Account: 3rd Tank Bn Scots Guards, Jul 1944 - May 1945

Another member said as much about lack of 11 Armd too. I suppose given the format, a tour with all the restrictions that imposes, some details will be sacrificed. I found the inclusion of the personal accounts of Bluecoat a nice touch though.

Looking forward to your report being made available.

I hope the two of you continue to contribute as often as you can to matters 3 Tk SG at very least. What you have both posted so far is very helpful and informative and shows a detailed understanding of the unit; as a result, requests for help from new members will surely follow in the coming year.

 

Brian might be of interest,
One of my father's recollection which turned out to be 8 Aug -
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/35331-mystery-british-casualty-smith-smyth-scottish-regiment-normandy.html

and mentions of Estry in Irish Guards war diaries:

3IG WD:
1944 August Monday 7 MONTCHAMP During the night 6/7th, excellent work was done by the Pioneer PL, commanded by Cap. D.E. COMPTON, in clearing MONTCHAMP of mines and booby traps. No. 1 Coy cleared the village while the Carrier Pl distinguished themselves on patrols at the entrances. The Bn was ordered to secure the area between MONTCHAMP and ESTRY for a gun area for 15 (S) Div. No 1 Coy proceeded through MONTCHAMP to PONT a L’ECRIVAIN. X Coy passed through No 1 Coy to the area of Les ECOUBLET. These Coys met no opposition, except road blocks which were booby trapped. No 1 Coy later moved up to the right of X Coy, and Bn HQ, Nos 2 and 4 Coys moved into the area of PONT a L’ECRIVAIN. The whole Bn area was subject to sporadic mortar fire, and also to several “overs” of S.A. fire, but fortunately there were only a few casualties.

1944 August Tuesday 8 SOUTH of MONTCHAMP The Bn held its positions throughout today - there was again mortar fire and S.A. “overs” which killed three men and wounded seven others. In the morning, a Bn of K.OSB. and a Bn of R.S.F. put in a frontal attack on ESTRY through our positions, but this was only partially successful.

1944 August Wednesday 9 SOUTH of MONTCHAMP During the morning the Bn was told to stand by ready to move to take over a new position at SOURDEVALLE 7033, at present held by a composite Bn of MONMOUTHS and NORFOLKS of 11 Armd Div. 1200 The Commanding Officer, accompanied by Coy Commanders, tank representative of 1 Armd COLDM GDS and Arty F.O.O. went to SOURDEVALLE to recce the new positions - a task made difficult owing to heavy shell fire and close range S.A. fire. This position was in the tip of a salient created by 11 Armd Div. The recce party did not return until 1900 hrs, and all through the day the whole Bn area had again been subjected to sporadic mortar fire and S.A. “overs” - casualties suffered being three ORs wounded. 2100 Eventually the Bn completed the hand-over to a Bn of ROYAL SCOTS, and commenced the move to SOURDEVALLE. The marching personnel embussed in T.C.Ls at MONTCHAMP - nobody was looking forward to the journey as any dust on the roads was bound to bring down a lot of shelling. 1 (Armd) COLDM GDS were to move into the new position just before dark, and the Bn after dark. We only took the minimum number of vehicles into the position as the previous unit had lost an enormous amount of transport by taking it right forward - this fact was only too evident when one saw the graveyard of brewed-up vehicles in the area of Bn HQ. Our transport was divided into three groups - the actual vehicles we needed with us, confined to Jeeps, Carriers, rear link vehicle and the C.O.’s Scout Car. Secondly, those vehicles necessary to maintain the Bn in battle, such as petrol, amn, signal stores and Int. stores, and lastly the remainder of the Bn vehicles, 3 tonners and 15 cwts and T.C.Ls. Those three echelons were known respectively as F, F2 and A.

