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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Jul 1 | Bn is still est in area SOUTH OF FONTENAY LE PESNIL. At 0735 hrs a small enemy force attempted to penetrate between 4 Lincs and 11 DLI at ROURAY. Bn Stood To and quite soon this attack petered out. C Coy (Maj.Mountain) gained infm by wireless from RAC sources that the first attack was made by enemy tps wearing British uniforms which was confirmed later by the 4th Lancers who reported elements of 1 SS PZ Div dressed in BD doing the attack. Attack developed on from 1 Tyneside Scots with Inf and tks. Hard fighting all day. By noon B Coy of our Bn was put under comd of 4 Lincs to destroy infiltration and moved off - accomplished its task most successfully and was put into the front line to fill a gap between 4 Lincs and 11 DLI. Bn came under command 70 InfBde and reported to Brig COOKE-COLLIS at FONTENAY. As the battle developed, first C and then D Coys, then the whole Bn moved fwd into the line at RAURAY relieving in battle, 11 DLI who had formed a composite 11 DLI-1TS Bn to counterattack and plug original 1 TS front. Whole complicated operation successfully done by 2100 hrs with one cas (B Coy) in spite of sniping and mortaring. | ||
| Sun Jul 2 | Active patrolling throughout night. Brig 70 Bde visits BnHQ, accompanying Staff Capt marks up his map from the Bn situation map. At 1400 hrsBnHQ area is mortared, also at 1640 hrs. B Coy also receive a 'packet' but very efficiently got the bearing of the mortars at which permission is given to engage them by arty. Enemy hard hit yesterday. | ||
| Mon Jul 3 | It is learned that Bn may be relieved at 1400 hrs to move back to last loon. Reps from coys and from relieving Bn report to BnHQ to patrol Bn area. At 1530 hrs the Bn is relieved by 4 RWF and moved back to old loon SOUTH of FONTENAY-LE-PESNIL. At the same time reverted to comd 146 InfBde. | ||
| Tue Jul 4 | Active patrolling carried out through night 3/4 Jul. Enemy fighters flew over BnHQ going SOUTH towards out lines. AA engaged and drove them off. | ||
| Wed Jul 5 | Patrols out again night 4/5 - Nothing of importance to report from any returning patrols. | ||
| Thu Jul 6 | 1 Leicesters take over new loons, newcomers to 146 InfBde in place of 6th Bn DWR. Patrols have nothing to report. | ||
| Fri Jul 7 | Situation - No change. D Coy quickly reported enemy gun posns located by compass bearing then engaged by our arty. Patrols - nil. | ||
| Sat Jul 8 | Situation - No change | ||
| Sun Jul 9 | It is reported that a live 16" naval shell is in area D Coy. RE demolished at 1100 hrs. C Coy report enemy smoke screen being laid LEFT fwd which proved to be a small enemy patrol attempting to attack outposts of 4 RWF- this was beaten off - all quite. At 1735 hrsBde inform us that we will take over 4 Lincs area on 11 Jul and that 1 Leicesters will take over out positions. | ||
| Mon Jul 10 | Patrols return nil report. IO 1 Leicesters visits BnHQ to see about changeover. At 0915 hrsBrig H Wood (Queens) (who assumed comd 147 InfBde of 4 Jul) visits Bn. 1030 hrsCO and IO recce Lincs area fwd. | ||
| Tur Jul 11 | At 1200 hrs relief by the bn Lincs begins. BnHQ moves and takes over at 1445 hrs, Leicesters take over our posns at same time. Reliefs carried out with no incidents occurring. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 12 | Last nights patrols nothing to report. Brigadier visits Bn area. Our Own fighting patrols report no location of enemy. | ||
| Thu Jul 13 | D Coy reports slight mortaring in corner of field in front which is occupied by their standing patrol. A Coys two fighting patrols reported back. C Coy recce patrol reported nothing except flares seen in the distance. Fighting patrols of D Coy under Lt Lappin had a most successful patrol, killing 12 and wounding 4 Germans and suffering no casualties themselves. The operation was controlled by OC D Coy (Maj ABM Kavanagh) from his HQs by line to the patrol HQ 1000 yds forward. A fire plan was arranged with MedBattery, FdRegt and Bn Mortar Pl. Registration was done by Lt Lappin and reported to the Gnrs and Mortar Pl through D CoyHQ. The whole episode showed considerable enterprise and offensive spirit. BnHQ was registered by enemy mortars which were engaged by our arty. | ||
