No.8 Beach Group War Diary: July 1944

The No.8 Beach Group July 1944 war diary covers the continued running of the Beach Maintenance Area at Bernières-sur-Mer, Courseulles and St Aubin. The period focused on unloading supplies despite bad weather, night air raids and occasional shelling.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/812

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WO 171/812 No.8 Beach Group

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This diary mentions 1 units with war diaries for July 1944.

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Page 1 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
BERNIERES	1		Unloading proceeding normally. Tonnage from 1800 hrs 30 June to 1800hrs 1 July: 4,485 tons.
			Slight enemy activity during the early hours, one enemy plane crashed into sea after being engaged by A/A.
		1530	Commanding Officer visits Army Commander.
		1700	Beach Companies finish work.
		1930	Explosion north of Red Beach. Demolition work by RE.
	2	0600	First DUKWS start unloading from coasters.
		0900	Unloading normal. Tonnage: 4,126.
		1530	Soldier found in coaster. Stated to have escaped from enemy lines after
			being taken prisoner. Turned over to Intelligence Officer by 1033 Port Operating Company. Interrogated and sent to 102 Sub Area
		2300	Work ceases on beaches. Slight enemy activity on shipping.
	3	0430	Unloading commended from 26 L.C.M. and finished by 0745. Off loading normal throughout the day. Tons 4,786.
		0835	Mine exploded forward of gunsite on beach near Advance HQ. Three injured, 2 RN personnel and one gunner. Two detained in F.D.S.
			Mine believed to be "S", but did not appear to rise above ground. This type of mine and British Mk 3 had previously been cleared around
			gun position, but this had not been detected. Possibly of wooden type. Slight enemy air activity during night over BMA. No bombs reported.
	4		Unloading normal. Tonnage: 3223
		2100	L.C.T. lying on beach since D day was refloated and left area.
			No incidents to report. Aircraft operating singly during the night. No attack on BMA. No
			consistent line of approach. Ju 88 shot down by fighter

Page 2 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	5	a.m.	Offloading normal. Tonnage: 4238.
			Coast railway line running. This line, single track, ran from Courseulles, through St Aubin and Bernieres and continued along coast. Used for carry-
			ing supplies. Concert Hall opened. Entertainments provided for Group. Tickets allocated
			to sub-units in rotation.
	6	0235	e/a. Machine gunned down searchlight beam. Engaged AA. Nothing further to report.
	6	a.m.	Off loading normal. No incidents during day
		1800	Tonnage: 4,913.
	7	0235	e/a over area. Spasmodic activity. Weather thundery. Several balloons struck by lightning. No bombs reported.
		a.m.	Off loading normal
		1800	Tonnage: 3,906
		2030)	Shelling from Monitor at sea towards S.E. direction.
		2130)
		2135	Heavy force - later reported 450 planes - of Halifaxes and Lancasters proceeding s.e. Attacking objectives north of Caen
		2213	One Allied plane observed crashing into sea, north east of Beach area.
			Crew baled out before crash. Launch proceeded in direction to their rescue
	8	2315) 0115)	Slight enemy activity, but no incidents to report.
			Continual artillery barrage directed at Caen heard throughout the night. Naval guns also bombarded inshore targets in same area.
		0800	Off loading normal. Large formations of Allied planes proceeding to Caen area. Monitor bombardment continued.

Page 3 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres.	8	0915	Hospital ship in area.
		1145 1800	Advance HQ visited by American officers Tonnage 4085
			23 Beach Recovery report salvaging of under water wrecks such as DUKW and Tanks proceeding.
		1930 2150	C.O holds conference with Unit Commanders and R.N. Three A.P. Bombs found. Disposed of,
		2325	Warning from 102 Sub Area about possible survivors from enemy "human torpedoes"
	9	0035 a.m.	Air activity, but no incidents. Engaged AA. off loading commences
		1800	Tonnage: 4,815.
	10	0045	Enemy air activity. Slight. Engaged by AA. No incidents.
		0800	Weather rough; low clouds. Off loading hindered; craft unable to proceed to Coasters after 1100.
		1800 2345	Tonnage 1,745. Naval guns open up on e/a. Smoke screen layed
	11	0036	Continued e/a activity. One parachute mine dropped and blown inland by W N W. wind. "C" Coy 5. R. Berks, reported two of these mines dropped,
			but only one exploded. Later reported parachute found by LAA.
		a.m.	Weather again bad for off loading
		1800	Tonnage 1,842.
	12	0144	e/a activity. A number of planes out at sea, heavily engaged Naval AA. Continued until about 0203. Much shipping had come into the area during
			the night.
		0203	Beaches were spasmodically machine gunned. But no casualties reported
		a.m. 1800	Off loading normal. No incidents. Tonnage: 4,510.

