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

Latest revision as of 09:20, 26 April 2018

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.

A counter-attack by 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI at approximately 18:30 hours finally beat off the enemy.

10th 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.

(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.

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.

2nd July 1944

The 11th DLI relieved 1st Tyneside Scottish on ring contour 8964 and the whole came under the command of 11th DLI. Later in the day, 10th DLI relieved the combined forces of 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI on ring contour 8964. A 10th DLI patrol that night of 2nd/3rd July to QUEUDEVILLE was unsuccessful.

3rd July 1944

The 70th Brigade Group was relieved by 158th Brigade Group and was ordered to rest and refit in the area CANCAGNAY – Ducy-St-Marguerite.

4th – 6th July 1944 Cancagnay-Ducy-St-Marguerite.

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 BAYEUX.

5th July 1944

Captain G.M. Cobb (BRASCO) was posted from Brigade HQ to the 205 Corps Reception Unit.

6th July 1944

Captain W. Stedman was posted to Brigade HQ from 483 Brigade Company RASC as BRASCO to replace Captain Cobb.

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 Tilly-Sur-Seulles 833707.

Various changes were made to Staff appointments within Brigade HQ as follows:-

Captain W.L. Bell (Gloucesters) – Staff Captain – was posted to 49th Division HQ on appointment as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General.

Captain C.D. Elrick (Black Watch) assumed the appointment of Staff Captain from that of Brigade Transport Officer.

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-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.

There was no enemy activity throughout the day.

8th July 1944

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-Sur-Seulles.

At 03:10 hours 1st Tyneside Scottish completed the relief of 11th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers of 146th Brigade.

At 13:00 hours the Field Returns for the week were despatched to GHQ 2nd Echelon and a copy filed with the War Diary.

There was no enemy activity throughout the day.

9th July 1944

At 10:45 hours the Divisional Commander visited Brigade HQ to discuss a forthcoming attack by 50th Division, and a co-ordinating attack by 70th Brigade.

At 11:30 hours the Brigadier visited 10th DLI to go over the plan of attack with the Battalion Commander.

At 13:45 hours the Brigadier and Senior Royal Artillery representative attended the 50th Division O Group Conference.

At 22:00 hours the Brigade’s Operation Order No. 5 was issued and a copy filed within the War Diary. This document described the role of 70th Brigade in the forthcoming attack, lead by 231st Brigade, and detailed the map references and locations affected, as well as the support units available. The Brigade was given very specific objectives to achieve in conjunction with 231st Brigade.

No enemy activity during the day with the exception of shelling at LE PONT ROC which caused casualties.

10th July 1944

At 11:45 hours the Corps Commander visited Brigade HQ.

There was no enemy activity throughout the day.

11th July 1944

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.

10th DLI sustained approximately 50 casualties – mostly from mortar fire. The Brigade Casualty Clearing Point reported that the wounds sustained by these men were the worst they had seen so far in Normandy, and no special explanation could be offered as to why this was so.

12th July 1944

During the day 10th DLI shot eight of the enemy. One deserter from 7th Company of the 986th Grenadier Regiment came over to 10th DLI during the afternoon.

The Squadron of 4th/7th Dragoon Guards ceased to be in support of the Brigade at 20:30 hours. Slight mortaring was experienced during the day. Brigade HQ suffered one man killed and one wounded by an airburst shell at approximately 07:30 hours.

13th July 1944

Brigade Operation Instruction No. 5 was issued and a copy filed with the War Diary. This document set out the arrangements for relieving 10th DLI, who had been involved in the attack a few days earlier, by 11th DLI.

There was no enemy activity throughout the day.

14th July 1944

At 05:45 hours the relief of 10th DLI by 11th DLI was completed in the positions West of PONT DE JUVIGNY at reference 8466. 10th DLI took over the previous 11th DLI positions East of LE PONT ROC.

Increased enemy air activity was noted during the day together with increased mortaring activity, though there was no other action to report.

15th July 1944

The Field Returns were completed for this week and submitted to GHQ 2nd Echelon at 13:00 hours.

At 23:30 hours the enemy shelled the LE PONT ROC area with about 40 10.5cm rounds – no casualties or damage were caused.

16th July 1944

06:00 hours – intermittent enemy shelling of the LE PONT ROC area had taken place throughout the night. A slight increase in enemy shelling during the day was noted. No change took place in any of the Brigade’s positions.

17th July 1944

At 14:30 hours the Brigade Operation Instruction No. 6 for Operation “Mango” was issued. This was a relatively complex Divisional operation involving a significant amount of artillery support and co-ordination. A full Fire Plan was attached as an Appendix to the Instruction.

