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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOURDON MR 753127 | Sep 1 | 0900 | Commanding Officer inspected HQ Coy and the Carrier P1 in Battle order, the |
| remainder of the day being devoted to maintainance. | |||
| 1400 | 80 Officers and ORs attended an ENSA concert at Bde HQ MR 765110. | ||
| Glorious weather and many saw their first "show" since arriving in France. | |||
| 2230 | 34 OR reinforcements arrive from the depot (BRANCEPETH CASTLE, DURHAM) | ||
| 2 | 0930 | All coys carrying out light training in the form of PT - unarmed combat and | |
| weapon training. | |||
| 1025 | Bde Commander arrived at Bn HQ and indicated that a move was likely in the | ||
| near future. Bn spent remainder of day on maintainance and loading vehicles | |||
| in spite of rumours which continually came in of the various times and | |||
| destinations of the move. | |||
| 2200 | C.O. and I.O. to Bde 'O' Gp. Bde ordered to move to an assembly area | ||
| TROUVILLE - ALLIQUERVILLE (850325) | |||
| 3 | 0001 | Bn 'O' Gp. Coys ordered to move to assembly area SW TROUVILLE (845323) | |
| 0430 | All Bn vehicles, less CO's and Coy Comd's Jeeps leave Bn HQ to join Bde colmn. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOURDON | 3 | 0710 | All Bn embussed in RASC tpt., leave Bn HQ on a separate route. Both |
| journeys involved crossing the RIVER SEINE. The tpt colmn was to cross | |||
| over a railway bridge at ROUEN. Unfortunately this bridge was damaged | |||
| during the early hours and after some 12 hours delay the colmn was diverted, | |||
| finally crossing at ELBEUF. The Bn embussed had a similar delay | |||
| though somewhat more interesting. The RASC tpt dropped the Bn at the | |||
| CAUDEBEC (9326) crossing where after awaiting the arrival and subsiding of a tidal | |||
| BORE, eventually crossed at 1215 hrs in DUKWS, an event much enjoyed by all, | |||
| thence by march route. The delay in crossing the SEINE was caused | |||
| mainly by the high priority of "ESSENTIALS" for our rapidly advancing army | |||
| in BELGIUM and HOLLAND. | |||
| TROUVILLE 845323 | 3 | 1730 | Bn arrived in new area after a 10 mile march and were very fortunate to |
| have the cook's trucks arrive and serve a most welcome meal at 1900 hrs. | |||
| 4 | 0200 | Bn tpt arrived, men were fed and rejoined their coys. | |
| 0900 | Members of BRITISH tps met GERMAN party with an ULTIMATUM for surrender of | ||
| Le HAVRE city. Refused. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| TROUVILLE | 4 | 1000 | Bde Comd arrived at Bn HQ. No likelyhood of move for at least 24 hrs. |
| 1 LEICESTER'S area 870319. RSF complete take over from 2 ESSEX area | |||
| LE MESNIL (5732). The day spent in re-organisation and rest. | |||
| 2130 | 7 reinforcements arrive from 59 Div. | ||
| 5 | 1000 | Bn went for short route march by coys. Remainder of day spent resting and | |
| preparing for next move. Now evident Bn is to take part in the seige and | |||
| assault of LE HAVRE. | |||
| 1400 | C. O. and I.O. to Bde 'O' Gp. Bn ordered to conc area GREMESE (6231). C.O., I.O. | ||
| and Adjt recced new area immediately. | |||
| 2000 | Bn 'O' Gp. Coys given new area and orders to move. Moving embussed in | ||
| German captured vehicles and Bde resources of 3 tonners. | |||
| 6 | 0930 | Bn crosses Bde S.P. 624318 | |
| 1205 | Bn arrives new conc area | ||
| 1800 | Bn witnessed the RAF drop 1500 tons of HE and incendiary bombs on LE HAVRE. | ||
| A foul night of rain and wind. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| TROUVILLE | 6 | First edition Bn News Sheet "Yorkshire Pud" printed. The Bn now has | |
| 30 offrs 864 ORs with 'A' Coy commanded by Major J Jameson, 'B' Coy | |||