Page 4 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	13	0045	Hostile planes operating out to sea. Flares dropped over shipping. Engaged by A.A.
		0130)	Bombs dropped at sea. No damage or casualties reported. General line
		0137 )	of planes appeared E to W and receding north.
		0147)
		0800	Off loading normal
		1045	Message received from Rear HQ regarding two suspected enemy agents.
		1800	Tonnage for day 4,230. Air activity at night, but no casualties reported
	14	0800	Off loading normal.
		1000	Commanding Officer attends service in Bernieres Church in
		-	commemoration of National Day of France (Storming of La Bastille). Wreath laid on cenotaph. Visit to Canadian Cemetery where short
			service is held.
		1130	Special Bulletin was issued by 5. R. Berks giving a brief history of the National Day of France and also the Marseillaises.
		1800	Tonnage for day 4,335
		1929	During the day there were two enemy planes brought down. 1 Me 109 Crashed. Parachute seen descending
	15	0015 - 0437	Air activity over B.M.A. Four bombs reported to have dropped, but caused no casualties or damage
		0800	Off loading normal
		1800 2245	Tonnage: 4,384. Gun flashes in southerly direction
	16	0016 -	Enemy air activity. Targets were high, and cloud low. No bombs were dropped during the night. Object of attack was
		0132	apparently shipping and laying of sea mines..

Page 5 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres	16	0800	Off loading normal.
		1500	Beach Group Football team beat Bernieres and Courseulles F.C. by 8-1. (This was part of National Day celebrations which had all been arranged
			by the Beach Group). Attended by Commanding Officer, Mayor, Mayoress and Municipal Councillors.
		1800 p.m.	Tonnage for day 3,536. Cinema was opened at Concert Hall. Tickets allocated to Sub Units.
		2205	Message received from P.L.M.O. Office 102 Sub Area "Lay Smoke Juno and Gold Beach. Bomber attack expected.
		2210 2250	Message passed DUKW control. A/A tracers observed in south and S.E.
		2300 2315	E/A activity " " over BMA. Engaged A/A.
	17	0800 0830	Off loading hampered by mist. Off loading stopped owing to heavy mist.
		1045 1330	Mist lifting a little. Off loading from small craft on beaches. Off loading normal.
		1800	Tonnage 3,377
		2125	Spitfire crashed 400 yards from high water NNW of Advance HQ. Pilot landed by parachute. Rescued by boat manned by local fisherman and
			soldier
	18	a.m.	Slight enemy air activity.
		0545	Heavy formation of bombers proceeding in direction north east of Caen. Continued for more than three hours. This proved to be heaviest air
			attack made on targets south east of Caen, and on objectives west of Troarn. Heavy artillery barrage. During the. morning General Demspey
			Launched an attack. Special report with Map issued for Beach Group Personnel. (Appx "A"	Appx "A"

Page 6 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres	18	0625	A/C crashed in flames NNW of Advance HQ
		0710 0800	A/C crashed NNE of Advance HQ. Off loading normal.
		1030	C.O. attends ceremony at Civilian Cemetery of 15 civilians killed during the first two days of the invasion. Wreath, from officers and Men of
			the Beach Group laid by C.O.
		a.m.	Letter from Army Commander announcing that Beach Group comes under Command of HQ L of C. (Appx "B")	Appx "B"
		1800	Tonnage: 3,937.
		2310 2311	Enemy aircraft over BMA. Engaged by A.A. Amber flares dropped during night believed to be over Caen Canal.
			No bombs reported during the night.
	19	0800	Off loading normal. No incidents during day.
		1800	Tonnage for day: 3,693.
		2115	Rocket landed in minefield 200 yards west of "B" Coy (5. R. Berks) HQ. Consisted of parachute and two cannisters. TWO more rockets believed
			to have landed in the sea. Reported to 102 Sub Area
	20	0015	Plane from north passed over area to south east. Engaged by A.A. There were other planes during the night but not in B.M.A. No incidents
			reported
		0800	Off loading normal.
			Weather: Fine morning, but afternoon torrential rain and thunder. Continued low clouds and rain.
		1800	Tonnage for day 4,426.
	21	0135	LCMs unable to beach owing to heavy seas and wind.
		0220	Enemy aircraft north east of Advance HQ. No incidents reported during night.

