War Diary: 7th Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: October 1944

The 7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment October 1944 war diary covers the units move to and actions in area around Loon Plage

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National Archive Reference: WO 171/868

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Page 1 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	1		Bn moved again to area Samar G 7744. Route VRON - Montreuil - Samar
		1120	Tanks left harbour
		1600	Arrived at Samar - 30 miles.
		2100	CO was called to conference at Bde. Informed that new plan was that 34 Bde less 7 R Tks to come under 2nd Army and 7 R Tks to remain under 2 Cdn
			Army. 7 R Tks to come under Cmd of Czechoslavak Independent Armoured Bde GP Task:- Invest Dunkerque.
	2	0900	Tks moved to concentration area at Cassel via Desues, Lumbre and St Omer,
			a distance of 43 miles.
		1500	Tanks arrived.
		1800	CO visited 154 Inf Bde who were investing Dunkerque. 154 Bde to be relieved by 7 R Tks and Czech Bde
	3		CO attended conference at 2 Cdn Army at Ghent presided by the B.R.A.C.
			There the CO met Maj General Alois Liska cmdr of the Czech Bde. Tks carried out maintenance and obtained the rough plan for the investing
			of Dunkerque.
	4		CO Recced Areas (Defensive) now occupied by Units of 154 Bde. Tank maintenance continues.
	5		Received instructions from Czech Bde Cmdr that area on the West side of
			Dunkerque is to be our responsibility and that handover to take place night of 7/8th Czech Recce Sqn to come under our Cmd. Routes recced to
			fwd areas from Cassel.
			Continued/overleaf.

Page 2 of 9

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field	6	Further recces carried out. In the evening Sqn and Tp Ldrs went to 7 Bn
		Black Watch to spend the night in the FDL's to obtain first hand infm- about the ground and the best method of holding the ground by night.
	7	Tanks moved from Cassel to area Loon Plage. 1 Tanks left at 1100 hrs and arrived
		Loon Plage at 1430 hrs. At dusk Tks moved to their Fwd Posns. A Sqn occupied area 164814. B Sqn occupied area 148839 C San remained in
		reserve in area Loon Plage 1380. By 0230 hrs all the area had been taken over from 7th Black Watch. Czech Recce Sqn taking up their Posn in area
		173798. It was made very obvious to the Sqn Ldrs that the only way the ground could be held especially at night was by having the tps dismounted and
		adopting Inf tactics entirely, with a few tanks to help hold the ground during the day. The night of 7/8th was fairly quiet apart from
		intermittent shelling and enemy flares in Fwd Areas. Strength of Unit 47 Offrs and 643 OR'S plus 1 Offr and 26 LAD and Padre	Appx 'A'
	8	The day time produced nothing more than the harrasing fire throughout the
		front. The evening was normal but at 2359 hrs heavy shelling was experienced on A Sqns front. This preceded an attack by a strong enemy patrol on A Sqns
		Fwd Post at 167817 at 0200 hrs. A Sqn was forced to pull in this outpost Heavy enemy shelling continued and the enemy who were endeavoring to
		infiltrate to main posns were forced to withdraw. By 0230 hrs things had quietened down on A Sqns sector; but similar activity on the enemy's
		part flared up on the front of the Czech Recce Sqn. This was also preceded by heavy enemy Arty and Mortar fire, The fwd Right Flank Post of
		Continued Overleaf

Page 3 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	8		this Sqn managed to hold their ground but by 0300 has the enemy succeeded
			in reaching a posn within 200 yds of this post. A body of 30 man was immediately rushed up to the Czech Recce Sqn to strengthen their posn
			B Sqns front was quiet throughout the night apart from normal patrol activities
	9		During the morning enemy shelling was much bolder and the area of Loon Plage
			the location of this HQ was subjected to several heavy concentrations.
		1810	Enemy activity was reported by the Czech Recce Sqn in area of the right post
			and were approaching along the canal Bank Heavy Arty and Mortar Fire was then experienced and a strong enemy force estimated at 200 strong
			attacked.
		0130	The Czech Recce Sqn left post at 184797 was also attacked and our tps in
			this posn withdrew. By 0530 hrs the Right Hand Post at 187792 was vacated by us. More tps were brought up from C Sqn and a posn was
			manned by them in the area 177790. The enemy occupied both the posns vacated by us in this sector.
	10	0700	An attack the first of its kind ever under taken by this Regt was made on the
			farm buildings at 168818, the post seized by the enemy on the night of 8/9th A Sqn on the feet as Infantry, with crews from the Recce TP and a number
			of FFI attacked and seized this enemy posn. the attack was made over ground which had natural obstacles and Wire. P of W captured were 27 OR's
			and 1 Offr. The enemy also suffered several dead and wounded. Our Casualties were 1 dead and 5 wounded During the day enemy shelling
			increased and Loon Plage again attracted a number of his shells. At dusk the Czech Recce Sqn was relieved by 1st Czech Tank Regt less Sqn
			Continued overleaf,

