June
1944
June
1944
1st June
Left camp at 0900 for sea bathing at Shoreham, marched the ten miles non-stop. Enjoying the dip when a DR turned-up with orders for the Platoon to return to camp immediately to be fitted with more equipment. An enjoyable day wasted.
2nd June
A peaceful forenoon checking weapons and doing weekly washing of underwear and sewing. received orders in the afternoon to report for escort duties. Departed camp at 2200 for Alnwick in Northumberland to bring in a deserter. Arrived in London at midnight and rested in the YMCA.
3rd June
Left London on the 0940 train for the North. Gave my two escorts permission to carry on to Glasgow and report to Alnwick police station the following night. I made my way to Prestwick giving Nancy the surprise of her life when I arrived in the early hours of the morning.
4th June
Mass in the forenoon then short walk with Nancy and Jimmy. Left Kilmarnock on the 1545 train for the South arriving at Edinburgh to find I could get a train as far as Berwick. Arrived there at 2230. Walked over the hill to Alnwick arriving there at 0400.
5th June
The escort was waiting at Alnwick police station. We left for the South with the prisoner on the 1300 train arriving at Worthing at 2300. Hired a taxi to take our party to camp. Prisoner in guard house by midnight.
6th June
CSM decided to put me on a charge for returning one day late from escort duties. Changed his mind when word came through that the Second Front commenced at 0200. So far the new seems to be encouraging. The South coast is crammed with men and every type of equipment. Doodlebugs flying over in droves trying to cause as much damage as possible.
7th June
In charge of fatigues at QM stores. Passed a pleasant day. Waiting for our turn to go. We have trained as assault troops so it shouldn't be long for our marching orders to arrive.
8th June
With Platoon on the firing range firing Sten guns and PIATS. The remainder of the day was spent supervising the filling of Bren and Sten gun magazines. Just marking time.
9th June
Given a lecture on new map codes by the IO. Reading continental maps finished the days duties. Weather has closed in, grounding aircraft and causing problems getting re-inforcements across. According to reports our troops are ten miles into Normandy.
10th June
Nothing doing today; just marking time. I wish we were away as waiting gets one down. In Worthing in the afternoon writing letters in the YMCA. Canadians have left the area. Seemingly the Canadains, 51st Highland and 50th Divisions led the attack in Normandy.
11th June
Attended mass in the camp in the forenoon. Washing and blancoing in the afternoon. Loading trucks in the afternoon. Expected to move on Monday night or Tuesday morning. Weather is causing problems for troop movements. IC guard at 1800.
12th June
Still in the same position. Improving weather conditions making camp life easier. HQ paid in francs - no sterling. I understand the division is being held in reserve for the break through once the front has been stabilised in Normandy. Finished guard duties and rested for the remainder of the day.
13th June
All packed-up and ready to move into a marshalling area. Still here at midnight.
14th July
Reveille at 0345. On the march to Worthing at 0630. Entrained for Park Hall, an estate near Lindfield in Sussex which is being used as a transit camp. Settled in, awaiting further orders.
15th June
Reveille at 1630. Attended mass in the camp at 0830. Route march at 1000 till noon. Battalion sports in the afternoon, instead of spectating went to a NAAFI show held in the camp. Met Ruddy Bain (ex Massey assistant) now DR in the Argylls. With him at housey, housey.
16th June
PT this morning by one of the local instructors. Completed the days training. Alert went three times during the day and four times after darkness. One Doodlebug brought down by Ack Ack. Seemingly, owing to the speed of the flying bombs our fighters can only catch up on them in a power dive, even then they can be blown to bits if they approach too near. Picture in the camp tonight with Brookes.
17th June
Still waiting; no duties today. Went to Haywards Heath in the afternoon for a walk. Plenty of flying bombs over tonight. Lying in bed, with fingers crossed, when their engines cut-out. Wonder what damage they have caused as lanes and roads in the Downs, are packed solid with every type of war material.