Page 7 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres	21	0800	Bad weather prevented off loading. Cloud clouds, rain
		1530 1800	DUKWs begin to operate to coasters Tonnage: 718
	22	a.m. 0800	Enemy air activity during night. No incidents reported Off loading normal.
		1500	HQ Coy 5. R. Berks V Royal Marines at Football Result: Royal Marines 3 5 R. Berks 2
		1800 1805	Tonnage 3187. (Weather still cloudy with rain at times) Robot plane reported over area. Came in from sea flying north to south.
		a.m.	Aircraft activity during night. Muffled explosions. Enemy aircraft also active. Engaged by A.A.
			Intermittant activity during night.
	23	0800	Off loading normal.
		1800	Tonnage: 6,367 tons. A record for the Beach Group. Previous highest was 5,509.
		1820	Major General Naylor visited Advance HQ (Comdg 11 L of C). Visited LBVs off loading.
			243 Provost Coy take over from 244 Provost Company.
			Prime Minister has been in Normandy for past two days. Visited Caen and Cherbourg.
	24	a.m.	Enemy air activity during night. Planes engaged by A.A. No results observed. No incidents reported.
		0800	Off loading normal
			Note: Major General Naylor expressed himself very pleased in what he saw during his visit.
		1500	5th Bn. The Royal Berkshire Regiment 5 V Royal Engineers 3. Match played at Bernieres.
			Special Order of the Day issued by Beach Group Commander.	Appx "C"

Page 8 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	24	1800	Tonnage: 4,561.
		1915	Explosion in Salvaged Ammunition Dump. Did not affect current ammunition. Explosion occurred as lorry was unloading mines in 17 BAD. Caused fire
			in Salvaged Ammunition Dump, followed by two further explosions. Cause: unknown. Identity of lorry or personnel: Not yet known.
		2300 to	Enemy activity during night. One composite plane, believed to be Junkers 88 or Junkers 188, with fighter on its back, believed shot down. Explosion
	25	0430	observed where plane fell.
		0800	Off loading normal.
			Attack announced from Supreme HQ south and south east of Caen.
		1800	Tonnage: 4,780.
	26	a.m.	Enemy air activity during night. Considerable Allied air activity and artillery firing from Caen area
		0800 1800	Off loading normal Tonnage: 4,538
	27	a.m.	A few aircraft were heard during the night, but none within the area. Fires at sea were observed.
		0800 1800	Off loading normal. Football match during Day 5. R. Berks 8 Royal Marines 0 Tonnage: 4,949. Daily average since D Day 3,509.
	28	a.m. 0800	Sporadic enemy aircraft activity during night. No incidents reported. Off loading normal. No incidents to report
		1800	Tonnage: 4,414.
		2015	Teller Mine explodes on 375 LAA Gun site on beach strip of road to St Aubin. Casualty One man. Lorry destroyed, and balloon fired. Fire
			dealt with by A.F.S.
		a.m.	Slight enemy activity during night. No bombs reported. Allied planes also passing over Beach Area from North to south.
	29	0800	Off loading normal.

Page 9 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Bernieres	29	1800	Tonnage: 5,185.
		2000 to	Beach Maintenance area was shelled, in all 25 shells being fired. They were air bursting shells over the areas of St Aubin, Bernieres
	30	0600	and Courseulles. The majority of them burst over Courseulles. Seven shells burst on impact. Fuse cap of shell marked 35 kilos. Time from
			flash to hearing shell burst was approximately 1 min 40 secs. Gun was thought to be situated east of the area at Ouistraham.
			The work of the beach group was not hampered. one man of "A" Coy, 5th Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regt, was injured, and a jeep and
			15 cwt damaged. A second man was buried when his shelter collapsed, but he was unhurt. There was no air activity.
		0800 1800	Off loading normal. No incideents during the day Tonnage: 5,075.
	31	a.m.	Slight A.A. activity during the night, and planes were heard, but no incidents
		0800 1800	Off loading normal. No incidents to report. Tonnage: 4,150.
		a.m.	Planes heard during night, slight a/a activity, but no incidents
			Appendices:
			"A" News Bulletin and Situation map. Caen attack. "B" Letter from Army Commander.
			"C" Special Order of the Day from Beach Group Commander.
			Also Beach Group Orders PAD.ORDERS

Page 10 of 10

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
Bernieres			Observations for July
			Weather during the month was unsettled, heavy seas and winds hampering
			off loading at times. Up to July 31st 201,317 tons of supplies were discharged from the beaches
			in the sector. On 23 July a record was created by off loading 6,367 tons in one day. The daily average since "D" Day to 27 July was 3,509 tons.
			The question of still further increasing the discharge of supplies from the ships is one that is receiving constant attention. One feature which
			led to an increased number of DUKW trips to and from the coasters was the beaching of these boats on the turn of tide.
			Road exits and entrances have been reinforced to allow speedier movement to and from the beaches. Existing roads leading to the dumps have been
			widened so that the faster vehicles are not held up by the more slow moving.
			Coursuelles Basin was put into operation during the month and is used for unloading of L.B.V. 1s, L.C.T.'s and Dumb Barges.
			The Coast Railway, connecting St Aubin, Bernieres, and Coursuelles, is also in use for carrying supplies.
			Recreational facilities for the men include a cinema and concert hall. The latest news from the world battle fronts was given regularly in a
			daily News Bulletin, and the situation marked up on specially drawn maps in the Information Room.

Units Referenced in this war diary

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

5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, July 1944 War Diary