Difference between revisions of "70th Infantry Brigade War Diary June 1944."

Revision as of 12:08, 5 February 2018

3rd June 1944

The weekly Field Returns of manpower for Brigade Headquarters included the Defence Platoon and the Light Aid Detachment, as well as the Officers and men working in HQ itself and various “attached ranks”.

The Defence Platoon was 27 strong in total, including one Sergeant and 3 Corporals – effectively equivalent to three Sections.

The Brigade Workshops – the Light Aid Detachment – consisted of 2 Sergeants, 2 Lance-Corporals, 12 Craftsmen and 2 Privates.

The Officers of Brigade HQ numbered 15, matching the establishment. Details of the individuals can be found on the “names database” on the Brigade HQ page.

The Other Ranks working within Brigade HQ included a Class 1 Warrant Officer, 3 Class II Warrant Officers, 1 Colour Sergeant, 1 Staff Sergeant, 2 Sergeants, 6 Corporals and 41 Privates – a total of 55 men. “Attached ranks” included; a Sergeant, 2 Corporals and 16 Privates of the Divisional Provost Company, a Colour Sergeant PT Instructor, a Corporal and a Sapper of the Divisional Postal Service, an RAOC Storeman of the RASC 482 Brigade Transport Company, a REME Corporal and an RAMC private from 187th Field Ambulance. Several men identified as “residue” or “home details” from 1st Tyneside Scottish were also present in Brigade HQ.

6th June 1944

Thetford. D-Day. Movement Orders collected from MC CAMBRIDGE and maps from CSD. Moved to Concentration Area at 22:15 hours.

7th June 1944

Wanstead. Arrived in the T.1 Concentration Area – a tented Camp, and prepared the vehicles for embarkation.

8th June 1944

Wanstead. The vehicles moved from the Concentration Area to the WEST INDIA DOCK at MILLWALL DOCKS for loading.

9th June 1944

West India Dock. Vehicles and troops were loaded into S.S. STANRIDGE (Captain Phillips) and the Brigade Commander and his HQ sailed.

10th June 1944

River Thames. The S.S. STANRIDGE sailed at 02:00 hours for the anchorage at SOUTHEND.

11th June 1944

At sea. The ship sailed in convoy at 05:00 hours, passing the Straits of DOVER at noon under cover of a smoke screen. There was no opposition and the Brigadier landed.

12th June 1944

Baie le la Seine. The ship arrived at ARROMANCHES LES BAINS at 07:00 and anchored.

13th June 1944

Remained loaded at anchor.

14th June 1944

The first craft disembarked with a wet landing at 12:00 hours on JIG BEACH at Le HAMEL. This first element of Brigade HQ arrived at the Concentration Area at BRECY reference 881780 at 15:00 hours and then moved to the area of DUCY-St-MARGUERITE reference 850746 at 21:00 hours.

15th June 1944

Ducy-St-Marguerite. The remainder of Brigade HQ landed and completed concentration. 70th Brigade was placed in Divisional Reserve.

One Platoon of the 11th DLI, under the command of Lt. Bell, provided a guard for General Montgomery.

The first Brigade Intelligence Summary was completed and issued – a copy is included in the War Diary at Appendix A.

This document was expected to be destroyed by recipients within an hour of receipt – not surprisingly, as it contained the latest estimates of enemy strength and the nature and equipment of opposing units, and their likely intentions as regards operations. Several of the Patrols described in the War Diary were aimed at verifying the identities of such units – hence the importance, for identification purposes, of capturing Prisoners.

The report then went on to deal with the enemy on the Brigade’s front – thought to be 901 and 902 Panzer Lehr Regiments, with 2nd Panzer Division units further back – possibly the 2nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment. The 304th Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 2nd Panzer Division had been identified South-East of CAUMONT. Prisoners from 26th Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division had been taken that day at BRONAY.

The report commented on the defence advantages of the bocage country and added that the German troops had been briefed that they would shot on capture – reinforcing the argument to fight to the last man.

The next part of the report detailed the insignia, structure and weaponry of the enemy units – Panzer Lehr Division, including the 130th Panzer Lehr Recce Battalion, the Grenadier Regiment and the 130th Artillery Regiment, and the 2nd Panzer Division.

