National Archives catalogue number WO 171/1387.
Abbreviation
|
2 IC Adjt A Tk Bn Comd Coy FOB IO KSLI LCI LCT MG MO OC Pl Pnr SO |
Second-in-Command Adjutant Anti-Tank Battalion Commander Company Forward Observation Bombardment Intelligence Officer King's Shropshire Light Infantry Landing Craft Infantry Landing Craft Tank Machine Gun Medical Officer Officer Commanding Platoon Pioneer Quartermaster Staff Officer Transport Officer |
Month and year : June 1944
Commanding Officer : Lt-Col. H.O.S. Herdon
4th June 1944
Place: France
The Battalion embarked to take part in Operation 'NEPTUNE' - the invasion of NORTH WEST EUROPE - as follows :-
Marching Personnel - Four Rifle Companies and Battalion Headquarters in three LCIs.
Essential Vehicles and 'S' Company (less two sections Carriers) ) in LCTs.
The embarkation was carried out in the evening and the fleet put to sea about 2100 hrs. Officers of the Battalion were distributed as follows :-
'A' COY -
OC - Capt HC ILLING
2 IC - Capt MLB HALL
PL COMDS - Lt KStB ADAMS : Lt J ERSKINE : Lt OW JARVIS
'B' COY -
OC - Maj GEE ROSS
2 IC - Capt JFK JERRAM
PL COMDS - Lt A DOCKERTY : Lt DA FIELD : Lt DSB ROBERTS
'C' COY -
OC - Capt WT BARRATT
2 IC - Capt RW HEATH
PL COMDS - Lt MR McCRORY : Lt R PRATT : Lt KA TAYLOR
'D' COY -
OC - Maj TG BUNDOCK
2 IC - Capt CO BLAKEY
PL COMDS - Lt C BRIGGS : Lt EE DENTITH : Lt VC WALTON
'S' COY -
Maj M RYAN - OC
Capt PB WATERWORTH - OC Carrier Pl
Lt AR ALLEN - 2 IC Carrier Pl
Lt PM HEALEY - OC Mortar Pl
Capt AJM BANNERMAN - OC A Tk Pl
Lt J BINDLESS - 2 IC A Tk Pl
Lt AG WILSON - Assault Pnr Pl Comd
'HQ' COY -
Maj TL BROCK - OC
Lt JR CLARKE - SO
Lt AP ROBERTS - TO
Capt SJ WILLIAMS - QM
Capt JHT LAWTON - MO
Capt(Rev) J AUSTIN - Padre
BN HQ -
Lt-Col HOS HERDON - CO
Maj RG KREYER - 2 IC
Capt W PIKE - ADJT
Lt PWF LAMB - IO
FOB -
Capt J LEE
5th June 1944
Place: France
An uneventful passage across the channel in the direction of NORMANDY.
6th June 1944
Place: France
'D' DAY - 'H' HOUR - 0725 hrs. The marching personnel and the three LCIs were due to touch down at 0955 hours. The three LCIs approached the beach at LION-SUR-MER, on time, together. The beach was under mortar and shell fire and there were still some snipers left in the houses along the promenade. 'C' Coy's LCI hit a mine on the beach, and was also hit by a shell, whilst 'D' Coy's LCI had both its ramparts shot away. This and the sniping and shelling on the beach caused a certain amount of confusion in disembarkation, and the Battalion suffered a few casualties; but by 1130 hours, all four companies and Bn HQ were concentrated in the Assembly Area about ½-mile SOUTH of LION-SUR-MER. 'A' and 'C' Coys came under accurate small arms fire and MG fire in the Assembly Area from German positions to the WEST. The Brigade plan was then altered and the Battalion was ordered to disengage to the EAST and proceed to another Assembly Area EAST of HERMONVILLE. 'A' and 'C' Coys suffered some casualties in the Cemetery at LION-SUR-MER whilst disengaging. Lt R PRATT was wounded at this time. The German Strong Point SOUTH of COLLEVILLE-SUR-ORNE was still holding out and 2 KSLI and 1 NORFOLK, who were advancing by the original axis, had suffered casualties from this position. For this reason the Battalion was ordered to advance along the axis COLLEVILLE-SUR-ORNE - BENOUVILLE - BLAINVILLE. BENOUVILLE was found to be held and 'A' Coy put in a successful attack on this position at about 1830 hours. 'D' Coy was now ordered to take over the defence of the bridges over the ORNE from the Airborne Division. The rest of the Battalion continued on towards BLAINVILLE, meeting opposition the whole way from a German Mobile Delaying Force armed with MGs and A tk Guns. The Battalion halted for the night on the outskirts of BLAINVILLE at midnight, having had four killed and thirty-five wounded.
