1/6th Queens Royal West Surrey Regt Diaries

I have Friday off and want to take a
look at the 1/6th Queens Royal West
Surreys regiment war diaries. I thought
they were held at Kew, but I am not
sure now because someone told me that
they are at Guildford museum, either way
I am going down south Friday to visit my
Dad so does anyone of the top of their
head know where they are held?

Cheers
Kieron

 

The originals are at the National Archives in Kew.

Quite a few of them!

WO 166/4497 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1939 Sept.- 1940 Mar., June - Dec.
WO 166/4498 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1941 Jan.- Dec.
WO 166/8837 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1942 Jan.-Apr.
WO 167/809 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1940 Apr.-May
WO 169/5050 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1942 June- Dec.
WO 169/10281 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1943 Jan.- Dec.
WO 169/23234 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1946 Jan.- June
WO 171/1367 1/6 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1944 Jan.- Dec.

 

Paul, that is fantastic best I get there early .

Cheers
Kieron

 

Don't forget the digital camera - photocopying is expensive at TNA! There are also tables with copying stands built on, which makes life easier!

 

Hi Kieron,

I've been going through loads of old WW2 books at my fathers and I've come across one called War Diary and it is made up of recollections of men who served in WW2 all over the world and from all sides.

There's two entries under 1/6 Queens Regiment (Assuming they are the same unit as you've listed), a picture taken at El Alamein and a account from Lt. Col. M. Forrester (Inc two pics of him) during the invasion of France. If you are interested I'll type them up for you ?

Cheers
Andy

 

That would be great Andy I didn't manage to get
down to Kew in the end so a little disapointed,
hopefuly get down there in about three weeks,
so your offer would be really appreciated.

Lt. Col. M. Forrester Commanded 1/6th Bn
The Queen's Royal Regiment from August
1943 Middle East to June 1944 Europe
where he was wounded. So the entries
will be an interesting read, thanks again
Andy.

Cheers
Kieron

 

No Probs, I'll type it up tomorrow for you mate and scan the pics if I get time.

 

We didn’t know, of course, when D-Day was going to be – in fact we knew very little about anything. We were given training directives and facilities in Norfolk at that time were quite good. But there were things other than training to be dealt with. Everyone had been abroad for a very long time.

Leave was the first thing. I remember we got as many people as we possibly could away on leave. I forgot how long they had now, but this was the first time they had seen their families for a long time.

One other aspect which I’d like to mention is the fact that we were back in England again for the first time after a considerable number of years, and this meant being at home as opposed to being in the desert where there were virtually no inhabitants, so all needed reminding of the importance of local public relations, which in our case included the people of King’s Lynn and the villages around it which we would be passing through for training. We were trying to weld ourselves into the community and become part of it, although we knew we weren’t going to be there for very long. The people of that part of England were open-hearted and kindness itself and they gave us a marvellous welcome – they could not have made us more at home.

There was also a memorable day which General Erskine, our divisional commander, arranged especially for the division, and that was an investiture at the Palace, when every member of the Division who was due to receive a medal, won during the previous months and years abroad, was included, so it was very much a family affair at Buckingham Palace. All these things, including the visits, tended to raise our spirits and morale, and made us feel we were in for something very important.

Training directives indicated that we were going to be fighting in fairly close country, and in the event, when we got to Normandy, we found the so-called bocage country there even more restricting and close than even we had anticipated. It was, because of its nature, almost a great change from Italy as the desert had been to Italy, because the fields had been so very, very small, with high banks with hedges on top and them dividing up the fields, making field of view and tank movement very, very difficult indeed. Of course the Germans had the advantage over us there – they were familiar with it.

Of course we were aware from the start that we were going to take part in the invasion of Europe, but we didn’t know where we were going, and I remember very late on, all the officers had to assemble at some cinema somewhere, and the Army Commander, General Miles Dempsey, was to address us. I had served under him for a short time when he was commanding XIII Corps with his headquarters in Syria.

He very kindly spotted me in the audience, and had a few words with me, and something I said must have caused him to say, ‘But surely you know you’re going to.....’ and he got ‘Nor’ out, and then he checked himself. He said, ‘Didn’t you know?’ He had stopped at ‘Nor’, so I thought Norway. Then he realised we didn’t know – weren’t supposed to know – so he deftly changed the subject. I went round in a haze for the next day or so, wondering if we were going to Norway or Normandy!

