War Diary: Inns of Court Regiment

Month and year: July 1944

The Inns of Court Regiment July 1944 war diary covers the units time in Normandy including operation Charnwood and Goodwood

National Archive Reference: WO 171/854

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WO 171/854 Inns of Court Regiment

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WO 171/854 A Squadron

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WO 171/854 B Squadron

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WO 171/854 C Squadron

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WO 171/854 D Squadron

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Page 1 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Operation CHARNWOOD.
			Whilst in reserve in the area REVIERS 966814, the Regiment
			was re-organised, each Sabre Sqn consisting of:-
			4 light troops, each consisting of 2 Daimler Scout Cars.
			4 heavy troops, each consisting of 2 Daimler A/Cars and
			1 Daimler S/Car.
			1 Blitz Tp and Sqn HQ.
			The Matadors Section was withdrawn from each Squadron and
			put under regimental control under Lieut. J.R. Bottomley.
	7th July 1944		The Regiment was put under command 3 Cdn Inf Div and orders
			received to take over 7 Cdn Inf Bde section of front between
			incl. ROSEL 9672 - incl. LA VILLENEUVE 9570.
			7 Cdn Recce Regt was put under command (consisting of two
			Sqns only) with their Commanding officer, Lieut-Col Lewis).
			C Sqn was left in reserve at Reviers with A & B Ech & F2.

Page 2 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Sections of Bren Gunners from A & B Echs under Capt. Bucknill
			were detailed as added defence: a party of 20 men from B Ech
			assisted in the defence of RHQ. Detailed recce of posns.
			and liaison with presend occupants was done by Sqn and Tp Ldrs
			during the morning, and Sqns moved out from Reviers area at
			one hour intervals during the afternoon, vehicle concentrating
			in area 950753. The Regiment took over the sector as follows:-
			D Sqn - Right LA VILLENEUVE
			B Sqn - Centre LE BOURG 952722
			A Sqn work Left ROTS 9571
			RHQ - BRAY 9473.
			Each Sqn used its Daimler A/Cars only, disposed in fire
			positions, with crews of Daimler S/Cars on the ground with
			Brens. Matador Troop was disposed in pairs of cars in position
			within the sector. Some 17 pr and 6 pr A/Tk Guns were under

Page 3 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Comd (Major Pollock) and a rep. from Cdn Corps Arty was with
			RHQ. Two Sqns 7 Cdn Recce held Rosel.
			Cars moved up singly and very slowly from concentration area
			to avoid making dust. Scout Car personnel being carried on
			outside of A/Cars and the take over was completed by 2300 hrs.
			During the evening in daylight a very heavy attack by RAF
			Lancasters was seen to be put in on CAEN.
			Blitz Tps patrolled the area as far as the crest of the ridge
			in front of the posn: no enemy was encountered and they
			returned by 0500 hrs.
	8th July 1944		Some shelling during the night, but no casualties. The
			attack opened at 0420 hrs with tremendous Arty crash. Sqns
			prepared to move forward to crest with the A/Cars each to give
			covering fire to 9 Cdn Bde advance on CRUCHY, Chau de St LOUET
			and FRANQUEVILLE and to simulate the development of an

Page 4 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			armoured threat. Shelling, mortaring and snipers in the corn
			were encountered, all day, but Sqns had a successful shoot.
			In the evening, responsibility for the Regtl sector was
			removed, and a Recce was ordered SOUTH from the main Bayeux -
			Caen Rd beyond CARPIQUET to look for a reported concentration
			of enemy south of the aerodrome.
			D Sqn on right and A Sqn on left (W. & E.) of Carpiquet
			reec'd as far as the Brelteville-sur-Odon rd, but darkness
			and the presence of dug-in Panthers cut the recce short: no
			concentration was seen, however, During this recce A Sqn was
			heavily fired on by Panthers etc which allowed the first two
			troops to proceed before opening up: Major Scott lost touch
			with these two troops and on their return it was found that
			their A-set aerials had been cut to two inches by enemy fire.
			One Daimler A/Car was lost, Sgt Thorp being killed. It

