WO 171/1258 - 3 Scots Guards - July 1944

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
Eastwell Park	1-3		Nothing to report.
Eastwell Park	4		Battalion A & B Echelon road march under Major Sir C.H.F. MACLEAN, Bt.
Eastwell Park	5-8		Nothing to report.
Eastwell Park	9		Preparations and planning for Exercise “SIZZLE”.	Appendix A.
	9		Battalion O Group 1830 hours.
Eastwell Park	10		Exercise “SIZZLE”.
	10		Tank Squadrons and A Echelon took part in Exercise of Battalion in Armoured role.
	10		Exercise took place in STONE STREET Training Area.
	10		Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C.I.H. DUNBAR.
Eastwell Park	11		Exercise “SIZZLE” concluded 1600 hours.
	11		Battalion returned to billets.
Eastwell Park	12		Maintenance and repair to tank casualties suffered on Exercise “SIZZLE”.
Eastwell Park	13-14		Nothing to report.
Eastwell Park	15		Battalion Drill Parade at 0830 hours under Lieutenant-Colonel C.I.H. DUNBAR.
Eastwell Park	16		Beginning of move to Tank Marshalling Area, BOTLEY, HANTS.
	16		First tank train left ASHFORD 1800 hours.
Eastwell Park	17		Preparations and stowage of ‘B’ vehicles for move “WADDING”. Appendix B.
Eastwell Park	18	0600	Move “WADDING”.
	18		Battalion F2, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Echelons, under command Lieutenant-Colonel C.I.H. DUNBAR, left billets at EASTWELL Park for marshalling area CAMP A9 and arrived 1600 hours.
Marshalling Area	19		3 Shiploads of Battalion M.T. left Marshalling Area for Embarkation in L.S.T.s at the Hards at GOSPORT.
	19		These shiploads lay out in SOLENT night 19/29 July.
Marshalling Area	20		Remaining M.T. and the tanks embarked.
	20		First 3 shiploads join convoy leaving for FRANCE 0900 hours.
	20		The convoy had rough crossing and arrived off JIG beach 1 1/2 miles EAST of ARROMANCHES 1900 hours.
	21		After beaching and drying out first shipload managed to disembark 0530 hours.
	21		2nd and 3rd L.S.T.s carrying Battalion vehicles remained off shore until next tide.
	21		L.S.T. carrying ‘S’ Squadron vehicles forced to turn back in heavy sea.
	21		Battalion begins concentration in area ESQUAY-SUR-SEULLES, 2 miles EAST BAYEUX.
	22		'S’ Squadron tanks arrived in concentration area.
	23		Concentration completed.
	24		Nothing to report.
	25		C.O., Second-in-Command, Adjutant and Squadron Leaders attended Conference given by 21 ARMY GROUP Commander, General Sir Bernard MONTGOMERY.
	26		C.O., Adjutant and Major Sir C.H.F. MACLEANT, Bt., visited H.Q. 5 GUARDS ARMOURED BRIGADE in area CAEN.
	27		Nothing to report.
	28	2200	Battalion was ordered to move from Concentration Area to area ST. HONORINE DE DUCY. (3 miles East of BALLEROY).
In the Field	29		Battalion in new area by 0830 hours
	29		6 GUARDS TANK BRIGADE was put in support 227 INFANTRY BRIGADE, 15 (S) DIVISION.
	29		Day spent in planning, recce and preparation for attack following day.
In the Field	30		In support 6 A.&S.H.
	30		Battalion commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C.I.H. DUNBAR, attacked South, with 1 squadron 4th Tank Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS supporting GORDONS on Left and 4th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS with 10 H.L.I. on Right, to take an objective (Point 309) 6 miles South of CAUMONT.
	30		The Battalion advanced 2 squadrons up, Right Flank on Right, ‘S’ on Left.
	30		Left Flank followed ‘S’ Squadron.
	30		The area attacked was held by elements of 361 German Infantry Division.
	30		This was the first stage in an Operation designed to break through the German lines and prepare the way for a large scal advance by British Armoured Formations.
	30		The Sector had been considerably weakened by the Germans in order to reinforce units holding their line further West opposite US V CORPS.
	30		At first the Battalion found little opposition and few anti-tank defences.
	30		A minefield, however, was encountered and 2 tanks were immobilised before avoiding action could be taken.
	30		Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. (735 Infantry Regiment suffered in particular, on the Battalion axis of advance).
	30		By 1500 hours the Battalion was on the feature immediately South of LES LOGES and preparing to continue the advance to the final objective, Point 309.
	30		At this point the Battalion, having made such good progress, had created a salient in which both flanks were exposed and furthermore the A.&S.H. had by this time dropped well behind.
	30		It had been decided to try and push on to the objective with all speed.
	30		Here the Battalion encountered an enemy force of unknown strength and equipped with Anti-Tank weapons.
	30		This force opened fire on ‘S’ Squadron from close range and from close country in the left rear which was an open flank owing to the failure of the formation on the left to get forward.
	30		9 tanks were penetrated and set on fire by 88 mm and possible 150 mm calibre shells, one S.P. gun (believed to be RHINOCEROS or ELEPHANT) and at least one Mk V were observed for a brief moment.
	30		Shots were fired and a hit with an H.E. round was claimed on a Mk V.
	30		Simultaneously with this attack the position was mortared.
	30		The enemy withdrew apparently in haste after this single encounter.
	30		At 2330 hours the Battalion was released and went into harbour area 1 1/2 miles North West of LES LOGES.
	30		Casualties during the day’s battle were as follows:-
	30		OFFICERS:
	30		1 Killed - Captain N.W. BEESON
	30		2 Missing (believed Killed) - Major C.J. CUTHBERT (Second-in-Command), Lieutenant R. HUMBLE
	30		1 Wounded - Lieutenant C.R.T. CUNNINGHAM
	30		OTHER RANKS:
	30		5 Killed
	30		13 Missing (believed Killed)
	30		3 Missing
	30		19 Wounded
In the Field	31		The Battalion remained in support of the A.&S.H. during the day; a certain amount of repair and recovery work being carried out.
	31		The following appointments were made as a result of casualties incurred during 30 July:
	31		Major W.S.I. WHITELAW - Second-in-Command
	31		Captain C. O’M. FARRELL - Officer Commanding ‘S’ Squadron
	31		Captain P.E.G. BALFOUR - Second-in-Command Left Flank
	31		Captain J.W.O. ELLIOT joined the Battalion from 261 Forward Delivery Squadron R.A.C. and was appointed Recce Officer Left Flank.
	31		The Battalion still in support of A.&S.H. to new area 1/2 mile North of LES LOGES.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. For historical research, always check the originals.