So it was as closely kept secret as that, right up to the end, and when our time came to get ready finally, we moved out of our areas in Norfolk down to camps, very sparse, primitive tented camps – but perfectly adequate for the purpose, in Essex. It was there that our camps were sealed, or we were sealed into them, and we were briefed properly, and allowed to brief right down to soldier level – but up ‘til then know one had known.

It’s very relevant to talk about fear. The unknown, which we were going into, meant uncertainty. You don’t know, and uncertainty leads to apprehension, and so the adrenalin is flowing, quite rightly.

I don’t think fear actually comes into ones thoughts until one is confronted with something dangerous, but the apprehension is there all the time. I would say I felt really frightened on several occasions. I think too, that the definition of war (which is anonymous, though someone may lay claim to it) that ‘War consists of long periods of intense boredom, punctuated by short periods of intense fright’, is a good one. I think it was coined for the First War, it was very relevant for the Second War too.

Once confronted with a situation, there are certain sorts of fear. I think the predominant sort of fear, in the case of some, is ‘Am I going to be up to this myself?’ I think it’s awfully important to recognise that – it takes a certain amount of personal drive to overcome it, and to say, ‘Yes I am.’ Certainly, while people were very frightened, they went on because they felt they couldn’t possibly not go on. Esprit De Corps is very important for morale because you drive yourself to meet the challenge, and you know other people are meeting it too, and you are going to be in it with them.

Men of the 1/6th Queens Regiment can be seen in the background as they take the town of Scafati, Sciliy. Foreground a PoW from the Hermann Goring Division.


Lt. Col. M. Forrester DSC, MC.


Lt. Col. M. Forrestor (Centre) introduces Lt. Paddy Toolan (Left, who was awarded the MM in Palestine, but was sadly killed in France at Briquessard) and Maj-Gen Erskine to King George the VI, on a visit to 131 (Queen's) Brigade in Norfolk. Here the King inspects the 1/6th Queens.

 

Cheers Andy much appreciated an interesting
read.

Thanks again

Kieron

 

Hi Keiron,

My granddad was also in 1/6 Queens.

He was wounded in Normandy, but lucky enough to survive.

I would be interested to share info with you as we seem to be interested in the same subject.

Did you ever get to see the War Diaries?

I am going to try to go to Kew soon myself.

Allie

 

Hi Allie, No I didn't manage to get down there in the
end but I have a few days off next week so I am
trying my hardest to set one of those days aside
to get down there. When I do I'll post my results
here. If I do manage to get down there is there
anything you would like me to look at. I am going
tp look at the diaries for the dates leading up to
my Grandad being wounded.

Cheers
Kieron

 

Hi Kieron,

My grandfather was a soldier before the war, with the Scot's Guards briefly and then the Royal Fusiliers for several years. I have his Army service records, but annoyingly these don't mention him ever being transferred from the Royal Fusiliers to the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.

However we know he must have been, because his 1944 marriage certificate states he was in the Queens and an old photo we have of him shows him with a Queens cap badge. The dates on his Army service record led me to conclude he was probably transferred to 1/5, 1/6 or 1/7 Queens after Dunkirk.

Last month I eventually identified the only photo we had of him as a photo of 1/6 Queens at the 10th Anneversary of the liberation of Ghent celebrations in the early 1950s. So, I am finally pretty confident he was 1/6 Queens!

The dates on my grandfather's service records are:

Home: 1/9/39 - 4/10/39
France B.E.F.: 5/10/39 - 31/5/40
Home: 1-6-40 - 25/5/42
Middle East: 26/5/42 - 9/9/43
North Africa: 10/9/43 - 5/1/44
Home: 6/1/44 - 3/6/44
North West Europe: 4/6/44 - 14/6/44
Wounded In Action
Home: 15/6/44 - 12/11/44
North West Europe: 13/11/44 - 7/12/44
Home: 8/12/44 - 18/5/45

From the above dates I'm guessing he may well have been wounded at the Battle of Villers-Bocage.

Also, although I now know he attended the Ghent liberation 10th anniversary celebrations in the early 1950s, it would appear from his service dates he wasn't personally involved in the liberation of Ghent!

