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| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juaye Mondaye | 1 | Major J. M. Sidey, Second in Command arrived from England. Lt. Bright and Lt. K. Crosthwaite arrived later from England. | ||
| 5 | One Cpl RAMC att to each A, B. & C Sqns. Residues of the Regt due to | |||
| arrive by 8 July and considerable difficulty was found in finding space for bivouac area. Lt. K. Crosthwaite was appointed Intelligence Officer. | ||||
| 1305 | A Sqn reverted to comd 30 Corps. | |||
| 1930 | B Sqn placed under comd 50 (N) Div (30 Corps). | |||
| 6 | 1600 | A Sqn arrived at MONDAYE. B Sqn Ldr Capt STANYON received his orders from 50 (N) Div. Those | ||
| involved flailing one lane parallel with the road from some 500 yards north of GRANVILLE 7664 on the west of the road down to the X rds 7663. | ||||
| On the left a troop under Capt TAYLOR was to flail parallel with the track X rds 762656 to 778640. Each lane was be flailed by two CRABS | ||||
| up with two in res, and one tp of 5 CRABS loaned from A Sqn in res in rear. The actual flailing tanks were commanded by Lt Potter on the right and | ||||
| Lt Townsend Green on the left. Flails followed the assaulting inf and were intended to clear a way for veh and guns to follow up and consolidate the | ||||
| objective, the high ground about BOIS ST GERMAIN 7764. | ||||
| 7 | Attack postponed to 8 Jul. | |||
| 8 | H hr 0800 hrs. Attack was carried out according to plan, in very close country. Two ORs of Lt Potter's tp wounded while dismounted to tow | |||
| their CRAB when bellied on a bank. About 30 5" mines blown on right, but none encountered on left. Sqn harboured 2130 hrs 798688. | Transcription note: co-ord unclear could be 796688 | |||
| 10 | Further attack by 50 Div on HOTTOT 8265 postponed. | |||
| 11 | Attack an HOTTOT launched. No mines were definitely identified and B Sqn | |||
| were held in res. Inf had strong opposition and did not reach objective by night. | ||||
| A trial of the present Bar Link Flail Chains and the new Bob Weight Chains |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| was held. It was found that both types would blow Teller mines up to 5" below the surface, but wastage of Bob Weight Chains was 50% less, and | ||||
| jamming of the rotor less likely. Speed of rotor improved by 100 to 200 r.p.m. and BELGIAN BOX MINES thought to be impervious to flails were blown | ||||
| up to 3" depth. Lt. Col. W. Y. K. Blair Oliphant MC returned to HQ from HQ 8 Corps. | ||||
| 4 ORs wounded in Regt Area by shell fire. | ||||
| 12 | Attack on HOTTOT continued B Sqn called upon to hold a posn very close to | |||
| enemy in close country. One tank fired upon a TIGER result not known. Two ORs were wounded by mortar bombs and one evacuated. | ||||
| C Sqn returned from 8 Corps area, arriving 1900 hrs. Rest reverted to Second Army control and Warning Order received to send. a | ||||
| Sqn of 20 Flails to 15 Scottish Div of 12 Corps, to move evening 13 Jul. A Sqn warned and Lt Dick's tp with B Sqn relieved by Lt. Bright's tp from | ||||
| C Sqn. | ||||
| Line comns to 30 Corps established. | ||||
| 13 | 0800 | B Sqn reverted to Regt control and returned to MONDAYE. A Sqn warning order for det to 15 Div cancelled | ||
| 14 | 0001 | W Dgns less A Sqn placed under comd 8 Corps; A Sqn under 30 Corps. NO move. | ||
| 6020 | 20 residue vehicles arrived. | |||
| 0900 | All residue tanks arrived and remaining B veh at 2000 hrs. | |||
| 15 | 1200 | A Sqn moved to join 33 Armd Bde of 59 Div. at ST CROIX GRAND TONNE 8874. | ||
| 1700 | Commanding Officer received orders from Gds Armd Div Comd. | |||
| 16 | 0040 | Regt Mov Order issued for conc. | ||
