OPERATION GOODWOOD: The 1st Welsh Guards and the capture of Le Poirier

Hello all,

This will be my first post here, and is the result of a bit of research I've been doing on the Guards Armoured Division. Feedback and corrections are very much appreciated, as well as any related questions, which I may or may not be able to answer! What follows is a short article summarising a small battalion-level action during Operation Goodwood. As you will see, it isn't a particularly notable or exciting episode, but I enjoyed trying to find the detail and to illuminate what is generally a passing mention in the books I've read on Goodwood.

Summary:

After assisting with mopping up enemy resistance in Cagny on the 18th, the 1st Welsh Guards went on to successfully attack Le Poirier on the 19th of July.


Map showing Le Poirier's proximity to Cagny.
Image source: Page 11, OPERATION GOODWOOD - Over the Battlefield. Edited by myself.


No.4 Company in action near Cagny, 19th of July 1944.
Image source: WWII Files.


Introduction to the 1st Welsh Guards:

This battalion was one of the three infantry battalions of 32nd Brigade, the infantry brigade of Guards Armoured Division.

Context of the attack:

This attack was made to consolidate the positions won by the armoured brigades the previous day. Guards Armoured, along with the other two armoured divisions, were in an exposed salient, and had received reports of enemy reserves moving up. They were ordered by the VIII Corps commander to '...improve their positions by local advances, and then to hold firm bases pending a further plan.'*

*Page 44, Chapter Two, THE STORY OF THE GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION.

Preliminary actions:

On the 18th of July, the battalion debussed from their lorries above Cagny and immediately made an attack into the town with the Prince of Wales Company* and No.2 Company to clear any remaining enemy elements. Both were able to secure a number of German prisoners, who were demoralised and very willing to surrender after the morning’s heavy bombing. They then dug in.

On the 19th of July, an immediate battalion attack was ordered on the little village of Le Poirier. An 'O' Group** was assembled and the attack planned.

*This is how the battalion referred to their No.1 Company.
**'Order' Group, a meeting where orders are passed out.

Forces allocated to the attack:

All four rifle companies of the 1st Welsh Guards were allocated to this attack. The battalion received considerable artillery and tank support.

I was unable to find many specifics here, as the sources I've investigated all lack detail when describing this attack. There is certainly no mention of supporting the attack in the diaries or histories of any of the tank units in the Guards Armoured Division.

I do know, however, that at least one battery of the Guards Armoured Division's 21st Anti-tank Regiment supported the attacks. There there was only one other attack on the Division's front during the 'consolidation' phase of Goodwood, supported by the AVRE tanks of 5th Assault Regiment Royal Engineers of 79th Armoured Division, so perhaps it was this unit that had been collared to support the Welsh.

Forces opposing the attack:

Facing the Welsh Guards were elements of the 1st SS-Panzer Division. This division had been in combat on the other side of the Orne before being brought over to face Operation Goodwood.
Panzer grenadiers, an anti-tank gun, and Panther tanks were found to be in the area.

The panzer grenadiers were likely members of the the 1st or 2nd SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment, and the Panthers members of the 1st Battalion of 1st SS-Panzer Regiment, as the 2nd SS-Panzer Regiment was equipped with Panzer IVs.

As it seems 1st SS-Panzer Division had no organic towed anti-tank guns, the anti-tank gun mentioned was either an 8.8cm Flak from the divisional Flak battalion, or more likely a towed gun from 1053rd Anti-Tank Battalion, a LXXXVI Corps unit.

I would like to note that these are simply an educated guess based on the sources I've looked over, and should not be taken as definitive. At the time of writing, I have not done anywhere near the same amount of research on the German side of the battle as I have the Allied. Any feedback or corrections here would be much appreciated!

Given the tiny force present, it seems probable that the objective of the SS soldiers in this skirmish was simply to delay any further Allied advance - small anti-tank outposts had indeed taken a heavy toll on the armoured advance the day before.

Account of the attack:

At 1700 on the 19th of July, the battalion advanced on Le Poirier, with No.2 and No.4 Companies leading. The tank and artillery support proved unneeded, as there was little opposition in the village, with the rifle companies easily taking up their positions.