18th June
Left Park Hall at 1400 on TCVs arriving at Newhaven at 1530. Embarked on TS Isle of Guernsey. Lying of the coast at midnight. Watched the robot planes flying towards London; three shot down. Issued with French francs, anti vomit bags, life belts and self heating Heinz soup. Everyone was singing when we left harbour, but now the uncertain future is having its effects. Slung my hammock on deck, as I know from past experience in the Orkneys the mess and swell from sea sickness, when below deck, is packed with troops.
19th June
On our way to Normandy at 0330. Wind rising to gale force. As I expected sea sickness is beginning to take its toll. Off the French coast at 1130, unable to land because of high seas. Troops miserable, but I'm OK. Slept on deck after darkness fell.
20th June
Rammed in the early hours by a LCT. Blew-up my life belt ready to go over board, thinking we were being attacked. The ship was only dented. Disembarked on Mulberry, the artificial harbour, at 1500. marched for about eight miles in FMSO to the Canadian lines. Heavy going as we were still suffering from the effects of the rough sea crossing. A hot meal was laid on for us. Very few were interested in food. Unrolled our blankets and went to sleep under hedges.
21st June
Dug-in in two men slit trenches about ten miles from Bayeux. Junkers over the beach head about 0130. Went through a terrific barrage, from land and sea. Three planes brought down, one with a full bomb load, about 150 yards from my slit trench. Detailed, at first light, to bring in what was left of the crew in army blankets. Attended services given by Padre O'Brien.
22nd June
Still in the same positions awaiting further instructions. Washed socks and underwear in a stream nearby. IC water detail. Not allowed to drink water from the local wells. Hedge fighting exercises in the afternoon, something that has been neglected in our training. Watched Typoons, attached to our Corp, in action along the front near our objectives: Caen.
23rd June
Did a forenoon exercise to give us an idea what kind of country we will face in the future. Whole area enclosed by hedges and waist high crops in most of the fields. Ideal country for the enemy to defend. FWs strafed "C" Company's lines with cannon fire after shooting down a Spitfire. Ack Ack wounded some of our men with shrapnel. Picked-up the Spitfire pilots body; a young New Zealander.
24th June
First nights interrupted sleep since arriving in France due to our artillery bombardment and enemy counter fire. Marched to the rear, in charge of 18 Platoon where mobile showers have been installed. In the afternoon briefed for our first battle. This will be in the form of a Divisional attack with the support of 200 Mitchell bombers, all heavy, medium and 25 pounder guns in the Corp area, firing into a five mile front. According to senior officers their main worry is; can untried troops stand up to the noise of the bombardment.
25th June
Went to mass at the local church. The priest serves his time when conscripted into the French army. The locals are anything but friendly (seemingly they were well treated by the enemy), now all the villages in the area are in ruins. On the march, in battle order, arriving at our FUP at 2200, in the medium guns area. Now trying to sleep in the hedges with our ground sheets and blankets in a rain storm.
26th June
Reveille at 0430. Still raining heavily. Barrage commenced at 0700, the noise unbelievable. Had a hot meal. Crossed the starting line at 1100 without bomber support owing to the weather conditions. The 46 Brigade attacked on our right, the Glasgow Highlanders taking the first objective of Cheaus. Walking wounded coming back in fairly large numbers.
The Argylls of 122 Brigade attacked and held their position across the river Orne. The Gordons objective was a heavily wooded area on the left flank. "A" Company led the attack in extended order, waist high in corn, to reach the woods. They came under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, very few got near the woods. "D" Company were to leapfrog "A" Company and continue the attack.
I was in charge of "D" Company's leading section. Advanced in extended order through cornfields with Churchill tanks giving covering fire with their machine guns. A nest of 88mm anti-tank guns waiting for them. A number were soon hit and began to burn, the remainder retired. The Section was under heavy mortar and machine gun fire. Made up my mind we would be wiped out but had to continue the advance until told otherwise.
I looked back to see how the rest of the Company were coming forward to find that I was on my own (they had gone to ground owing to heavy resistance). Decided that I couldn't carry on with one Section, gave the order to retire to the main body of the Company. We had plenty of near misses, went to ground when a mortar bomb exploded beside us. One of the Section died.