| Fri Jul 14 | More mortar loons sent back by D Coy, our arty engaged immediately. Bn snipers went out and located sunked road, an obvious A Tk obstacle with trees felled across and probably booby trapped. | ||
| Sat Jul 15 | All patrols carry out tasks. CO thins out B Coy into D Coys old area and posns. Two Pls and HQ only, one pl remains in present posn. D Coy ordered not to take action against an enemy LMGposn - arty engages. One third alert carried on through night. Noise of tks heard by forward patrol of D Coy. At 0200 hrs B Coy reports Cpl Scott and 1 OR not returned from patrol, presumed missing between 1800 - 2000 hrs 15 July. Lt Merrill and 2 ORs went on same route and met hy fire from 3 spandaus. Observed two Germans adv along ditch, attacked them with 36 grenades and Boche went to ground - returned 2030 hrs no cas and no sign of Cpl Scott and 1 OR. D Coys patrol in posn 0105 hrs and heard sentry marching on beat. Sentry fired on them and MG opened up. Patrol withdrew according to plan. No cas. 59 Div attacking through 49 to seize gen line NOYERS - MONTES. Recces carried out by OC East Lancs and offrs from our lines. Attack starts 0430 hrs with massive barrage. Bn keeps its head well down to minimise DF. Attack successful on left. Sticky on E Lancs front. Lancs Fus put in later and then R NORFOLK. | ||
| Sun Jul 16 | A Coy is heavily mortared - no cas. At 1110 hrs 9 prisoners are brought in by Capt Illingworth OC Carrier Pl identified as 986 InfRegt of 276 InfDiv. | ||
| Mon Jul 17 | A lot of harassing fire on our front during night. Patrols came in nothing of importance to report. Brig arrives in Bn area. 2 PW gave themselves up to C Coy. They belonged to 463 Gren Eng Bn and were of Polish nationality. Stated that their Regt consisted of Poles and Germans, they were all willing to give themselves up. 176 InfBdefwd of our posn, attacked at 1200 hrs. 0330 hrs, hy bombing attack in rear of our posns. we received wounded A Tk gnrs from unit in front who reported posns established. Objectives taken but cas sustained from air bombardment | ||
| Tues Jul 18 | 0555 hrs RAF heavies seen flying towards CAEN. A little later American Liberators were seen going in too. It was reported that NOYERS had been captured by us. Bn would likely move out to rest area but this was postponed owing to situation at NOYERS being unfavourable, and the Bn to relieve us was in reserve for counter attack if necessary on NOYERS. At 1545 hrs orders received to pull out. Arrived rest area CONDE-SUR-SEULLES 2100 hrs, Bn fed and then the order was given to sleep. | ||
| Wed Jul 19 | After a short time in this area it was learned that the Div was going under comd 1 Corps on the CAEN sector and a move would be ordered any time. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Jul 22 | Received warning order to move but postponed Recce party consisting of CO and IO recced new area at ST HONORINE East of Caen. This is conc area for 7 DWR with area round about for rest of Div. | ||
| Sun Jul 23 | Adv party moves off to new area by 70 Bde route. | ||
| Mon Jul 24 | Reveille 0015 hrs move off embussed 0130 hrs. Bn is to go into conc area ST HONORINE and then 147 InfBde will take over from 154 InfBde (HD) at area CAGNY LE POIRIER and FREMOUVILLE South East of CAEN. The Bn will then be reserve Bn for Bde. Reach concs area 0720 hrs. Bde ) Gp for orders of move to CAGNY. Recce party sets off, reps from each Coy to CAGNY where 7 Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders are waiting to hand over. Bn O Gp 2000 hrs. | ||
