War Diary: 8th Battalion Kings Royal Irish Hussars

Month and year: July 1944

The 8th Battalion Kings Royal Irish Hussars July 1944 War Diary covers the unit training early in the month before later crossing the Orne bridgehead with several casualties from shelling.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/843

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
746661	1	The Regt was still under comd 56 Inf Bde. RHQ at 746661,	Ref GSGS 4347
		A Sqn in res at 743660, B Sqn at 743646 with patrols occupy- ing a line of observation from 749641 to 755652, G Sqn in	1:25,000 Sheets 37/ 16SW.
		res at 748660. RHQ Recce Tp supplied 3 scout car patrols
		to fill in B Sqn's line. Shortly after moving into posn at 749641 2nd Tp of B Sqn had one men killed and one wounded
		by a shell while they were outside their tank having bkfast. There was no enemy activity on their front the during day.
		During the evening 2 SWB of 56 Bde occupied the area
		immediately behind B Sqn patrols, thereby greatly strengthening the posn and linking up with 2 Glosters on rt
		and 2 Essex on left.
746661	2	Still under comd 56 Bde. C Sqn relieved B Sqn at first light but had little enemy activity on their front during
		the day. A & C Sqns in Regtl reserve. In the afternoon
		one Sqn of 61 Recce Regt arrived in area C Sqn to come under come 56 Bde and to take over C Sqn's role w.e.f.
		first light tomorrow. C Sqn ordered to maintain patrols up till last light, then concentrate in present leaguer area
		and be prepared to reinforce 61 Recce tomorrow if occasion demanded.
		To Sheet No. 2/......

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
746661	2	Word was received that the residue party under Maj Gwyn MC
		had landed. The absence of this party had been a source of
		considerable inconvenience, the men being badly needed to replace casualties and the electric welding plant, which
		had been left in this party, for modifications to tanks. For dispositions see Appx I.	Appx I Trace showing
746661	3	Still under comd 56 Bde but 7 Armd Div O.O. No. 4 was	dispositions.
		received and preparations made to implement it. Maj J. Gwyn MC, and the residue party, less Lt Tisdall and the AA tanks,	Appx II. 7 Armd Div O.O. No. 4.
		arrived.
		C.O. attended an address by the C in C Gen. Montgomery at Div HQ, to all offrs of 7 Armd Div of the rank of Lt.-Col
		and upwards. Maj Dunne and Lt Rampf who had been wounded during the advance to VILLERS BOCAGE returned from
		hospitals in England. N.T.R. from Sqns.
746661	4	Regt reverted to comd 7 Armd Div and came under comd 131
		Bde. At this time the whole of 7 Armd Div was in Corps reserve. C.O. left with a recce party to choose Sqn areas.
		Regt moved off at. 1030 hrs RHQ leading to the CONDE SUR SEULLES area 8373. RHQ leaguering at 838738, B Sqn 838742,
838738		A Sqn 826727, C Sqn 824729.
		To Sheet No. 3/......

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
838738	4	In the afternoon the C.O. and Sqn Ldrs recced battle posns
		in front of 131 Bde's battle posn. In the event of an attack 50 (N) Div front on the Regt's task would be to
		occupy these posns and hold them until 131 Bde could occupy
		their posn at BUCEELS, after which the Regt would withdraw to the rear of the Bde posn and be responsible for flank
		recce and protection.
838738	5	Under comd 131 Bde. Day spent by Sqns recceing the areas
		selected the day before and choosing troop positions. N.T.R. from RHQ.
838738	6	Under comd 131 Bde with all Sqns at 2 hrs notice. Sqns
		holding TK comds Tactical courses, map reading courses and mine detector courses. C.O. held a confce to discuss the
		future training of tanks in close co-operation with infantry.
838738	7	Under comd 131 Bde. G.O.C. 7 Armd Div, Maj. Gen Erskine,
		CB,DSO, paid a visit to the Regt and went round the leaguer areas. 8H O.O. no. 2 issued. attached at appx III.	8H. O.O. no.: 2. appx.III.
838738	8	Under comd 131 Bde. A Sqn commenced training in close co-operation with infantry.
		C.O., 2 i/c, B & C Sqns Ldrs attended 22 Armd Bde TEWT.
		Four Officers attended a Div demonstration of DUKWS towing A Tk guns across river.
		To Sheet No. 4/.......