Reached the Company with no further casualties. CC Major Tindall decided to dig-in and wait further orders. Battalion CO decided to concentrate what was left of the Battalion in one area and dig in a defensive position. The Battalion attack was a failure. "A" Company was wiped out, only six Privates and one Officer came out of the woods alive. Major Aitken their CC didn't make it. He was very good to me in the past.
Heavy mortaring of the cornfields was responsible for a number of wounded dying, the stretcher bearers couldn't locate them. Snipers also causing casualties, saw movement in a tree and with the aid of a Section brought one in. His camouflage was perfect. often wondered if I could shoot anyone in that position - I didn't.
Dusk was falling when I was detailed to bring in one of our wounded men who was lying in the open and crying out for help. With four ORs made my way down a track, crouching, as machine gun bullets were just missing us (must have been a machine gun firing on a fixed line). Was scared stiff, but we got him on a stretcher and back to our lines at the double. Nobody told me that two stretcher bearers had already been killed trying to bring him in.
A day I will never forget, the noise, the numbers killed and wounded, the Churchill tanks going up in flames with the crew still inside will always be with me.
27th June
Moved out of our positions at 100. Cleared snipers out of Colville, then on to Tourville, another small village where "D" Company took over slit trenches dug by the Argylls on the way to the Orne. Argylls did a grand job. Now under heavy mortar fire. One Moaning Minnie hit the back of my trench but failed to explode. Luck still holding.
Warned by Battalion CO to be prepared for an attack by a Panzer Division. They were forming-up, with their Grenadiers to push the 15th Scottish back to the beaches. Owing to gales in the Channel, we were having difficulty in getting re-enforcements landed. One Armoured Division had landed and was busy re-grouping to come to our aid. In the meantime we were the last line of defense. There is to be no retreat (gave one a nasty feeling).
All Corp guns are to be concentrated in the wooded area where the Panzers are concealed. Tank engines can be heard, mortaring is heavier, just keeping my fingers crossed.
A tank battle commenced on our flank. Our Armoured Division is now attacking with their Sherman and Churchill tanks. Both tank types are outgunned by the German Tigers and Panthers. With the help of our artillery they push the enemy back, but their casualties will be heavy.
Position in our front has been quieting down except for the usual mortaring. My Platoon CO decided to recce the mortar area and asked me to come along. decided to look after the Platoon during his absence. He did locate their area and got HQ heavy mortars to give them a pounding.
Strain beginning to show owing to heavy shelling and mortaring. Lost most of the Battalion's soft top vehicles; blown to bits by mortar fire. RSM Black was one of the first to be killed. Should have remained at "B" echelon with the trucks. Stores should have been brought up to "A" echelon by carrier. We usually learn the hard way. Still in the same position at midnight.
28th June
Enemy counter attacked to the rear of our positions driving the Glasgow Highlanders out of Colville. For a while we were cut-off, but the GHs counter attacked with the aid of tanks and flame throwers, stabilising the position. Quite and peaceful now, waiting for our relief to take over. Mail has come up; six letters from Nancy.
29th June
Though we would be relieved today, but the enemy counter-attacked in five different areas looking for weak spots. All positions held-on after stiff fighting. Casualties becoming heavy. Resting, after dark, in the outskirts of Colville.
30th June
Word came through at dawn that the Seaforths of the 46 Brigade were in trouble and asking for assistance. We formed-up to go to their aid when we received orders to stand down as they were able to hold their position. The Battalion received further orders to put in an attack on two villages held as strong points.
"D" Company formed-up in open country to advance on their objective when the enemy opened up with a heavy concentration of mortar and artillery fire, causing the Company to scatter and get shelter in whatever cover available.
I dived into a slit trench belonging to a Bofors gun Ack Ack crew. Padre O'Brien was the hero of the day. Running into the open and carrying wounded to the shelter of the hedges. German OP must have covered us during our forming up. We were mortared and shelled until darkness fell; didn't expect to survive. Dug-in at midnight; waiting further instructions.