| Tue Jul 25 | Bn moves in, starting at 1000 hrs and completes take over at 1445 hrs. BnHQ est N of CAGNY with Coys on outskirts of village fwd. At 1440 hrsBnHQ area and C Coy are heavily shelled all movement drawing fire from high ground to East, South, and South West. 2115 hrs Typhoons with Allied markings machine gunned B Coy area - no cas. Major HM Kilner OC B Coy adm to hosp | ||
| Wed Jul 26 | 1030 hrsBnHQ area again heavily shelled for an hour, command post it situated in middle of open corn field and seems to be ranged on by enemy arty. CO decides to move into area of orchard further forward. | ||
| Thurs Jul 27 | 0120 hrs enemy planes overhead AP and HE dropped over wide area until 0150 hrs. Patrols report in to 2 i/c contacts made of flanking unit patrols. An Italian deserter wearing SS uniforms belonging to 16 GAF Div surrendered to the Carrier Pl. | ||
| Frid Jul 28 | Shelling of B Coys area occurred during the morning and Pte Stead was killed. All Coys were ordered that no movement would take place during hours of light as enemy had good observation. Efforts have been made within the Bn to-day to locate any German weapons, which could be used against the enemy. Three 88 mm guns, once inf gun and about 10 6 barrelled mortars with plenty of amn were found, but mostly these weapons had been damaged beyond repair. REME however hoped to be able to repair a few. Our Bn snipers located from an OP enemy mortar posns which the RA dealt with later in the day. The day closed with the usual tip and run air raid by the enemy. D Coy area was machine gunned but no cas. Our patrolling was active tonight but no contact was made. | ||
| Sat Jul 29 | During the early hours the enemy sent over planes which dropped leaflets into our area. This was the first time he had used this "weapon" against us. In the leaflets they tried to upset our minds by promising many more new weapons with marked results also apologised for his bombing of London "Buzz bombs" but said we had driven him to do it by our bombing of German cities. The leaflets were treated with the ridicule, they deserved. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just after stand down the area was heavily shelled which resulted in the deaths of L/Sgt Bellamy of D Coy and in C CoyLt Evans Ptess Gibson and Slater were wounded. This leaves C Coy with only Major Mountain and Lt Wood. Bn is now 8 offrs below WE. Any movement within the area brings down shells but our visitors are learning that we do not appreciate fast driving which may cause dust. At 2300 hrs the Bn "Stand To" 100% as a small party of enemy attacked the left fwdCoy of 11 RSF causing three cas. No identifications were obtained by the enemy and the situation was rapidly restored by a local counter attack by 11 RSF. | |||
| Sun Jul 30 | Enemy air activity was less than usual during the early hours, but at 0530 hrs a lone low flying aircraft flew over and machine gunned and bombed D Coy. On the whole shelling and mortaring has been less today. D & B Coys have been chiefly effective and D Coy had 3 ORs wounded. The attached newspaper was delivered by the RAF during the night. | ||
| Mon 31 Jul | A rest from shells and mortar bombs as practically none fell in our area today, but visibility is still good so the "no movement" order still stands. It has been noted lately that a very large proportion of "Duds" have been amongst the enemy fire, both shells and mortars. News has been received at last concerning Lt Hallsworth who has been missing since setting off from CONDE-DE-SEULLES on a recce of the route to ST HONORINE. It is now understood that he has been admitted to hospital. Patrolling has been carried out by all coys but so far contact with the enemy has not been made. Parties have now started again for the rest camp and a small allotment of seats for ENSA shows (well in rear) has been given to the Bn. No cas to-day. |
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