War Diary: Westminster Dragoons

Month and year: June 1944

The Westminster Dragoons June 1944 war diary covers their arrival in Normandy with their mine clearing Sherman Crab tanks and their mine clearing actions in Normandy This diary was hand written and some elements of the text was hard to make out so is marked with ???.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/864

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Page 1 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
ENGLAND	1 Jun		Marshalling into Craft loads began Weather which was hitherto very hot
			with no wind appeared to be breaking
	2		Marshalling continued, Weather hot but some wind. Considerable
			quantities of stores and equipment were still arriving. Causing
			considerable difficulties in the dispersed state of the Regt.
	3		Embarkation began. Weather fine with strong wind. Many of the	Appx E
			barrage balloons carried by landing craft were carried away.
	4	0730	D day announced as 5 Jun, but sailing postponed immediately
			by rough weather.
	5		Craft moved off Hyoscine Bromide anti sea-sickness tablets
			were issued with varying results. 10 or 15 % were extremely
			sick
	6		D. day. H hr was 0715 B, and at this time craft carrying
			13 CRABS of B Sqn under comd 231 Inf Bde, and 13 CRABS
			of C Sqn under comd. 69 Inf Bde were due to touch down.

Page 2 of 13

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

FIELD

Accounts of D day action are appended by Sqns Lt Col W.Y.K.

Appx A

Blair Oliphant landed at H + 60 in C Sqn ARV as his tank was

not due until H +18 hrs. By night B Sqn ARV. C Sqn M14 and

4 amn and pet lorries were ashore

1500

Lt M.J. Eedy with COs tank, RQMS Evans and two lorries due in

at 0100 hrs landed and joined C.O. and B Sqn at BRECY T8978

Appx A.

BRECY

0900

C SQN arrived in harbour area.

CRAB stats was then as follows:-

	B	C
Fit	3	6
Ready in 24 hours	3	-
Reparable when spares arrive	2	5
Beyond repair	5	2
Total	13	13

1300

Harbour area was not mopped up and Two PW taken

1500

One tp 141 RAC (CHURCHILL Crocodiles) arrived for a task which

did not materialize

1800

Regt refilled with POL, amn and sups from 50 Div points

All transport was Continually run regimental under RQMS

Page 3 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
BRECY	9	1730	Lt MA SUTTON (L.O.) in a Jeep. Lt AF GOULD (Sigs Offr) in a tank.
			Capt D.S. SQUIRRELL. RTA in place of Capt EASTWOOD in a Scout Car
			RW RHYMES and three lorries incl, tech stores arrived in harbour
			having landed one day late.
		1800	One CRAB of C Sqn blown up while assisting recovery of a
			4/7 DG tank from a minefield. Cause was as very deep laid TELLER
			which did not explode until run over at least twice.
			Major S.P.M. Sutton who had been wounded in the thigh 7 June
			forced to leave for FDS
	10	0900	All de water proofing now completed. About 50% of all Flail
			chains needed replacement, and 100% for one CRAB which
			had dealt with 40 mines without mishap.
			C S Returns (14 and 169 X NIL and one Y NIL and 8 Z NIL
			and 2
		1200	Regt at one hrs notice to move. First Regt Order in France received.	Appx B

Page 4 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
BRECY	10	1930	Regtl dinner in officers mess.
	11	1000	Rev Rhymes held CofE Service in a barn.
			Weather since Dday had been fine and no rain, There had been
			no enemy bombing or shelling whatever near regtl area.
			Tp 141 RAC left Comd.
		1300	Major Gen PCS HOBART Commanding 79 Armd Div arrived
			on visit.
		1400	C.O. called to HQ 50 Div for orders. Wireless warning order
			received to move to hold high ground Pt 112/7891 with under
			Comd two Tps 6 pds ATK 233 Fd Coy RE as inf and one pl MMG
			the whole force under 231 Inf Bde.
		1530	C.O. left in car on reece, with Capt Stanyon as Commander of
			all tanks. F echelon moved to wood 7982 near
			JUAYE MONDAYE under Capt Taylor arriving 1900 hrs
			B echs and unfit CRABS remained at BRECY with RTA and RQMS

Page 5 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
JUAYE- MONDAYE	11	1900	RHQ with two Shermans and 17 CRABS arrived
		2100	All crabs moved on urgent orders to LA BELLE EPINE 7669	Appx C
			where 2 DEVONS how been overrun. The tanks under Capt STANYON
			shot the inf into the village with no casualties, and killed
			40 enemy. The action finishes in the dark and tanks returned
			to harbour.
			Defence of point 112 was now laid out with tps under Comd
			and CO held tanks as mob??? res.
		2330	7 tanks moved out to hold stops on three approach roads
	12	0430	Stand to. Pet and amn lorries brought up by Lt Sutton as
			wireless Comms has been impossible as more than two miles
			Two vehicles filled with water from petrol cans. Responsibility
			was not discovered
		1200	Lts Hoban and Pear left with six CRABS to sp 231
			Bde adv from LA FROIDE RUE 7872 to LA SENAUDIERE 7869

