National Archives catalogue number WO 171/959.
Abbreviation
|
1272 2IC Airldg A/L Armd A/Tk BC Bde Bdr BHQ Bn Bty Cb Det Div LAA LO LSI LST Maint MDS OR Pln Prs RA Rd Recce Regt Rfts RV SP SS Tp |
Map Reference Second-in-Command Airlanding Airlanding Armoured Anti-Tank Battery Captain Brigade Bombardier Battery Headquarters Battalion Battery Canadian Detachment Division / Divisional Light Anti-Aircraft Liaison Officer Landing Ship Infantry Landing Ship Tank Maintenance Main Dressing Station Other Ranks Platoon Pounders Royal Artillery Road Reconnaissance Regiment Reinforcements Rendezvous Self-Propelled Special Service Troop Crossroads |
Month and year : June 1944
Commanding Officer : Major W.R. Cranmer
1st June 1944
Place: Gosport
0600 - Bty arrives to embark.
1500 - Bty completely embarked on LSTs.
1700 - LSTs moved to RYDE ROADS.
2nd June 1944
Place: At Sea
At anchor.
3rd June 1944
Place: At Sea
At anchor. AFW 3008, 3009 received.
4th June 1944
Place: At Sea
At anchor.
5th June 1944
Place: At Sea
1830 - Ship sails; personnel briefed for operation.
6th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0100 - Para party of 4 dropped near RANVILLE.
0230 - A Tp less 2 guns land near RANVILLE by glider.
Place: Lion Sur Mer
1300 - Bty commences to disembark & move to assembly area COLVILLE
7th June 1944
Place: Colville
0500 - Bty completely disembarked.
0600 - Move to RANVILLE. Airborne parties met. Casualty and strength [taken?] 16 ORs missing + 4 wounded.
1100 - Bty Commander wounded by heavy mortar fire & evacuated to MDS. All troops moving to meet tank threat from south.
1400 - Tank and infantry attack on Bty position South of Ranville. 1 tank destroyed.
1430 - Reserve guns engaged by mortar and small arms fire at LE HOM ½ mile north of RANVILLE.
1630 - Attack beaten off. Enemy retreats to original position.
1700 - Tps move in support of battalions and formations as follows: A Tp (2 17 prs) - South of Ranville. B Tp + 2 guns of D Tp at LONGUEVAL (1/50000 7F/2 0871). C Tp at HEROUVILLETTE (1271). D Tp (remaining 2 guns) in support of 1 SS Bde in area LE PLEIN (1275).
2359 - Casualties today - 1 OR killed & 3 wounded.
8th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions held despite intense mortar fire during day (1 OR killed 3 ORs wounded).
1200 - 2 D Tp Guns moved from LONGUEVAL to HEROUVILLETTE.
9th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0930 - Arrival of 4 B Tp 17 prs by sea. 12 B Tp personnel relieved in LONGUEVAL by detachment 2 Airldg LAA Bty.
1000 - Sporadic mortar fire.
1100 - B Tp in position in HEROUVILLETTE.
1800 - Intense shell fire followed by infantry assault from south.
2000 - Arrival of first personnel of Sgt He[?]'s party.
2100 - Attack beaten off enemy withdraws.
2359 - Total known casualties for day 5 ORs wounded.
10th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0900 - Shell fire.
1100 - Enemy attack from east beaten off.
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Total casualties to date - 3 killed, 2 died of wounds, 19 wounded, 16 missing, battle accidents 7.
1700 - Arrival by sea of missing 17 pr det of A Tp which had failed to take off.
2300 - Plan to move 5 new guns (6 pr) into position of Ranville, manned by this unit and 4th Airldg A/Tk Bty, RA, to guard against possible attack from Bréville.
11th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0330 - All new guns in position.
1000 - Sporadic shell-fire.
1800 - Arrival of 3 tonners.
12th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
13th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0100 - Air attack on A Tp position. 3 O.Rs wounded.
1100 - HQ heavily shelled.
14th June 1944
Place: Ranville
2100 - 2 guns moved from Hérouvillette to join D Tp operating north of RANVILLE with 1 SS Bde. 1 17-pr & 1 6 pr from south of Ranville together with 4 guns from LONGUEVAL move into positions in BREVILLE.
