War Diary: 7th Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: November 1944

The 7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment November 1944 war diary covers the units actions in area around Mardyck and Loon-Plage

A map (Ardres Sheet 39 & 28, 1:50,000) for the grid references in this document can be found at online at University of Texas library

National Archive Reference: WO 171/868

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field,	1	0310	Enemy attacked with a fighting patrol our fwd post at Mardick (157831).
			The enemy was beaten off by MG fire. We suffered one casualty. Own and enemy shelling on the whole front was fairly heavy during day.
		1800	The enemy concentrated his activity on Mardick. Despite this we only suffered one man wounded. The night was quiet.
			Cas: 1 OR Wounded.
	2		Reorganizing of posns. A Sqn on left now held fwd posns at Building 162836 and at track junction 164830. SHQ has also moved fwd and now at Fme Greenson 151831. This was to conform with move fwd of C Sqn who now occupy fwd posns at 175819 and 176816. C Sqn HQ remains in same location 161812. During the night a flying bomb was reported to have been launched by the enemy from the Dunkirk area, and fired out to sea appx due NW. Enemy patrols were active in A Sqn area.
	3	0715	A & C Sqns carried out another of their sorties on the Gde Prendembourg, Fme Devez and Cde Synthe areas. A number of buildings known to be occupied by the enemy were shot up by the tanks 75mm guns, with good effect. The enemy answered by putting down their DF which included a number of 155mm shells. Tanks eventually withdrew to their normal posns.
		1615	The enemy sent a party of 20 men down the main road from the Cde Synthe direction These were immediately driven back by MG fire. The night was quiet although the e.nemy anticipated some action on our part
			for throughout the night parachute flares were being used along the whole front. Cas: 2 ORs wounded.
			Continued/overleaf.

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Place	Date /	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field.	4	0410	The early morning produced some heavy shelling on the enemy's part, but by
			first light this had petered out. During the day things were normal with Arty harrassing fire from our own
			and enemy's guns. At night enemy patrolling was reduced. This was probably due to the very bright moon. This curtailed our own patrol
			activities also. A number of explosions were heard from the centre of the Dunkirk area. Patrol of 3 FFI failed to return. Strength of unit 45 Offrs and 643 ORs: 1 Offr and 27 OR's LAD and Padre.	Appx 'A'
	5	0920	One of our tanks moving up Mardick - Gde Predembourg road was fired on by Bazookas. Seven were fired at the tank in all but only one obtained a
			hit and this only a glancing blow on the turret which took off one of the welded track plates. They were obviously using the Bazookas dropped by
			planes the previous night. The enemy is unskilled in the use of these weapons, due, no doubt to lack of amn for training purposes.
			During the night the enemy put up many flares over the whole front. A patrol was heard moving North of C Sqn posns. A patrol was sent out
			immediately to deal with them and a sharp skirmish followed. We suffered NO casualties.
	6		Patrols in daylight discovered the body of one dead German who had been shot in the skirmish the previous night. Although the day was quiete enemy arty fire increased during the night.
	7	0745	Mardick (157833) and B Sqn HQs at 152832 were subjected to a heavy concentration of enemy arty. Considerable damage was caused to occupied buildings but no casualties were suffered.
			Continued/overleaf

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field.	7	1600	An FFI patrol along the dunes suffered 1 member killed on mine. 6 enemy mortars along with a considerable amount of amn were captured from the beaches by our own patrols. These are now in position two with B Sqn on
			the left and 2 with C Sqn on the right, The remaining two are kept in mobile reserve.
			During the night a posn on the right of C Sqn, manned by the Czechs, and the FFI, of the 1st Czech Armd Regt was concentrated on by enemy arty. This was
			followed up by an attack which resulted in the post being overrun and the occupants captured. Enemy withdrew immediately after the attack.
	8		At first light C Sqn was relieved by A Sqn. B Sqn now in area 1583, A Sqn
			area 1681 and C Sqn Loon Plage 1380. RHQ area Loon Plage, A Ech in Bourbourg 1175 and B Ech in Cassel.
			During the afternoon one of our patrols led by the CO succeeded in getting through to Fme Augte 167847. They returned without suffering any casualties although fired on by MG and Rifle. The night was quiet.
	9		During the morning Rocket firing Typhoons went in and attacked targets (Enemy hy gun posns) at MR 187450 and 188848.
		1500	An enemy patrol endeavoured to infiltrate into B Sqn posns. These were spotted and effectively shot up. Enemy shell fire throughout the day was
			heavier than usual, and shells that landed in the Loon Plage area succedded in killing four and wounding two F.F.I. Own and enemy arty fire
			continued throughout the night.
	10		Generally quiet on the whole front apart from own and enemy arty fire.
			Continued/overReaf.

