Here is what I have so far for Gold Beach. First the infantry: 50th Infantry Division: Maj-Gen. D.A.H. Graham 69th Infantry Brigade Brigade HQ CO: Brig. Fergus Carson Knox East Yorks Regiment: 5th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. White (WIA 6 June) Maj. J.H.F. Dixon A Company: unknown B Company: unknown C Company: unknown D Company: unknown S Company: unknown Green Howards: 6th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. Robin Hastings 2IC: Maj. C.M. Hull A Company: Capt. Frederick Honeyman B Company: Maj. J.M. Young C Company: Capt. Jack C. Linn D Company: Maj. R. Lofthouse S Company: Maj. Jackson Green Howards: 7th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. P.H. Richardson 2IC: Maj. H.E. Bowley (acting) was C Company commander Maj. H.R.D. Oldman did not arrive until 12 June A Company: Maj. A.D. Spark B Company: Maj. R.H.E. Hudson C Company: Capt. D.H. Warrener D Company: Maj. S.M. Boyle S Company: unknown 151st Infantry Brigade CO: Brig. R.H. Senior Durham Light Infantry: 6th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. A.E. Green A Company: unknown B Company: unknown C Company: unknown D Company: unknown S Company: unknown Durham Light Infantry: 8th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. Robert Lidwell A Company: unknown B Company: unknown C Company: unknown D Company: unknown S Company: unknown Durham Light Infantry: 9th Battalion CO:Lt-Col. Humphrey Woods (MW 14 June) A Company: Maj. D’Arcy-Irvine (WIA 14 June) B Company: Maj. Kenny (WIA 13 June) C Company: unknown D Company: unknown S Company: unknown 231st Infantry Brigade CO: Brig. A.G.B. Stanier Bart Hampshire Regiment: 1st Battalion CO: Lt-Col. H.David Nelson-Smith (WIA 6 June) A Company: Maj. Dick Baines B Company: Maj. Tony Mott C Company: Maj. David Warren D Company: Maj. John Littlejohns S Company: Maj. James Wicks Dorsetshire Regiment: 1st Battalion CO: Lt-Col. E.A.M. Norie A Company: Maj. A.A.E. Jones (WIA 6 June) B Company: unknown C Company: unknown D Company: unknown S Company: unknown Devonshire Regiment: 2nd Battalion CO: Lt-Col. C.A.R. Nevill A Company: Maj. Frank Sadler B Company: Maj. Mike Howard (WIA 6 June) C Company: Maj. Hugh Victor Duke (KIA 6 June) D Company: Maj. John Parlby (WIA 6 June) S Company: unknown
8th Armoured Brigade CO: Brig. H.J.Bernard Cracroft 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards CO: Lt-Col. Rodney Byron A Squadron: Maj. ‘Jack’ Goldsmid B Squadron: Maj. Stephen Jenkins C Squadron: Maj. T.M. Bell 24th Lancers CO: Lt-Col. W.A.C. Anderson (52560) 2IC: Major George Learmouth Streeter MC (44977) A Squadron: Maj. Bourne B Squadron: Maj. Roy Bennett/ Capt. Ian Kerr (KIA 26 June) C Squadron: Maj. J. Noel Cowley (WIA 10 June) 1 Tp: Lt. A.C. Hawkins (WIA Normandy) 2 Tp: Lt. Clive Dixon (WIA 11 June) 3 Tp: Lt. B.A. Jewell 4 Tp: Lt. David G.D. Gray (WIA 10 June) 5 (Firefly) Tp: Lt. Bertram Henry Garai (WIA 9 June) Sherwood Rangers CO: Lt-Col. John Anderson A Squadron: Maj. S. Chrisopherson B Squadron: Maj. Michael Gold C Squadron: Maj. Stephen Mitchell 147 Field SP Regt. CO: Lt-Col. R.A. Phayre 413 Battery: unknown 431 Battery: unknown 511 Battery: unknown
I can assist with these names, but note you do not ask for any details for the 56th Infantry Brigade. Do you require these too? What about the Divisional HQ Staff Officers and other Divisional units, e.g. Recce, MG, RA, RE, RCS, RASC, RAMC, RAOC & REME?
