War Diary: 9th Parachute Battalion

Month and year: June 1944

The 9th Parachute Battalion June 1944 war diary covers the unit dropping into Normandy and covering their actions in the area East of the River Orne, including the assault on Merville Battery.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1242

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WO 171/1242 9th Parachute Battalion

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War Diaries That Reference 9th Parachute Battalion

The 9th Parachute Battalion are mentioned in 1 other war diaries from June 1944.

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Page 1 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
BROADWELL	1	0900	C.O. Briefed Battalion on forthcoming operation in R.A.F. Sgts Mess.	For Plan see Bn Op
			Remainder of day spent in sub - unit briefing.	Order at Appx "A".
" "	2	All Day	Sub - unit briefing.
		1130	Air Chief Marshall LEIGH - MALLORY, C in C Allied Air Forces spoke to G.B.Force.
" "	3	0900	Tps were taken to Airfield by M.T., where a/c were inspected, containers
			loaded, parachutes drawn and fitted. Tps returned to transit camp by M.T.
" "	4	0830	Word was received that Op had been postponed for 24 hrs. The day was
			spent in further briefing of sub - units. A final Drum Head Church Service
			was held in the open.
			Earlier in the morning the Camp Commandant and staff presented the Bn with
			a maroon flag having on it a Blue Silk "Bellerophon" as in the Airborne
			sign. This flag was made by the W.V.S. of Oxford for the transit camp and
			the men's wives gave up some of their coupons for it. When the flag was
			hoisted on the camp flag pole a deputation of the Camp Administrative
			staff asked the Camp Commandant, Capt.P.YOUNG, to present the flag to 9 Para

Page 2 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
BROADWELL	4	0830	Bn to take into action. This was done and the flag was dedicated by the
			padre, the Rev.T.GWINNETT.C.F. at the last Church service.
" "	5	0800	Word received that the operation was definitely on. Morale rose to 100%
			In the afternoon compulsory rest was ordered.
		2000	Glider parties (Adm jeeps & 6 pdr A/Tk guns ) left for HARWELL Airfield. Recce
			party consisting of Major Smith, Major Parry, CSMI's Miller and Harold, Sgt's
			Knight, Easlea, Pinkus and Lukins and Ptes Adsett and Mason, left also for
			HARWELL.
		2115	Main body of Bn left transit camp for BROADWELL Airfield, collected parachutes
			and emplaned at 2245 hrs.
HARWELL		2310	Path-finder A/C took off.
		2312	Adm and A/Tk gun gliders took off.
BROADWELL		2312	Main body took off.
NORMANDY	6	0020	TROWERIDGE (Recce) party dropped on D Z accurately and preceeded to carry
			out appointed tasks. There was no losses from this A/C.

Page 3 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
NORMANDY	6	0030	OBOE of 100 Lancasters bombed D Z area. Some of Recce party were caught in
			this OBOE but suffered no casualties.
" "	6	0050	Main body of the Bn dropped over a wide area.
" "	6	0235	110 All ranks had reported at the RV by this time.
" "	6	0250	Strength of Bn now approximately 150 all ranks. Bn Commenced march to
			first objective.
" "	6	0400	C.O. summoned "O" Group and issued orders for the assault on the Battery.
" "	6	0415	Assault commenced - immediately previous to which one glider was seen to	See App "A" & "B"
			circle the Battery position and crash land in an orchard in the area of the
			Firm Base. Casualties:- 1 Officer killed. 2 Coy Comds, Adjutant & one other
			officer wounded.
" "	6		Success signal put up. Bn commences withdrawal.
" "	6	0600	Bn reorganised prior to move to LE PLIEM. Strength now approximate 80
			all ranks. Battery shelled by enemy.
" "	6	0730	Bn commenced move and was in of to LE PLIEM caught bombing hostile targets.	See App "C"