| commanded by Major GMM Smallwood, 'C' commanded by Major G.V. Fancourt, | |||
| D' Coy commanded by Major ABM Kavanagh, 'Sp' Coy commanded by Major BV | |||
| Thomlinson, Adjt Capt WL Denton. | |||
| GRENESE (6231) | 7 | 0730 | Weather still so bad RAF bombing raid postponed until 1600 hrs. Bn now |
| earnestly studying maps, photographs and overprints for the attack on | |||
| LE HAVRE. | |||
| 1400 | 2IC lectured to D, HQ and Sp Coys on "Street Fighting". | ||
| 1530 | 2IC lectured to A,B and 'C' Coys on "Street Fighting". | ||
| 1700 | C.O. and I.O. to Bde 'O' Gp. C.O. receives plan for attack on LE HAVRE, | ||
| Bn remains at rest. Continous rain has made area a quagmire, | |||
| 8 | 0730 | In spite of severe rain and wind Bn was once again able to witness another | |
| RAF. bombing raid on LE HAVRE, | |||
| 1400 | 2IC hold conference with Coy Comds explaining outline plan for Bn's role of | ||
| attack on LE HAVRE, |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRENESE | 8 | 1430 | C.O. I.O. to Bde receive further orders for the attack incl Sp arms. |
| Remainder of day spent in briefing and planning. Rain continues. | |||
| 9 | 0930 | C.O. confers with C.O. 107 RAC (King's Own). Coy comds met Tk Tp comds | |
| and other sp arms. | |||
| 1400 | C.O., I.O. and Coy comds recce ground from 574283 | ||
| 1830 | C.O. I.O. to Bde 'O' Gp. Final orders for the attack. | ||
| 2100 | C.O. "ties up" fire plan with Major CHILDS. RA | ||
| 10 | 0930 | Bn 'O' Gp. Bn final orders. Weather greatly improved. | |
| 1345 | Bn moves to area ST MARTIN DU MANOIR 5830 | ||
| 1500 | Light mortaring fwd of 'C' coy area 580308. Wounded one RE who was | ||
| mounting a searchlight. Evacuated by our RAP. | |||
| ST MARTIN DU MANOIR | 1630 | RAF bombing on LE HAVRE prior to Inf attack commenced. | |
| 1745 | Bn had the pleasure of seeing by bombers of the RAF drop their bombs on | ||
| the Bn objective. This had a pleasent effect on everyone concerned as | |||
| the bombing was very accurate. This was confirmed by a visit to the | |||
| ground after the operation was completed. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1900 | 56 Bde sp by tanks, Flails, AVRE and Crocodiles commence the attack, | |
| 2200 | Inf very scarce, I.O. to Bde. Learns 56 Bde have almost taken Div first | ||
| objective. Many prisoners. Stiff resistence from two posts. | |||
| Lieut KD Hounsfield, 7 DWR att Bde as L.O. killed at MONTEVILLIERS by mine, | |||
| 11 | 0600 | Expected move to Bn FUP still not ordered. Minefield seriously | |
| holding up advance but prisoners coming in, 1 LEICESTERS and RSF now | |||
| fully committed. | |||
| 0615 | No move likely before 1000 hrs. | ||
| 0830 | Maplay and Slidex Compromised, Use Slidex for 12th. C.O., I.O. to Bde. | ||
| Original plan though delayed still likely. | |||
| 1015 | C.O. meets Bde Comd at MONTEVILLIERS 5532. No change of plan but Bde | ||
| still delayed by minefields, | |||
| 1100 | C.O. returns to Bn. Immediate orders to move in Kangeroos to conc area | ||
| .531302 prior to advance to .85 in LE HAVRE, | |||
| 1230 | B and D Coys embuss in Kangeroos. C.O. meets Bde Comd at MONTEVILLIERS, |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11 | 1400 | Hasty O GP. Even though road has been cleared, mines would periodically | |
| explode after a veh had gone over them, having been so long buried and | |||
| very deep. | |||
| 1430 | Leading Kangeroo D Coy blown up on mine at 544318, a few mins later another | ||
| Kangeroo suffered the same fate. This had drastic reactions as far as the | |||
| Bn was concerned for just at the time the CO was meeting the Div Comd, who | |||
| directed that the Bn was to proceed embussed with a sqn of tks into | |||