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field.	11		F.O.O. of supporting Hy A.A. Regt now staying with the Regt permanently. During the day he remains in Fwd O.P's At night he stations himself at this R.H.Q. which enables him to shoot on call for both of the fwd Sqns.
			This also enables us to use the Czech Fd Arty Regt when the situation demands for close targets.
		1930	Fwd Sqn reported a projectile resembling in shape and sound, a flying bomb, being launched from the Dunkirk area, in the general direction of
			England. Own and enemy patrols were active during the night. Cas: 1 OR killed.
			Strength of Unit 43 Offrs and 637 ORs, 1 Offr and 27 ORs LAD and Padre.	Appx 'B'
	12	0700	B Sqn relieved by C Sqn on the Mardick sector. B Sqn now area 1583. C Sqn area Loon Plage in reserve and A Sqn in area 170817.
			Normal arty fire during the day.
	13		During the afternoon A Sqn on the Gde Synthe sector shot up Gde Synthe where known enemy O.P's were established and had a successful shoot.
			A Dakota, flying over Dunkirk was shot down by enemy A.A.Fire and crashed on the beach in enemy territory.
	14		Enemy fairly active on whole front. Own arty fire put down. During the night own patrol met enemy patrol in area 167825. A short skirmish ensued after which the enemy patrol withdrew.
	15		Enemy Battery Fire and own Battery counter force throughout the day. Normal patrol activity at night.
			Continued/overleaf.

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field.	16		At first light B Sqn relieved A Sqn in Pont a Rosseaux area. A Sqn now
			Loon Plage area 1380, B Sqn area 1681, C Sqn area Mardick 1583. During the morning enemy guns concentrated on our Mardick posns. No casualties
			were suffered. Counter Battery fire was put down by our own arty. Enemy patrolling during the night was on an increased scale, and fighting
			patrols endeavoured to parate both Mardick and Pont a Rosseaux sectors. They were successfully held off by MG fire from our tanks, and our only
			casualties consisted of 1 FFI and 1 of our own troops caused by enemy arty fire that preceded these minor attacks.
			The 3rd SL/LAA Bty considerably assisted our defence by producing artificial moonlight. This enabled our tank gunners to get a good shoot
			and prevented the enemy from closing in on our posns. The searchlight Battery are willing to give us this assistance provided no hostile aircraft
			are in the vicinity. Cas: 1 OR Wounded.
	17	1530	C Sqn carried out a sortie on Gde Predembourg and cleared the area of enemy. Enemy arty fire was slow in coming into operation and it was not until out tanks were withdrawing to Mardick that his arty fire came down. This
			was heavy calibre shells from the Dunkirk area. No tanks were damaged or casualties suffered.
		1730	Our fwd posn on the Pont a Rosseaux sector was subjected to enemy concentrations,
		2340	Mardick and own posns around this area were very heavily shelled until 2355 hrs, when the shelling lifted to the rear of Mardick and Loon Plage area.
			Soon after this C Sqn were attacked by the enemy from three sides. A force estimated at 40 Germans tried to pass up the Gde Predembourg - Mardick road,
			but were fired on by our tanks at 164831 and forced the enemy here to withdraw.
			Continued/overleaf.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field.	17		The second force attached Mardick village from the South but were driven off by fire from FFI posts and one tank in the village. The third force attacked from the North and were held by the tanks at
			155837. Although only approx 40 enemy were seen in this area it is considered that this force was the main one and was in considerable strength.
			After approx 30 mins fighting our patrols reported that the enemy was moving West in an effort to outflank this posn. One tank moved West to area 150836
			and was able to disperse the enemy. Whilst this tank was away the remaining two tanks were heavily shelled and phosphorus bombs were used against them.
			The enemy attacked immediately after the shelling and got to within 20 yds of the tanks. Again they were driven off.
		0330	The enemy again tried to close on the tanks but were held off, the action lasting about 40 mins.
		0500	The enemy made a final attempt to take this Northern posn but his efforts met with no success.
		0600	All was quiet. Arty concentrations were put down by the Czech Fd Arty Regt and a Battery of the 2 Cdn Hy AA Regt.
			The enemy fired at least 400 rounds of various calibre ammunition.
	18		The day produced the normal enemy harrassing fire. Own arty carried out pre-arranged gun programme on known enemy posns. During the night enemy patrols were active along Eastern sector of Mardick. They were easily driven off. Strength of Unit 44 Offrs and 636 ORs, 1 Offr and 27 ORs LAD and Padre.	App 'C'
	19		Major. Howard-Jones left the Regt to take over command of 11th. R.T.R. Arty activity only during the day. Night quiet.
			Continued/overloaf.