Page 5 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			appears that a Coy. of Coldstream Guards through which A Sqn
			passed failed to warn them that the road was under fire from
			Panthers. A Sqn withdrew under cover of smoke, D Sqn found
			buildings on W. & S. of aerodrome strongly held. At the same
			time heavy tps of A & B Squadrons were ordered to the main
			road and rail bridges in Caen: this, however, they were unable
			to carry out, owing to enemy opposition and except for the
			troop of B Sqn which blocked the road at St Germain, all Sqns
			were withdrawn and concentrated before 2359 hrs.
			RHQ moved to area LA VILLENEUVE.
	9th July 1944		Advance into Caen began. Hy troop of B Sqn (Sgt Clark)
			advanced down main St Germain Rd. until well into the town.
			Our tps were reported at the main Br. and at 0700 hrs D & A
			Sqns were ordered to loop round by North by CUSSY 9970 and
			thence S. E. into the town: B Sqn to recce South from Caen -

Page 6 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Carpiquet Rd, assisted by 7 Cdn Recce Sqns.
			Situation at midday was: A & D Sqns in Caen with patrols on
			almost all the brs. all of which were strongly held by the
			enemy: B Sqn S. of Caen - Breteville Rd between Eastings 00
			& R. Orne. progress through Caen was found to be difficult,
			owing to craters and mountains of rubble and opposition from
			snipers and mortars: a rapturous welcome was given by the
			population, some of whom assisted our patrols by guiding them
			round obstructions etc.
			B Sqn contacted enemy at Br over R. Odon at 008667: a good
			O.P. was found in a housetop at 007674 from which valuable
			information was obtained with a telescope as to enemy posns
			S. of R. Odon.
			At 1910 hrs Col Bingley ordered all Sqns to withdraw N. of
			R. Odon and concentrate by Sqns. RHQ at ROTS: all Sqn Ldrs

Page 7 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			called during the evening and received orders.
			F2 and A Ech moved up to area 1 mile N. of ROTS.
			A & B Sqns were ordered to liaise and recce the area Caen -
			912626 - EVRECY 9360 - AMAYE SUR ORNE 9758 - Caen, observing
			the attack of 43 Div. D Sqn & 7 Cdn Recce in reserve.
			A & B Sqns spent most of the day in the area immediately S.
			of Caen - Verson Rd, observing the fighting, progress of which
			was slow, probing fwd with the Infantry, but finding the resis-
			tance too strong. Valuable information was passed from all
			sectors, especially from Louvigny, Maltot and the feature N.
			of Esquay (Pt.112), all from OPs, or from tps who crept
			forward on their stomachs to get a close view.
			All tps were withdrawn at approm 2000 hrs to area Villeneuve -
			Rots.
	11th July 1944		The Regiment spent the morning on maintenance etc and moved

Page 8 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			back by Sqns during the evening to original area Reviers.
			Wireless on RHQ
			During this operation, in addition to normal Regimental Rear
			Link (to 3 Cdn Div) a third net was maintained by Capt Gill,
			to L.O. at HQ 1 Corps (Lieut Hunt): information received on
			Comd Net was thus passed back simultaneously to Corps and Div.
			On the first two days, L.Os. (officers of C Sqn) were
			maintained on this third net with HQs 7 & 9 Cdn Inf Bde, and
			176, 185 and 197 Bdes. This proved to be of the greatest
			value in co-ordinating early information.
	12th/		Regiment in reserve in REVIERS area: Sabre Squadrons further
	16th		re-organised as follows:
	July		6 Light Troops (2 Daimler Scout Cars Each)
			3 Heavy Troops ( 2 Daimler A/Cars, 1 "S.O.D." (Sawn-off-
			Daimler) each).