Page 4 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	10		At dusk the Czech Recce Sqn was releived by 1st Czech Tank Regt less 1 Sqn.
			Apart from occasional shell fire the night was quiet. Casualties:- 2 O.R's killed - 7 O.R's injured
	11		During the morning the Front was fairly quiet apart from usual shelling
		1630	Typhoons attached Factory at 187792 with rockets. The attack was concentrated and effective.
			This was followed by the 1st Czech Tank Regt who occupied the factory area. Upon the success of this the 1st Czech Tank Regt moved fwd and
			occupied the following places :- Farm Buildings 184798
			Area Track Railway Crossing 182803 Buildings 181807
			At dusk A Sqn was relieved by C Sqn.
	12	0115	C Sqn reported their Fwd Posns being subjected to Mortar Fire. The enemy followed this up with a force of about 80 men who tried to take the posn.
			Strong defensive fire was putdown. The stubborn resistance of this fwd post gave the enemy no alternative but to withdraw. A number of casualties
		1045	Tks from B & C Sans fired HE into the fwd enemy posns with good results.
			were inflicted on the enemy.
		2150	A number of the enemy tried to penetrate into B Sqn's posns at 150834. This minor attack was dispersed by MG Fire.
	13		Posns unchanged and a fairly quiet day. Our request for air support at
			Gde Synthe 107819 was fulfilled at 1600 hrs when 8 Spitfires bombed and strafed this trarget to good effect.
			Night fairly quiet. Probably this was due to very heavy rains which fell Continued/Overleaf

Page 5 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field	13		throughout the night.
	14	0515	2 deserters came in A Sqn's Lines. Both were Poles
		1410	The enemy became very audacious and endeavoured to form up, presunably for an attack on A Sqn's fwd Posn at 172817. This was dispersed and broken-up
			by Arty and Tank Gun Fire. Patrolling on the enemy's part was quite active during the night particularly in the Northern sector area Mardick.
			Movement was heard along the coast and it is believed that efforts are being made to contact collaborators behind our lines.
		2350	A Sqn was the object of an attack by fire from "Nebelwerfers" and the fwd post at 169818 received most of them. We suffered no Casualties. Enemy shell
			fire was normal.
			Strength of Unit 45 Offers and 635 OR's plus 1 Offr and 26 OR's Lad and Cadre	Appx B
	15		B Sqn still sq 1483 A Sqn in sq 1681, C in reserve in Loon Plage 1380
			Day normal with intermittent shell and Mortar Fire. Own and enemy patrols active during the night.
	16		During the afternoon A Sqn directed the fire of Hy AA Bty on to enemy O.P's
			where movement was observed. Results were good. B Sqn was relieved by C Sqn. B Sqn went into reserve Loon Plage 1380. Usual patrol activity during the
			night with spasmodic Fire
	17		Quiet day. RHQ Tanks fired HE at selected enemy points in the afternoon. The enemy returned with morter fire but as the tanks fired away from our
			Infantry posns we suffered no casualties
			Continued/overloaf.

Page 6 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	17		C Sqn sector during the night was uninteresting.
		0100	An emeny patrol of about 12 men was seen when they set off one of our trip flares. They were imediately fired on and eventually withdrew.
	18		Normal Arty Activity during the day. An abandoned enemy gun - Czech 1917
			80m was found on the coast and pulled into our lines along with about 200 rounds of ammo. Also was found an 8 cm Mortar in good condition.
			During the night enemy patrol activity was lively in area 174847.
	19		On the morning there was increased activity by the enemy on A Sqns sector with heavy shelling and mortaring between 0945 and 1115 hrs. The remainder
			of the day was normal until 1815 hrs when the fwd posns of A Sqn were again heavily shelled and mortared.
		1841	The shelling and mortaring increased and it was believed that the additional fire was coming from areas 176823, 176816, 176813, 184815, 180815, Then
			came a lull except for spasmodic firing until 2211 hrs when A Sqns fwd posns were attacked after intense enemy shell and mortar fire.
		2335	Two posts had fallen to the enemy. The strength of the attacking was given by a deserter as 300 strong. The dark night was made full use of by the enemy.
			The attack must have been carefully planned and the participants well briefed for the main attack was made from our left rear while a diversionary party
			of 50 strong attacked fwd at the same time. After that attack patrols from our other posts were sent out and they
			discovered that the enemy had withdrawn after demobilising the defences Cas: offer - 1 missing
			ORs 2 killed 10 wounded
			8 missing
			Continued/Overleaf.