| LE HAVRE to .85. Owing to the hold up, by mines the honour of being the first | |||
| tps of the Div to enter the town was snatched from the Bn by a few moments. | |||
| Glosters of 56 Bde was given the task instead. Disappointing but not | |||
| discouraging. | |||
| 1600 | Bn was ordered to resume its original plan and capture original objectives. | ||
| 2000 | Bn 'O' Gp. Plan changed once more. Bn are now to take the 'ROTUNDA' | ||
| 530285 | |||
| 2100 | Bn crossed start line sp by sqn of tks just as daylight was fading. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11 | 2115 | C.O. orders tks to withdraw on account of failing light and heavy Craters left by RAF | |
| 2130 | Objective reached with no opposition, Bn org and parolling continues | ||
| throughout night. | |||
| LE HAVRE | Sep 12 | 0630 | Stand To'. Daylight reveals the Bn amidst a heap of ruble of what was |
| once a well laid out suburban village - an example of RAF saturation. | |||
| Bn molested with civilians searching their shattered housess while the | |||
| battle for LE HAVRE still raged - most disconcerning and depressing sight | |||
| 1000 | Bde Comd visits Bn, no further orders. | ||
| 1100 | RSF attack strong pt on our left. Tk from Bn area successfully support | ||
| this attack silencing one enemy posn. Posn cleared of enemy by 1400 hrs. | |||
| One stretcher bearer (Pte Walker) B Coy killed whilst attempting to give | |||
| first aid to a French civilian. Lt Lambert and two ORs slightly wounded. | |||
| Note:- Our operation took place over the ground made famous in the days | |||
| of Henry V namely "The Field of the Cloth of Gold" | |||
| 1400 | Remainder of day spent in watching mopping up of LE HAVRE collecting |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12 | 1400 | stray horses and generally re-org. | |
| 2000 | Bn moves to new area for the night 532292. | ||
| Sep 13 | 1030 | Bn moves to rest , back to ST MARTIN-DU-MANOIR prior to settling in Div | |
| rest area. | |||
| 1430 | CO, 2IC, OC D Coy to FECAMP. | ||
| Sep 14 | Bn moves to ST GILES - DE - LA - NEUVILLE for rest. The day was spent in | ||
| settling in new area. Baths, Cinemas and theatre were enjoyed by all ranks. | |||
| Booty in the way of butter, beer and tinned fruit, captured from the | |||
| Germans at LE HAVRE provided a variety in the menu. | |||
| Sep 15 | 1100 | Brig visits the Bn. Usual entertainments enjoyed by all ranks. Baths were | |
| also laid on, | |||
| 1730 | 2 IC gave a lecture on the general situation working through the different | ||
| phases of the campagn since 'D' day. | |||
| Sep 16 | The day was spent in resting and entertainments, Junior NCOs cadre | ||
| commenced under 2 IC and RSM, |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Giles De La Neuville | Sep 17 | 1315 | Bn leaves for GILCOURT 3468 near DIEPPE |
| 1900 | Bn settled in new area. | ||
| GILCOURT | Sep 18 | Day spent in maintenance. | |
| 1600 | CO lectures to A.B.C. coys on the "Rhine" | ||
| 1700 | " " " D. HQ. SP " " " " | ||
| Sep 19 | 0930 | Bn by coys, leaves on short route match. | |
| 1700 | Liberty trucks' to DIEPPE | ||
| Sep 20 | Day spent in rest and maintenance. Adv parties leave for Belgium, Rumours | ||
| that Bn is going to right flank of 1st Cdn Army, Calais also | |||
| mentioned. | |||
| Sep 21 | 0515 | Bn moves embussed on first 'leg' to Belgium, via ABBEVILLE - ARRAS - TOURNAI | |
| GUIGNIES | 1800 | Bn arrived inassembly area for night. Everyone under cover. Great welcome in Belgium | |
| Sep 22 | 0530 | Bn leaves on second 'leg' of move to Belgium, Passed through Brussells at | |
| 1230 receiving a great ovation. | |||
| TOLHOIS 6383 | 1620 | Arrived in new loon for night. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22 | 2200 | Bn O Gp. Bn to take over from the 7th Queens (7 Armd Div) on the | |