Page 9 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	17th July		Operation GOODWOOD.
			In this operation 8 Corps with, under command, 11, 7 and
			Guards Armd Divs were to force a passage Southwards out of
			the existing bridgehead East of R. Orne, and seize the high
			ground VIMONT 1561 - ROQUANCOURT 0658, with a view to 7 Armd
			Div exploiting South with Rd. CAEN - FALAISE as Right boundary.
			Inns of Court Regt was placed u/c 11 Armd Div, whose objective
			was on the RIGHT. Cdn Corps on Right and 1 Corps on left were
			to do supporting attacks to cover these flanks.
			Regiment moved from REVIERS 1100 hrs to area ANGUERNY 0177.
			Col. Bingley gave orders at 1700 hrs as follows: Light Troops

Page 10 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			only of A, B, C, D Sqns to move down corridor behind 29 Armd Bde
			(who were to lead 11 Armd Div and lead the force. On reaching
			CAEN - VIMONT rd, Sqns to fan out, A on Right, (with Western limit
			on R. LAIZE), D, B & C Sqns on LEFT (with Eastern limit VIMONT )
			ST SYLVAIN 1354. First Bound WHISKY: R. LAIZE - BRETTEVILLE-SUR-
			LAIZE 0553 - ST SYLVAIN 1354. Further orders were given in the
			event of this line being successfully reached.
			Heavy Tps, Blitz Tps, Matador Tps. and Staghounds remained in
			area ANGUERNY throughout the operation (this was ordered by Corps
			Comd in view of the very limited facilities for moving large forces
			across R. ORNE) Sqns took light Sqn HQs only with Ambulances.

Page 11 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	18th July		Light Tps of all Sqns as above A Sqn leading, moved out 0330 hrs
			to go down tracks allotted to 29 Armd Bde. Concentration area at
			1073. Heavy bombing in area of proposed corridor was carried out
			0630 - 0815 hrs, and 29 Armd Bde moved at 0815 hrs behind creeping
			barrage (with I.C.R. immediately in their Rear) between lines
			CUVERVILLE 1069 - DEMOUVILLE 1067 and TOUFFREVILLE 1368 -
			SANNERVILLE 1368. By 0915 hrs leading Tp A sqn reach area 115695.
			At 1000 hrs wheeled advance held up in area 106672 by Rly
			embankment. Gap blown here by R.E's at 1100 hrs and sqns
			immediately came through. In meantime, 29 Armd Bde reported that
			they had reached their first Bound NEWMARKET (ST ANDRE-SUR-ORNE

Page 12 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			0261 - BOURGUEBUS 0861).
			Strong enemy defences were met N. of CAEN - VIMONT Rly and original
			reconnaissance had to be modified. Comd 29 Armd Bde reported at
			1515 hrs that situations had deteriorated. Continual contacts were
			made during remainder of day with tanks and arty in areas CAGNY 1164 -
			FRENOUVILLE 1162 - FOUR 0962 - BOURGUEBUS 0861 - HUBERT FOLIE 0662 -
			BRAS 0663. B Sqn, which crossed the gap last, were in area LE MESNIL
			FREMENTEL 1065, and A, C & D Sqns tried all day to find a way through
			the defences but were not able to do so, except for two D Sqn patrols.
			Lieut Russell at 1530 hrs reached ST AIGHAN de CRAMESNIL 0956 and
			returned via BOURGUEBUS and GRENTHEVILLE 0861, having met no serious