From Jim (Verrieres) there was a few missing from the list (Hq Company)so this is what he has sent over ? Durham Light Infantry: 6th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. A.E. Green HQ Company: Captain A E Short Intelligence Officer Lieutenant N Myers Signals Officer:Lieutenant J A W Wedgwood Motor Transport Officer :Lieutenant P G Tynedale Quartermaster :Captain J Runciman Medical Officer :Captain J W Murphy RAMC Padre: Captain C Hawksworth RACHd. A Company: Major R Galloway B Company: Major R G Atkinson C Company: Major M J Kirby D Company: Major D E I Thomlinson S Company: Captain W J Field Anti Tank Platoon: Captain G B Hawkins Carrier Platoon: Captain I A Daw Mortar Platoon :Lieutenant E V Oldham Assault Pioneer Platoon: Captain A H Sandwich. (I will leave the platoon commanders out of the 8th 9th DLI listings) Kyle
Durham Light Infantry: 9th Battalion CO:Lt-Col. Humphrey Woods (KIA 14 June) HQ Company: Captain G Lanning A Company: Major D’Arcy-Irvine B Company: Major J L Kennedy (Not Kenny) C Company: Major J H W Hudson D Company: Major L E V Rumble S Company: Captain K M Wood Kyle
Durham Light Infantry: 8th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. Robert Lidwell HQ Company: Major A H Dunn (unconfirmed) A Company: Major C L Beattie B Company: Major T A Clapton C Company: Major J A Leybourne D Company: Captain I R English S Company: Major J P Chapman Kyle
Going by the battalion history, Majors C W S Belas, A N Rice, H C Cocking, and D C Harrison and Captain W. Sugarman were apparently company commanders in 5th East Yorks as of 31 May 1944. Harrison had D Company, don't know about the others.
I had not included 56th Brigade thus far as it was listed as independent of 50th Division. This is what I have so far for 56th Infantry Brigade: 56th Infantry Brigade Brig. E.C. Pepper Essex Regiment: 2nd Battalion CO: Lt-Col. J.F. Higson A Company B Company C Company: Maj. Pat Barrass D Company S Company Glosters Regiment: 2nd Battalion CO: Lt-Col. D. Biddle A Company B Company: Maj. Basil Stephens C Company D Company S Company: Capt. French South Wales Borderers: 2nd Battalion CO: Lt-Col. R.W. Craddock 2IC: Maj. Barlow A Company B Company: Maj. Boon C Company: Maj. Gillespie (WIA 7 June) D Company S Company Primarily I was interested basically in the frontline units but I have compiled all of the information that people have provided on my other posts on Juno and Sword beaches and will collate these so they will be available to all in resources when completed. I was told by the National Army Museum that there was no single source that listed all Company Commanders on D-Day so decided to do something about that. Thank you for all of your contributions.
A couple of recent additions: South Wales Borderers: 2nd Battalion CO: Lt-Col. R.W. Craddock 2IC: Maj. Barlow IO: Lt. Nicholas Somerville A Company B Company: Maj. Boon C Company: Maj. Gillespie (WIA 7 June) D Company S Company: Capt. French
Dorsetshire Regiment: 1st Battalion CO: Lt-Col. E.A.M. Norie OBE 2IC: Maj. AEC Bredin A Company: Maj. A.A.E. Jones (WIA 6 June, returned to duty on 7 June) B Company: Maj. P Chilton MC C Company: Maj. RM Nicoll D Company: Maj. WM Hayes S Company: Capt. E Hannah (???) Norie awarded DSO in NWE. Bredin later promoted & became Lt-Col 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment + awarded DSO & MC in NWE. Nicoll awarded MC in NWE. Hayes awarded MC + Bar in NWE. Hannah awarded MBE and C in C’s Certificate in NWE.