Like many soldiers my grandfather didn't talk about the War, but my mother recalls there were several family holidays to Ghent in Belgium and other places in Holland when she was a child. She wasn't aware these were connected to her father's war history, but on reflection I suppose they quite possibly were. My grandfather learnt to speak Dutch perfectly visited Belgium and Holland as often as he could throughout his life.

My grandfather's name was Harold William Reeves and he was a Sergeant.

My nan always said he had a terrible time at Dunkirk and this affected him very badly, but, from his service dates, I'm thinking he must have only been transferred into the Queen's after Dunkirk.

Like you I'd like to find out more about how my grandfather was wounded in Normandy if that were possible. I am also interested in all his war history of course. I am also especially curious about the time the Queen's were based in King's Lynn preparing for D-Day.

My grandfather was an illegitmate child born and raised (by a foster family) in South East London. After his death we found out that his natural mother, who he didn't know, was actually from King's Lynn. It is very curious to me that by a strange twist of fate he was walking around his natural mother's home town in 1944, posibbly passing his mother and half-siblings in the street without knowing it. His foster mother actually fell ill at the same time and it looks like he got her away from the bombing in London up to where he was in King's Lynn, because she died and was burried in King's Lynn in 1944. You couldn't make strange twists like this up!

I wouldn't ask you to look anything up for me at Kew, because I can make it there myself sometimes, plus I know what it's like when you get to these record offices and there is so much to look at and so little time!

But it is great to find someone else interested in the same area of history as me. Perhaps we can share general research and certainly if you ever found anything about my grandfather in the course of your own research I'd love to hear about it and I will look out for your grandfather in my own research.

Over the years I have bought various books on the 7th Armoured Division and the Queens. Some of the ones about the Queen's are:

Algiers to Tunis, North Africa 1942-43, published in 1993 by the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum

History of the Queen's Royal Regiment, Volume VIII, 1924-1948, Major R. C. G. Foster

Terratorial Battalions of the Regiments of Surrey and Their Successors, published in 1992 by the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum

The Queen's Royal Regiment, published by Malcolm Page Ltd., c.1952, (a booklet designed to stimulate interest in an army career with the Queen's)

A Short History of the Queen's Royal Regiment, 1953, published by Gale & Polden Ltd.

The Journal of the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment, Vo1. 1, May 1960

The Lambeth and Southwark Volunteers, A Century of Voluntary Service in the Volunteers and Terratorials 1860 - 1960, compiled by J. M. A. Tamplin, T. D.

Traditions, Treasures and Personalities of The Regiment, published date unknown but probably quite recent, by the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum

The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) by Jock Haswell, 1967

The Only Way Out, R. M. Wingfield, 1955

I list these in case you haven't seen some of them. If you are interested in particular battles or events, I can type up any info on them in these books.

Allie

 

Is there anything in the books you refer to about an Airborne element to the Queen's? I'm researching a Pte Stanley Jenkinson who was attached to the 13/Para and was killed at Putot-en-Auge on August 19th 1944. I have found a pressed steel battlefield cross which seems to have a strange story to tell in itself - but there are embossed aluminium strips on it giving his details - and that he was with 13/Para. His CWGC headstone. however, refers to his prime unit - The Queen's Royal Regiment - followed by Airborne. I've not yet found any other reference to an Airborne section for The Queen's.

 

From: Private Stanley Jenkinson

CWGC entry: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2633585/stanley-jenkinson/

There are a few web links that are id'd with an online search: "The Queen's Royal Regiment" + "parachute" which indicate members of his regiment volunteered for para / airborne role.

 

Almost certainly a volunteer for airborne duties and transferred from Queen's Regiment into 13th Battalion The Parachute Regiment. As CWGC confirms he was killed whilst:

"attd. 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C."

Edited to add: Seen suggestions that some replacements received by 6th Airborne Division in Normandy had not been through jump training. One of the "airborne mafia" here might be able to confirm!

There is an account of the battalion's action on 19 August 1944 here:

The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy

Regards

Tom

 

A post-war airborne link with 1/6 Queens that might be worth mentioning here:

Major-General Michael Forrester

 

Does anyone have the war diary from 1/6 Queens and 1/5 Queens from the 1st to the 7th August please ?