Page 6 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
JUAYE MONDAYE	12	1400	Tanks RV with inf in very close country impossible for AFVs to
			op with success, and they were expected to adv without proper
			inf sp. S.A and hy mortar fire were met, and an 88 mm gun
			knocked out three tanks of which one Commanded by Cpl McCall
			C Sqn brewed up. Cpl McCall escaped wounded, but the rest of
			his crew were missing believed killed Lt Pear was hit by mortar
			splinters in the back of the head but made his way nearly 2000
			yards before collapsing, to bring help to Tps BROMBY, his
			driver who was severally injured and later died. Lt Pear
			was recommended for Mention in Dispatches for this action.	Appx D
		1900	Capts Stanyon and Taylor in two CRABS recovered two mech
			cas under mortar fire, and night leaguered with six
			CRABS remaining fit.
	13	0430	Stand to and move to open harbour 0530 hrs
		1400	Regt reverted to 30 Corps Control and echelon moved to DOUET 8272

Page 7 of 13

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

JUAYE MONDAYE

0900

Lt Townsend Green B Sqn left harbour with three CRABS to flail mines

in back areas under C.E. 30 Corps. Two ranks were eventually put

out of action by losing chains and missing occasional mines

1500

Inf took BERNIERES CHATEAU 2000 yards south and Lt HOBANS

tank knocked out 12 June in action under 231 Bde was recovered

with only track and one bogie shot away. Later Lt PEAR'S and

CPL McCALL'S tanks, knocked out in the same actions were reached

both burnt out. Rev Rhymes buried the remains of some of Cpl

McCalls crew, which could not be identified.

1600

A Sqn under Major B.A Wallace arrived with Capt CB Beaumont

and Lts BULLOCK INGRAM HALL and DICK and 17 fit CRABS. A SQNS

original assault party included 12 CRABS, and a further 10

for TD Regt. These were now returned to the Regt as reinforcements

and tank stats was now

	A	B	C	Total
Fit	17	4	8	29
24 hrs	2	1	2	5
Over 24hs	2	3	1	6

Page 8 of 13

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

JUAYE MONDAYE

1800

Regtl Det of 30 Armd Bde OFP consisting of Capt WHITTAKER and

14 ORS with eight lorries arrived for permanent attachment

0900

Lt D.F. INGRAM C Sqn left with three CRABS to flail mines in back

areas for C.E. 30 Corp.

Full miniature range was established and officers mess opened.

75 ORS daily went on recreational transport to BAYEUX Baths

were a most urgent necessity but could not be obtained anywhere

Recommend actions for Honours and Awards are Summarized as follows

SQN	Date of Action	Name	Decoration applied for
B	6 Jun	Sgt LINDSAY	Military Medal
B	6 Jun	Capt TAYLOR	Military Cross
C	6 Jun	Capt BELL	Military Cross
C	6/7	Jun Mayor SUTTON	Military Cross
C	7 Jun	Cpl ADCock	Mention in dispatches
C	12 Jun	Lt BH PEAR	Mention in dispatches

Page 9 of 13

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

JUAYE-MONDAYE

Rev Rhymes held service at 0800 and 1000 hrs in the cloister of the

abbey at MONDAYE. Weather continues hot and fine. Casualties

since D day are Summarized as follows

Date	A	B	C	RHQ	Casualty
6 June	Loveday Woodhouse Kelly	Lt Sgt Butcher Sgt Lindsay Trp Cooper Trp Grey			Wounded
		Tpr Field Tpr Shaw			Missing
7 June			Trp Burch		Killed
			Major Sutton Cpl Adcock L/Cpl Lenmon Tpr Kurk		Wounded
11 June	Allen				Accident???
12 June			Tpr Bromby		Killed
12 June			Lt Pear Tps Peters		Wounded
12 June			Cpl McCall		Wounded
12 June			Whithhouse Pennington Biddle combe Murry		Missing
Total	4	6	2 and 12	NILL