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
838738	8	C.O. and Sqn Ldrs watched 5 R Tks co-operating with inf.
		C.O. attended a GOC's confce at Div HQ. at 1700 hrs.
838738	9	Under comd 131 Bde. As a result of DIV Comd's confce on evening 8 Jul the C.O. carried out a recce in the area
		AUDRIEU 8671, and selected the battle posns shown on the trace (See Appx IV) afterwards attending a co-ordinating	Appx IV. Trace
		conference held on the ground by Brig Hind. Also present were C.Os. of Units of 22 Armd Bde, 5 RHA and 260 A Tk	showing recce posns recced 9 Jul 44.
		bty NY.
838738	10	Under comd 131 Bde. Training in co-operation of tanks with
		infantry continued, 131 Bde supplying the inf from 1/5 Queens. The AA Tks which had arrived from the U.K. on the 9th
		were handed over to 15 L.A.A., and 61 A/Tk Regt, Norfolk Yeomanry for use as gun towers. Owing to the almost complete
		absence of German aircraft it was felt that the A.A. Tks wasted valuable man power and their disposal made the
		vehicle crew problem much easier.
838738	11	Under comd 131 Bde. Two tps and Sqn HQ of A Sqn and one coy
		of 1/5 Queens trained together in close co-operation between tanks and infantry. Brig Pepper, comd 131 Bde, attended.
838738	12	Under comd 131 Bde. Training in co-operation between tanks
		and infantry continued.
		To Sheet No. 5/.......

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
838638	13	Under Comd 131 Bde. Individual Training continued. C Sqn
		were training with 1/6 Queens.
838638	14	Under Comd 131 Bde. Training in co-operation with Inf. continued. Sqn courses continued. 8H O.O. no. 3. issued Appx. V.	8H.O.O. no.3. Appx. V.
838638	15	Under Comd 131 Bde. Training as before continued. C.O.
		accompanied Brig. Pepper, Comd 131 Bde, on a recce of the area E of the ORNE as it was known that the Regt might operate there
838638	16	Under Comd 131 Bde. C.O. held a confce. to discuss a future
		operation on the East Bank of the ORNE and issued preliminary orders and orders for a move to a concentration (See	Appx VI - 8H movement
		area 8H Movement Order).	order.
838638	17	Under Comd 131 Bde. At 0900 hrs the Regt formed up ready to move in accordance with 8H Movement Order for this date.
		After reaching new location - area 890783 - maps for the
		operation were issued and the C.O. held a confce. to discuss it. Maj. N.G.F. Dunne, OC B Sqn, was evacuated as the wound
		he had received in the VILLERS BOCAGE action had not healed and Capt J. Robertson assumed comd of B Sqn.
890783	18	Under Comd 131 Bde. At approx 1000 hrs Regt moved out on the
		approach march to the ORNE bridgehead (See Appx VII 8H. O.O. 4 for route). After a slow start and many hold ups the ORNE	Appx VII- O.O. No. 4.
		was reached at about 2200 hrs but the Regt was not able to
		cross and the end of the day found the regt still on the move.

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Area 1072.	19	Under Comd 131 Bde. Regt arrived and leaguered in this area
		in the early hours of the morning. At 0800 hrs the C.O. issued verbal orders and after waiting for 131 Bde, moved to	Appx VIII-C.O's
		to area 0969. No further movement during the day.	verbal orders.
	20	Under Comd 131 Bde. Orders were received for the Regt to
		support 131 Bde in the BOURGEBUS, FOUR, SOLIERS area. At 1830 hrs C Sqn moved to this area and occupied posns of
		observation around the village which was held by 1/7 Queens. RHQ. moved to 084657. A Sqn sent a tank to FOUR 0962 which
		was held by 1/6 Queens. B Sqn remained in reserve looking out towards HUBERT FOLIE 0662 and BRAS 0663. Sections of
		the RHQ Recce Tp were allotted to Sqns. At 2300 hrs the Regt
		came under comd 22 Armd Bde but remained in sp 131 Bde. Under comd 22 Armd Bde. Dispositions as for the 20th.
084657	21	During the day A & C Sqns able to observe enemy movements and dispositions on their fronts, some tanks were seen
		and targets were found for the 5 RHA who carried out
		effective shoots, 5 RHA had an O.P. up with C Sqn and the B. Comd. at RHQ. Both Sqns were subjected to fairly heavy
		and accurate shell fire during the day, as a result of which Lt. D.S. Scott was killed, and tank comd in A Sqn
		was killed. 131 Bde were to be relieved by 8 Canadian Bde,
		3 Can Div and the Regt were ordered to remain in sp of 8 Cdn Bde, reverting to comd 7 Armd Div.

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
084657	22	In sp 8 Can Bde. Dispositions as before. Relief of 131
		Bde completed in the morning. C.O. visited 9th and 2nd Armd Can Bdes to discuss the Regt's dispositions. During the
		day both C and A Sqns were able to report enemy movements
		and to observe for the RHA. 4 10.5 cm guns were successfully engaged, a 21 cm gun knocked out and various other targets
		incl 1/2 track carriers were taken on. Shelling continued during the day and several casualties were suffered. At
		1800 hrs B Sqn commenced relieving C Sqn, the relief taking
		place tp by tp and being spread over two hours to avoid bringing down enemy fire. The relief was completed by
		2300 hrs, C Sqn returning to RHQ area. A Sqn moved up a short distance to cover the area vacated by B Sqn, and
		maintained one Tp in FOUR. Lt. Dickinson, the L.O. at 8 Can
		Bde HQ, was wounded during a ground straffing attack by enemy aircraft and was evacuated.
084657	23	In sp 8 Can Bde. RHQ at 084657 other dispositions as at last
		light, C Sqn being in reserve. Sqns had nothing to report throughout the morning and there was little shelling. At
		1515 hrs A Sqn observed a small party of enemy inf moving on their front and passed the information to 5 RHA. As a result
		of shelling at about 1700 hrs Lt. A. Brodie, B Sqn was killed
		and 2 OR s were wounded. O.C. issued orders for operation "SPRING " and visited B Sqn to inform B Sqn Ldr that he would
		be relieved by a Cdn armoured unit on 24th.
			To Sheet No. 8/......