Mention is made in the Report of an intelligence report of the use of rocket projectiles filled with liquid incendiary fluid on another Division’s front. (This was also mentioned in a later report of the use of “oil bombs” against the 2nd Battalion, Glasgow Highlanders of the 15th Scottish Division in mid-July at ESQUAY near the River ORNE. Research in recent years had failed to turn up much concrete information on this ammunition, but in a conversation with a Senior Officer of the Bundeswehr in May 2012, part of a study tour in the area – Hill 112 - where these rounds were allegedly used, he confirmed that such mortar or Nebelwerfer rounds were in fact deployed, particularly to start fires and thereby provide illumination, during night or twilight operations. They could be seen as broadly equivalent to napalm.)

The Report concludes by summarising Allied progress since D-Day, including units being moved between higher commands.

16th June 1944

10th DLI moved forward and deployed in the area LE PONT ROC reference 8470. The remainder of the Brigade was in Divisional Reserve.

17th June 1944

10th DLI captured SAINT PIERRE reference 8568 and went under the command of 146th Brigade, while the remainder of 70th Brigade was in Divisional Reserve.

The Brigade Intelligence Officer, 138539 Captain J.W.Robson, was wounded and evacuated. Field returns were completed and a copy is attached to the War Diary at Appendix B. Information from these returns has been used to update the Brigade manpower names database. The details are almost identical to those dated 3rd June and mentioned above, with the addition of the arrival of Captain Corthor of REME on 6th June – to command the Brigade Workshops and Light Aid Detachment.

18th June 1944

10th DLI returned to the command of 70th Brigade at 12:00 hours. No change to the other Units of the Brigade.

19th June 1944

10th DLI captured an orchard South of SAINT PIERRE reference 8568.

20th – 21st June 1944

No changes to report.

22nd June 1944

Brigade Operation Instruction No. 1 was issued and included within the War Diary at Appendix C. This document set out the intentions for each of the components of the Brigade in providing a firm base to support Divisional operations. The details within the document confirmed that 10th DLI had a 17pdr troop of 217th Battery of the 55th Anti-Tank Regiment under command and that other troops of the Battery were preparing to move to the 11th DLI and 1st TS positions on the receipt of the relevant code words.

Similarly, 10th DLI also had a Platoon of the 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers in support.

The document was largely concerned with new locations and the timings of moving to them. A useful map trace of the new positions and the defensive fire tasks associated with them was also included, although for security reasons no place names were incorporated.

For full details, including the image of the map tracing, see below.

23rd June 1944

Brigade Operation Instruction No. 2 was issued and included within the War Diary at Appendix D.

This document was concerned with forecasting future operations and referred to Operation MARTLET. It was to be read alongside Operation Instruction No 1, mentioned above, and clarified the attacks by 146th and 147th Brigades which the 70th Brigade, as the then Reserve Brigade of 49th Division, was supporting. The document, which was restricted to Commanding Officers and their Second-in-Commands only, set out the units which would be supporting the Battalions of the Brigade in carrying out their responsibilities, including 2nd Kensingtons (machine guns), 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers, 217th Battery (Anti-Tank) and 24th Lancers (tanks), and detailed routes and areas of responsibility.

For full details, see below.

24th June 1944

11th DLI relieved the 7th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at area reference 8769 and again came under the command of 146th Brigade.

Lt. J Boys 156254 assumed the appointment of Brigade Intelligence Officer, in place of the wounded Captain Robson, and assumed the rank of temporary Captain. Field returns were submitted and included within the War Diary at Appendix E.

25th June 1944

Audrieu. D-Day for the breakthrough of the bridgehead. 70th Brigade remained in reserve. Brigade HQ moved to 860717 AUDRIEU. 1st Tyneside Scottish relieved 4th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment in the area 8871.

26th June 1944

11th DLI moved from ST. NICHOLAS FARM and captured the cross-roads at reference 886660 and patrolled RAURAY. 1st Tyneside Scottish moved to the area of ST. NICHOLAS FARM.

27th June 1944

1st Tyneside Scottish came under the command of 8th Armoured Brigade.

