75th Anti Tank Regiment War Diary: August 1944
The 75th Anti Tank Regiment (Royal Artillery) August 1944 war diary covers
the units actions advancing from Le Beny Bocage Eastwards to Amiens
National Archive Reference: WO 171/925
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Page 1 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| LE BENY BOCAGE | 1 | 119 Bty u/c 3 RTR 29 Armd Bde harboured for night N.E of LE BENY BOCAGE | |
| Many prisoners taken during course of day. 118 Bty and J Tp of 338 Bty u/c | |||
| 1 HEREFORDS in area LA FERRIERE. K & L Tps u/c 3 MONS deployed in area N.W. | |||
| at LE BENY BOCAGE | |||
| 117 Bty with its role of protecting the Div Arty moved slowly down to. LA | |||
| FERRIERE. | |||
| 2 | 119 Bty moved on to line of main road VIRE - AUNAY SUR ODON where they came | ||
| LES GRIPES | u/c of 4 KSLI at 2000hrs. 118 Bty and 338 Bty less K Tp deployed with | ||
| 1 HEREFORDS in area LES GRIPES | |||
| LE RECULEY | 117 Bty having deployed in area MANGER-CARVILLE to protect the flank of 25 | ||
| Fd Regt and 77 Med Rest moved on to LE RECULEY area. Guns deployed West | |||
| of LE RECULEY. | |||
| (On this the fourth day of our rapid advance, the Prime Minister stated in | |||
| the House that a break through has been achieved on the Second Army front) | |||
| 3 | Counter attack by elements of 9 SS Pz Div. repelled, by KSLI with 119 Bty u/c |
Page 2 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOURDAVALLE | BQMS captured during night while delivering rations to I Tp. 3 Mons with K Tp | ||
| u/c advanced and occupied area SOURDAVALLE. 118 Bty area unchanged. | |||
| LE RECULEY | A & B Tps deployed just EAST of BENNY BOCAGE, later A Tp moved to LE RECULEY | ||
| area to protect 77 Med Regt from direct tank threat and B Tp transferred to | |||
| pocket of CRA. C Tp in BEAULIEU area to meet threat from S.W. | |||
| FOGUES | 4 | A day of heavy shelling and mortaring by the enemy, and successful offensive | |
| action by 119 Bty. | |||
| The latter having moved to FOGUES and reverted to comd of 3 RTR destroyed | |||
| during the course of the day 2 Panthers, 1 Tiger and 1 SP Gun. The Tiger fell | |||
| to H Tp during the morning after a very neat action by Capt Smalley with Bdr | |||
| Roberts No.1. I Tp. destroyed a Panther and G Tp a Panther and an SF Gun | |||
| G Tp had two men wounded and a gun damaged by shell fire. H Tp had two guns | |||
| slightly damaged by shell fire. | |||
| SOURDAVALLE | 4/5 | During this time K Tp (338 Bty) were being subjected to the most concentrated | |
| shelling and mortaring the Regiment had yet encountered. Losses were heavy - |
Page 3 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| four gun towers, two guns and a carrier. Casualties to personnel included | |||
| three missing believed killed by direct hits and thirteen wounded or | |||
| evacuated suffering from shock. Owing to the severity of the shelling it is | |||
| extremely unlikely that any A.tk. gun other than an S.P. could have moved to | |||
| an alternative position. | |||
| 5 | 1400 | C.Tp (117 Bty) moved to LE DESERT area in sp of 2 KSLI of 3 Brit Div. 119 Bty | |
| in position round Pt 218 u/c 3 RTR. I Tp still in action SOUTH of SOURDEVALLE. | |||
| 6 | Another day of heavy enemy mortaring and shelling culminating in a strong | ||
| counter attack by 9 SS Pz Div. I Tp had all guns temporarily out of action | |||
| after particularly severe and concentrated mortaring. Sgt Hancock killed. | |||
| BURCY | 1100 | 117 Bty placed u/c 185 Bde of 3 Brit Div. "C" Tp in area BURCY with 2 KSLI | |
| B Tp relieved G Tp in area LE BAS PERRIER at 1400hrs . | |||
| LE BAS PERRIER | 1400 | Lt. Ekeblad missing after reporting to O.C. 119 Bty at 707367 and then | |
| proceeding to LE BAS PERRIER on recce to contact G To Comdr. | |||