Page 13 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			opposition: he found BOURGUEBUS LA HOGUE 0960 and SECQUEVILLE la CAMPAGNE 1059 only lightly held by infantry (who seemed very surprised to see him). Lieut Taylor reached GAUMESNIL 0855 at 1700 hrs at great speed and returned along CAEN - FALAISE Rd reporting no serious opposition to his progress. At 2030 hrs the Regiment was ordered to withdraw and concentrate
			by Sqns in area CUVERVILLE - DEMOUVILLE and close down till 0600 hrs.
			During the day, many identifications of prisoners were obtained and passed back to 11 Armd Div and to 8 Corps (on private net operating as on op. Charnwood) Casualties: Capt; J.A. Bucknill (acting as L.O. with Tach HQ 29 Armd Bde) was killed, by direct hit on his

Page 14 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			Scout Car. No other casualties to personnel: 3 Scout Cars knocked
			out. RHQ (Main) at 035704, F2 & A Ech at ANGUERNY throughout the
			operation. Comd. 11 Armd Div (Maj-Gen ROBERTS) ordered Col.Bingley
			to remain with him at his Tac HQ throughout the operation. L.Os
			were maintained with HQs 11 Armd Div, 8 Corps and 1 Corps operating
			on "private net" with RHQ. An L.O. from 11 HUSSARS was with RHQ.
			Orders from 11 Armd Div for an attack by night in conjunction
			with Armd Regts of 29 Armd Bde were cancelled at 2100 hrs.
	19th July		B & D Sqns were ordered to recce respectively EAST & WEST of
			CAEN - FALAISE rd as far as BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE - ST.SYLVAIN
			line, starting 0700 hrs D Sqn found great difficulty in reaching

Page 15 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			their area, being held up on the BRAS - CORNELLES - MONDEVILLE
			line. By 1200 hrs, however, patrols reached FAUBOURG de VAUCELLES
			and factory area CORNELLES contacting Os.C. 29 Armd Bde and units
			of Canadian formations who were to attack southwards along E. bank
			of R. Orne.
			B Sqn operated most of the day in area FOUR - SOLIERS - LE
			POIRIER 0063. An O.P. was set up in FOUR from which movement
			in wood 1060 were observed: this Troop (Lieut Dowell) were
			apparently captured, but both cars were recovered intact by
			another patrol.
			By the end of the day Cdns had taken IFS 0463, FLEURY-SUR-ORNE

Page 16 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			0264 and N. side of Feature 67, 0263. Liaison was maintained by
			patrols throughout the day with Tank and Inf Conds on the ground.
			All patrols withdrawn to CUVERVILLE area at approx 1830 hrs.
			B sqn patrol (Lieut Munro) sent to contact Canadians at pt 67
			at 2130 failed to return.
	20th July		Regiment in reserve except for two A Sqn patrols (Lieut D.B.
			Archer and Lieut H.R. Ashby) whose task was to liaise with Comds
			Cdn Inf and tank attacks in areas pt 67 (0263) and BRAS. There
			was intense shelling and mortaring in their areas all day, but
			they were able to keep the Comds to whom they were attached well

Page 17 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
			informed of the situation in the two areas from, 0600 hrs onwards.
			By the end of the day our line was established from. ST. ANDRE-SUR-ORNE
			0261 - FRENOUVILLE.
			A heavy thunderstorm made reception difficult 1730 - 1830 hrs. 11
			Armd Div were withdrawn in the afternoon (being relieved by 2 Cdn Div)
			and wireless silence imposed from 1700 hrs. A Sqn patrols withdrawn
			2000 hrs.
			Squadrons withdrawn (with some difficulty, owing to the mud which
			developed very rapidly with the rain) to area ST HONORINE LA
			CHARDONNERETTE 0971.
	21st July		Regiment in reserve in same area. Rain all night and in the morning

Page 18 of 18

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
	22nd July		Some shelling and bombing.
			Regiment withdrawn (with main RHQ) to original area ANGUERNY 0177.
	23rd July		Regiment moved to new area CULLY 9176 on orders 8 Corps during
			afternoon.
	24th July		Maintenance etc.
	25th July		Regiment moved to area LE FRESNE CAMILLY 9477, owing to the CULLY
			area having been simultaneously allotted to RAF formations.