70th Infantry Brigade War Diary July 1944. - Revision history

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70bgadmin at 16:13, 17 July 2012

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70bgadmin at 15:54, 17 July 2012

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70bgadmin at 15:48, 17 July 2012

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@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Brigade Operation Instruction No. 4 was issued at 22:25 hours – a copy is filed with the War Diary at Appendix C.  This document describes the arrangements for the relief of two Battalions of 151st Brigade (8th and 9th DLI – “parent” units of the 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish) and 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers of 147th Brigade by the three Battalions of the Brigade.  This was expected to take place during 7th July.
-'''7th July 1944 North of [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilly-sur-Seulles Tilly-sur-Seulles] 833707.'''
+'''7th July 1944 North of [[Tilly-Sur-Seulles]] 833707.'''
 Various changes were made to Staff appointments within Brigade HQ as follows:-
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 Captain J.H. Cleminson (11th DLI) was posted to Brigade HQ as Brigade Transport Officer.
-Brigade HQ moved to the area 833707, North of TILLY at 14:30 hours.
+Brigade HQ moved to the area 833707, North of [[Tilly-Sur-Seulles]] at 14:30 hours.
-At 16:00 hours B Squadron, 49 Recce Regiment relieved localities held by 9th Bn DLI in the Southern outskirts of TILLY-SUR-SEULLES, coming under the command of 70th Brigade.
+At 16:00 hours B Squadron, 49 Recce Regiment relieved localities held by 9th Bn DLI in the Southern outskirts of [[Tilly-Sur-Seulles]], coming under the command of 70th Brigade.
 There was no enemy activity throughout the day.
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 At 01:45 hours command of the front passed from 151st and 147th Brigades to 70th Brigade.
-At 02:15 hours 10th DLI completed the relief of B, C and D Companies, 8th Bn DLI and D Company of 9th Bn DLI – both of 151st Brigade – in the area South West of TILLY.
+At 02:15 hours 10th DLI completed the relief of B, C and D Companies, 8th Bn DLI and D Company of 9th Bn DLI – both of 151st Brigade – in the area South West of [[Tilly-Sur-Seulles]].
 At 03:10 hours 1st Tyneside Scottish completed the relief of 11th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers of 146th Brigade.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''1st July 1944 [[Fontenay-Le-Pesnel]], Rauray. '''
+'''1st July 1944 [[Fontenay-Le-Pesnel]], [[Rauray]]. '''
-Enemy infantry and tank attacks against 1st Tyneside Scottish on ring contour 8964 and 11th DLI at RAURAY 8865 continued throughout the day.
+Enemy infantry and tank attacks against 1st Tyneside Scottish on ring contour 8964 and 11th DLI at [[Rauray]] 8865 continued throughout the day.
 A counter-attack by 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI at approximately 18:30 hours finally beat off the enemy.
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 th DLI were in reserve at [[Fontenay-Le-Pesnel]].
-''What seems to be a 49th Division summary of the action at RAURAY was produced and was attached to the Brigade War Diary at Appendix A.  Extracts from this document are set out at the end of this month’s Diary.''
+''What seems to be a 49th Division summary of the action at [[Rauray]] was produced and was attached to the Brigade War Diary at Appendix A.  Extracts from this document are set out at the end of this month’s Diary.''
 ''(While the Brigade War Diary information has been set out in these pages as faithfully as possible, for a detailed, comprehensive and illustrated account of this crucial action, readers are advised to consult the book “Breaking the Panzers” by Kevin Baverstock. ''
-''The author would not attempt in the slightest to “compete” with that excellent book in describing the RAURAY battle and, indeed, is indebted to Kevin Baverstock for his support and assistance in the development of this Memorial History of the Brigade. ''
+''The author would not attempt in the slightest to “compete” with that excellent book in describing the [[Rauray]] battle and, indeed, is indebted to Kevin Baverstock for his support and assistance in the development of this Memorial History of the Brigade. ''
-''Some of the pages of the 1st Tyneside Scottish Signal Log, maintained throughout the RAURAY action by Kevin’s father, who was the Battalion’s Intelligence Clerk, are filed within the 1 TS War Diary at The National Archives and work is ongoing to see if this material can be uploaded successfully to the Website.)''
+''Some of the pages of the 1st Tyneside Scottish Signal Log, maintained throughout the [[Rauray]] action by Kevin’s father, who was the Battalion’s Intelligence Clerk, are filed within the 1 TS War Diary at The National Archives and work is ongoing to see if this material can be uploaded successfully to the Website.)''