| 1600 | 9 SS counter attack preceeded by heavy shelling of LE BAS PERRIER area |
Page 4 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Warwicks of 185 Bde withdrew to high ground behind village. One gun of B Tp | |||
| knocked out. Three seriously wounded incl Tp Sgt and No. 1. | |||
| Capt. .B. Crowther, who had led B Tp into position, missing. | |||
| K.Tp withdrawn from position and returned to A Ech to refit. | |||
| 7 | A quiet day. Lt. D.Orchard took over B. Tp. H.Tp sent out to take up positions | ||
| previously occupied by G.TP with A. Sqn 3 RTR. I Tp returned u/c 119 Bty. | |||
| PRESTLES | 8 | J.Tp u/c i HEREFORDS occupied position SOUTH of PRESTLES 7236. Remainder of | |
| 338. Bty withdrawn into reserve in area BEAULIEU 6939. B.Tp reinforced by a | |||
| Bty of 91 A. tk. Regt. | |||
| ST CHARLES | 9 | 117 Bty reverted to command HQRA and proceeded to concentration area 697403 | |
| where they commenced taking over eleven 17 pdr M.10s. | |||
| NEAULIEU | J.Tp rejoined. 338 Bty in reserve. 119 BHQ and I Tp moved back to area BEAULIEU | ||
| G.TP u/c 3 RTR in area LE GRAND BONFAIT. | |||
| LA MARVINDIERE area | 10 | 118 Bty who had been in reserve with 1 HEREFORD during these ops moved to | |
| LA MARVINDIERE area where Tps were deployed u/c 1 HEREFORDS. H. Tp rejoined |
Page 5 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 119 Bty in BEAULIEU area. | |||
| LE BAS PERIER | 11 | D Tp moved u/c 1 HEREFORDS to LE BAS PERIER. Remainder of 118 Bty still at | |
| LA MARVINDIERE. | |||
| C Tp of 117 Bty came u/c of 1 HEREFORD and moved to area HOUSSERIAGNE to act | |||
| as flank guard for Gds Armd Div | |||
| 12 | 338 Bty u/c 3 MONS relieved Bty of 15 (S) Div. 117 Bty came u/c RHA less B Tp | ||
| who remained under direct command of HQRA. | |||
| 118 Bty still at LA MARVINDIERE (slight Spandau activity) and 119 Bty resting | |||
| at BEUALIEU. | |||
| 13 | 0200 | C Tp returned to 117 Bty concentration area at ST CHARLES. | |
| ESTRY | 2000 | 117 Bty coming u/c 159 Inf Bde who are in process of relieving a Bde of 15 (S) | |
| Div moved to ESTRY area. | |||
| MONCHAUVET | 119 Bty moved to MONCHAUVET u/c 29 Armd Bde. | ||
| 14 | 119 Bty at MONCHAUVET - no movement | ||
| 117 Bty now in 159 Bde Gp 118 and 338 Btys u/c CRA as Div Tps. |
Page 6 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| At 0700hrs A & C Tps of 117 Bty with 1 Herefords on the S.Ps advanced on | |||
| LE THEIL | LE THEIL. They were subjected to heavy shelling and two guns of A.Tp were | ||
| out of action with splinters through the radiator. B Tp. reverting to command | |||
| of Bty became Bde reserve. | |||
| 118 Bty moved to MONTCHAMPS | |||
| 15 | 117 Bty in LE THEIL area. B.Tp came u/c 4 KSLI at 1000 hrs and at 1200 hrs | ||
| advanced to high ground 7835. | |||
| 119 Bty advanced to four miles NORTH of VASSY - H Tp u/c 23 H, I Tp u/c | |||
| 2 FF - no action. | |||
| 16 | 11 Armd Div with 159 Inf Bde Gp RIGHT and 29 Armd Bde Gp LEFT leading 30 | ||
| Corps advance to R. SEINE. ( See R.A.Op Instr No.6.) INNS of COURT Regt are | |||
| covering the advance of the whole Div. | |||
| CERISI-BELLE-ETOILE via VASSY | 16 | 117 Bty - with 159 Inf Bde Gp - advanced through VASSY - B Tp with 4 KSLI | |
| reaching CALIGNY and A & C Tps CERISI-BELLE-ETOILE. | |||
| On left route 119 Bty reached LE PERTILLER. |
Page 7 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLERS | 17 | 117 Bty advanced through FLERS and at 2000hrs B Tp took part in attack on | |
| enemy at ST OPPORTUNE. | |||
| 119 Bty reached LA BLANCHERE. | |||
| 18 | 0700 | 117 Bty commenced advance at 0700hrs C Tp. with 1 HEREFORDS leading at | |
| ECOUCHE | 0830hrs A & C Tps deployed North of Centre Line in area 0017 to cover tank | ||
| threat from this flank. By 1700 hrs reached area WEST of ECOUCHE. | |||
| 19 | 119 Bty advancing with 29 Armd Bde Gp reached PUTAN. | ||
