15th (Scottish) Division - 'G' War Diary Regarding July/Operation Greenline

Due to my research into Operation Greenline below is the 15th Scottish Div - G War Diary - and also there is the relevant appendixes for Greenline starting to go up...

15th Scottish Division – G- War Diaries
Kew 2nd September 2009

July 1944 – War Diary
15th Scottish Division – G
From 1st July to31st July 1944
Appendices A to V

Location – Putot en Bessin
Commanding Officer Maj Gen GHA MacMillan, CF, DSO, MC

1st July – Instruction for relief of 15 (S) Div by 53 Div issued. [Appendix “A”]

2nd July – Main HQ moved to Secqueville en Bessin 9274; est about 1200 hrs.

Location – Secqueville en Bessin
3rd July – Div location statement issued for locations as at 1200 hrs. [Appendix “B”]

4th July – Div Comd’s conference on Lessons from Recent Ops attended by all COs.

5th July – Notes on Div Comd’s conference of 4 July issued. [Appendix “C”]

6th July – Message 0 189 regarding the use of passwords in 8 Corps area issued. [Appendix “D”]

11th July – Div Comd’s briefing conference on Op “Greenline” held at this HQ.

13th July – 0200 – Div under comd 12 Corps.

Location – La Mare
14th July – 0945 – HQ moved to La Mare 9367; est 100 hrs.
1000 – 00 No 3 for Op “Greenline” issued. [Appendix “E”]
Appendix “D” to above 00 issued. [Appendix “F”]

15th July – Appendix “C” to 00 No 3 issued containing Arty Sp Outline Plan. Appendix “G”]
Div Traffic Organisation trace issued. [Appendix “H”]

16th July – 1540 – 15 (S) Div Op Instruction No 2 issued concerning the holding of certain objectives. [Appendix “I”]
2310 – 2325 – Some shellfire in vicinity of HQ. No casualties. The gen area was also bombed. No damage was done and two enemy a/c were probably destroyed by the AA fire.

17th July – 2300 – 2400 – The Div area was bombed. No bombs fell in the immediate vicinity of HQ.

Location – Le Mesnil Patry
18th July – HQ moved to Le Mesnil Patry 902703 and was established there at 1045 hrs.
1440 – 15 (S) Div Op Instruction No 4 issued, stating the policy of 12 Corps, under whose comd the Div now is, and setting out various reliefs. [Appendix “J”] Amendment No 1 to above Op Instruction issued. [Appendix “K”]

19th July – 2040 – Div Op Instruction No 5 issued, containing instruction for the lifting of certain minefds and having att a trace showing Corps, Div and Bde bdys. [Appendix “L”]

21st July – 2330 – Div Op Instruction No 6 issued, concerning the relief of 5 US Div on 24 July by 15 (S) Div. [Appendix “M”]
Div came under comd 30 Corps.

Location – Balleroy
23rd July – 0900 – HQ moved to area Balleroy 698690; est there 1200 hrs

24th July – 0900 – Counter Mortar conference held. Div Location statement issued. [Appendix “N”]
2030 – Div Op Instruction No 8 issued, relation to relief of 44 (L) Inf Bde by 46 (H) Inf Bde on night 26/27 July. [Appendix “O”] Amendment No 1 to above Op Instruction issued. [Appendix “P”]

25th July – 15 (S) Div Op Instruction No 9 issued, relation to the picking up of American minefds and the laying of further minefds. [Appendix “Q”]
1730 – Staff meeting held to arrange details of routes and timing for the relief detailed in Div Op Instruction No 8 (Shown as Appendix “O”).

26th July – 0815 – Div Op Instruction No 10 issued, laying down the counter attack roles for each Bde. [Appendix “S”]
1930 – New Div Op Instruction No 7 issued, laying down the orders regarding patrols in lieu of a previous Op Instruction No 7 on same subject, which was cancelled. [Appendix “R”]

28th July – Div is under comd 8 Corps.
1730 – Staff meeting held to decide routes and timing for reliefs taking place on night 29/30 July vide Div Op Instruction No 8. Secret Routing Order No 348, and Appendix “A” to same, issued. [Appendix “T”]

30th July – 0730 – Op “Bluecoat” begins.

Location – La Chapelle
30th July – 1500 – HQ moved to La Chapelle 7062; est there about 1730 hrs.