 The Brigade HQ Field Returns for 1st July were completed and are filed within the War Diary at Appendix B.
@@ Line 203: / Line 203: @@
 Appendix A'''
 '''
-The repulse by 49 Div of enemy attack on RAURAY 8865 on 1 July 1944'''
+The repulse by 49 Div of enemy attack on [[Rauray]] 8865 on 1 July 1944'''
-The report describes the location of the forward Battalions of the Division on the RAURAY Spur – 4th Lincolns, 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish, with 7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in support at ST NICHOLAS FARM.  44th Brigade was located to the left of the Division’s positions and its right Company was in touch with A Company of 1st Tyneside Scottish, which was the left-most unit of the Division.
+The report describes the location of the forward Battalions of the Division on the [[Rauray]] Spur – 4th Lincolns, 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish, with 7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in support at ST NICHOLAS FARM.  44th Brigade was located to the left of the Division’s positions and its right Company was in touch with A Company of 1st Tyneside Scottish, which was the left-most unit of the Division.
-The supporting units were two Armoured Squadrons of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Lancers 24th Lancers], of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom) 8th Armoured Brigade] on the Northern outskirts of RAURAY, two troops – one 17 pdr and one 6 pdr of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Yorks_Own_Loyal_Suffolk_Hussars 217th Anti-Tank Battery], and a Platoon of Medium Machine Guns (2nd Kensingtons).
+The supporting units were two Armoured Squadrons of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Lancers 24th Lancers], of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom) 8th Armoured Brigade] on the Northern outskirts of [[Rauray]], two troops – one 17 pdr and one 6 pdr of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Yorks_Own_Loyal_Suffolk_Hussars 217th Anti-Tank Battery], and a Platoon of Medium Machine Guns (2nd Kensingtons).
 The report than described the initial German attack at 06:50, following a night of heavier mortar fire than usual.  The attacks were with a combination of tanks and infantry and were aimed at the junctions between units and sub-units.
@@ Line 219: / Line 219: @@
 By 08:00 hours 4th Lincolns C Company was counter-attacking and closed the gap between themselves and 11th DLI.  At the same time B and C Companies of the Tyneside Scottish were mopping up in their area.
-In the second phase, the enemy continued the aggressive infiltration from 09:00 hours and eventually worked their way between B and C Companies of Tyneside Scottish – isolating B Company.  At 10:40 hours a Platoon of D Company, supported by the armoured squadrons, set out to reinforce B Company on the ring contour around RAURAY and succeeded at around 12:40 hours.
+In the second phase, the enemy continued the aggressive infiltration from 09:00 hours and eventually worked their way between B and C Companies of Tyneside Scottish – isolating B Company.  At 10:40 hours a Platoon of D Company, supported by the armoured squadrons, set out to reinforce B Company on the ring contour around [[Rauray]] and succeeded at around 12:40 hours.
 More enemy tanks appeared in front of the left hand Battalion and were engaged successfully by our tanks.  Our mortars and artillery put down a heavy fire on BRETTEVILLETTE, where enemy movement had been heard.
@@ Line 229: / Line 229: @@
 Intensive mortar fire and artillery shoots dealt with these attacks and movement and they were broken up, though some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tank Panther tanks] apparently remained at 892648 at just before 16:00 hours.
-During the afternoon the men of the Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI were greatly assisted by the availability of flame-throwing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Crocodile “crocodile” tanks] in flushing out and killing snipers and Spandau teams from the RAURAY hedgerows.
+During the afternoon the men of the Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI were greatly assisted by the availability of flame-throwing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Crocodile “crocodile” tanks] in flushing out and killing snipers and Spandau teams from the [[Rauray]] hedgerows.
 In a fourth phase the enemy were observed debussing from Troop Carrying Vehicles in QUEDEVILLE and tanks were forming up in a nearby crossroads.  This concentration of troops and armour was subjected to fierce mortar and artillery fire which caused major casualties to the enemy – largely thanks to the fire corrections called in by Captain Calderwood of B Company 1 TS.  This disposed of the enemy’s last major effort.

