Seaforth Highlanders 5th Bn. War Diary entry mid/late August 1944

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by noggin1969, Aug 11, 2019.

  1. noggin1969

    noggin1969 Well-Known Member

    Any details that can be added for

    WILSON, FRANK WILLIAM

    Rank: Private

    Service No: 4982692

    Date of Death: 19/08/1944

    Age: 32

    Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders 5th Bn.

    Grave Reference: V. A. 3.

    Cemetery: ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY

    Additional Information: Son of John and Margaret Wilson, of Oxton, Nottinghamshire. The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. St Desir War Cemetery is the most easterly of the Normandy cemeteries. For the most part, those buried here died in the final stages of the campaign, in pursuit of the German forces towards the Seine. On 7 august at 02.30 operation Totalise kicked off. The objective was to break out of the Normandy bridgehead towards Falaise along the Caen-Falaise main road. 154th Brigade lead the attack and 152 Brigade followerd to mop up the broken through German frontline. This didn't prove as an easy task as first thought, rather then retreatingmany German units stayed to fight. The village of Tilly-la-Campagne proved a hard nut to crack. Initially the 2nd Seaforth was sent to take it, but after encountering stiff resistance they were reinforced with a company from the 5th Seaforth. Only after the arrival of a unit of tanks the defenders were captured and the village taken.

    The 152 Brigade advanced on Lisienx from 14 august. The 5th Seaforth met resistance at FaviƩres. After a struggle they took the village at 21.00 hours on 15 august. They were finally able to continue their advance on to St. Pierre-sur-Dives the following day, which had already been taken by the 5th Camerons. The brigade moved towards the river Vie. They came under attack by Allied aircraft during their advance. The 5th Seaforth crossed the river at St. Julien-le-Faucon, and after much fighting against determined German resistance they reached Lisieux on 22 August.
     

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