At 23:00 hours there was enemy air activity over the Brigade area – bombs were dropped over the 1st Tyneside Scottish area causing some casualties – including the C.O. Lt. Col. R.M. de Winton, who was injured in the leg.

At 23:15 hours Operation Mango was cancelled, as it was hoped to secure the objectives using the planned artillery concentration and avoiding the involvement of infantry.

18th July 1944

At 05:25 hours eight deserters from 986th Grenadier Regiment were brought in by 11th DLI – one of the Prisoners stated that his Battalion had withdrawn 3 Kilometres at 03:00 hours. A broadcast was made to the enemy troops in Polish and leaflets were shot over the area by 185th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Some deserters were in possession of these leaflets.

At 06:00 hours deep patrolling was carried out by forward Units of the Brigade to ascertain the limits of any enemy withdrawal.

During the day, 11th DLI and 1st Tyneside Scottish had advanced to the objective originally set for Operation Mango – that is the crossing of the tracks 837661 to the track to PONT AUX PIQUETS thence via VAL FLUERY to 848654.

The 11th DLI Companies were located at 844665, 839665, 841659, and 838661 with Battalion HQ at 841670. The Tyneside Scottish Companies were positioned at 650668, 848665, 854663 and 848658 with their Battalion HQ at 854671. There were no changes in the positions of 10th DLI or B Squadron of 49 Recce Regiment.

19th July 1944

The relief of 1st/4th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 4th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment by 10th DLI and 49 Recce Regiment were completed by 19:00 hours.

During the day there was increased enemy shelling in all sectors. 1st Tyneside Scottish and 11th DLI were now firm in their new positions but had no contact with the enemy.

20th July 1944

At 20:00 hours 70th Brigade was temporarily under the command of 59th Division – this only lasted for two hours. Brigade Operation Instruction No. 7 – dealing with the forthcoming relief by 197th Brigade on 21st July – was issued to Units. The Brigade was expected to take over the concentration areas, and former rest areas, currently used by 146th Brigade.

The Tyneside Scottish area was shelled intermittently throughout the day but there was no direct contact with the enemy.

21st July 1944

The relief of Brigade Units by Units of 59th Division took place and was completed successfully and on time by 18:00 hours.

Again, no direct enemy contact was experienced during the day.

22nd July 1944

The Field returns for the week were completed and sent on to GHQ 2nd Echelon, with a copy filed with the War Diary as Appendix J. There was no enemy action to report during the day.

23rd July 1944

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.

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

By 12:00 hours the relief of 185th Brigade of 3rd British Division by 70th Brigade was completed and command passed to the Brigade. The locations were that 10th DLI was at 124659, 11th DLI at 128647, 1st Tyneside Scottish in reserve at 111669, 185th Field Regiment at 105687, Tactical Brigade HQ at 119674 and Main HQ at 101687.

No casualties were sustained during the relief but casualties were caused later through the heavy shelling of Forward Defence Lines.

26th July 1944

The remainder of the Tactical HQ moved up to the Main HQ. The A2 area was 095698 and the B Echelon area 037765. Thirty casualties were caused by heavy shelling on forward areas and bombing during the night.

27th July 1944

There was a decrease in shelling and in other incidents.

28th July 1944

A listening post from B Company, 10th DLI, consisting of one NCO and two Other Ranks, disappeared completely during the day, with no apparent sign of a struggle.

29th July 1944

The Field returns for this week were completed and submitted with a copy filed in the War Diary as Appendix L. There was a typical level of night bombing, with no casualties, with shelling during the day again moderate.

30th July 1944

Some shelling in the Tyneside Scottish and Brigade HQ areas, but no casualties sustained.

31st July 1944

At 03:55 hours 1st Tyneside Scottish reported some 40 – 50 shells from high velocity guns just North of the Battalion HQ, together with a heavy mortar concentration on the HQ, though no casualties were suffered.

At 03:50 hours shells from a long range high velocity gun landed in the Brigade HQ area with no casualties sustained. No further report of enemy action during the day. Appendix A 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7th Duke of Wellington’s then moved up a Company to strengthen the line between 4th Lincolnshires and 11th DLI.

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.

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.

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.

At 16:50 hours C Company 1 TS were relieved by 7 DWR and moved to join their colleagues in D Company to begin a counter-attack, which started at 18:10 hours. This resulted in the relief of the beleaguered B Company – now down to 12 men – who were still in position.

B Company 11th DLI and the remains of C Company 1 TS (after having attacked the five-sided field) then retook C Company’s original positions – assisted by the armoured squadrons.

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 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.

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