Page 10 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
JUAYE- MONDAYE	18	1200	LT INGRAM'S tp returned without mishap.
		1500	Brig DUNCAN visited the Regt.
	19		Mortars trg and field minature range gunnery begin. Heavy rain started at dawn.
		1400	Lt Dick and three CRABS of A Sqn att to 4 L of C to clear mines in rear area.
	20		Capt G.C. BOGLE stated by Rear HQ as have been posted as HQ 30 Armd Bde as G2. Lt M. J. EEDY appointed Adjustant in his place and promotion applied for.
			The first bath passes was held for half The Regiment in BAYEUX.
		1700	L.O. from 30 Corps arrived with orders for one Sqn to be det to 49 Div. CO and Major BA Wallace commanding A Sqn which was selected, left for HQ 49 Div 1715 hrs.
	21	1030	C.O. ordered to HQ 30 Corps.
		1130	Two lorries of WD qus??? det 30 Armd Bde RASC arrived and became "echelon" to A Sqn which still remains at MONDAYE harbour.
		1800	Sqn ldrs tanks of B and C sqns, due D+10 arrived. A Sqn less two tps placed under command of 49 Div in sp 146 Inf Bde for attack on wood 8666 near TESSEL-BRETTEVILLE. Wood was suspected of being protected bymines. Attack was due to begin 0330 hrs 23 June.
	22	0900	C Sqn now 11 CRABS and one SHERMAN placed under comd 8 Corps and sun allotted.	WBO

Page 11 of 13

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
JUAYE- MONDAYE	22		to 9 RTR, 31 TK BDE, 15 Div
		0900	A Sqn moved to CHOUAIN 8372 for conc and C Sqn moved to FRESNAY
			LE CROTTEUR 8978. Both A and C Sqns were in res in case mines
			were encountered in the lug??? attack planned for 24 Jun
	23		Attack postponed to 25 Jun. Res Tp A Sqn- Lt Ingram - also allottes to
			49 Div. A Sqn under Major Wallace with two two Tps - Lts Ingram and Bullock
			now under 49 Div direct with Capt Braumont and one tp. Lt Hall in sup 146 Bde
			C Sqn received no definite orders but were also in sp incase mines were met.
			Lt Dick with 4 L of C now had two out of Three tanks out of action as
			flails having failed to deal successfully with wooden box ATk mines.
			In one place seven were flailed and five did not explode, but in all cases
			flails showed pattern of field and enabled RE to left the remainder by hand
			without difficulty.
		2000	Lt Col Wyk Blair Oliphant ordered to HQ 8 Corps as adviser on Flails
			and AVRE for the attack. No orders had still been received for B Sqn

Page 12 of 13

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

JUAYE-MONDAYE

Lt Dick returned from 4 L of C with two tanks out of three unfit as flails. He dealt with 137
out of 140 "S" mines but found 75% of Holzmine in 3 to 5 inches of soil under long
grass were not blown. These mines in several cases were not exploded even by a tank
running over them once.

1800

30 Corps ordered B Sqn to remain in res

Lt Ingram joined A Sqn under 49 Div with his troop. Major Wallace and Capt Beaumont
were now in 49 Div res with two tps under Lt Ingram and Lt Bullock, in all 12 CRABS,
and Lt Dick was help in regtly res. Distribution of tanks (CRABS) at 2300 hrs, all being fit.
was as follows:-

	A	B	C
In 49 Div Res	12	-	-
146 Bde under 49 Div	5	-	-
15 Div	-	-	11
Regtl area 30 Corps res	4	8	-
Total	21	8	11

Two RHQ Shermans and one Sherman each B & C also remained in Regtl area
Capt D.S. Squerrill, RTA, in repairing Lt Dicks flails, had now used the last
spares available from knocked out tanks. Only four tanks of the Regt has been
in REME hands in France and Regtl fitters had continually done the work of
2 and 3rd line workshop with the most excellent results.
The official "Bob weight" chains had never yet been seen and less than
the op res. of 200% bar link were now held. Some sound luck of which OFP
det had eight sets were fitted,

0800

Rev Rhymera held service in cloister of MONDAYE abbey after a night very
disturbed by hy arty sited around harbour. Weather still fine and hot. The
attack had now started at first light 25 June

Page 13 of 13

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information
MONDAYE	26	C Sqn moved to NORREY-EN-BESSIN 9270. still in res. A Sqn remained in res at Le Pout Roc incl Lt Hall's Tp now also under 49 Div Control. "A" Section 30 Armd Bde workshop REME arrived at Mondaye under Capt Friend??? for permanent attachment. This section was originally intended for 22 Dgns. It consists of 26 vehs and 68 all ranks incl one ARV, two transporters, colospre??? and eight stone lorries.
	27	Heavy rain fall before dawn. C Sqn broken two bund hooks during move.
	28	A Sqn unter comd 8 Armd Bde but location unchanged
	29	Situation unchanged
	30	Supply by 30 Armd Bde RASC to Regt Location was begun in place of drawing from 30 Corps Tps Points by Unit Transport.

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War Diary: Westminster Dragoons

Month and year: June 1944

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