Hi all, I'm trying now to get more of a handle on 24th L events in July 1944. The WD for this month seems to be particularly slight on firm detail there, though there are one or two interesting accounts of some "unusual" events covered in there. Things seem to have moved on from Tilly and Rauray and focus is now put on establishing new bases forward and planning on supporting attacks i.e. to the east of Caumont. As well as the obvious poignancy on learning that the regiment was going to be disbanded and "All Officers and other ranks were posted, as far as possible to those Regiments or appointments to which they wished to go...." And apparently: "Over 600 24th Lancers went to "new homes". Most went to the 23rd Hussars or other units in the 8th Armoured Brigade (such as the SRY or 4/7th RDG) or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division."
Links to 24th Lancers in July 1944 WD of the 24th and of those associated with the 24th L at this time. Maps of Front line placement(s) in Normany during July 1944 Frontline marking in June-July 1944 on the eastern flank of the Normandy Bridgehead: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/OpSumm/maps/OpSumm-7.jpg Some dispositions and frontline marking for the date 25th July 1944: http://s53.photobuck...tt-map.gif.html Disposition and frontline markings for 1st August 1944: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord#/media/File:Normandybreakout.jpg
Events associated with the 24th Lancers in July 1944 Saturday 1st July 1944 The last of the events in the Defence of Rauray for the 24th L: WW2Talk Sunday 2nd July 1944 24th L move to a position to the East of Les Hauts Vents (basically isn't this c Point 103 but could possibly be Point 102 or even at a push the village of Cristot?) Monday 3rd July 1944 24th L moved to a position actually in Les Hauts Vents. 24th Lancers publish the 1st Edition of "Lancer Life" : 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. Tuesday 4th July 1944 [July 4, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map. Wednesday 5th July 1944 Thursday 6th July 1944 Friday 7th July 1944 Meanwhile elsewhere: heavy bombing of Caen and renewed allied attempts to take the city from the Germans. Saturday 8th July 1944 NTR Sunday 9th July 1944 Big gap from 3rd July to the events on the 9th July. This was partly a period of "rest" and some reports suggest that General Montgomery visited the 24th Lancers at this time, walked around the squadron lines and "seemed quite pleased" with what he saw. Monday 10th July 1944 Tuesday 11th July 1944 24th Lancers publish the 2nd Edition of "Lancer Life" : 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. Some detail from the Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade: The 8TH ARMOURED BRIGADE "On July 11th the 8th Armoured Brigade refreshed by a short rest, returned to the support of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the bloody attack on Hottot, which involved fighting in the exceptionally close country known as "The Bocage". Here tank commanders fell easy prey to enemy snipers whose aim was as good as their training." The IWM has some film on archive relating to the SRY at Hottot on this data at: Imperial War Museums Wednesday 12th July 1944 24th L moved back to area Conde-Sur-Seules (which is on the railroad to the northwest of Chouain) in support of 50 Div. Alternatively they may have been slightly to its south west, at some encampment nr. to Jerusalem Crossroads (???) Thursday 13th July 1944 "A" Squadron 24th L moved forward to the area North of Hottot (and therefore southwest of Tilly) in support 231 Bde. (B & C - as yet no idea??? Rm note). Some 24th L deaths KIA are mentioned due to enemy shelling on this date, but as yet I have only one record of this. Deaths on later dates may however be related to those wounded here on this date, who may have died subsequently however: Casualty Details Meanwhile elsewhere: allied attempts to take Caen temporarily stall due to determined German resistance. Friday 14th July 1944 "A" Squadron 24th L were relieved by "B" Squadron 24th L in the area of Hottot, in the late afternoon. (C - as yet no idea??? Rm note) Saturday 15th July "The 8th Armoured Brigade relieved the 2nd United States Armoured Division of a sector of their line Northeast of Caumont in the middle of July and for the remainder of the month remained static, occupying the line. The 12th Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps carried out some active patrolling but the majority of tanks were held ready for counter-attack." Sunday 16th July 1944 NHL p168 notes... "On Sunday 16th July, D+40, the Padre was able to hold an open air service which was enjoyed by everyone." Monday 17th July 1944 24th L moved to area La Senaudiere (a village to the west of Lingevres, itself to the west of Tilly) with the role of supporting any Brigade of 50 (N) Div. Nb. On 17 July 1944, Rommel was returning from visiting the headquarters of Sepp Dietrich, the commander of 1st SS Panzer Corps, being driven back to Army Group B headquarters in his staff car. According to a widely accepted version of events, an RCAF Spitfire of 412 Squadron piloted by Charley Fox strafed the car near Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery.[134] The car sped up and attempted to get off the main roadway, but a 20 mm round shattered the driver's left arm, causing the vehicle to come off the road and crash into some trees. Rommel was thrown from the car, suffering injuries to the left side of his face from glass shards and three fractures to his skull.