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field,	20	0530	Mines laid overnight by the enemy were discovered on the surface of the Dunkirk - Loon Plage road at 173815. Three tanks were on the road fwd of this point. As the tanks withdrew at first light in order to rest the
			tank crews, had these not been discovered in time, the first one on its way back would have been blown up.
			Recce party from 147 Regt RAC arrived. This Sqn is to take over B Sqn's position in Pont a Rossaux sector.
		0700	A Sqn relieved C Sqn. A Sqn now area Mardick 1583. B San area Pont a Roseaux 1681, C Sqn Loon Plage 1380. Fwd areas on both sectors were mined with
			Br A/Personnel mines by our own troops. W/Major. L.C. Rumsey, new 2nd in Command, arrived.
			Rece party from A Sqn 147 Regt RAC spent night with B Sqn in fwd posns.
	21		Generally quiet on whole front. 2 Czech RE's were killed and one injured while dealing with Teller mines on our front. It is believed that they were
			endeavouring to neutralize a Tellermine fitted with the new 43 fuze. During the night own patrols were active in fwd areas.
	22		Own OP' noticed considerable movement in daylight in Fort Mardick area. Own Arty concentrations put down. Normal patrol and own Arty activity during the night. Cas: 1 OR wounded.
	23		At first light B Sqn was relieved by A Sqn 147 RAC. Locations now: A San 7 R Tks area Mardick 1583; B Sqn area Loon Plage 1380; C Sqn area Gravelines 0681; A Sqn 147 RAC area Pont a Roseaux 1681. Spasmodic shelling of fwd areas by enemy during the day. Own arty harrassing fire continues. Continued/overleaf.

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field.	24		Fairly quiet day, with normal own and enemy arty activity. Some clearing of tracks in vicinity of A Sqn's HQ Also some 'S' mines laid by A Sqn on the Northern flank of their HQ's. During the night some enemy planes were heard flying low over the centre of Dunkirk which no doubt dropped supplies.
	25		The C-in-C of Czech Forces, Gen...................... visited the unit during the
			morning. Two Sqns of Typhoons bombed and strafed enemy posns on this sector.
			Supporting Arty carried out their gun programme as laid down by C.R.A. Owing to the nights being fairly bright enemy patrol activity reduced. Our
			own patrols were local only. Strength of Unit 44 Offrs and 631 ORs. 1 Offr and 27 ORs LAD and Padre.	Appx 'D'

	26	0500	What at first seemed to be a flying bomb overhead proved to be a Mustang aircraft which crashed in this area. Both observer and pilot landed safely and enjoyed a good breakfast in our Mess. It was interesting to note that neither of them were aware that Dunkirk was NOT in our hands.
		710	All the symptoms of a V2 were seen from the Dunkirk area - the flash - the vapour trail going up to a great height and the rumbling of thunder.
		1500	1 Man was killed and another wounded by 'S' mines whilst out on recce in the fwd areas. A party sent to recover the dead man had to run the gauntlet of enemy mortar and MG fire. This was successfully done and no further casualties were sustained.
			Continued/overleaf

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field.	26		Own shelling continued throughout the day. A number of enemy aircraft appeared over Dunkirk during the night and a number of flares and floodlit areas were seen in Dunkirk, probably indicating
			the dropping zone for these planes. Cas. 1 OR Killed. 1 OR Wounded.
	27		At first light B Sqn relieved A Sqn in the Mardick area. A Sqn 147 RAC were also relieved by C Sqn. A Sqn 147 RAC now returning to 34 Tank Bde area in Holland. The day was fairly quiet, own arty firing C.R.A's gun programme. Some movement observed in enemy's main defence lines were fired at by artys attached to this unit. Enemy patrols making use of a cloudy and somewhat
			dark night were more active during the night. A fighting patrol of about 30 men tried to infiltrate through the Mardick posn. MG fire from the fwd
			tks and DF from the Czech Arty which was hastily brought down caused them to break up and withdraw.
	28	0520	A patrol from B Sqn met an enemy patrol near the coast at 155845. A skirmish took place resulting in the enemy again hurriedly withdrawing. Nothing to report during the day. Own patrols active during the night.
	29		During the day the enemy was subjected to a Psychological Warfare programme. It began at 0930 hrs with light and medium bombers attacking their main defensive posns. This was followed by several Sqns of Spitfires strafing the enemy area in general. Own arty increased their concentrations and kept this up throughout the day. This culminated in leaflets being dropped in the enemy lines along with Safe Conduct passes, and broadcasts from special vehicles asking the enemy to surrender. One Spitfire was shot down during the attach.
			Night was quiet. Continued/Overleaf

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field.	30		Fairly quiet on this sector during the day. Psychological Warfare was carried out on the Eastern sector. Programme similar to that carried out on this sector yesterday. At 2000 hrs two deserters gave themselves up
			to C Sqn on the Ponta Roseaux sector. Normal own patrol activites during the night.

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War Diary: 7th Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: November 1944

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