| 0200 | Whole commitment of W Dgns less A Sqn to 8 Corps cancelled by HQ 30 Armd Bde. Lt. R. Sellman appointed IO in place of Lt. K. Crosthwaite. | |||
| A Sqn at ST NICHOLAS PM 886672. At 1530 hrs 1 and 4 Tps flailed two lanes on either side of rd NE of QUEUDEVILLE888643 under mortar fire. | ||||
| Tpr Overton was later killed by a bomb. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Major S.P.M.SUTTON MC, rejoined from hospital in England | |||
| Gen MONTGOMERY decorated Capts Bell and Taylor with the Military Cross. Major Sutton's award of the Military Cross was also approved and the | ||||
| Military Medal for Sjt Lindsay of B Sqn, still in hospital. A trial with A trial with live mines was held which conclusively proved new BOB WEIGHT | ||||
| chains superior to WELLING BAR LINK all along the rotor. During night 16/17 A Sqn in harbour at ST NICHOLAS FM was mortared and | ||||
| Capt BEAUMONT and two ORs Tprs Board and Cannon were wounded. 1 and 4 tps which had harboured at 893647 rejoined the Sqn. No. 2. Tp. placed | ||||
| under comd 1 NY for the day but did not see action and reverted at 2200 hrs. | ||||
| 19 | Warning Order to prepare Roller Tanks for disposal. Provisional WE | |||
| allowing only 3 Flail Troops per Sqn and no Roller tanks at all received. Roller Tanks had never been tried in action although 12 tanks and 24 3 ton | ||||
| lorries of rollers had been brought overseas. | ||||
| 20 | A Sqn returned to Regt Area. The first CONTOURING CRAB trial. | |||
| 21 | 0100 | Orders from 30 Corps for 3 CRABS to flail minefield behind FDLS for 50 Div Lt Moore of B Sqn moved out 0900 hrs and returned without flailing. | ||
| Sqns began reorg to new WE on basis of three Flail tps each of five CRABS per Sqn, but fourth tp remained in being for the moment. | ||||
| 23 | 1800 | A Sqn reverted to Regt control from 30 Corps. | ||
| 24 | All Sqns at indefinite notice until 0900 hrs 27 Jul when C Sqn will be at 24 hrs. Further CONTOURING CRAB trials. | |||
| 26 | Roller tanks (Less Rollers) transferred to 270 Fwd Del Sqn. | |||
| 27 | C Sqn at 6 hrs notice. New WE received in approved form. | |||
| 28 | Planning conference for proposed ops under 30 Corps attended by Lt Col. | |||
| W.Y.K. Blair Oliphant. Reorganization to now WE completed but surplus personnel remained with untt. | ||||
| Lt. LEATHER A Sqn att to HQ 30 Armd Bde as asst Bde IO. |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information | References to Appendices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Flail demonstration by A Sqn for Brig Gds TK Bde cancelled by Ops. | |||
| Regt placed under canmond of 30 Corps for ops due to begin 30 July and W Dgns less two Sqns under 7 Armd Div. B Sqn under comd 8 Armd Bde | ||||
| (43 Div) C Sqn under 50 Div with Major Sidey as adviser to Div HQ. | ||||
| 0915 | B Sqn tanks moved under comd 8 Armd Bde (under 43 Div) by half Sqns | |||
| to 730641 (Capt Cooper and Lt Potter) and 743631 (Capt Stanyon and Capt Taylor). | ||||
| C Sqn tanks - two tps each of 6 Crabs, one under comd 56 Bde and one under 231 Bde of 50 (N) Div moved to 760656 and 768657 respectively. | ||||
| Major Sutton attached to HQ 56 Inf Bde and Major Sidey as adviser to 231 Bde, | ||||
| RHQ and A Sqn under comd 7 Armd Div remained present location. New system of supply whereby each Sqn is self contained was tried for first | ||||
| time. One DR of 30 Armd Bde RASC was att to each Sqn A2 echelon to bring up Sqn RASC det to refill A2. | ||||
| 30 | 1200 | RHQ and A Sqn at 30 mins notice. CO went for orders to HQ 7 Armd Div. Accounts by Sqns will be appended when available. | ||
| 31 | 2145 | RHQ and A Sqns moved out. |
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