1944 August Thursday 10 SOURDEVALLE The Bn took over this new position without incident and the take-over was completed by 0200 hours. All through the day the whole Bn area was subjected to shelling and mortaring and during this time, Capt. D.G. KINGSFORD (No 1 Coy Comd) was killed by a shell splinter, Capt. D.E. COMPTON was wounded and 17 ORs wounded. In the early evening, the two forward Coys - No. 1 (now commanded by Lt. P. DOYLE) and No. 4, were attacked by what was thought to be a recce force in strength - this was easily repulsed and the attack petered out, but unfortunately no identifications were obtained, although we inflicted several casualties on the enemy, but it was impossible to go forward in the daylight to search bodies. This was attempted after dark by the Intelligence Section and several dead Germans were found in the standing corn immediately in front of Nos 1 and 4 Coys, but the search still did not reveal an identification so urgently required by higher formation. In the evening, orders were received that the Bn would attack the next day, and as a preliminary to this, a strong patrol from No 4 Coy, led by Lt. KINGAN, was sent to recce the bridge and river by 1a JARRIERRE immediately to the SOUTH of SOURDEVALLE. They discovered the bridge to be strongly held, but no identifications could be obtained, and it was impossible to get across the bridge to the houses on the other side.

1944 August Friday 11 SOURDEVALLE Again this morning the forward coys were attacked by an enemy force - thought to be on recce - but were easily repulsed by S.A. fire. 0900 The Bn, supported by a sqn of tks of 1 (Armd) COLDM GDS and one Fd Bty carried out an attack to gain the line of the main VIRE-VASSY road SOUTH of SOURDEVALLE, being phased in with the remainder of the 32 Gds Bde directed on the village of CHENODELLE, and in concert with 1 MOT. GREN GDS and 2 (Armd) GREN GDS directed on the village of VIESSOIX. We were in the centre of a Div effort directed Southwards. The leading Coys, right - 2 Coy and left - 4 Coy, were supported by two troops of tanks, medium mortars and a Field Bty RA, came under intense fire on a convex slope running Southwards, as soon as they crossed the Start Line. The leading tks immediately suffered casualties from enemy A.Tk guns or dung in tanks SOUTH of their objective. The forward coys pushed on through root and cornfields, suffering very heavy casualties before they reached their objective at approximately 400 yds NORTH of their objectives. The enemy then crumpled heavily with arty and mortar fire on the forward slope of the hill down which the attack had been directed and at 1600 hours a contact patrol was sent forward to (a) locate the centres of enemy resistance, and (b) inform all possible survivors that they were to withdraw to the line of the F.D.Ls as soon as a smoke screen was laid to cover them. This contact patrol was led by Lt. A.N. DREWE of X Coy, who was himself wounded, one man of the patrol killed and another man wounded. 1630 The smoke screen was laid, duration 30 mins, and Lt. DREWE with stretcher bearers, again went forward into the smoke and did all he could in supervising evacuation of all possible wounded. Very heavy casualties were suffered by 2 and 4 Coys. Officers killed were Major A. EARLEY-WILMOT (2 Coy Comd), Lt. LORD FITZMAURICE (4 Coy) and Lt. P. BOURKE (2 Coy) and Major D.A. REID (4 Coy Comd), Lt. KINGAN (4 Coy) and Lt. RYDER (2 Coy) were all wounded. ORs suffered to the extent of 33 killed and 72 wounded. The men were splendid, advancing in spite of the severe opposition, and nothing further could be done to support them owing to the proximity of the opposing posts, and the fact that the bulk of the fire power had to be retained for the 32 GDS BDE attack on CHENODELLE. In the evening, the remnants of 2 and 4 Coys were successfully withdrawn to the reserve Coy area and their original positions were taken over by Nos 1 and X Coys. Nos 2 and 4 Coys were amalgamated into one coy, now known as No 2, under the command of Capt. HENDRY.

1944 August Saturday 12 SOURDEVALLE An unfortunate accident during the night in X Coy position, when T mines were being fused, resulted in three men being killed and one wounded. A quiet day - patrols were sent out and were able to collect and bury the dead. Identifications of enemy on our front confirmed that we had been fighting elements of the combined 3 and 5 Para Divs and not 10 SS Pz Div “HOHENSTAUFEN” as had been expected.

