War Diary: 6th Green Howards

Month and year: July 1944

The 6th Green Howards July 1944 War Diary covers their actions and patrolling in the Longraye and Hottot area.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1302

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
794673Ref Maps 1/25000 Sheet 37/16 SW	1	2000	Bn still in occupation of the area NORTH of LA TAILLE. The enemy continued to be active throughout the day and approx 250 shells and mortars fell within the Bn area.
TILLY-SUR-SUELLES 1/50000 Sheet 7E /1 CAEN	2	2000	Little to report along the Bn Front. Small groups of enemy continued to harrass the fwd Coys without success. Further shelling and mortaring of the Bn Area throughout the day.
	3	0800	Lt. Col. Cox Commanding 7th Green Howards visited the C.O. and
			a recce of the Bn dispositions prior to the proposed
			changeover was made.
		1130	Brig F Knox visited Bn. H.Q. and discussed details of the
			changeover with the 2i/c (Major C Hull) in the absence of the C.O.
		1530	Relief of the Bn by 7th Green Howards commenced
		2300	Relief of the Bn by 7th G.H. almost complete and Command passed
			to 7th G.H. at midnight.
			The Bn moved into the reserve area of LA GALETTE(7768)

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			and occupied fields astride the rd with Bn H.Q. 779685 S Coy
			784671 B Coy 793693 C Coy 778686 D 778676.
779685	4	1600	Capt R.F. Barnes and Lieut B.J. Digweed joined the Bn as
			reinforcements and were posted to D and C Coys respectively.
			The RMO (Capt Jones RAMC.) rejoined the 186 Fd Amb and his
			duties were taken over by Capt Wetherly-Mein RAMC.
	5		Active patrolling of the LONGRAYE area 7866) was Carried out by
			A Coy during night 4/5 July.
		1600	Capt J. Milton (2i/c B Coy) assumed duties of Bn IO in place
	.		of Lieut. J. Clayton.
			No contact with enemy along the Bn. front.
	6	2000	Active patrolling of the LONGRAYE area (7866) was again carried
			out during night 5/6 July by D Coy. Daylight patrols were also
			sent out to investigate suspected enemy activity in LONGRAYE
			village .

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
779685	7		Throughout the day a recce patrol and Mortar O.P. continued to
			probe the area of LONGRAYE village.
	8		Further patrolling of the LONGRAYE area was continued throughout
			the day. Very little enemy activity was observed.
	9	1200	Brigadier D.G. Gordon DSO Comd.151 Inf. Bde. visited the Bn.
			to inspect Coy localities.
		2000	Daylight patrol continued to patrol the LONGRAYE area.
	10		D Coy patrolled the LONGRAYE area during night 9/10 JULY.
		0915	C.O. and I.O. proceeded to recce the area occupied by the 2 Essex
			Regt. in sq 7675 prior to the relief of that Bn. by 6 G. H.
		1200	Bn moved out of the LA GALETTE area to take over from 2 Essex.
765654		2030	Relief Complete and Bn dispersed as follows: -Bn. H.Q. 765654
			A Coy 773652 B Coy 767650 C Coy 767654 and D Coy 763652.
	11	2000	Slight enemy activity on the Bn Front throughout the day. At
			2200 hrs Bn.H.Q. moved to new location at 766655.

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
766655	12	0800	Active patrolling of the forward areas by C Coy during night 11/12.
		2000	Continues contact with small parties of enemy during day along
			the Bn front. Mortar and MG positions located and engaged by
			Arty with success.
	13	0800	Active patrolling of fwd areas by A and B Coy during night 12/13.
		2000	C Coy relieved by B Coy and moved into forward positions. Enemy
			mortars which harrassed the fwd Coy during the day located
			and engaged by Arty. one mortar Completely silenced.
		2300	C Coy engaged by enemy raiding party who came in shouting
			"KAMERAD" - the forward section made ready to take PW's were
			met with close range small arms fire. Casualties were inflicted
			by the enemy and one man taken back by the enemy who appeared
			to be badly in need of identification. D.F. tasks were called for.
	14	0800	Increased shelling and mortaring of fwd Coy during the night,
			casualties reported. Active patrolling by D Coy during night 13/14

