4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards. 26/06/1944

DAVIS, JOHN WILLIAM
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 14259301
Date of Death: 26/06/1944
Age: 29
Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.
Grave Reference: II. B. 5.
Cemetery: HOTTOT-LES-BAGUES WAR CEMETERY


Any details of loss from the WD's Trp R A Hurst and Trp V A J Copping lost the same day.

I tried the The Creully Club weblink but it seems to be off line now.

 

The Creully Club web site is no longer maintained. You could try searching the internet archive.

On 26th June 1944, the 4/7RDG were attacking the Tessel Wood area. Very vicious fighting. I'm not sure if the 4/7RDG losses that day but they are commemorated on a Memorial Roll and Plaque at Tessel Church.

 

This action is mentioned on Page 79 of "The First and Last". All 3 were members of C Squadron and they had a wretched Day with Sgt A.R Rogers, L/Cpl Fairman, Tpr J.W Birch, Tpr S Francis, and Tpr E. James all being killed and another 6 wounded which included Lt J.B Lilly who was 4 Troop Commander. Tpr James was his Gunner and G.S Varley his Operator was also wounded. A total of 4 C Squadron tanks were lost that day and later a Firefly from A Squadron which was called upon to provide support.

Kind regards,

Will.

 

Thanks all

 

It's a pity re. the "Creully Club" website, I'd not looked at it for a while so wasn't aware that it " seems to be off line now"

I'd previously ref'd some links: 24th Lancers - Tessel Wood (c25th June 1944)

Unfortunately I haven't got the war diary of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, though I suppose that it may be one that Bovington has transcribed?

The Tank Museum | Enquiry Charges and Available Services

"War Diaries: £10.00 available as a transcribed Word document"

Incidentally - Kevin Baverstock's "Breaking the Panzers" has as one of it's sources a ref. to the war diary of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, and a number of the 4th/7th RDG Sherman tanks are ref'd as being knocked out on pages 33-35 of that book, covering events on those pages etc. 26th June 1944, but mostly with reference to what the Tyneside Scottish observed as they went in with the 4th/7th RDG tanks. And there are a few maps etc.

There was recently (October 2018) a Heimdal book published re. Fontenay/Rauray:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fontenay-Rauray-Autopsie-bataille-Frédéric-Deprun/dp/284048501X

Fontenay - Rauray, Autopsie d'une bataille

And this too is "in the works" - for the 75th Anniversary etc:

The Bear and Fox, Ready for the Fray

I guess you could try posting a question here:

8th Armoured Brigade Public Group | Facebook

As there is often quite a lot of reference to and interest in the 4/7th RDG on there?

All the best,

Rm.

Ps. As an aside, in relation to maps too, I recently saw this (although the posts there actually date back to 2013 ;-)

Photorealistic Caen area map: Juvingy to Fontenay

 

Re. The Bear and Fox, Ready for the Fray

There have been a few recent posts from around that area



Including more things in the works etc:

 

Here's the war diary entries of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards for 26/6/1944 - Tessel - with a "Special Order of the Day" before it...