WO 171/1257 - 3 Irish Guards - August 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: 3rd Bn Irish Guards
Month and Year: August 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. J.O.E. Vandeleur

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
South of CAUMONT	1	1000	The Commanding Officer held an "o" Group when orders were given for the Bn. to proceed on foot with caution and continue the advance to ST. MARTIN DES BESACES 6750. Number 2 coy. leading with tanks of Ist. (Armd.) Coldstream Gds. in support. A further "o" Group was held just before reaching ST. MARTIN DES BESACES. Fairly heavy shelling was experienced and no.2 coy. R.T,truck was damaged. Orders to attack high ground on either side of the road 6846 – 6746 were received. the Commanding Officer went forward with 2 and X coy. Comds,Bty. Comd. R.A. and Major R.Batt (Sqn. Comd. of 1st. Coldstream gds. tanks) to recee the start line. This was placed at 6734. Attack went in at about 1800hrs.with X coy. on the right, and 2 coy. left. Centre line was the main road and each coy. had one troop of tanks in support. 2 Coy. came under Mortar fire and suffered four casualties. Objectives were reached with out further incidents, the enemy having withdrawn as the Bn. approached. This was borne out by Lt. Bourke of no. 2 Coy. who located a Panther tank making off down the hill. The attack was watched from the high ground by the Commanding Officer - an unusual occurance in this very enclosed community. During the consolidation of this position the coys. were surprised by the friendliness of the local inhabitants. One old lady kissed each man of Lt. Llewellyn's Platoon, and an old man provided Cider for all. Patrols were then sent out - Lt.A.N.Drew (X coy.) took one down to the south and met two doing patrols on the way. He got shot at from all sides, and by both sides but got valuable information. Contact was made with 1st.- MOT- Grenadier gds. who reported LE TOURNEUR held in some strength, including tanks, by the enemy. During this period 1 and 4 coys. carried out an offensive sweep to the river, due west. A few prisoners were rounded up, but otherwise there were no incidents. Casualties total for the day were 2 ors. killed and 9 ors. wounded.

Source: Antoine Leprince, transcribing: Jeroen Koppes.

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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