| ESCAUT CANAL, This was on the left hand base of the Second Army corridor | |||
| to HOLLAND. | |||
| BOEKEL 0189 | Sep 23 | 0630 | CO and recce parties to area 7 Queen's Daylight take over, hoping for |
| fog but weather clear. | |||
| 0745 | A.B. 1 P1 C Coy and HQ Coy arrive in new area, A Coy in locn of worlds biggest | ||
| radium factory. | |||
| 0800 | Civilian reports enemy withdrawn some 20 miles. | ||
| 0900 | Bde Conf, IO attended, CO briefing patrols for crossing of canal. | ||
| 0915 | Patrols of A and B Coys cross ESCAUT CANAL, No opposition. | ||
| 0930 | A Coy report HERENTAIS clear of enemy. | ||
| 1030 | B Coy patrol capture 2 Boche on north side of Canal. | ||
| 1119 | C Coy concentrate with remainder of A Coy in new area. | ||
| 1120 | B Coy patrol capture 4 Boche. | ||
| 1200 | Remainder of Bn assembles in new area. No signs of active enemy. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23 | 1900 | B Coy take 3 more prisoners and 1 collaborater, | |
| 2000 | B Coy patrol brought in another prisoner. | ||
| 2130 | CO. IO. to Bde 'O' Gp. No move before a.m. 24th | ||
| Sep 24 | 0600 | B Coy patrol to 021934 to see if roads were mined and passable to vehs. | |
| Bde sappers were building improvised bridges. | |||
| 0745 | German prisoner surrended at WESTERLOO 0182. | ||
| 1130 | Civilian reports TURNHOUT 0506 clear of enemy. | ||
| 1200 | Bn standing by to move. | ||
| 1345 | CO meets Bde Comd. Two coys to move to TURNHOUT embussed. | ||
| followed to remainder BN. about 2hrs later. | |||
| 1410 | D and C Coys move off for BREEN 0203. Pouring rain, Overwhelming | ||
| welcome in every village | |||
| 1820 | Bn HQ est at DE HOEVEN 0205. D and C Coys well est on TURNHOUT CANAL. | ||
| TURNHOUT evacuated but enemy still holding N bank of Canal in some strength. | |||
| Canal 30ft wide. Raining and blowing hard. | |||
| 1935 | Bde 'O' Gp. Bn to cross TURNHOUT CANAL at 0400 hrs. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | 2030 | Bn 'O' Gp | |
| 2100 | CO recces D Coy area as a likely croosing place for B and D Coys | ||
| TURNHOUT | Sep 25 | 0030 | Bn now concentrated in TURNHOUT 0406. Enemy alert, firing verey light and |
| demolitions | |||
| 0150 | H hour which was to have been 0400 postponed. Bn to cross in two places | ||
| D Coy right, B Coy left. Bank of canal steep and and deep. Weather | |||
| appalling, Enemy alert. | |||
| 0500 | Bn 'O' Gp. postponed. Hy arty and mortar and SAA fire brought down | ||
| on Hun with good effect as disappeared to ground. | |||
| 0700 | Enemy mortared S Canal bank, 1 cas in B Coy (Pte Kershaw) | ||
| 0745 | D Coy observe 1 enemy killed 1 wounded. | ||
| 0815 | B Coy area mortared. Mortar located at 054079 and silenced by our mortars. | ||
| C Coy claim 5 Boche killed by SAA, | |||
| 0920 | Bde Comd visits Bn. Section Carriers having been pinned down 2 hrs are |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 0920 | withdrawn, C Coy report 3 ton enemy lorry full of men engaged by 2" | |
| mortar. Inflicted about 30 cas. Arty fire on N bank of Canal, | |||
| Carrier Sec comd Sgt Evans killed. | |||
| 1115 | CO. IO. to Bde. Bn to cross canal and move to RYKEVORSEL 9209. | ||
| 1230 | Bn 'O' Gp. IO to 146 Bde re situation at RYKEVORSEL Bn may take over | ||
| from 1/4 KOYLI who are still fighting, | |||
| 1500 | Plan cancelled. 2 IC and recce parties return from RYKEVORSEL. | ||
| 1600 | CO orders coys to new areas on TURNHOUT CANAL. Bn settles with A. and B | ||
| coys on Canal Bank as Div Res. Bn HQ in Barracks at TURNHOUT. Uneventful night. | |||
| Sep 26 | 0800 | Bn to give all assistance to RSF crossing to make bridgehead NW of TURNHOUT. | |