31st July X– 1130 – Div Op Instruction No 11 issued, laying down the tasks for the capture of the high ground in sq 6742, 6842, 6942 and 7142. [Appendix “U”]
1845 – Div Op Instruction No 12 issued, laying down the Div task as the protection of the Left flank of 8 Corps. [Appendix “V”]

 

Appendix “E”
OP “GREENLINE”
15 (S) INF DIV 00 No 3
14th July 1944


Ref Maps: 1/25,000 Sheets 37/16 NE (THAON)
37/16 SE (CHEUX)
37/14 NE (EVRECY)

INFM
1. Enemy
As in latest Int Summary.

2. Own Tps
(a) 12 Corps is to advance to secure a firm bas on the gen line of the rd BOUGY 9161 – EVERY 9359 – MAIZET 9457. On D+1 59 Div is to attack and secure the line ENTREGY 8464 – LES HOULLES 8563 – LANDELLE 8662 – NOYERS 8862 – MISSY 8961. 43 Div is to dominate Pt 112 9561 by fire. Any action to be taken by 53 Div on the RIGHT flank will be notified later.

(b) Air (See Appendix “A” to be issued later).

(c)[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]Additional Tps under comd:
158 (W) Inf Bde
34 Tk Bde
25 Fd Regt RA
55 Fd Regt RA
248 SP Bty (62 Tk Regt RA)
344 S/L Bty RA
One Sqn CROCODILES
One Sqn AVsRE
Six CONGERS (if available)

INTENTION
3. 15 (S) Inf Div will capture the line of rd BOUGY – EVERCY – MAIZET and form a firm base thereon for future ops by 12 Corps.

METHOD
4. Grouping at Commencement of Ops

44 (L) Inf Bde
with in sp:-
153 RAC
159 A Tk Bty RA
One SP tp 248 A Tk Bty RA
(till end pf Phase IIB)
279 Fd Coy RE
“A” MMG Coy 1 MX
“D” Mortar Coy 1 MX less one pl
One Coy 194 Fd Amb
½ Sec 15 (S) Div Pro Coy
One tp AVsRE
Two tops CROCODILES



46 (H) Inf Bde
with in sp:-
346 A Tk Bty RA
One Coy 193 Fd Amb


34 Tk Bde
147 RAC (after Phase I)
227 (H) Inf Bde
with under comd:-
2 GLAS H
“C” Sqn 15 (S) Recce Regt
and in sp:-
107 RAC less on sqn (Phase I only)
147 RAC
286 A Tk Bty RA
248 SP A Tk Bty RA less on top
20 Fd Coy RE
“B” & [E/F] MMG Coys 1 MX
One Coy 153 Fd Amb
½ Sec 15 (S) Div Pro Coy
Two tps AVsRE
Two tps CROCODILES

158 (W) Inf Bde
with under comd:-
278 A Tk Bty RA
“B” MMG Coy 1 MANCH
“A” Coy 202 Fd Amb

Div Tps
15 (S) Recce Regt less two sqns
131, 181, 190, 25 & 55 Fd Regts RA
97 A Tk Regt less three btys
119 LAA Regt less three tps
278 Rd Coy RE
624 Fd Pk Coy
HQ 1 MX and one pl “D” Mortar Coy

5. The op will be carried out in the Phases as under.
Night attacks will be assisted by movement in light.

PHASE I – Codeword “CLYDE”
227 (H) Inf Bde Gp will capture objective “CLYDE” in daylight evening D Day.

PHASE IIA – Codeword “FORTH”
44 (L) Inf Bde Gp and 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp, at a time to be decided mutually between the Comds concerned, and known as “Hz Hr”, will leave objective “FORTH” and capture objective “MELROSE” during darkness D/D+1.

PHASE III
(a) Codeword “DUNBAR”
At first light D+1, 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp will clear the valley of the R ODON incl GAVRUS 9161 and BOUGY 9161 as far as objective “DUNBAR”.

(b) Codeword “KNIFE”
At first light D+1, 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp will clear the EVERCY area. If possible, 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp will occupy the area FERME DE MONDEVILLE 9358 during daylight D+1.

PHASE IV
(a) Codeword “STIRLING”
158 (W) Inf Bde Gp will pass through 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp and secure objective “STIRLING”.

