inhabitants brought out wine and spirits, besides the bouquets | |||
and ribbons which had been showered on us all along the route. | |||
The Crowd impaired movement to some extent. All were dressed in | |||
uniform, if any, or best clothes. The main bridge in RUGLES was intact | |||
1400 | The vanguard was in position NORTH of AMBENAY 8650 and the remained | ||
of the Bn moved up to complete the position. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 23 | 0500 | The first of several patrols was sent NORTH from AMBENAY. |
A troop of tanks and three Carriers produced three sheepish prisoners | |||
apparently Mongolians. This was the only contact made with | |||
enemy troops during this phase of the pursuit. Many reports | |||
of enemy were received from civilians and followed up, without | |||
result. Patrols combed the areas far NORTH and NE as LA NEUVE LYRE 8857 | |||
and QUERNANVILLA 9555. | |||
24 | 1030 | Bn HQ moved a short distance to take advantage of buildings, | |
as some shelter from the heavy rain was desirable. | |||
1715 | CO called to Bde HQ for orders. Thse were for a short move | ||
SOUTH of RUGLES, after which the Div was to advance on the right of | |||
43 Inf Div and take over the MANTES bridgehead over the SEINE | |||
from US forces. | |||
2200 | The above orders were cancelled by phone and the Bn remained | ||
at AMBENAY. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 25 | The Bn spent a quiet day at AMBERNAY. Fine weather facilitated | |
drying and general cleaning up. | |||
1715 | A Carrier patrol made a wide sweep of the Bn sector as far as | ||
931567 without contacting enemy, though some reports were received | |||
of his withdrawal on the morning of 25 Aug. | |||
26 | 0700 | The Bn was prepared to move, but owing to numerous traffic | |
difficulties no movement was possible before 0910 hrs. Further | |||
confusion was met onthe way. The route was through US XIX Corp | |||
area and they had allotted the road to British troops for a | |||
limited time. However, by 1500 hrs the bulk of the Bn had moved | |||
through CONCHES 0060 EVREUX 1060 and PACY sur EURE 3667 to an | |||
area between PACY and BONNIERES 5067. Part of Support Coy | |||
arrived at 1830 hrs and the rest of this Coy was compelled to | |||
harbour on the road. The weather was glorious, and in spite of | |||
interruptions the town of the beautiful EURE countryside, peopled |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 26 | 0700 | cont - by friendly and generous allies, was much enjoyed. |
27 | 1900 | The remainder of the Bn, consisting of most of Sp Coy and the RAP | |
. | reached the Bn area. A very heavy thunderstorm during the | ||
night soaked the Bn. | |||
28 | The day was spent on PT, route marches and rest. | ||
29 | 1430 | Capt Gunn and 29 OR's ex 6 DWR, and 9 OR's ex KINGS (Liverpool Irish) | |
arrived as reinforcements. | |||
2300 | The Bn moved off in MT. The night was fairly clear after a | ||
day of unbroken rain. | |||
30 | 0150 | The head of the Bn column reached the position bridge (SAUL) | |
at VERNON. Movement was slow. | |||
0300 | After further delays owing to traffic ahead the Bn began moving | ||
out of its concentration area about a mile EAST of VERNONNET, | |||
in 4672. The last vehicle arrived at about 0530 hrs. Tracks | |||
and fields were very muddy. |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 30 | 0300 | cont- Searchlights were used to Create "artificial moonlight" |
which was of great assistance. | |||
1530 | The Bn moved on again, having received orders at rather sharp | ||
notice, this route was through MONTAGNY 6883 to BEAUGRENIER 6885. | |||
Here the Bn occupied the village and put out posts on the roads | |||
leading into it, though one tank had already passed through. | |||
1900 | Acting on a civilian report, the 2i/c and IO visited NUCOURT | ||
715797 where there was said to be a depot for assembling | |||
and storage of flying bombs (V1). The village was deserted. | |||
On the site were large tunnels with railway lines entering, | |||
overhead protection being of reinforced concrete up to 12th thick | |||
No actual missiles were seen but the apperance of the site | |||
confirmed the report. Civilians reported that the bombs when | |||
assembled were lauched from L'ISLE ADAM near PONTOISE |
Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
---|---|---|---|
France. | 31 | 0700 | The Bn left BEAUGRENIER and moved still in MT, through |
CHAUMONT-en-VEXIN 7490 to VILLOTRAN 8598, and harboured in and | |||
roung the chateau there at 1400 hrs. | |||
The month began with the Bn Closely following-up forward units | |||
in the CAUMONT fighting. From 9 to 13 Aug it was engaged in the drive | |||
from AVNAY towards CONDE-SUR-NOIREAN in which the enemy lost | |||
heavily and was pushed steadily northwards. After a short rest | |||
the Bn took up the lorried pursuit role and were leading | |||
Allied troops from 22 to 24 Aug except for recce elements. | |||
Between 18 and 31 Aug nearly 200 miles were covered in MT moves. |