1944 August Sunday 13 SOURDEVALLE Orders were received for the Bn to move to the area of Le BUSQ a mile due WEST of ESTRY, and quite near the position we had held previously. The Commanding Officer spent most of the day receiving the new position. We were to be relieved at SOURDEVALLE by 2 HCRA supported by 2 (Armd) IG and their Commanding Officers spent most of the day in our Bn position recceing and taking over. 2100 The hand over was completed and the Bn left SOURDEVALLE - the move to Le BUSQ was completed without incident apart from an unsuccessful air attack.

1944 August Monday 14 LE BUSQ This day was spent in resting, re-fitting and bathing, although the enemy were still less than one mile away. The Bn still consists of only three rifle Coys, but a Fd Sqn RE is under command in the role of reserve coy. Patrols during the night kept contact with flanking units and information was received that the nearest enemy locality - ESTRY was now clear.


2 Armd IG WD:
5 August 1944 A much quieter day.
Two enemy half tracks drove in the gate and were promptly “put in the bag”. One of the crew taken prisoner complained that they had orders to return to ESTRY and had met us unexpectedly on the way. He came from 19 SS Pz G.R. of 9 SS Pz Div. which had been our enemy the past 2 days, and according to him had suffered very heavy casualties.
1 Mot GREN GDS did a sweep from pt 176 Southwards. As we told them before they started the enemy had gone and they swept empty fields.
The Divisional Commander visited the Bn and congratulated all ranks on their efforts and exertions of the past three days. He said he was quite confident we would hold the ground we had won. The remainder of the day was passed in washing, eating and sleeping. Some shot were exchanged with the enemy, but no damage suffered by us.
Patrols reported that the enemy was withdrawing from MONTCHAMP towards ESTRY. A few men still held LE BUSQ.

6 August 1944
The 5th Bn COLDM GDS supported by No. 3 Sqn advanced to LE BUSQ meeting little opposition except some mortars and MGs. As soon as they begun digging in however, heavy and accurate shelling and mortaring began, which caused them some casualties. A burnt out PANTHER was found in LE BUSQ, abandoned by the Germans after considerable efforts to recover it. It must have been hit by No. 3 Sqn in their first battle 3 days before when numerous claims of hits and “brewing ups” of enemy tanks were made. So at least we had a second victim to offset our losses.
Major N.S.P. WHITEFOORD, M.C. was unluckily hit by a sniper just above the knee and had to be evacuated. Capt. M.J.P. O’COCK took over command of No. 3 Sqn.
Lt. F.J.P. McCORKELL’s and 3 of his crew were killed when a mortar bomb landed on top of his tank - the one unlucky chance in a thousand.
The Bn harboured in the same area as before. No. 2 Sqn relieved No. 3 Sqn and stayed out in the Coy positions of 5 COLDM GDS.

7 August 1944
The Sqns moved out to their day positions and lay up camouflaged.
Heavy mortaring on 5 COLDM GDS area wounded Major J.W.R. MADDEN and Capt. J.R. DUPREE with the same salvo. Major J.W.R. MADDEN lost a leg later as a result. Capt. E.G. TYLER then took over No. 2 Sqn and was promoted to Major, and Capt. J.V.D. TAYLOR became 2IC. Urgent demands were made by the Commanding Officer for more officers. Brigade HQ promised that reinforcements were being flown with all speed, as the difficult position of our and other Battalions was fully recognised.

8 August 1944
Except for the usual shelling, a quiet day.
Lt. D.B. LIDDLE (No. 3 Sqn) was killed by an odd shell, the second officer lost through sheer bad luck.
The 15 (S) Div on our left attacked ESTRY, but unsuccessfully. No. 2 Sqn spotted some infantry working round their left flank and had a good Squadron shoot. No more movement was seen in that area.
Capt. P. STOBART was slightly wounded by the enemy “Stonk” and had to be evacuated. Lt. W.E. DODD became 2IC of No. 3 Sqn.