| 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 |
| Unit: 23rd Hussars | ||
| Month and Year: July 1944 | (Erase heading not required). | Commanding Officer: Lt.Col. R.P. HARDING, DSO |
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCE | 1-7 | Harbour in area PUTOT-EN-BESSIN, 1 OR killed 5 Jul. Received 15 Shermans, 1 Stuart | ||
| 8 | Relieve 4 CLY in counter-attack role NORTH of RAURAY under command 12 Corps. Remained there until 14 Jul – very occasional shelling and mortaring. | |||
| 15 | Rejoined A Ech area CULLY. 3 Shermans, 2 Carriers S & C received. | |||
| 17 | 0100 | F and A. 1 echs moved to harbour WEST of R. ORNE. | ||
| 17 | 2300 | Moved across R. ORNE. | ||
| 18 | 0740 | Adv behind 2 FF Yeo | ||
| 18 | 1120 | A Sqn engaged from area DEMOUVILLE. | ||
| 18 | 1230 | Action broken off and avd continued. | ||
| 18 | 1430 | Move fwd in sp 2 FF Yeo NORTH of SOLIERS. RHQ area of GRENTHEVILLE. | ||
| 18 | 1800 | Withdrew to cover of rly embankment GRENTHEVILLE. 11 ORs killed, Major Seymour, Capt. Jones, Lt. Cochrane and 30 ORs wounded, Major Shebbeare, Lt. Pratt and 6 ORs missing. | ||
| 19 | In reserve behind rly. Lt. Addison and 1 OR wounded, 1 OR missing | |||
| 19 | 1700 | Attacked by approx 30 FW 190s – 1 shot down | ||
| 19 | 2030 | Harbour just SE of CAEN. | ||
| 20 | 0530 | B Sqn fwd in sp of 159 Inf Bde area BRAS. | ||
| 20 | 1145 | Move to DEMOUVILLE. A and A.1 echs rejoined. 1 OR killed, Capt. Walter and 1 OR wounded. | ||
| 21 | Harbour DEMOUVILLE. Heavy rain. 1 M/C received. | |||
| FRANCE | 22 | 0630 | Moved to harbour area ST GERMAIN DES BLANCHES HERBES where stayed until 28 Jul. 20 Shermans received. 3 Crusaders to 58 LAA Regt. 2 Stuarts to 44 RTR. 4 Carriers S & C to 8 Corps OFP. | |
| 29 | 0100 | Moved to area CAUMONT. Harbour SOUTH of FOULOGNES 6570. | ||
| 30 | 0300 | Adv carrying 3 Mons on tanks. | ||
| 30 | 1100 | Held up by Inf and mines just NORTH of SEPT VENTS. | ||
| 30 | 1200 | Adv to ST JEAN DES ESSARTIERS. Two 88 mms captured. | ||
| 31 | 0200 | Harbour | ||
| 31 | 1400 | Adv by ST MARTIN DES BESACES, FORET L'EVEQUE, LA FERRIERS. 'B' Sqn leading captured two 105 mm guns X rds 6345. 'B' Sqn cross R.SOULEUVE at 1800 hrs. followed by 'C', RHQ, 'A'. | ||
| 31 | Own vehs lost by enemy action during Jul:- 14 Shermans, 1 M/c. | |||
| 31 | Enemy vehs (minimum losses: Destroyed: 2 Tigers, 8 Panthers, 2 Sps, 1 Messerschmidt 109, 1 F.W. 190. K.O.: 1 Panther, 2 105 mm guns. |
Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.