Page 4 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
MERVILLE NORMANDY	6	0930	Bn arrived at LE PLIEN, took up positions in the area CHATEAU D'AMFREVILLE	See App "C"
			and engaged the enemy. Heavy Mortaring throughout the day. Lt.Halliburton
			wounded and subsequently died.
LE PLIEN	7		Bn attacked by the enemy. Considerable sniping which caused some casualties.
			C.O. visited Brigadier Lord Lovatt Commanding 1 SS Bde
LE PLIEN	7	2130	Bn relieved by 1 SS Bde and proceeded to LE MESNIL where temporary positions	See App "C"
			were taken up. In this area the Bn reverted to Brigade control and were
			given orders to hold the high ground South of ST COME.
ST COME	8	1200	Attack by enemy infantry developed on the right flank and was repulsed.	See App "C"
ST COME	8		Further enemy attacks launched during the latter part of the day. Ground held.	See App "C"
ST COME	9		During the night 8/9 June two 3" mortors were received also 3 Vickers MGs.
			Up to this time the Bn's sole heavy weapon had been one Vickers MG. In the	See App "C"
			early morning a determined enemy attack was launched following a heavy
			mortar concentration. This attack and others that followed were repulsed
			with very heavy losses to the enemy. During the afternoon a counter attack

Page 5 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ST COME	9		was launched against an enemy force which had infiltrated into the Bn area.	See App "C"
			The Counter attack force suffered the loss of the 2 i c and one Pl Comd and
			5 ORs killed and a further five wounded.
ST COME.	10		Numerous attacks made by the enemy during the day and previous night .All	See App "C"
			were repulsed. The Bn increased in strength by the arrival of stragglers
			to approximately 170 all ranks. One missing Coy Comd who had been commanding	See App "D"
			a scratch force at Bde HQ arrived.
ST COME	10	1200	An enemy force, half a company strong, appeared & commenced digging in. As	See App "C"
			a result of our fire the force was almost completely wiped. out.
ST COME	10	1400	A further enemy attack was launched and repulsed.	See App "C"
ST COME	10	1900	An attack by one and a half enemy Coys launched and again repulsed with
			heavy losses. C.O. 21st Bn857 Regt captured. Reported that his Unit had	See App "C"
			been wiped out.
ST COME	10	2300	"C" Coy detailed to seize and hold the Chateau at ST COME. It did so and was	See App "C"
			attacked all through the night.

Page 6 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ST COME.	11		During the night 5 Black Watch arrived in the area and launched an	See App "C"
			unsuccessful attack later in the day on BREVILLE. C Coy relieved by in the
			Chateau by one Coy 5 Black Watch.
ST COME	12		Attacks launched during the night continued during the day when hostile	See App "C"
			tanks were reported in the vicinity.
ST COME	12	1500	An intense Arty and Mortar bombardment began on the two Battalion positions
			and lasted three quarters of an hour. Casualties -only two slightly wounded.	See App "C"
			Bombardment followed by a determined infantry attack supported by six
			Mk IV or French tanks and a number of S P Guns. Fairly heavy casualties
			were inflicted in the Bn until the situation quietened down at about 2000hrs.
ST COME	12	2100	Arty concentration commenced and lasted for ten minutes but was not followed	See App "C"
			by an infantry assault.
ST COME	13		Bn relieved by 2 Oxs and Bucks. Strength 11 Officers and 218 O.Rs. Bn
			proceeded to LE MESNIL where a quiet morning was spent. Later Air Activity
			which caused some concern in the Bn but no Casualties.

Page 7 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ST COME	13		R.A.F. Typhoons inadvertently strafed Bn positions.
LE MESNIL	14		Quiet night but considerable air activity. Patrol under RSM despatched 2330
			and returned 0330. B Coy rejoined Bn at Brickworks.
LE MESNIL	15		Little activity except in the air. Counter attack roles rehearsed.
LE MESNIL	16		Heavy Mortaring from first light was continued spasmodically throughout the
			day. Much air activity. Quiet night.
LE MESNIL	17		Continual enemy mortar fire.
" "	17	1900	Bn returned to RANVILLE.
RANVILLE	18		Intermittent shelling, otherwise quiet.
" "	19		Heavy rain. Arty & smoke put down by the enemy.
RANVILLE	20		Moved to rest area at ESCARDE.
ECARDE	21		Bn in rest area
	22		Bn in rest area. C.O received a letter from General Gale acknowleding a
			letter sent by CO on behalf of Bn congratulating the DIV Comd: on the award
			of the LEGION OF MERIT.	See App 6