15th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained, no incident.
16th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0430 - Heavy shelling of all positions. Lieut IW Hall wounded by splinters. Positions maintained during day.
17th June 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - AFW 3008 3009 rendered.
18th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Intermittent shelling. Positions held.
19th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Intermittent shelling. Positions held.
1545 - Confirmed that totals of tanks destroyed are as follows: A Tp: 1 PzKW Mark IV [Special?] ([?]). B Tp 2 PzKW Mark IV [Special?] & 1 possible PzKW Mark IV (17 Jun 44) and one possible Armd Car (18 Jun 44). D Tp 1 gun of 4th A/L A/Tk Bty under commander 1 SP gun.
20th June 1944
Place: Ranville
1400 - B Tp move to LE PLEIN, under command 1 SS Bde.
21st June 1944
Place: Ranville
0900 - C Tp move to LE MESNIL in support 5 Para Bde. A Tp move to area west of LE MESNIL.
22nd June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
23rd June 1944
Place: Ranville
Heavy shelling of HQ during day.
24th June 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
25th June 1944
Place: Ranville
1400 - HQ moved to 115758.
1000 - A Tp and C Tp personnel changed.
26th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
27th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
28th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
29th June 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
30th June 1944
Place: Ranville
0900 - 2 B Tp guns go into reserve at Ranville. 8 B Tp and 4th A/L A/Tk Bty personnel relieve A Tp.
1000 - A Tp move into rest area at RANVILLE.
Month and year : July 1944
Commanding Officer : Major J. Woodrow
1st July 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered.
1500 - A Tp relieve C Tp in support 6th Airldg Bde.
Place: Le Plein
1400 - A Tp relieve D Tp in LE PLEIN.
Place: Le Mesnil
1700 - D Tp relieve Lieut Berkeley & party.
2nd July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
3rd July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
4th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
5th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
0900 - B Tp relieved by 4th Airldg A/Tk Bty, RA move into rest area at RANVILLE.
6th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained. 3 Offrs 12 OR reinforcements received. Major J. Woodrow takes over command of Bty.
7th July 1944
Place: Le Plein
1400 - C Tp relieved by 4th A/L A/Tk Bty, RA.
Place: Le Mesnil
1500 - D Tp relieved by C Tp, proceed to rest area.
Place: Ranville
Capt J.E. Madocks takes over duties of Bty Capt.
8th July 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
9th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
0815 - 1 OR wounded by mortar fire. Positions maintained.
10th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
Place: Le Mesnil
1700 - C Tp positions heavily shelled & mortared.
11th July 1944
Place: Ranville
0800 - D Tp move to LE MARIQUET and relieve A Tp.
Place: Le Mesnil
0930 - A Tp relieve C Tp.
Place: Ranville
1100 - C Tp, relieved, arrive in rest area.
1700 - Capt J.E. Jordan leaves unit.
12th July 1944
Place: Ranville
0430 - Heavy shelling of rest area.
1100 - Rest area & Rear HQ moved to area 113762 (France 1/50,000 7F/2). Capt B.W. Salt takes over Bty Capt & Capt J.E. Madocks becomes 2.I.C.
13th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
14th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
0900 - B Tp relieve A Tp; A Tp move to maintenance area.
15th July 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
16th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
17th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
0900 - C Tp relieve B Tp: B Tp move to Maint. Area.
Place: Le Mariquet
0900 - A Tp relieve D Tp; D Tp move to Maint. Area.
Place: Ecarde
1700 - D Tp take up positions in area 1276 between HAUGER and R. ORNE. B Tp take up positions in area 1275 east to Le Plein firing east.
18th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
19th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
20th July 1944
Place: Ranville
Positions maintained.
21st July 1944
Place: Ecarde
0900 - "D" Tp move to area south of LE MESNIL (1371) and take up position in heavy rain.
Place: Le Mesnil
1900 - B.C. moves skeleton HQ to LE MESNIL.
22nd July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
23rd July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
Positions maintained.
24th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
Positions maintained.