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 '''11th July 1944'''
-At 16:30 hours 10th DLI attacked the orchards on the main road between JUVIGNY and HOTTOT at references 835665 and 839665.  All objectives were taken with the exception of a house at reference 835665.  Considerable enemy fire was encountered.
+At 16:30 hours 10th DLI attacked the orchards on the main road between JUVIGNY and [[Hottot-Les-Bagues]] at references 835665 and 839665.  All objectives were taken with the exception of a house at reference 835665.  Considerable enemy fire was encountered.
 Twelve Prisoners of War were taken from 2nd Bn 986th regiment and others were killed.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''1st July 1944 Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Rauray. '''
+'''1st July 1944 [[Fontenay-Le-Pesnel]], Rauray. '''
 Enemy infantry and tank attacks against 1st Tyneside Scottish on ring contour 8964 and 11th DLI at RAURAY 8865 continued throughout the day.
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 A counter-attack by 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI at approximately 18:30 hours finally beat off the enemy.
-th DLI were in reserve at FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL.
+th DLI were in reserve at [[Fontenay-Le-Pesnel]].
 ''What seems to be a 49th Division summary of the action at RAURAY was produced and was attached to the Brigade War Diary at Appendix A.  Extracts from this document are set out at the end of this month’s Diary.''

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 '''3rd July 1944'''
-The 70th Brigade Group was relieved by 158th Brigade Group and was ordered to rest and refit in the area [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcagny CANCAGNAY] – DUCY-ST-MARGUERITE.
+The 70th Brigade Group was relieved by 158th Brigade Group and was ordered to rest and refit in the area [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcagny CANCAGNAY] – [[Ducy-St-Marguerite]].
-'''4th – 6th July 1944  Cancagnay-Ducy-St-Marguerite. '''
+'''4th – 6th July 1944  Cancagnay-[[Ducy-St-Marguerite]]. '''
-The 70th Brigade Group rested and refitted in the area CANCAGNAY – DUCY-ST-MARGUERITE.  Allocations were made for the men to attend the FMR Theatre and Cinema in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux BAYEUX].
+The 70th Brigade Group rested and refitted in the area [[Carcagny]] – [[Ducy-St-Marguerite]].  Allocations were made for the men to attend the FMR Theatre and Cinema in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux BAYEUX].
 '''5th July 1944'''

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 Brigade Operation Instruction no. 9 was issued and filed as Appendix K.  This document set out the arrangements for the movement of 49th Division to the CAEN Sector and the eventual taking over of responsibility for a new area from units of 3rd British and 51st Divisions, while coming under the command of 1 Corps for the first time.  The units which had been under the command of the Brigade in the recent weeks (or in some cases almost since its inception) – Machine-Guns, Anti-tank Artillery, Engineers and Field Ambulance continued in that role while Artillery support continued to come from the 185th Field Regiment and tank support from the 33rd Armoured Brigade.
-'''24th July 1944''' '''Demouville'''.
+'''24th July 1944''' '''[[Demouville]]'''.
-The Brigade moved to the area of DEMOUVILLE at 06:30 hours with the HQ in area 101687, 1st Tyneside Scottish in the area 104672, 11th DLI at reference 122669 and 10th DLI at 115674.
+The Brigade moved to the area of [[Demouville]] at 06:30 hours with the HQ in area 101687, 1st Tyneside Scottish in the area 104672, 11th DLI at reference 122669 and 10th DLI at 115674.
 '''25th July 1944'''

