Inns of Court Regiment, D-Day

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by camal697, Sep 26, 2012.

  1. camal697

    camal697 Junior Member

    Hello All!

    On D-Day, "C" Squadron, The Inns of Court Regiment was paired up with “Royal Engineers in halftracks”. Their task after landing was to rush to the Orne River bridges south of Caen and demolish them to delay the arrival of German reinforcements into the beachhead area.
    Does anyone know when and where on Juno beach these units landed, and which engineering unit was paired with the Inns of Court?
    The Canadian histories I have only mention this plan in passing with almost no details.
    Thanks!
     
  2. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I am afraid I can not answer your question, but I am reminded of a remark by my good friend John Salt that there was something very satisfying about lawyers being sent off in front to find the enemy, driving in thinly-armoured spamcans.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  3. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    This may help.
     

    Attached Files:

    Mechtraveller and Owen like this.
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The sappers were from 73 Fd Coy RE.

    If memory serves, it was the rest of 73 Fd Coy that got the job of tidying up Jerusalem Crossroads and had to recover the bodies of their comrades.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    I can't cite a source for it right now, but the Inns of Court's behavior that day is somewhat controversial. If memory serves, the Germans alleged that the unit used at least one captured German officer as a human shield.
     
  6. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Alleged to have occurred near Cristot on June 8th and attributed to an armoured car crew from C Squadron. 3 Canadian soldiers were later shot in reprisal.
     
  7. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    During the Korea conflict I was "invited " to join the Inns of Court as I was still on Z(T)
    reserve - nice smarmy letter from the C.O. welcoming me into his regiment - typical Lawyer - turned nasty when I failed to pass the medical and he assumed that I had let my fitness go - not so as my wounds from WW2 kicked in and I had the temerity to mention pension - they threw me out .....
    Cheers
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I can't cite a source for it right now, but the Inns of Court's behavior that day is somewhat controversial. If memory serves, the Germans alleged that the unit used at least one captured German officer as a human shield.

    I posted about the subject on here a few years ago-The best I've seen it documented is in ATB's D-Day Vols 1 and 2.
     
  9. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    The sappers were from 73 Fd Coy RE.

    If memory serves, it was the rest of 73 Fd Coy that got the job of tidying up Jerusalem Crossroads and had to recover the bodies of their comrades.

    Reading a few posts and I note that what I know as Jerusalem Crossroads (just north of the Jerusalem CWGC Cemetery) and which is where my fathers Regiment 24th Lancers went to disband in late july 1944 is actually a few miles from Cristot. Not wanting to doubt other accounts, is it possible that there are two Jerusalem crossroads? Also, any idea as to the precise location of that plaque...and is it still there? Just trying to sort one of life's little mysteries!
     
  10. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It is the one (the only one) north of the cemetery. The memorial is not particularly obvious but it was there last Easter, boxed in with perspex to try and preserve it. I didn't take a widw-angle shot but, as far as I can remember, it's on the verge in the northern angle of the crossroads.
     
  11. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    It is the one (the only one) north of the cemetery. The memorial is not particularly obvious but it was there last Easter, boxed in with perspex to try and preserve it. I didn't take a widw-angle shot but, as far as I can remember, it's on the verge in the northern angle of the crossroads.

    Interesting: I've been past that place so many times in what we refer to as 'Lancers Territory' and never spotted it.
     
  12. idler

    idler GeneralList

    This DLI at Jerusalem Crossroads photo is fairly well-known, but I always see the section of track that must be from 73 Fd Coy's half-track.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Interesting: I've been past that place so many times in what we refer to as 'Lancers Territory' and never spotted it.

    Is this the Memorial? Google Earth NE corner of the Crossroads.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Yep - that's it.
     
  15. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Yep - that's it.

    Isn't Google Earth magical....?
     
  16. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Camal,

    I have the following documents which have a fair amount of information.
    Landing Tables for units landing on Juno giving times and composition of unit.
    I Corps orders.
    I Corps D Day report from thr Cabinet Office.

    Given a couple of days I can find what you are looking for and send it by email.

    Mike.
     
  17. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    englandphil likes this.
  18. singeager

    singeager Senior Member

    Another version of the D-Day landings and photo's of the IoC on this link:

    http://www.daimler-fighting-vehicles.co.uk/roc.html

    click on the Inns of Court Regiment PDF link at the bottom of the page.

    Some years ago, had the good fortune to meet an ex Royal Engineer who was sat on the back (rear bonnet) of one of the IoC dingo's.
    He said they had lost their own transport and were improvising rides.

    As they were leaving the dunes they hit a landmine, he says one of the crew was badly injured in the legs and believed he died some days later.

    The Engineer lost some of his fingers that were holding onto the outer armour of the crew area, as the blast came up through the floor.

    (Stupidly I did not take his name at the time L).
     
    englandphil likes this.
  19. camal697

    camal697 Junior Member

    Thanks so much to everyone who posted a message, especially idler, Trux and singeager. You've more than answered my question! Just curious Trux, do the Juno landing tables list the halftracks as M5's or M14's
    Thanks!
     
  20. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Thanks to every one who has posted info on this thread. One of my Widnes casualties was killed on D-Day serving with the Inns of Court Regiment, although I have not been able to recipher which incident he was killed in.

    Widnes Weekly News July 21st. 1944 - Widnes Trooper Killed
    Official word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Smith of 32 Kent Street, Widnes, that their son. Trooper Tom Smith was killed in action in France on June 6th while serving with the Royal Armoured Corps. He was 23 years of age, and prior to joining the Forces in June 194, he was employed on the staff of Messrs. T. Bolton and sons he was educated at Simms Cross and later the Central School and was well-known in sporting circles. He was engaged to Miss Marie Walsh of 8 Bradshaw Street, Widnes. His eldest brother, Arthur, is serving in the Forces.

    SMITH, THOMAS [PORTRAIT] 2.jpg 2.jpg]

    If anyone can decipher the incident please let me know. Trooper Smith is listed as being killed at Cruelly along with a Sgt J Wright
     

Share This Page