25th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
Positions maintained.
26th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
Positions maintained.
27th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
Positions maintained.
28th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
0830 - A Tp move from the Le Mariquet to Maintenance area.
Place: Le Plein
1800 - A Tp relieve B Tp.
29th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
1900 - B Tp relieve C Tp; C Tp return to Maintenance Area.
1200 - AFW 3008, 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
30th July 1944
Place: Le Mesnil
1200 - B.C. moves to ECARDE. Positions maintained.
31st July 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained.
Month and year : August 1944
Commanding Officer : Major J. Woodrow
1st August 1944
Place: Ecarde
0800 - Rearrangement of areas of responsibility between 3rd and 4th Airlanding A/Tk Btys. R.A.
Place: Hauger
"C" Troop relieves a Troop of 4th A/L A/Tk Bty. R.A.
Place: Le Mesnil - Troarn Rd.
1800 - "B" Tp withdrawn from positions to rest area. "D" Tp withdrawn from positions to rest area.
Place: Le Mesnil
1815 - One Sgt and one gnr. wounded by mortar fire during relief of "B" Troop.
Place: Ecarde
Lt. A.T. SAVIOUR and 2/Lt. J.H.E. DOWNE rejoined the Bty from the residues in England.
Weather - fine and sunny all day.
2nd August 1944
Place: Ecarde
0830 - Lt. A.T. SAVIOUR R.A. takes over duties of L.O.
Place: Ranville
0830 - 50% "B" and "D" Tps take up positions. Remainder dig positions ready for occupation but remain in Rest Area.
Place: Ecarde
2200 - Weather - fine and sunny all day.
3rd August 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained.
4th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
1100 - 2/Lt. J.H.E. DOWNE takes over command "B" Troop vice Lt. THOMPSON.
Weather - fine but occasionally overcast.
5th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
1200 - AFW 3008 and 3009 rendered. Positions maintained.
Weather - fine.
6th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained. Weather - overcast.
7th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
1100 - Positions totally vacated by "B" and "D" Tp. on returning to Rest Area.
Place: Troarn
1400 - One O.R. killed by enemy action while occupying a position with a gun - detachment of the 4th Airlanding A/Tk Bty.
Place: Ecarde
Weather - thick haze in the morning, sunny later.
8th August 1944
Place: Ranville
1200 - "D" Tp. occupy positions in support of 49th Div Recce. Regt.
Place: Ecarde
Weather - fine.
9th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained. 2 Bdrs 8 O.R rfts received. Weather - fine and sunny.
10th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained. Weather - fine and sunny.
11th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
1 Bdr 9 O.R rfts received. Positions maintained. Weather - fine.
12th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
AFW 3008 and 3009 rendered. Positions maintained. Weather - fine.
13th August 1944
Place: Le Plein, Hauger
1000 - Positions evacuated by "C" Troop and "A" Troop. 2 detachments. Weather - consistently fine.
14th August 1944
Place: Le Plein
1100 - 2 detachments "A" withdrawn to Rest area. Weather - fine.
15th August 1944
Place: Escoville - Troarn Rd.
1400 - "B" Tp plus 2 detachments "C" Tp relieve 1st Bucks A/Tk Pln in support of 3 Para Bde. Weather - fine. Heavy thunder and rain in the evening.
16th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
Positions maintained.
17th August 1944
Place: Ecarde
1900 - C Tp leave maintenance area and join B Tp. Both Tps under Capt J.E. Madocks in support of 3 Para Bde.
Place: Troarn
2000 - D Tp consisting of 4 17-prs and A Tp (2 6-prs 2 17 prs) move into area of 4 SS Bde.
2100 - BC located with 4 SS Bde.
18th August 1944
Place: St Richer (2069)
1000 - B & C Tps deployed in support of 3 Para Bde.
1500 - BC moves to St Richer with Main BHQ.
2000 - A Tp move into St Richer.
19th August 1944
Place: St Richer
1 OR killed & 1 OR wounded by shell fire during night.
0500 - B & C Tps move to river Dives in area (246722).
0800 - A Tp deployed S.W. of GOUSTRANVILLE. B Tp & C Tp (2 guns only) area Dives under BC.
