WO 171/1322 - 6 KOSB - July 1944

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1. and the Staff Manual respectively Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Army Form C.2118
	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Unit: 6 KOSB
Month and Year: July 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. J.G. Shillington

Place	Date	Summary
GRAINVILLE 9064	1	A patrol led by Lt KG BUY went out at night to ascertain if wood at 900643 contained enemy and returned reporting it clear. In the morning, at approx 0700 hrs, the enemy attacked with tks. The attack came in on C Coy's front and on the unit of the fmn on the right. A grim battle ensued in the course of which several enemy tks were knocked out. Eventually, however, through superiority in numbers and armament, all a/tk guns in the sector were knocked out and C Coy forced back. A gallant stand was made however on the Coy HQ line by Capt NC ROLLO and the remaining elements of C Coy. Acts of outstanding bravery were also performed by Capt J ELLIOT and Cpl WALLACE, both of whom continued to man and operate a/tk guns when the crews were killed until the guns were knocked out by direct hits. A few enemy tks succeeded in infiltrating round the right flank where the fmn on the right had fallen back, but the stand of C Coy prevented this taking place long enough for a strong armd counterattack to be put in in the evening which succeeded in restoring the situation. Two coys of 6RSF came under comd and by nightfall the line was again firmly est, if anything more strongly than before. The casualties for the day included Lt KG BUY, Lt HDP MINCHIN and 14 ORs killed, Maj RN GILBERTSON, Capt J ELLIOT and 53 ORs wounded and 41 missing (presumably wounded). Weather fair Rollo, Norman Chetwynd
GRAINVILLE 9064	2	The Bn remained in posn all day and although subjected to heavy and continual mortar fire, was not attacked. A patrol of tks and SP guns went out as far as the line of the rly to cover mine laying ops which were taking place on our front. This patrol suffered two tk casualties but did not encounter any enemy tks. In the evening the Bn was relieved by a Bn of the E LANCS. The relief was completed by about 2300 hrs and the Bn set off by march route to its new area. Weather showery
SECQUEVILLE 9174	3	The Bn arrived in a rest area near SECQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN in the early morning. The whole day was spent in re-org and rest. In the morning the Div Comd visited the Bn and addsd all ranks. He read a letter of congratulation received from Gen Montgomery on the fine performance of the Div and added his personal thanks. Weather fair Montgomery, Bernard Law "Monty"
SECQUEVILLE 9174	4	The CO attended a conference conducted by the Div Comd on the subject of the recent ops. The Bn continued to re-org and rest. A church service was held in the bivouac area in the evening. Weather wet
SECQUEVILLE 9174	5	The Bn was given an op role which involved the occupation of defensive posns in the SECQUEVILLE area to counter any enemy attack from CARPIQUET. Recces were carried out and posns dug. CO attended a conference in the afternoon. A draft of 36 ORs arrived from RHU. Weather showery
SECQUEVILLE 9174	6	Trg of various types was carried out by Coys. Certain men attended entertainments by Concert Parties and films in the neighbouring village of ST CROIX. Maj LANE-JOYNT, South Lancs, joined the Bn from RHU and took over comd of B Coy. Weather fair
SECQUEVILLE	7	CO was sent for to Bde HQ and Bn put on 3 hrs notice to move. CO received orders that the Bn together with the remainder of the Bde were to proceed to area TOURVILLE 9364 and take over from a Bde of 43 Div in that area. Recces down to Coy levels were carried out during the remainder of the day and at approx 2200 hrs the Bn set forth by march route to take over their allotted sector. Weather fair
TOURVILLE 9364	8	The Bn took over res posn in the sector, with 8RS on right fwd and 6RSF on left fwd fronts respectively. Bn HQ was at 931639. D and B Coys were in front, and A and C Coys in rear. The day was quiet in this sector of the front, the main activity taking place on the CAEN sector, where the town was captured later in the day. Patrols were sent out at night by the two fwd Bns but not by this Bn. Weather dull
TOURVILLE 9364	9	The sector remained quiet throughout the day, although intermittent shelling and mortaring occurred. The relief which was expected to take place to-night has now been postponed by 24 hrs. A patrol led by Lt J GUETTLER went out at night to ascertain if 933617 was held by enemy and returned with infm that it was not held. Weather fair