Green Howards: 6th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. Robin Hastings 2IC: Maj. C.M. Hull MC + Bar A Company: Capt. Frederick H Honeyman (KIA at Oristot on 9 June) B Company: Maj. J.M. Young (WIA at Oristot on 11 June) C Company: Capt. Jack C. Linn (WIA & then KIA on assault beach 6 June). Replaced by Capt. RC Chambers (2nd I/C of C Coy - KIA at Oristot on 11 June) D Company: Maj. R. Lofthouse S Company: Maj. RJL Jackson (WIA leaving landing craft 6 June) Honeyman awarded MC for his actions on D-Day. Lofthouse awarded MC for his actions on D-Day. Young awarded MC for his actions at Oristot on 11 June.
Green Howards: 7th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. P.H. Richardson DSO, OBE (WIA & taken PoW at or near Longraye 18 June) 2IC: Maj. H.E. Bowley (acting) was C Company commander Maj. H.R.D. Oldman MC did not arrive until 12 June A Company: Maj. A.D. Spark (left Battalion on 22 June) B Company: Maj. R.H.E. Hudson (WIA & taken PoW at or near Longraye 18 June) C Company: Capt. D.H. Warrener (Acting to 12 June, Maj. HE Bowley then resuming command, but KIA at or near Longraye 16 June & Capt. DH Warrener once again took over command) D Company: Maj. S.M. Boyle (KIA at or near Longraye 16 June) S Company: unknown No awards that I can see for these officers in NWE.
This list is correct at 31 May 1944, except I believe Maj. Harrison’s initials were ‘KC’. Also, Capt. W Sugarman was the CO of ‘D’ Coy. The Battalion and Regimental histories are at odds on this point, but the following narrative from the then Capt. Consitt, appears to decide the matter in favour of Capt. Sugarman: The landing of 5 East Yorks, 1944 June See page 5. East Yorks Regiment: 5th Battalion CO: Lt-Col. White MBE (WIA 6 June and evacuated), Maj. JHF Dixon assuming command 2nd I/C Maj. J.H.F. Dixon (WIA and DoW 11 June) A Company: unknown B Company: Maj. HC Cocking (KIA at St Pierre on 11 June) C Company: Maj. KC Harrison (WIA at Bemmel on 2 October) D Company: Capt. W Sugarman (WIA 6 June), Capt. A Consitt then assumed command. S Company: unknown I am taking a leap of faith with the Company Commanders as listed, as my sources do not show who is commanding on 6 June 1944. However, Maj. HC Cocking is mentioned as B Company CO in Sicily and Maj. KC Harrison is mentioned as C Company CO when WIA at Bemmel on 2 October 1944. This doesn’t mean the CO’s had not been and were not moved around. The Consitt narrative also mentions two Company CO’s being wounded on D-Day, the second one being shot through the ankle. This could have been anyone but Sugarman, but whoever it was commanded ‘C’ Company. If Harrison was CO of ‘C’ Company the wound could not have been debilitating in the longer term. See Pages 1 and 2. Maj. CWS Belas was awarded the MBE (1946). Maj. HC Cocking had previously served with the ill-fated 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, before joining the 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment. I do not know if he survived/escaped when the 4th Bn were overrun at/near Rotunda Ualeb - situated between the Trigh El Abd and Trigh Capuzzo - in the Gazala line defences, or if he had already transferred. Both were 50 Div units. Capt. A Consitt was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Vermilion Star. Maj. AMN Rice was awarded the MC in NWE, but a short while later was KIA at Le Plessis Grimoult on 9 August 1944. Capt. W Sugarman was awarded the MC in NWE.
Thanks for the all of the information Steve Mac. I have a copy of 5th East Yorks War Diary which states that on June 9 Maj. H.C. COCKING who was S Company commander became C Company commander. There is a further note for Appendix D but I do not have this. It also states that C and D companies on June 9 were reorganised but again I have no information regarding this. Maj. Arthur M.N. Rice MC (172334) was attached from Northamptonshire Regiment (KIA 9 August) and he led the right front assault company of the East Yorks Regiment on D-Day, might this be A Company?