The village was discovered to be lightly held by eight infantrymen and an anti-tank gun, a more substantial force perhaps having been withdrawn the night before. Given that there is no mention of Welsh or German casualties in any of the war diaries, it could be questioned if combat even occurred. Further research is needed here.

During the course of the attack, Q Battery 'Sanna's Post'* of the 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, equipped with self-propelled M10 anti-tank guns** and deployed in support of the infantry, knocked out three Panthers.

It is unclear if this tank force was an attempt at an immediate counterattack, but given the lack of description of any infantry-tank engagement in the Welsh Guards' war diary, it seems likely these were taken out by the anti-tank guns from overwatch positions. Another was destroyed the next day, which further backs up this idea.

Heavy shelling and mortaring in the battalion area killed one Guardsman during the night.

*Honour title from the 2nd Boer War.
**Page TBA, Chapter Three, THE STORY OF THE GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION.

Conclusion:
This was a limited attack that saw easy success due to little resistance. Had stiffer opposition been faced, it seems adequate support was on-hand, and likely would have been able to overcome it. This attack, in conjunction with the attack on Frénouville on the 20th, met the Corps goal of consolidating the divisional position, which for the Guards Armoured Division was Cagny, against counterattack.


Sources:

WO 171/1252: War Diary: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944 [accessed 20/11/23].
WO 171/1256: War Diary: 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944 | WW2Talk [accessed 04/03/2024].
WO 171/1259: War Diary: 1st Battalion WELSH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944 [accessed 20/11/23].
Wikipedia, Operation Goodwood [accessed 20/11/23].
Nigel F. Evans, Tripod, BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2: ANTI-TANK ARTILLERY [accessed 04/03/24].
The Royal Artillery 1939-45, 21 Anti-Tank Regiment RA [accessed 04/03/24].
J. Rickard, History of War, Operation Goodwood, 18-20 July 1944 [accessed 07/03/24].
Dr Leo Nierhorster, German Order of Battle: 1st SS-Armored Division June 6th 1944 [accessed 07/03/24].
The Observation Post, GUNNERS IN NORMANDY 75 YEARS ON [accessed 08/03/2024].
WWII Files, WWIIPOD: 1st Welsh Guards, near Cagny, Caen, Normandy, July 19, 1944 [accessed 08/03/24].
Nigel Nicolson, Patrick Forbes: The Grenadier Guards in the War of 1939-1945, Vol.1. [accessed 20/11/23].
Dr Stephen A Hart MA, Department of War Studies, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst: The Final Battle for Normandy, Northern France 9 July - 30 August 1944 [accessed 20/11/23].
Ken Ford, Osprey Publishing: Caen 1944 - Montgomery's break-out attempt.
Captain the Earl of Rosse & Colonel E. R. Hill DSO, Pen & Sword Military: THE STORY OF THE GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION, Chapter Two: NORMANDY--THE BATTLE FOR CAEN & Chapter Three: tba.
Ian Daglish, Pen & Sword Military: OPERATION GOODWOOD - Over the Battlefield.

 

Welcome to the forum.
Thank you for the interesting first post well done.
A number of threads here for your ongoing interest
operation goodwood | WW2Talk

 

After having a look at the 21st Anti-tank Regiment war diary for this period, I have some additions to make:

''I do know, however, that at least one battery of the Guards Armoured Division's 21st Anti-tank Regiment supported the attacks.''

This was specifically the HQ troop of Q Battery ''Stanna's Post''.

''During the course of the attack, Q Battery 'Sanna's Post'* of the 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, equipped with self-propelled M10 anti-tank guns** and deployed in support of the infantry, knocked out three Panthers.'''

These targets were hit in the area south of Le Poirier. The men responsible were Captain E.D.G. Smith, and a Lieutenant L. Hawker.

They also knocked out one 'half tracked troop carrier'. As the infantry in the village were panzergrenadiers, I believe this is most likely to have been a Sdkfz.251, although it could have been any one of a variety of half-tracks employed by the Germans at the time.

Captain Smith was made a casualty shortly after, when a mortar explosion ''slightly wounded [him] in the left arm''.

Source: WO 171/914 21 Anti-Tank Regiment 1944 Jan-Dec.