Page 8 of 11

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ECARDE	23	Bn in rest area. Entertainment by ENSA accompanied by the echo of gunfire.
" "	24	Bn in rest area. One officer Major Parry rejoined Unit from U.K. L/Cpl. Green returned
		to Unit after passing through enemy lines.	See App "E".
LE MESNIL.	25	Bn returned to the line and took over from 13 Para Bn in the area LE MESNIL
		cross roads. Work started immediately on the improvement of trenches and
		the command post was reconstructed. On approaching the area from the East
		the Bn came under fairly heavy shellfire.
LE MESNIL.	26	Owing to the manpower situation the CO decided to reorganise the Bn into
		two Coys each of two platoons to take effect from the 27 June. Canadians
		shelled at point blank range by 8.75 mm gun mounted on a cart. The gun
		position was too close to the Canadians to be shelled by us so fire was
		brought to bear about three hundred yards to its left. The gun crew
		withdrew but returned when the shelling had ceased. CSM Beckwith took
		out a patrol after dark to obtain an identification at 145735. No
		Identification was however, obtained. Enemy patrol sighted by our own standing patrol at 143734.

Page 9 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
LE MESNIL.	27		Wiring of B & C Coys front commerced. Patrol under Lieut.JONES sent out to
			obtain an Identification at 144734 but failed to do so. Returned with information
			that this position was occupied by a Coy HQ in the area 147735 and that an
			S.P. gun was well camouflaged and sighted in the hedge at 143733. Average
			mortar and shell fire. Snipers sent out. Routine inter-coy reliefs carried
			out. Capt Greenway evacuated.
LE MESNIL.	28		Bn visited by Col.DAVIS C.I.A. who inquired into the suitabilities of
		2200	weapons. Mock attack carried out by 8 PARA bn on our right to force the
			enemy to divulge his defensive fire tasks. Patrol under CSM BECKWITH due to
			go out at 2330 was postponed until 0030 on account of 8 Para Bn's attack.
			Object was to obtain an Identification, it failed to do so.
LE MESNIL.	29		Unusually heavy mortaring during the evening which caused casualties to
			four officers of Bde HQ and three civilians. Arrival in the Bn position
			of A Coy 1 RUR. During the night there was intermittent shelling during
			which Lt.Slades trench received a direct hit. Lt.Slade who was in the trench at the time was unhurt.

Page 10 of 11

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
LE MESNIL	30	After considerable efforts the 2 ic and his batman commenced and completed,
		at the expense of the M.Os blast wall, the officers mess blast wall. Patrol
		sent out under Sgt.WOODCRAFT to ascertain whether or not point 501 at
		144735 was occupied. If it was unoccupied a Pl of A Coy was to take possession
		of it. The patrol reported that the position was in fact occupied. It
		returned without either Sgt.WOODCRAFT or CPL SIMPSON and reported that both had
		been wounded and left where they fell. Shortly afterwards, however, Sgt
		Woodcraft returned unwounded and confirmed that Cpl.Simpson was still
		lying wounded. This NCO was later evacuated by 12 Devons

Page 11 of 11

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Field	5	2320	Bn took off for op "OVERLORD" 3 Sjts 3 Cpls posted from 1 AFHU
Oxford Field	6 7	0645 1500	L/C HULL 6465258 died in 107 Gen Hosp OXFORD as result of GSW in spine Transit Camp BROADWELL evacuated
"	8		Bn Residues formed under Comd of Capt F.H.TAVENER 153312, consisting of
			Home Details, 1st Reinforcements and WE Residues
"	9 12	2000	Six drivers and 3 - 3-tonners moved to Figsbury to form part of Div Tpt Pool 1 Sjt, 1 Cpl and 6 privates posted to Airborne Forces Depot
"	20	0800	10 Privates posted to I AFHU
"	23	2000	20 Privates posted from 1 AFHU and TOS 1st Rfts
"	24	2300	Lt A.R.JEFFERSON 197048 rejoined Residues from Theatre of Operations
"	28	2300	Lt M.C.POND 255225 rejoined Residues from Theatre of Operations.
"	29	1000	Brig R.G.PARKER 17679 Comd CAE lectured to all officers re France.
			Miscellaneous Appces
			AFS W3008 - Residues : Serials No 2, 3, 4, 5
			AFS W3009 - Residues : Serials No 2, 3, 4, 5

Units Referencing the 9th Parachute Battalion

The following units mention the 9th Parachute Battalion in their war diaries from June 1944:

12th Devonshire Regiment, June 1944 War Diary

Units Referenced in this war diary

The following units are mention in this war diary and have their own June 1944 war diary

12th Devonshire Regiment, June 1944 War Diary