Again according to the battalion history, A was one of the two assault companies on 6 June. The other was D (Harrison, then Consitt). Other 5th East Yorks appointments, 31/5/44: MTO: Capt T. A. J. Hill Carrier Plat: Capt F. E. Donkersley Anti Tank Plat: Capt W. Watney Adjutant: Capt T. G. Fenwick
Good find, H. The assault Company’s were ‘A’ and ‘D’, with ‘A’ on the right. ‘B’ followed-up in support of ‘A’ and ‘C’ in support of ‘D’. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Company’s were badly mauled on D-Day and were formed into a composite Company. When the Officer and ORs replacements arrived they were reorganised (and I know this was between 8th and 10th June; so the 9th fits).
The narrative says: "Coming out of the water I saw a large crowd up against the sea wall this transpired to be C Coy who were by then without Coy Comd or 2 i/c the former having been shot through the ankle on the beach and being unable to move and the 2 i/c having been killed." From the 6 Jun entry of the 5 E YORKS War Diary for 0750 to 1000 hrs: Own cas on beach, killed and wounded, MAJOR K.C.HARRISON, CAPT.W.SUGARMAN, CAPT.J.H.WHITE(kia) LIEUTS A.DAVIES (kia) W.McILROY, R. APPELTON and approx 85 O.Rs This confirms that Maj Harrison was indeed C Coy comdr. As also found by Steve, Maj Sugarman was D Coy comdr: There remains Maj Belas, who must therefore have been commanding the remaining Company, i.e. B Coy. He too was wounded on D Day, but in the afternoon (1750 hrs entry of the WD). In summary: 5 E YORKS A Coy: Maj AMN Rice B Coy: Maj CWS Belas (WIA 6 Jun pm) C Coy: Maj KC Harrison (WIA 6 Jun am) D Coy: Capt W Sugarman (WIA 6 Jun am), replaced by Capt A Consitt S Coy: Maj HC Cocking
Next are the Units under command of 6th Assault Regiment RE. I have included the commanders assigned to each of the gaps off Gold beach. 6th Assault Regiment RE 81 Assault Squadron CO: Maj. R. E. Thompstone King Green X Breeching Squadron, Major Sutton (OC, C Squadron, Westminster Dragoons) Gap 1, Capt. D. A. King Gap 2, Lt. J. D. Darby Gap 3, Capt. T. W. Davies King Red Z Breaching Squadron, Major Thompstone Gap 4, Lt. J. C. Skelly Gap 5, Major Thompstone Gap 6, Capt. J. M. Birkbeck 82 Assault Squadron CO: Maj. H. G. A. Elphinstone Jig Green West W Breaching Squadron, Major Elphinstone Gap 1, Capt. K.M. Wilford Gap 2, Major Elphinstone Gap 3, Lt. S.V. Grant Jig Green East Y Breaching Squadron, Capt. H. P. Stanyon, (OC, B Squadron, Westminster Dragoons) Gap 4, Capt. J. M. Leytham Gap 5, Lt. G. R. Ellis Gap 6, Capt. F. J. B. Somerset
Royal Engineers of 50th Infantry Division 233 Field Company CO: Maj. J.R. Cave-Browne 295 Field Company CO: Maj. C.W. Wood 505 Field Company CO: Maj. C.A.O.B. Compton 235 Field Park Company CO: Maj. I.L. Smith
61st Recce Regiment CO: Lt-Col. Sir William Mount (WIA 6 June) HQ Squadron: Maj. Johnson A Squadron: Maj. Rayer B Squadron: Capt. Harding C Squadron: Maj. Alexander 2/Cheshire Regiment supporting MG & Mortar Bn. CO: Lt-Col. S.V. Keeling A Company (MG): unknown B Company (MG): unknown C Company (MG): Maj. Abel D Company (M): unknown