Page 7 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Field	19	0330	(20th) A Sqn was relieve by B Sqn. At Appx 'C' is a more detailed account of	Appx 'C'
			this attack.
	20		It was decided not to reoccupy the positions attached by the enemy. A Sqn
			now in Loon Plage; B Sqn in area 165818 and C Sqn in area 148838. The day was quiet in contrast and was spent in reorganising our posns.
			Nothing happened during the night.
	21		Normal enemy Art activity. Own Sqns in same locations. Several enemy planes heard over Dunkirk during the night.
			Strength of Unit 47 Offrs and 620 OR's plus 1 Offr and 25 OR's LAD and Padre	Appx 'D'
	22		During the morning OP's on B Sqns sector noticed that a number of containers with parachutes attached were Iying about on the ground between us and the
			enemy; presumably dropped by plane the previous night.
		1500	B Sqn organised a party of men to go and collect these with the 1st Czech
			Armd Regt on the right to assist in giving covering fire. This was succesfully carried out, opposition from the enemy being nil.
			The contents consisted of Bazooka Hollow Charge Projectiles, News Bulletins and Mail. Own and enemy patrolling was active during the night.
	23	0900	The CO called a conference to discuss a small scale attack on Fme Devez,
			Grande Predembourg, Petit Predembourg. The attack to take place at 1400 hrs Tuesday 24th Oct. See Operation Order attached.	Appx F.
			Own and enemy shelling on a reduced scale. Own Arty now only allowed 20 rounds per gun per day. Enemy air activity during the night.
			Presumably dropping supplies to the Dunkirk Garrison by parachute. Continued/overleaf

Page 8 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	24		The morning was quiet
		1400	The attack began on Fme Devez 171835, Gde Predembourg 171830, Petit Predembourg 177827 and short of Gde Synthe 184818. The results of this
			attack have proved conclusively that the above positions were his battle outposts and were only lightly manned. Each position was severely mauled
			by tank gunfire and the FFI led by 7 R Tks Officers demolished as much as they could these fwd positions.
			Tks and FFI then withdrew, leaving some tks fwd in posns of observation. Enemy activity during the night - NIL
			Casualties:- 2 O.R's wounded
	25		A Sqn still in Loon Plage 1380. B Sqn area 1681. C Sqn area 148838. Day normal, with intermittent shell fire on fwd areas.
			Very little enemy activity during the night
	26		During the day the front was quiet.
		1500	C Sqn found a number of containers which had been dropped from aircraft in
			the area 160837. Four containers were found in all. The contents consisted of "Bazookas", Bazooka Bombs and Newspapers and Mail
			Casualties - 1 O.R. wounded. The night produced more enemy aircraft attempting to drop supplies. The
			3rd LAA Bty who moved into this area accounted for one of these flying at 500 ft.
			Enemy and own patrols were active during the night.
	27		During the afternoon C Sqn was relieved by A Sqn at 1600 hrs. A Sqn was in area 148838. B Sqn in area 1681 C Sqn in Loon Plage 1380.
			Normal patrol activity during the night.
			Continued/overleaf

Page 9 of 9

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
FieId	28	1000	A & B Sqns carried out a sortie on Ferme Devez and Gde Predembourg area and Cde Synthe area respectively This was intended to be a small
			diversionary action whilst 2nd Armd Regt and the Mot Bn of the CIABG put in an attack on the East side of Dunkirk. Our sortie brought down a large
			amount of Arty Fire and had the desired effect. We lost one tank on mine. The attack on the East of Dunkirk was most succesfull and resulted in 16
			Offrs and 352 OR's P of W with about 150 - 200 dead or seriously wounded left on the battlefield,
			During the night enemy patrols were active. Casualties - 5 O.R's wounded
			Strength of Unit 45 Offrs and 617 O.R's plus 1 Offr and 26 O.R's LAD and Padre	Appx 'E'
	29		Very quiet apart from some shelling by enemy in Mardick area. Considerable own and enemy patrol activity during the night.
	30		Day was spent in reorganising our positions. No activity from enemy.
		1700	A Sqn sent out an FFI Patrol from Mardick to Gde Predemboirg.
		1730	Heavy explosions were heard from dock area of Dunkirk. The night was
			quiet. Own arty kept up its normal harassing fire.
	31	0600	B Sqn was relieved by C Sqn. A Sqn in area 148838. C Sqn 1681. B Sgn in reserve in Loon Plage 1380

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War Diary: 7th Bn Royal Tank Regiment

Month and year: October 1944

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