 

1/6 Queen's - WO 171/1367:

1 August 1944 716604
0115 having travelled through LA BELLE EPINE, PARFOURU L’ECLIN, and LA PAVMERIE, the Bn. arrived in its leaguer area and settled in for the rest of the night.
0800 The C.O. and I.O. attended a Bde. Cmdr’s conference.
0845 The C.O. held an “O” group.
0940 Bn. HQ left the leaguer area and the Bn’s column moved along the Div Axis, the Order of March being Carrier Pl, “C” Sqn. 5 R.T.R., “C” Coy., Tac HQ, “O” Group, Support Group, “D” and “B” Coys, Main HQ, and “A” Coy, via ECORIGNY 7057 and CAHAGNES 7356. 131 Bde objective was the high ground in the area of BREUIL 7752. 1/5 Queens led, followed by the 1/6 and 1/7 Bns.
1330 Orders were received that the Bn was to advance to LA MONNERIE 7552 and to form a firm base there. The Bn. continued to move along the Div. Axis until the Forward Body reached 740552, where “C” Coy debussed and advanced on foot.
1715 “C” Coy had reached area of wood 743536, but were unable to advance further, as they were being fired on by 3 Panthers. Tac HQ and “B” and “D” Coys were halted in area 738542. Meanwhile Main HQ and “A” Coy had reached 740552. “A” Coy debussed and moved up to “B” and “D” Coys.
1900 The Panthers having withdrawn, “A”, “B” and “C” Coys moved up to the high ground area 755530 and dug defensive positions. “D” Coy remained in reserve with Tac HQ at 744536.
2045 A P.W. was brought in [740552] and identified as a Pole from 751 GR of 326 Inf Div.
2315 Main HQ moved off the road into a field at 742550 and leaguered for the night.
2345 Another Polish PW from the same GR was brought in [742550].

2 August 1944
1000 The C.O. and I.O. attended a Bde. Cmdr’s conference. The Rifle Coys remained in their defensive positions, but the Carrier Pl. during the morning recce’d down the road running SW through JURQUES 7551. Just beyond JURQUES the carriers were pinned down by 1 A/Tk guns firing from the hill straight ahead. Leaving 5 RTR and 3 RHA to deal with these, the Carrier Pl. returned to the Bn. area.
1315 Main HQ moved up and joined Tac HQ at 744536.
1600 The C.O. held an “O” Group. He announced that 7 Armd Div’s immediate objective was AUNAY-SUR-ODON 8251. The Bn. was to attack and occupy by night the ground in the area of pt. 188 along the line of the track 793524 – 793514, to form an anti-tank screen and make possible the progress of the tanks, which up to now had been prevented from advancing beyond the road junction 773525 by heavy fire from tanks and S.P. guns.
1800 The Rifle Coys pulled out from their positions and assembled in the area of Bn HQ.
The C.O. went to 131 Bde HQ.
2045 The C.O. held an “O” Group, at which he issued his orders for the night’s operation.
2400 The attack began from the Start Line at 773525 with “A” Coy leading on the left and “D” Coy on the right, followed by “B” and “C” Coys. A creeping artillery barrage from 778526 to 797516 supported the attack. The leading Coys encountered slight infantry opposition from the flanks, but this was dealt with and the objective was reached and the Bn firmly established in its positions by 0400 hrs.