0900 - B Tp & C Tp under heavy mortar fire in area of railway station (242719). 1 Jeep destroyed. 6 O.Rs wounded. 1 OR of A Tp wounded.
1200 - Remaining 2 guns of C Tp deployed in area (246722). AFW 3008, 3009 rendered.
Place: Putot-en-Auge
1800 - B Tp & 1 gun of C Tp deployed under BC.
Place: St Richer
1900 - 2 6prs of C Tp, relieved by D Tp return to main BHQ, under command A Tp.
20th August 1944
Place: St Richer
Heavy shelling of D Tp positions during night.
1400 - One D Tp gun withdrawn to reserve with BHQ. D Tp Sgt killed by [portee?] running over his chest.
Place: Putot-en-Auge
1900 - Two six pounders, relieved by 2 17 prs, return to BHQ.
1930 - A Tp, on wheels at point 257709 under command 4 SS Bde.
21st August 1944
Place: Putot-en-Auge
0500 - A Tp move to consolidate in DOZULE.
1800 - B and D Tps move into concentration area DOZULE.
22nd August 1944
Place: Dozulé
0530 - B and D Tps take up position in ANNEBAULT in support of 3 Para Bde. Casualties 1 offr. wounded.
1600 - 2 dets "C" Tp withdrawn from PUTOT-EN-AUGE and support 5 Para Bde at PONT L'EVEQUE (5204).
23rd August 1944
Place: Annebault
1000 - "A" Tp occupied positions around Div. H.Q. in area BEAUMONT-EN-AUGE.
2000 - B Tp occupied positions in ST. GATIEN (5210) in support 3rd Para Bde.
2200 - A Tp withdrawn to R.V. in area 5110.
24th August 1944
Place: St. Gatien
0800 - A Tp support 3rd Para Bde in advance on BEUZEVILLE (6309).
1000 - "C" Tp occupy positions around x rds 603075. Remainder of Battery R.V. in orchard 601078.
25th August 1944
Place: Beuzeville
1100 - A Tp support 8 Para Bn in area BEUZEVILLE. B and D Tps support Cn. and 9th Bns in same area.
26th August 1944
Place: Beuzeville
Positions maintained. AFW 3008 and 3009 rendered.
27th August 1944
Place: La Plane
1800 - Battery withdraw to rest in area 545144.
28th August 1944
Place: La Plane
Maintenance of equipment carried out and recreation arranged for the Battery.
29th August 1944
Place: La Plane
1500 - Battery receive notification of Division return to ENGLAND to re-equip and train.
30th August 1944
Place: La Plane
0900 - General instruction for return to ENGLAND issued.
31st August 1944
Place: La Plane
0830 - Final preparations for return to ENGLAND commenced.
Month and year : September 1944
Commanding Officer : Major J. Woodrow
1st September 1944
Place: La Plane
0830 - Despatch of Advance Party for return to ENGLAND. Final preparations for movement of main party.
2nd September 1944
Place: La Plane
0800 - Move of Main Party to Transit Camp. Night spent in tented Transit Camp. Weather - Drizzle.
3rd September 1944
Place: Arromanches
0830 - Move of Vehicle Party from LA PLANE. 1400 hrs. Main Party marked to Embarkation point. 1700. Embarked. The ship lay at anchor off beach all night. Weather - Drizzle.
4th September 1944
Place: Southampton Roads
2200 - 0730 LSI sailed. Heavy sea. Overcrowded ship. Reached Southampton Water 2130 hrs.
5th September 1944
Place: Bulford
2000 - Main Party disembarked 2330 hrs and was taken to Transit Camp. Journeyed by road from Southampton arriving BULFORD 1200. Bty reestablished itself in Bty Area. 1700 hrs. Vehicle Party arrived.
6th September 1944
Place: Bulford
1800 - Reconstitution of Bty. General administrative programme. Weather - Fine.
7th September 1944
Place: Bulford
1800 - Leave detail issued. Preparation for leave.
8th September 1944
Place: Bulford
1800 - Bty proceeded on leave. A "Q" rear party left behind under CAPT. B.W. SALT.