(b) Codeword “BERWICK”
44 (L) Inf Bde Gp will capture objective “BERWICK”.
46 (H) Inf Bde Gp will be prepared to pass through 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp and capture this objective should 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp not be in a position to do so.

6. H Hr
(a) H Hr for PHASE I will be 2145 hrs D Day.

(b) For PHASE IIA, H Hr for 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp will be 2315 hrs, and 2330 hrs for 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp.

7. SLs ]
Timings ]
Objectives ] See Trace “P” att.
Inter-bde bdy ]
Junc Pts ]

8. Exploitation
(a) On capture of objective “BERWICK”, the Inf Bde Gp concerned will send fwd fighting patrols to the gen line NEUILLY 9059 – copse 905587 – 905583.

(b) On capture of objective “STIRLING”, the Inf Bde Gp concerned will send fwd fighting patrols to LE HOM [possibility of missing letters to ‘HOM’] 9257 – STE HONORINE-DU-FAY 9357 – MAIZET – 120 ring contour 9557.

Patrols will remain in occupation of these places, but will withdraw to main positions in face of serious enemy counter attacks.

9. Div Res
46 (H) Inf Bde Gp and 158 (W) Inf Bde Gp will be prepared to move fwd from FAA, on orders from Div HQ, at half-an-hour’s notice from 0530 hrs D+1.

10. Codewords
Place Names – See Appendix “B” att.

11. Assembly
(a) Moves evening D-1:-
44 (L) Inf Bde Gp, 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp, 107 RAC and certain Div Tps will move fwd to FAAs, as shown on Trace “P” att, in accordance with mov order already issued.

(b) Moves evening D Day:-
46 (H) Inf Bde Gp will move to FAA, as shown on Trace “P”. 158 (W) Inf Bde Gp will move into area vacated by 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp. 147 and 153 RAC will move from present areas direct to FUPs already agreed with Comds 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp and 44 (L) Inf Bde, respectively.

Move orders will be issued separately.

12. Moves from FAAs to FUPs
(a) 44 (L) and 227 (H) Inf Bde Gps will move from FAAs to FUPs at times to be decided by Comds concerned and on routes shown on Trace “P”.

(b)[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]When ordered fwd, 46 (H) Inf Bde Gp will move on routes allotted to 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp, and 158 (W) Inf Bde Gp on routes allotted to 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp, unless otherwise ordered.

13. Axes of adv
(a) 44 (L) Inf Bde Gp and 46 (H) Inf Bde Gp – rd TOURMAUVILLE 9362 – X rds 936623 – rd and track junc 924614.

(b) 227 (H) Inf Bde Gp and 158 (W) Inf Bde Gp – rd GOURNAY 9563 – BARON 9462 – thence track Pt 113 9360.

These axes will be continued fwd with RE assistance and maintained by RE as required by Comds leading bdes.

14. TC
(a) 15 (S) Recce Regt, in conjunction with APM, will set up a traffic org to control the move from FAAs up to and including the crossing over the R ODON.

(b) Reg HQ will be est at 943646 from 1700 hrs D Day. By the same hr, Traffic Posts on routes from rd MONDRAINVILLE 9263 – VERSON 9665 up to R ODON will be est. REME Rec Posts at 928642 and 941646 will be est by the same hr.

(c) Bdes will be responsible for fwding to Reg HQ before move commences six copies of march tables for moves from FAAs over R ODON. One copy of the table will also be sent to Div HQ “G”.

(d) Detailed instructions giving locations of Traffic Posts will be issued later.

15. D Day – 15 JULY 1944


***TO BE CONTINUED***

 

Nice one - some useful material there.

 

Johnny
Also in support for "Greenline" and "Pomegranate" the two fient operations by Monty on the 15th July to draw german armour and troops away before "Goodwood" on the 20th July were the 121st and 10th Medium Regts RA. 5 AGRA.
Cheers
Rob

 

I am looking for any information on how my father was injured on the 17th July 1944, with the 7th seaforth, i believe he was injured around Mouen / Tourville / mondrainville, was that part of operation Greenline?

Any assistance appreciated.

 

Having received my Uncle's Military Records I have noted that he embarked the UK with the 15 Div HQ on 15.6.44 and remained with the HQ in NWE until September 1945. Can anyone tell me what sort of duties he might have carried out as part of HQ and also confirm that he would never have been front line? Many thanks
Barb20