TOURVILLE 9364	10	An attack was launched at 0500 hrs by 43 Div in areas SW and SOUTH of CAEN. 46 (H) Inf Bde is under comd 43 Div for this op. The attack was preceded by a hy barrage. The attack proceeded according to plan and by nightfall 43 Div had est itself on the outskirts of MALTOT 9862 and pt 112 9561. 46 (H) Inf Bde were est in area BRETTEVILLE-SUR-ODON 9866 and ETERVILLE 9364. Determined German counter-attacks were beaten off. As a result of this action there was increased enemy mor fire and shelling on 44 Bde front, but no cas were sustained by the Bn. Weather dull with some rain
TOURVILLE 9364	11	The front remained quiet during the day except for intermittent shelling and mortaring, some of which fell close to the Bn posns. Maj NC ROLLO and OR of A Coy were wounded as a result of such a shell. In the course of the day reps from 4 WELCH arrived with a view to taking over. The relieving Coy itself arrived in the evening about 2300 hrs and the relief was complete by midnight. Weather dull & showery Rollo, Norman Chetwynd
SECQUEVILLE 9174	12	The Bn left TOURVILLE area at approx 0200 hrs and proceeded by march route to CHEUX where it embussed and returned to its previous bivouac area in SECQUEVILLE, arriving approx 0500 hrs. The remainder of the day was spent in re-org and rest. The CO carried out a recce in TOURMAUVILLE area with a view to a future attack in that area. A Church Service was held in the evening near Bn HQ. Weather fair
SECQUEVILLE 9174	13	The CO attended an O Gp at 1000 hrs and on return held a conference of Coy Comds. The intended plan is that 6KOSB should take part in a night attack the object of which is to extend the present line SW of TOURVILLE. The CO made a tentative plan as to how he considered this might be done. It is anticipated that the attack will be illuminated by artificial light from search lights. Men carried out usual trg during the day and completed rest and re-org. Weather fair
TOURVILLE	14	The day was spent in rest and preparation for move. At 2100 hrs the Bn moved to its previous area at TOURVILLE where it occupied posns for the night. Activity on this sector during the night was slight. Weather fair
TOURVILLE	15	The Bn left its FAA and proceeded at about 2235 hrs to an FUP in the area 935625 to 939619. OO for Op GREENLINE was issued and is att hereto as Appx A. The attack was put in under artificial moonlight conditions created by searchlights reflected on the sky. The SL was crossed at 2330 hrs with A and C Coys in front, making for objectives 927613 and 931610 respectively. At 2340 hrs it was learned that the capture of ESQUAY by 2 GLAS H had taken place. Weather fair
Area 931610	16	A and C Coys reached their objectives 0030 hrs. B and D Coys then set off from the SL for their objectives which were 918609 and 927603 respectively, and at 0235 hrs Bn HQ then moved to 928615, and commenced digging in. Phase SHUFFLE was then ordered and carried out. 8RS commenced their attack on our right and succeeded in attaining their objectives. D Coy discovered at dawn that it had penetrated too far fwd and was more or less cut off. After a prolonged and difficult action it succeeded in disengaging and tying up its flanks. For the whole of the remainder of the day the Bn held grimly on to these posns in spite of counter attacks and also aerial attack. During the action Lt Col SHILLINGTON and Maj JW OGILVIE were wounded and Capt DUN, Lt FRAFJORD and Lt GUETTLER killed. Lt Col CWP RICHARDSON took over comd of the Bn. Weather fair
928615	17	During the night an attack was put in on EVRECY by 2 A&SH but did not succeed. All day the posn was held in spite of counter attack and mortaring which became very bad indeed. At night an attack on EVRECY was made by 4 and 6 RWF sp by tks, but again this failed to take the town. Several other offrs incl Capt MW TWOGOOD wounded during the day. Weather fair
928615	18	Intermittent counter-attacks during the day all of which were successfully broken up by our arty fire which took a hy toll. Infm received that as a result of the ops on our front the armour had been able to break through SOUTH of CAEN and was now doing well. Typhoon effort on NBW posns succeeded in silencing two batteries. Weather fair
928615	19	The front was exceptionally quiet for several hrs in the evening and A B & D Coys pushed out patrols to the rd LE BON REPOS - EVRECY – BOUGY. D Coy were the only coy who encountered any opposition. Shelling and mortaring increased as the day went on. In the evening 1 HLI arrived to take over commencing at midnight. Weather fair