3 August 1944
0400 Locations – “A” Coy N of road 791521; “B” Coy astride road 791518; “D” Coy S. of road 793517; “C” Coy in area of Tac HQ 786519. A Jaguar was later discovered overturned and abandoned at 787520 having apparently fallen into the sunken lane during the attack. A small number of casualties was sustained, including some caused by medium artillery shells falling short at the commencement of the barrage. 23 Ps.W. were taken, mostly from 326 Div, but including 1 from 654 Hy. A/Tk Bn.
Main Bn H.Q. was established at 765528.
During the morning, some recce tanks of 8 H and 5 RTR passed through towards LA LANDE 8051. Enemy MT, apparently unaware of our progress in the night, continued to use the road running N to S at 793518 and 3 soft-skinned vehicles were shot up and the occupants killed or captured. An enemy D.R. was also captured carrying despatches.
1450 The enemy counter-attacked with tanks and infantry. 1 Mk.IV was brewed up in front of “B” Coy by a 17 pdr and the attack was speedily dispersed.
1530 The enemy renewed their counter-attack in greater force under cover of a smoke screen from the East. DF fire was brought to bear on the danger area with some success.
1550 Leading tanks reached an area 50 yds in front of the forward Coy. positions – “A”, “B”, + “D” Coys.
1600 Most of “D” Coy and party of “B” Coy positions were overrun by tanks + infantry.
1620 “A” Coy fell back slightly to conform with the position on the right.
1630 “B” Coy was ordered to withdraw slightly to link up with “A” and “C” Coys.
1700 The attack was being held. 12 enemy tanks were reported in the area, and 1 Panther was brewed up. 3 x M10’s were K.O’d and several of the 17 pdrs were out of action.
1705 The assistance of more infantry was called for. The Assault Pioneer Pl. moved up from B.H.Q. area. Elements of 1/7 Queens reported being prepared for reinforcement or counter-attack role.
1715 A Sqn of 8 H arrived to assist the tanks on both flanks. Several DF concentrations were fired by 3 RHA during this period in the neighbourhood of the cross-roads 786518 and to the N and S of the road and around pt. 188.
1800 The enemy attack had been halted. Tanks had withdrawn to concealed positions, and infantry were much less in evidence.
1900 The situation was now quiet, the enemy having apparently withdrawn after suffering considerable casualties amongst the infantry.
During the action, the Bn. had sustained the following casualties – “A” Coy: 1 Offr + 39 O.Rs wounded; “B” Coy: 2 O.Rs killed, 1 Offr + 9 O.Rs missing, 11 O.Rs wounded; “C” Coy: 4 O.Rs wounded; “D” Coy: 2 Offrs + 19 O.Rs killed, 2 Offrs + 40 O.Rs missing, 6 O.Rs wounded; “HQ” Coy: 7 O.Rs missing, 1 Offr + 4 O.Rs wounded.
The remaining men from “D” Coy were amalgamated with “B” Coy and fresh positions of all-round defence were taken up around the area of Tac HQ 786519.
1910 The C.O. attended a conference at 131 Bde H.Q., at which it was decided to withdraw the Bn to the area of Main B.H.Q. in the rear of 1/7 Queens.

4 August 1944
0001 The Bn. withdrew by Coys, leaving a small contingent of infantry to protect the tanks, which
0130 were the last to leave the area. The troops then rode out on the tanks. The withdrawal was carried out without loss.
0900 The C.O. held a conference, at which he announced that the Bn was [to] take up defensive positions in the area of LE MONDE ANCIEN 7753 to protect the rear of 1/7 Queens.
1010 The C.O., 2 i/c, and I.O. recce’d the area, after which the 2 i/c returned to Bn HQ and held an “O” Group. The Coys then moved up to their new positions and Bn HQ was established at 779530.
1330 The Bn. was now complete in the area. Soon after its arrival the enemy shelled the Bn. area with a Nebelwerfer, causing 1 casualty.
1445 - Two patrols were sent out, one from “C” Coy, and one from the Carrier Pl. “C” Coy’s patrol
1900 went to LA BUTTERIE 7854 and LA VALLEE 7953 and found both villages unoccupied. The carrier patrol was sent to 779538 to deal with an anti-tank gun that had been reported by flanking troops. No gun was found, but there were signs that one had been in that position and had since withdrawn.
2015 The C.O. held an “O” Group, after a visit from the Bde. Cmdr.
2300 The C.O. held another “O” Group, at which he issued orders for the Bn. to withdraw early on the following morning to an assembly area near A2 Echelon, 749543.

Night 4/5 779530
A patrol was sent from “C” Coy to woods 7753, which were West and North of the Bn. area, and found nothing to report.

5 August 1944
0645 The Bn. commenced leaving the area by Coys and reassembled in area 749543, where the rest of the day was spent awaiting the order to move.
1600 4 Offrs and 88 O.Rs joined the Bn. as reinforcements.
2030 The C.O. held an “O” Group, at which he explained that 7 Armd Div’s coumn, of which 1/6 Queens formed the rear, was making slow progress on its route to AUNAY-SUR-ODON 8251 owing to mines and demolitions. The Div. axis was road-junction 773548 – LA POSTE 7855 – MAISONCELLES PELVEY 7955, thence South along the VILLERS-BOCAGE – AUNAY-SUR-ODON road. Nevertheless, the Bn. could expect to move as far as a leaguer area near LONGEVILLERS 8254 some time during the night.
2255 Having received the order to move, the Bn. commenced leaving its assembly area.