@@ Line 207: / Line 207: @@
 The report describes the location of the forward Battalions of the Division on the RAURAY Spur – 4th Lincolns, 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish, with 7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in support at ST NICHOLAS FARM.  44th Brigade was located to the left of the Division’s positions and its right Company was in touch with A Company of 1st Tyneside Scottish, which was the left-most unit of the Division.
-The supporting units were two Armoured Squadrons of 24th Lancers, of 8th Armoured Brigade on the Northern outskirts of RAURAY, two troops – one 17 pdr and one 6 pdr of the 217th Anti-Tank Battery, and a Platoon of Medium Machine Guns (2nd Kensingtons).
+The supporting units were two Armoured Squadrons of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Lancers 24th Lancers], of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Armoured_Brigade_(United_Kingdom) 8th Armoured Brigade] on the Northern outskirts of RAURAY, two troops – one 17 pdr and one 6 pdr of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Yorks_Own_Loyal_Suffolk_Hussars 217th Anti-Tank Battery], and a Platoon of Medium Machine Guns (2nd Kensingtons).
 The report than described the initial German attack at 06:50, following a night of heavier mortar fire than usual.  The attacks were with a combination of tanks and infantry and were aimed at the junctions between units and sub-units.
@@ Line 213: / Line 213: @@
 The anti-tank guns of the Tyneside Scottish and the 217th Battery, as well as the tank guns of the armoured squadrons, engaged several enemy tanks and knocked them out.
-One Section of the Kensingtons’ Vickers Guns was sited close to a disabled Sherman tank and suffered considerably in injuries to its personnel and damage to one of the guns when the Sherman blew up as a result of continuing enemy tank fire.  The other Section had also lost a gun and the Platoon Commander then moved the remaining two guns closer to the Tyneside Scottish and resumed shooting at the attacking infantry.
+One Section of the Kensingtons’ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_machine_gun Vickers Guns] was sited close to a disabled [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_tank Sherman tank] and suffered considerably in injuries to its personnel and damage to one of the guns when the Sherman blew up as a result of continuing enemy tank fire.  The other Section had also lost a gun and the Platoon Commander then moved the remaining two guns closer to the Tyneside Scottish and resumed shooting at the attacking infantry.
 Enemy infiltration continued and the two forward Platoons of C Company, Tyneside Scottish were down to eight and nine men respectively, forcing the Company to give ground and re-establish itself alongside B Company.  A Company was heavily mortared and had enemy tanks moving through its area, though our own tanks engaged them successfully.
@@ Line 227: / Line 227: @@
 In the third phase – between 13:00 and 14:30 hours - more attacks took place on the Tyneside Scottish B and C Companies on the ring contour and the enemy could be observed being more active in the direction of the orchard at 898642.
-Intensive mortar fire and artillery shoots dealt with these attacks and movement and they were broken up, though some Panther tanks apparently remained at 892648 at just before 16:00 hours.
+Intensive mortar fire and artillery shoots dealt with these attacks and movement and they were broken up, though some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tank Panther tanks] apparently remained at 892648 at just before 16:00 hours.
-During the afternoon the men of the Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI were greatly assisted by the availability of flame-throwing “crocodile” tanks in flushing out and killing snipers and Spandau teams from the RAURAY hedgerows.
+During the afternoon the men of the Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI were greatly assisted by the availability of flame-throwing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Crocodile “crocodile” tanks] in flushing out and killing snipers and Spandau teams from the RAURAY hedgerows.
 In a fourth phase the enemy were observed debussing from Troop Carrying Vehicles in QUEDEVILLE and tanks were forming up in a nearby crossroads.  This concentration of troops and armour was subjected to fierce mortar and artillery fire which caused major casualties to the enemy – largely thanks to the fire corrections called in by Captain Calderwood of B Company 1 TS.  This disposed of the enemy’s last major effort.
@@ Line 239: / Line 239: @@
 All objectives were gained by 20:10 hours and the situation became quieter.
-The damage to the enemy in infantry casualties and the losses of Tiger and Panther tanks was considerable.  Infiltrators were exterminated and around 30 tanks were destroyed by a combination of Battalion anti-tank 6 pdrs, Field Artillery and Antitank 17 pdr and 6 pdr Artillery.  The 3” mortars of the Battalions fired several thousand rounds to great effect.
+The damage to the enemy in infantry casualties and the losses of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I Tiger] and Panther tanks was considerable.  Infiltrators were exterminated and around 30 tanks were destroyed by a combination of Battalion anti-tank 6 pdrs, Field Artillery and Anti-tank 17 pdr and 6 pdr Artillery.  The 3” mortars of the Battalions fired several thousand rounds to great effect.
 Various points were brought out in the report, including the use of Carriers to bring in ammunition and evacuate wounded.  (An interview with a Veteran of the Battle, who was a driver of one of those Carriers, is referred to elsewhere on the Website).  The Platoon 2” mortars were also known to have dealt with snipers successfully, once they had been spotted.  Several Officers thought that the enemy had used his tanks to transport in snipers and Spandau teams to the Company areas.
 To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - [mailto:70brigade@newmp.org.uk click here].