| 117 Bty reached MONTGAROULT passing through 2nd French Armd Div waiting for | |||
| word to dash to PARIS. | |||
| ARGENTAN | 20 | 117 Bty advanced to area three miles EAST of ARGENTAN where they leagered for | |
| the night. | |||
| 119 Bty advancing on Northern route leagered night in ECOUCHE area. | |||
| 21 | NORMANDY "sack" definitely closed last night. A major disaster for the Germans. | ||
| H tp (119 Bty) brewed up a S.P.Gun On Mk. III carriage at 273258. | |||
| GACE | On Southern route C Tp. lead advance with L HEREFORDS, B Tp later leading with |
Page 8 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 KSLI who took GACE. Leagered in GACE area. | |||
| 22 | Div advance continued on Right Centre Line with 29th Armd Bde leading. 119 Bty | ||
| reached L'AIGLE without opposition receiving a great welcome from the | |||
| inhabitants. 117 Bty reached ST ANDREE D'ECHAFFOUR. | |||
| L'AIGLE | 23 | Regiment in Div concentration area WEST of L'AIGLE. During this last | |
| advance 118 and 338 Btys u/c C.R.A. moved with RHQ who also had 198 Bty of | |||
| 73 A.tk. Regt attached since 16 Aug. Moving on Right Centre line none of the | |||
| three Btys had occasion to deploy. | |||
| 24 | Resting and Maintenance. 43 Div passing through towards R. Seine. | ||
| 25 | GOC 11 Armd Div visited RHQ and spoke to the C.O. 2 i/c and B.Cs. He | ||
| reviewed the past operations and mentioned the coming ops. | |||
| 26 | CRA and BMRA visited RHQ and had lunch with the C.O. and 2 i/c | ||
| 28 | 11 Armd Div advanced to concentration area between R. EURE & R. SEINE. | ||
| NW of VERNON | 28/29 | Regiment reached concentration area NW of VERNON in early hours of 29th | |
| having left L'AIGLE area at about 1800hrs. Distance covered appox 60 miles. |
Page 9 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 11 Armd Div. as part of XXX Corps commenced advance on AMIENS. R.SEINE crossed | ||
| at VERNON (Goliath" Bridge) 29 Armd Bde leading. 119 Bty u/c 29 Armd Bde, 118 | |||
| and 338 Btys with 159 Bde. 117 Bty u/c 159 Bde for movement only and for | |||
| deployment under the orders of the G.O.C. | |||
| GOURNAY | 119 Bty harboured for night just SOUTH of GOURNAY | ||
| VILLERS VIXEN | 338 Bty u/c 4 KSLI reached VILLERS VIXEN, all tps having deployed. | ||
| THILLIERS EN VEXIN | 118 Bty with F.Tp u/c 3 MONS D. & E Tps u/C 1 HEREFORDS reached LES THILLIERS EN VEXIN | ||
| CANTIERS | 117 Bty and RHQ harboured at CANTIERS | ||
| ST GERNER DE FLY | 30 | Advance continues with only slight opposition. H Tp (119 Bty) captured | |
| intact 1 Armd Car and 1 S.P. 150 mm gun with crews. | |||
| Having reached ST GERNER de FLY it was decided by Higher Formation that after | |||
| a very brief halt for replenishing the Div should continue the advance throughout | |||
| the night in order to reach AMIENS by dawn | |||
| AMIENS | 31 | 119 Bty with 29 Armd Bde reached AMIENS area at 0700 hrs and took up | |
| positions SW of town. Passed through AMIENS crossing R. SOMME at about 1300 and harboured |
Page 10 of 10
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| for night about three miles past VILLERS BOCAGE. | |||
| 118 & 338 Btys with 159 Bde Gp reached AMIENS about 1100hrs. Tps deployed in | |||
| Town. | |||
| Noon | RHQ (Less Tac HQ who had advanced with 159 Bde Main HQ) left St GERNERS de FLY | ||
| at noon with 159 Bde Rear HQ. After a short halt about 7 miles SOUTH of AMIENS | |||
| they harboured for night just NORTH of the town, together with 118 Bty who | |||
| moved out of the town in the evening. | |||
| A tremendous and very moving welcome given to troops in AMIENS and, in fact | |||
| in all villages passed through since crossing the SEINE | |||
| During the day H.Tp destroyed a 150.mm gun Lorse team and limber by H.E. fire. |
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