View MapView MapNational Archive Reference: WO 171/868
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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 3 | Major.W.R.Hughes posted to RAC Depot. Strength of Unit 47 Offrs and 759 ORs, 1 Offr and 26 ORs (LADREME) plus Chaplain. | |
| 5 | Lieut.G.R.Archer posted to 257 Corps Del Sqn. | ||
| 6 | D Day - Invasion of Europe began. | ||
| 9. | Lieut.D.W.Evans and Lieut.C.M.Bland posted to 2 ArmdRft Unit | ||
| 10 | Strength of Unit 43 Offrs and 722 ORs, plus 1 Offr and 25 ORs (LADREME) and Chaplain. | ||
| 11 | Unit started move to marshalling Area A.1. | ||
| 15 | Move to Marshalling Area completed. BnHQ and tanks in Camp A19 (FORT GOMER, GOSPORT) remainder in Camp A18 | ||
| 16 | Preparations and waterproofing completed. Unit ready to move to embarkation area. | ||
| 17 | Strength of Unit 43 Offrs and 721 ORs, plus 1 Offr and 26 ORs (LADREME) and chaplain. | ||
| 18 | 0415 hrs Unit started move to Embarkation Area at Gosport and embarked during day on LCTs and LSTs. BnHQ on LCT 802. 2100 hrs sailed - sea very calm. Continued/Sheet Two. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 19 | 1000 hrs arrived off JUNO beach COURSEULLES SUR MER (T9885). Sea too rough to land. | |
| 20 | 0200 | Craft driven on beach by strong winds. | |
| 0600 | Disembarked and proceeded to Conc Area. | ||
| 1100 | BnHQ in Conc Area. | ||
| 1200 | BnHQ in orchard at 884785 (Sheet 7F/1) just North of Brecy. Rough sea prevented majority of unit landing | ||
| 21 | Rough sea prevented majority of unit landing | ||
| 22 | Remainder of unit landed abd concentrated. One LCT hit mine - six CHURCHILL tks lost. LtsBARRET and BROWN wounded but rejoined unit. Recce carried out for first operation - an attack on CHEUX. | ||
| 23 | Further Recces carried out. | ||
| 24 | Further Recces and final preparations carried out. Strength of Unit less Residues 42 Offrs and 675 ORs plus 1 Offr and 22 ORs (LADREME),and Chaplain, Residue 1 Offr & 45 ORs. | ||
| 25 | 0005 | Unit moved to Assembly Area at 910755 (Sheet 7F/1) just south of CULLY. | |
| 2145 | F Ech moved to FUP (which was also S.L.) on track 896708 to 901709. | ||
| 26 | 0730 | Fwdtps crossed SL, C Sqn with 9 Cameronians, B Sqn left with Glas Highlanders and A Sqn and Seaforths in reserve. C.L. Track 899709 - Track junc906692 - rd & track junc906679 - CHEUX. Objective 100 ring contour SOUTH of CHEUX. Continued Overleaf. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 26 | 0800 | C & B Sqn ran into minefiekd approx 400x south of Le Mensil Patry (9070 Sheet 7F1). C Sqn loosing 5 tks and B Sqn 4 tks. Lieut.C.B.Thompson 256570 wounded by a sniper and Capt.Webb wounded whilst changing tks. Adv continued slowly. |
| 1030 appx | CAEN-FONTENANY rd reached. | ||
| 1100 | CHEUX village occupied and A Sqn & Seaforths called fwd to gain objective. A Sqn engaged by enemy from right flank on line of CAEN-FONTENAY rd and fwd slope of objective secured by 1630 hrs. Leiut.R.E.Barret 268997 killed. | ||
| 2100 | Bn released to fwd rally and formed laager at 899686. Offrs. Casualties Lieut Barret.R.E Killed Capt.Webb.A.E Wounded Lieut.Thompson.A.E. Wounded. Lieut.Pattison.C.B. Wounded. Lieut.Berry.S.A Wounded. Lieut.Ward.D.L. Wounded. Lieut.Bell.I.G.D (RAMC) Wounded. ORs Killed. 10. Wounded. 16. | ||
| 0500 | C Sqn and HLI attacked to gain river crossing south of GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON but held up on high ground to south of CHEUX by Panthers and Mk.IV tks, knocking out at least three enemy tks. Remainder of Bn moved to harbour at 908692, C Sqn rejoining Unit at about 1900 hrs. Continued overleaf. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 27 | ORs. Casualties Killed. 1. Wounded. 4. | |
| 28 | Counter counter-attack roles recoenoitred. | ||
| 1630 | Bn (less C sqn) and 8 R.Scots formed up on SLrd CAEN - FONTENAY CL 90 grid line objective 900642. C Sqn remained in support of 4 S.L.I Capt.Paul,Lieut.Muscroft and Lieut.Clapham joined unit. ORs. Casualties. Wounded. 1. | ||
| 1900 | Fwdtps crossed SL. | ||
| 2100 | Contact with enemy made just North of GRAINVILLE 9064. Bn laagered night 28/29 at 897657. | ||
| 29 | Objective gained during the morning but could not be consolidated. Enemy opposition increased during the afternoon and objective changed hands frequently. | ||
| 1800 | Strong enemy counter-attack mounted by 1st.SS.Pz Div. The enemy gained some ground and we lost 12 tks. | ||
| 2100 | C Sqn took up defensive position at 905674. | ||
| 2200 | Bn withdrew to fwd rally at 902685 to reform. Offrs. Casualties. Lieut.S.T.Offen. Killed Lieut.P.Meadows. Wounded. ORs. Killed. 1. 3 Missing, Believed Killed Continues Overleaf |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 30 | 1400 | Bn moved fwd to relieve the 9.R.Tks in support of the inf at COLLEVILLE9264. C Sqn moved fwd to extricate inf from south of R.ODON and remainder of Bn harboured at 918648. Casualties NIL. Lieut.Clapham sick and admitted to hospital. G.Gaisford. Lieut Colonel, Commanding, 7th Bn. Royal Tank Regiment |
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