11th DLI captured RAURAY.

10th DLI moved to the FONTENAY area.

28th June 1944

Fontenay-le-Pesnel. Brigade HQ moved to the FONTENAY area at reference 870681. 10th DLI captured the feature at reference 891649. 1st Tyneside Scottish were on BRETTEVILLETTE but withdrew to TESSEL BRETTEVILLE.

29th June 1944

No changes reported.

30th June 1944

1st Tyneside Scottish were relieved by 4th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment and then themselves relieved 10th DLI, who came out of the line to the FONTENAY area.

Appendices attached to the War Diary

Appendix A - 70th Infantry Brigade Intelligence Summary No. 1

This doscument was headed "Secret" with an instruction that it was to be destroyed within 24 hours of receipt, and that it was based on information and higher formation Summaries received up to 11:00 hours on 15th June 1944. The document was issued on 15/6/1944.

Part 1 - A - attached as Appendix A and instructed to be destroyed within one hour of receipt.

General Report on Actions of Own Troops.

51 Division have moved around to East of CAEN and yesterday captured TROARNS.

6 AIRBORNE - is on the East of the River ORNE.

3 British Division - is still directly in front of CAEN.

3 Canadian Division - are holding the ground West of Caen.

Apart from the movement of 51 Div to the South and South-East of CAEN, little forward movement will take place in this sector. The Canadians may attack MESNIL PATRY.

50 Div - pushed forward on the East of the RIver SEULLES forward of AUDRIEU. 69 Brigade was relieved by 146 Brigade yesterday. The DIV is now fairly well concentrated and still in contact with the enemy on the West side of the SEULLES. Yesterday they captured LINGEVRES 8069 and their Battalions are disposed on the general line of the road TILLY - La BELLE EPINE 7769 - . Two thrusts were made yesterday in the direction of HOTTOT 8266 and LE LION VERT 7964. If little opposition is encountered today they hope to get onto that general line today.

7 Armoured Div.

Did a "right hook" more or less down the AURE valley and assisted the Americans into CAUMONT and then swept East across the high ground West of BOCAGE and actually entere4d the village. Yesterday they were on the high ground TRACY BOCAGE 7957 - AMAYE 7657 - BRISQUESSARD 7459 - GRANVILLE 7664. They have now withdrawn and are firmly established on the large spur running from CAUMONT - St GERMAIN D'ECTOT 7762. 33 Armoured Brigade has now been put under command 7 Armoured Div.

1 U.S. Div is in the CAUMONT area.

49 Div

146 Brigade

(a) To secure CRISTOT.

(b) Strong patrols to ST PIERRE and occupy if possible.

(c) Strong patrols to high ground North of FONTENAY 8768.

147 Brigade - to secure BRONAY.

70 Brigade - in Divisional Reserve.

Part 1 - B

1. Enemy Situation - General

So far the enemy has committed four of his Armoured Divisions - 21 Panzer, 12 SS Panzer, Panzer LEHR and 17 SS Panzergrenadier. 2 Panzer was identified 13 June in the area BOCAGE - CAUMONT and Prisoner of War Statements and captured maps indicate that this Panzer Division was making for CAUMONT (Corps Summary 418).

709, 91, 243, 77, 346 Infantry Division, 3 Para Division and Battle Group from 6 Panzer Regiment and the remnants of 352, 716, 711 Infantry Divisions are the others opposing the allied bridgehead.

The likely build up Panzer formations, some of which are reported on the move are:-

1 SS Panzer (Antwerp), 11 Panzer (BORDEAUX), 2 SS Panzer (TOULOUSE) and 5 Para (blieved in BREST Peninsula). (Div) Infantry Divisions on the move are 319 from CHANNEL ISLES, 84 from North of ROUEN and 48 from CALAIS (Corps Summary 418).

After the initial success of the landing Germany's chance of even playing a draw became very slender. ROMMEL is a gambler and it must be clear to him that if he plays the same game as he has done in the past week he will surely loose (sic).

Appendix B is missing from the War Diary.

Appendix C - Operation Instruction No. 1

Appendix D - Operation Instruction No. 2

70th Brigade Amendment Sheet No. 1 - filed with Appendix C.

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