6 August 1944
0145 Bn HQ at the head of the Bn’s column reached the leaguer area, and B.H.Q. was established at 820546.
0830 The C.O. and I.O. attended a conference at 131 Bde HQ.
0930 The C.O. held an “O” Group.
The Bn remained in its leaguer area throughout the day, resting and cleaning up.

7 August 1944 820546
1120 The C.O. held an “O” Group and a Recce Party was sent forward to the area of ST. AIGNAN-LE-MALHERBE 8753. The 22 Armd Bde and 1/5 and 1/7 Queens, who had reached an area north and NW of MT. PINCON 8445, were being subjected to heavy shell-fire and it had been decided not to move up 1/6 Bn. for the time being.
1330 The Bn. moved off from the leaguer area, the Order of March being “C” Coy, Support Group, “A” Coy, B.H.Q., remainder of A/Tk + Mortar Pls, and “B” Coy.
1410 The Bn. arrived in the area of ST. AIGNAN-LE-MALHERBE [869534].
1830 The C.O. and I.O. attended a Bde. Cmdr’s Conference.
1900 The C.O. held an “O” Group.
2000 The Bn. Recce Party went forward to recce a Bn. leaguer area for the night.
2035 The Bn. left the area, and proceeded through BAUQUAY 8452 and AUNAY-SUR-ODON 8251 to its leaguer area at 827495, which was reached at 2220 Hrs.

 

And 1/5 Queen's (WO 171/1366) which is a bit less detailed:

1 August 1944 T.726574
0910 Bn moves via CAHAGNES 7257 and makes slow but steady progress S.E. along road despite enemy shelling + mortaring, particularly in area of X rds 759532.
1930 ‘A’ Coy at final obj, rd junct 773525 where 22 Armd Bde passed thru’ to exploit to AUNAY SUR ODON.
3 x Lloyd Carriers with 1/Tk guns K.O’d at X rds 759532. 3 x O.Rs killed, Lt. G.H. Bond + 18 O.Rs wounded. 2 x O.Rs exhaustion. 10 x P.W’s brought in.

2 August 1944 T.726574
Bn forms firm base around road junct. 773525 as 22 Armd Bde had made little progress towards AUNAY SUR ODON.
2020 Tac Bn. H.Q. at 764528.
1 x O.R. killed, Lt. D. Sadler + 11 O.Rs wounded.

3 August 1944 T.726574
Bn remains in posn save that at 2000 hrs, fwd Coy (‘D’) is brought back to 769524. Nebelwerfer fire reported thro’out day.
3 x O.R’s killed, Campt. C. Murray Plumby + 4 x O.Rs wounded.

4 August 1944 T.726574
Night 3/4 ‘C’ Coy recce patrols to buildings at 765517 + 777518 have NTR.
During afternoon ‘B’ Coy patrol to 784514 contacted friends (4 + 5 Dorsets).
Usual harassing fire causes casualties of 2 x O.Rs killed + 6 x O.Rs wounded.
Rfts – 41 x O.Rs received and posted.

5 August 1944 T.756538
0530 Bn moves to conc area 753538 where congestion + demolitions on road causes a long stop.
2200 Bn moves via X rds 745546 to S.P. 772548 to LA POSTE 793563 to LONGVILLERS 8254.

6 August 1944 T.826544
Bn concentrated at LONGVILLERS 8254.

7 August 1944 T.880497
0825 Bn moves via rd junct. 844537 to X rds 857542 to X rds 873514 to HAMERS 8948.
1330 Zero hours for attack on feature at 8646 – Tac Bn. H.Q. at 890484.
1700 Wood cleared of enemy save for odd inf with bazookas.
1 x O.R. killed. Lt E.A. Cruse + 18 O.Rs wounded.

 

They are online in more detail:
The Queens and East Surrey Regiment Second World War Diaries