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
084657	24	In sp 8 Can Bde. Dispositions as for 23rd. Very slight
		activity on A & B Sqns fronts. The take over from B Sqn by a Cdn armoured unit was put forward to 1800 hrs and by
		2100 hrs B Sqn was clear of BOURGEBUS and leaguered in RHQ
		area. Owing to the almost continual shelling tk crews had been forced to remain in their tks for 48 hrs and all ranks
		were very tired. The shelling had also damaged several tks, although none were put out of action. The C.O. issued orders
		for Operation "SPRING" and put all ranks in the general picture, telling them the general plan .and the role of the
		Regt.
084657	25	Under comd 131 Bde. At 0600 hrs the Regt formed up ready to follow 1/7 Queens. Order of march was "A", "C", RHQ, "B
		and route was 082656 - 054672 - 042661 - 047644 where the
		Regt halted and deployed off the road, RHQ and B Sqn going to area 048644, A & C Sqns going to area 045642. OC "A"
		Sqn, Maj. G.W.G. Threlfall, M.C. was killed by a shell bursting close to his tank while he was outside it, Capt
		R.H. Ames took over comd of the Sqn. As the advance had
		halted and RHQ was in a closely packed gun area, B Sqn were moved back to their last leaguer area 082657 and RHQ moved to
		058654 for the night. A & C Sqns remained where they were.	To Sheet No. 9/......

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
058654	26	Under Comd 131 Bde. B Sqn returned to RHQ area.
		131 Bde were ordered to form a firm base in the area East
		and West of BEAUVOIR FARM 0461 and in the afternoon the Regt moved up to take over from the 22nd Armd Bde, A Sqn
		taking up positions on the left with Sqn HQ at 045626 and C Sqn Rt with Sqn HQ at 041621.
		RHQ moved to 041626. This area was under	.
		shell fire and the rest of the day was largely spent in the tks or in slit trenches. B Sqn remained in R reserve at
		042629. 17 Pdrs and M1Os of the Norfolk Yeomanry were also brought up to this position and some of the C Sqn tanks were
		dug in by an armoured Bulldozer.
041626	27	Under Comd 131 Bde. Dispositions as for 26th. During the day A & C Sqns were able to see slight enemy movements and
		a tp of C Sqn successfully engaged a small party of inf with the 75mm. An OP and a suspected OP were spotted, a
		NEBELWERFER Bty was located and as both Sqns were shelled on
		and off all day, numerous shell reps. were sent in. RHQ area was also shelled.
041626	28	Under Comd 131 Bde. Dispositions as for 27th. A Tp of
		C Sqn engaged an OP in a factory South of VERRIERES 0560. Small inf movements were observed. Various dust clouds were
		also observed over rds in dead ground to the Sqns. RHQ came under fairly heavy shell fire and moved to the dead ground
		043632 where the enemy could no longer observe his fire.	To Sheet No. 10/......

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
041626	28	(Cont)	Orders were received for the Regt to move West of the ORNE
			on 29 Jul. and the C.O. issued a warning order.
043602	29		Under Comd 131 Bde. Sqn dispositions as for 28th. Very slight enemy movement could be observed on A & C Sqns
			fronts. Enemy shelling continued on the same scale. The C.O. of the R. Scots Greys arrived at RHQ to discuss the
			take over from the Regt. Sqns were ordered to remain in
			position in the usual way until last light. B Sqn and part of RHQ. Recce Tp left for the new location in the area 772741.
			Orders were issued for the Regt to move at 0100 hrs 30 Jul. Order of march - RHQ, "A" and "C", with the MO's two
			1/2 tracked vehs and the ambulance bringing up the rear.
043632	30		The Regiment completed a difficult night march, without incident, from area IFS (M.R. 043632) back to the BOCAGE
			country, and harboured in area JUAYE-MONDAYE, arriving at approx 0730 hrsv Sqns and Echelons were all harboured in
			adjacent fields. The remainder of this day and 31 July
	31		were spent on maintenance. and refitting for future ops. Maintenance. Op Order No. 5 issued (Appx IX).	8H O.O. No. 5
				at Appx IX.
	7		Training Instructions Based on Lessons from Recent Operations	Appx X
	8		Operations from D plus 5 to 30 June 44.	Appx. XI.
			A.FS.W. 3008.	Appx. XII.
			A.Fs. W. 3009.	Appx. XIII.

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War Diary: 8th Battalion Kings Royal Irish Hussars

Month and year: July 1944

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