917654	20	The hand over took place by Coys in face of hy mortar fire and was complete by 0300 hrs, although some casualties were suffered on the way. The Bn withdrew to 917654 and spent the day in reorg and rest. Weather fair
917654	21	The Corps Comd, Lt Gen Ritchie visited the Bn and spoke to offrs and several ORs. The day was spent on further re-org, made difficult by incessant hy rain. In the afternoon the area was shelled by enemy hy guns and permission was obtained from Bde to move to 904683. This was carried out and completed by 2200 hrs. Weather wet Ritchie, Neil Methuen
904683	22	The CO and IO spent the whole day carrying out a recce in the area BEZIERS 6760, where the Bn is to proceed tomorrow to take over a sector of the line occupied by 3 Bn 10 US Inf Regt. The Bn spent the whole day in re-org, and drying clothes, cleaning weapons, etc, under the supervision of Lt Col JFM MACDONALD who is at present att to the Bn and acting as 2IC. On his return in the evening the CO held an O Gp at which he gave infm regarding disposn of Coys etc in the new area. Weather dull
BEZIERS 6760	23	The CO addressed the Bn in the forenoon after which he departed for the new area with Coy Comds. At approx 1300 hrs the Bn moved off embussed and arrived in new area at approx 1800 hrs. The Bn is in Bde res and disposns are as follows:- Bn HQ 676606; A Coy 669605; B Coy 660605; D Coy 676605. C Coy is under comd of 8RS and the carrier pl of 6RSF. All guns are deployed on a Bde basis. Weather fair
BEZIERS 6760	24	Patrolling took place during the night but in other respects this sector of the front remained quiet. Certain adjustments were made to Coy disposns, C Coy coming back under comd again and taking up a posn to the rear of Bn HQ. Weather fair
BEZIERS 6760	25	The Div Comd visited the Bn in the morning and discussed posns with the Bde Comd and the CO. Apart from patrolling on both sides the front remained quiet and there was little to report. Weather fair
BEZIERS 6760 FLAMBARDIERE 7163	26	At 0630 hrs the Americans on the immediate right of the Bn commenced an attack supported from B Coy area. This attack continued all through the day and appeared to be successful. A few casualties from mortaring were sustained by B Coy. At 1600 hrs the Bn was relieved by 7 Seaforth the relief being complete by 1900 hrs. The Bn then moved to a rest area at FLAMBARDIERE. Weather fair
FLAMBARDIERE 7163	27	The day was spent in rest and re-org. 15 (S) Div Concert Party gave a performance in the afternoon. All Comds took part in a recce in the area of LIVRY 7361 with a view to future ops in that area. Infm was received later in the day, however, that there had been an alteration in plan and such ops are now unlikely. Weather fair
FLAMBARDIERE 7163	28	Trg and further re-org were carried out during the day, and inter Coy soccer matches were arranged and played off. The Bde Comd, Brig HDK MONEY, DSO, visited the Bn during the day. In the evening at about 2000 hrs a sudden warning order for an immediate move was given and about 2300 hrs the Bn moved off to CAUMONT 7059 and took over from 10 HLI who were holding the line in that sector. Weather fair
CAUMONT 7059	29	The Bn remained in CAUMONT all day holding the sector where the Bde is providing a firm base for an attack at dawn on 30 July by 227 and 46 Bdes supported by 6 Gds Tk Bde. Sir EDWARD BRADFORD joined the Bn as 2IC and Capt MALCOLM-KING, RSF, was posted to B Coy as 2IC. The Bn was visited in the evening by Brig HDK MONEY DSO who said farewell on his departure for England to assume an appointment there. His successor Brig COCKBURN, accompanied him. Weather fair
CAUMONT 7059	30	The attack began with an intense barrage at 0655 hrs and the first objectives which were SEPT VENTS 6957 and wood 7158 were soon taken. By the end of the day the final objectives in the area of pt 309 6951 had been taken and were held by 46 Bde. 43 Div on the left carried out a simultaneous attack which made rather slower progress. No move was made by the Bn during this day. Weather fine
685553	31	At 0345 hrs the Bn left CAUMONT and proceeded to an FAA at 685553. It remained in this posn most of the day, awaiting developments on the front and left flank. Eventually at 1730 hrs the Bn moved to area 692538 to take up a counter attack role in the event of the situation on pt 309 requiring to be restored. Weather fine

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Source: The War Diaries of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division June 1944 - May 1945.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. Locations are calculated, so might not be in the correct place. For historical research, always check the originals.

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