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			At least four enemy patrols encountered. Enemy seemed very
			much on the alert
766655		2000	Further shelling and mortaring of Bn area during th e day. The
			result of the firing of Leaflets by 124 Fd Regt into enemy
			lines, three PW's gave themselves up to C Coy.
	15	0800	C and D Coys heavilly shelled by enemy during night 14/15 -
			no casualties.
		1200	B Coy relieved A Coy(fwd coy).
		2000	Slight shelling and mortaring of Bn area during day.
	16	0800	B Coy patrolled the fwd areas during night 15/16.
		1600	A Coy had one engagement with small party of enemy who crept
			near to their fwd posns. Enemy engaged by S.A. fire and driven off.
		2030	B Coy fighting patrol went to the Copse at 779649 and engaged
			8 enemy with Brens and 2"Mortar. Casualties inflicted on enemy.
			Patrol returned intact.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	17	1015	C Coy Completed move to new location in area 766655 so as to
			maintain contact with 2 SWB's on our right.
		2000	A quiet day within the Bn area. No enemy movement seen or heard.
	18	0700	Much enemy tracked vehicle movement heard during night 17/18
			in front of Bn positions
		1200	Daylight patrols into fwd areas discovered enemy in small numbers
			occupying the Copse at 779649, they were engaged by Arty and MG fire.
		2130	Warning order issued to Bn to be ready to move forward from 2359 hrs.
	19	0600	During the night 18/19 B Coy was moved fwd to occupy positions
			from 781641 to 785643 following the road SW of LE LION VERT
			(7964). This was accomplished without incident. No enemy were
			seen but numerous booby traps and mines were encountered.
766655		0630	D and C Coy ordered to move fwd

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			D Coy moved fwd and took; up posns along the track NORTH of the
			BOIS DE ST GERMAIN (7764) and SE to; the main HOTTOT (8266) -LA CROIX
			DES LANSES (7763) road, to cover the right flank of the Bn advance.
			This was Completed by 0800 hrs. Both B and D Coys reported enemy
			AFV's in front of their posns and mines and booby traps were
			encountered. By 1200 hrs Bn had approached the HOTTOT - LE LION VERE
			rd at 783643 and progress towards the wood at 7963 was good.
			At 1300 hrs 56 Bde on our right encountered stiff enemy resistance
			NW od ST GERMAIN DECTOT (7762) and it was decided to withdraw the Bn
			into posns N LE LANDES in area 7864. By 2300 hrs Bn was dispersed
			as follows:- Bn.H.Q. at 785645, A Coy 784637, B Coy 787643, C Coy
			789642, D Coy 781642, Throughout the day the Bn was accurately
			shelled and mortared. A Coy encountered stiff enemy resistance
			in the orchards at 784637; but with the aid of one Trp of 24
			Lancers Cleared the place of spandaus which had held up the advance.

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
785645	20	0700	Active patrolling of Bn LES LANDES area was carried out during
			the day and enemy spandaus and mortar posns were located and
			these were engaged by Bn mortars.
	21		Further recce parties were sent to the wood at 7963 and to LES LANDES
			area, and gradually a clear picture was built up of enemy fwd
			outpost line in front of the Bn posns. Whenever possible Bn
			mortars engaged enemy spandaus and mortar positions. Coy areas
			were subject to much enemy harrassing fire from shells and mortars.
785645			Casualties were slight.
	22	0700	A Coy laid 2" mortar smoke screen on LES LANDES (785634) and also
	:		fired 2" mortar H.E. This op was successful in drawing enemy
			spandau and mortar fire. These were difficult to locate.
			Throughout the day there slight enemy activity along the Bn front.
	23	0700	C Coy patrolled the LES LANDES area during night 22/23. Slight
			enemy shelling of Bn area during day otherwise the situation was quiet.

Page 9 of 10

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
24		The area of LES LANDES was again patrolled by A and B coys during
		night of 23/24. A quiet day was experienced with little interference
		by the enemy.
25	1900	A sudden concentration of enemy shell into the Bn area brought
		a quiet day to a noisy end? Casualties were sustained.
	2200	Air burst barrage was put down over enemy fwd posns prior to
		a propoganda broadcast which told the enemy of their awkward position
		and assured them of honourable treatment as PW's if they surrendered.
	2359	Further concentration of enemy shells fell in C Coy area,
		where further Casualties resulted.
26	1030	The Div Commander S Maj.Gen.Graham, DSO. MC. ) visited Bn.H.Q.
		and conferred with the Adjt in the absence of the CO who was
		in the coy areas.
	2100	The enemy commenced to shell heavily the Bn area especially
		area of cross-roads at 785643. This was kept up till midnight.

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
785645	27	0700	Spasmodic shelling of Bn area during the night 26/27.
		0800	C.O. and I.O. of 1 Devons visited Bn. H.Q. and discussed with the
			C.O. details of the relief of the Bn. By 1030 hrs the relieving
			C.O. was on possession of complete details necessary for the
			changeover.
		2100	Relief of the Bn commenced and was complete by 2330 hrs.
			Bn marched to a rest area S of BAYEUX at LES FIETTLES(7773)
7773	28 )		The Bn dispersed in the rest area as follows: - Bn.H.Q. 767728,
	29 )		A Coy 767727, B Coy 772726, C Coy 768729, D Coy 766729,S Coy
	30 )		766728. Bath parades were organised and various entertainments
	31 )		were provided including a visit from George and Beryl Formby.

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War Diary: 6th Green Howards

Month and year: July 1944

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