| 0930 | 6 enemy seen digging in on canal bank. Engaged by mortars and not seen | ||
| again. | |||
| 1000 | Spandua fire at B Coy from 045069. Engaged by our mortars and silenced. | ||
| 1130 | 2 PW brought in by carrier patrol, | ||
| 1240 | Spandua observed by B Coy at 046069, engaged by 2" mortar, 2 hits observed. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26 | 1330 | D Coy engage enemy at 004076 with SAA fire. | |
| 1345 | D Coy observe Boche queing up at factory 019074, dispersed by mortar and SAA fire, | ||
| 1445 | C Coy report 'S' mines on their front also MG firing from 024052. Engaged | ||
| by mortars. D Coy report 4 enemy killed by SAA. | |||
| 1600 | Bn standing by to move. | ||
| 1800 | Bn 'O' Gp. CO and recce parties leave at 1730 to recce posns of 2 Glocs | ||
| (56 Bde) who are still in action. | |||
| 2145 | Bn moves off in coy blocks. Handing over to RSF. | ||
| 2230 | D Coy report in posn in new area, occassional shelling, | ||
| DE MEIR 9408 | Sep 27 | 0230 | Bn in posn HQ at 952079. |
| 0415 | Standing patrol with 4 Lincs on right est 953072. | ||
| 1015 | Bde Come arrives Bn HQ. | ||
| 1100 | Intermittent shelling of bridge to Bn rear, No contact with enemy who appear | ||
| to have withdrawn at least 1000 yds. | |||
| 1430 | D Coy bring in 4 PW. 7 Coy, 743 Regt, 719 Inf Div. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27 | 2030 | More intermittent shelling. | |
| 2215 | Sitrep from Bde, Bn will not move until after 5 Cdn Bde and 10 Polish Armd | ||
| Div have passed through. | |||
| Sep 28 | Day quiet. Bn to adv at dawn as right flank protection to Bde | ||
| main effort by Leics to capture DEPOT DE MENDICITE allowing 10th Polish Armd | |||
| Div to pass through, B - C Coys adv 1000 yds at last light to secure passage past marshes | |||
| Sep 29 | 0530 | A Coy, Right, reach FUP. Comd Gp moves from present locn. Coy, left, | |
| with one tp Cdn tks under comd. | |||
| 0600 | A Coy reach start line after slight opposition, | ||
| 0740 | A Coy approaching objective after some stiff fighting, A few cas. D Coy's | ||
| adv held up by 1 Leics being unable to get fwd. Mortaring of Bn area by | |||
| Boche. | |||
| 0800 | A Coy on objective, but strong pt still holding out. D Coy held up but | ||
| assisting by fire A Coy and 1 Leics. Prisoners report many wounded in | |||
| their posns. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29 | 0930 | A Coy est on their objective. | |
| 1000 | A Coy break up expected counter attack by hy mortar fire | ||
| 1200 | Some confused fighting, By now 1 Leics have secured a hold on their objective | ||
| on left. D Coy still held up by 20 mm and SA. 1 tk knocked out. 2 carriers | |||
| knocked out. | |||
| 1522 | Polish Div tps seen adv on our right. Posn of A Coy much more cheerful. | ||
| Poles adv in fine form sweeping all opposition from them. Contact A Coy | |||
| at 1600 hrs. | |||
| 1600 | All enemy on our front now withdrawn. | ||
| 1740 | Poles forming up to pass through Bn posn with their armour. Our posn now firm. | ||
| Cas 7 killed, 16 wounded, 39 prisoners taken. At least 50 killed and | |||
| wounded amongst enemy. Bn remains in area 965089 for night. D and A | |||
| coys fwd C and B in res. Weather cold and wet, rum issued and very welcome. | |||
| Patrolling during night, nothing to report. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 | 0720 | 4 PW brought in by B Coy | |
| 0815 | 1 PW " " " " | ||
| Bn remain in same locn spending day collecting enemy eqpt, cleaning up and | |||
| general maintenance, | |||
| 1700 | Bde 'O' Gp. No move until following day now confirmed. Bde task is to | ||
| follow up Poles and hold ground they have captured, |
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