[134][135] He was hospitalised with major head injuries. (Interesting that Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery leads to another incidence of Montgommery jinxing Rommel, almost like a Shakespeare play and the Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill, I could imagine someone telling him to "beware Montgommery", and him thinking "Oh I don't need to worry there....I think I can handle Montgommery ) Tuesday 18th July 1944 24th Lancers publish the 3rd Edition of "Lancer Life" : 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. There is a transcription of the Editorial of this edition here: 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. Meanwhile elsewhere: US forces seize St.Lo Wednesday 19th July 1944 Thursday 20th July 1944 Allied forces lay claim to Caen. Meanwhile elsewhere: "On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia." Friday 21st July 1944 Very heavy rain in the 8th Armoured Brigade area. Saturday 22nd July 1944 Visit of Churchill to liberated Caen: THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944 (TR 2044) Sunday 23rd July 1944 Monday 24th July 1944 The 24th L are informed that they are due to be disbanded Tuesday 25th July 1944 Some dispositions and frontline marking for this date: Animated Gif by Mick Wednesday 26th July 1944 24th Lancers publish the 4th Edition of "Lancer Life" : 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. Thursday 27th July 1944 Friday 28th July 1944 Saturday 29th July 1944 Sunday 30th July 1944 24th L moved to the Jerusalem cross roads area Conde-Sur-Seules. Meanwhile: "The 43rd (Wessex) Division attacked on the morning of the 30th July and were immediately enveloped in some thick, wet country which was a mass of mines and booby traps. The Sherwood Rangers (SRY) in support of the 130 Brigade, captured the village of Cahagnes while on the left the 13th/18th Hussars succeeded in taking St Germain D'Ectot and Orbois. The Americans in the West were reported as entering Avranches on the Atlantic coast." 1st August 1944 The 24th L moved to the area of Sully, to the northwest of Bayeux and was disbanded between the 1st August and the 10th August 1944. Reports suggest that the 24th Lancers had completely destroyed 11 Panthers and Mark IVs plus 5 self propelled guns and knocked out 20 tanks and 5 SPs. In their turn they had had 41 killed and 98 wounded since D-day. Twenty-eight 24th L tanks had been destroyed and another 21 damaged but subsequently recovered. Disposition and front-line markings for 1st August 1944: http://en.wikipedia....ndybreakout.jpg Notes: Mentions of Les Hauts Vents (for which I currently read Point 103?), La Senaudiere (to the west of Lingevres, itself to the west of Tilly), Jerusalem crossroads area Conde-Sur-Seules (Conde-Sur-Seules is to the northwest of Chouain, but the village of Jerusalem itself is more to the West of Chouain and there is a prominent crossroads on the map there that I assume is the "one"), Sully (seems slightly "left-field" as Sully is to the northwest of Bayeux - quite a way aways - unless there is another Sully in Normandy - closer to Tilly - of which I am not yet aware ???) - it makes perfect sense though for the "official" disbandment to take place fairly well away from the actual fighting, but a bit odd as many of these units were right back to the front line in barely no time at all, so it seems like perhaps a bit of a wasted roundabout trip Base Map For Tilly Sur Seulles by Ramiles posted Apr 16, 2015 at 11:59 AM [sharedmedia=gallery:images:28211]
For those 28 or so of the 24th L that went to the SRY: If you dig a deep enough hole something might come up Englishman at War "Two complete troops consisting of 3 tanks each, arrived from the 24th Lancers, which had recently been broken up, under Lieutenants Cameron and Cowan. These I posted to "B" squadron (!!!! :P !!!!) Jack Holman took command of "C" squadron, since Peter Seleri had been wounded. So apparently the 24th L that went to the SRY went to "B" squadron SRY..... http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57374-the-sry-in-nwe-in-august-1944/ Rm.
Some more letters from my grandfather to my grandmother, from Normandy July/August 1944. The first one mentioning the attempt on Hitler's Life - so would have to be after the 20th July 1944, the next one just prior to the 24th L actually being disbanded - so before 1st August 1944. Letter_just_after_20d6m1944 by Ramiles posted Dec 29, 2016 at 11:04 AM Sgt. B. Symes 24th Lancers B.L.A. Dearest Phyl + Rob, We have had some rain here but it has fined up + we have been able to wash clothes + generally tidy up. Our bivouac stood up to it very well, we found water seeping under but quickly dug a drain. We always dig in wherever we go, it pays it + gives one confidence, some of our efforts are very good when there’s timber handy. I have heard from Spud again. He’s still in hosp. but mending nicely. The effort on Hitler’s life* was a big boost to everyone it’s a pity it failed as so much suffering could have been cut short if that terrible man were put away. However every little helps and that may make him think it’s time to clear out before others try with greater success. The weather has held up the mail too + only odd letters are finding their way out. But since writing that sentence I’ve had one from you + Spud. I can’t write the same to both of you so you will write any news in this letter to him + ask him to write news from his letter to you, then it will add up for both of you. I have applied for a transfer to the R.A.S.C. I shall have to stay in Normandy of course. I can’t write my reason but perhaps Spud will be able to tell you. I shall transfer as a Sgt + there is no disgrace or anything like that at all, *On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. And then... Late_July_1944_Letter by Ramiles posted Dec 29, 2016 at 11:04 AM Sgt. B.Symes 24th Lancers B.L.A. Dearest Phyl + Rob, Since I wrote last I have gone the whole hog + applied for a commission in the R.A.S.C. There is quite a good story waiting to be told, but until it comes off official records there’s nothing more to say. Either I shall be lucky + get a lot or unlucky + stay as I am. So until we know something really concrete we leave it at that. Your letter of the 22nd arrived yesterday + I started to reply, called away, when I got back it was out of date so it had to be left. We are sitting quiet at the moment and expect to be for at least a week, by that time perhaps I shall be able to give you further news. In the meantime write to Spud he may be able to put you wise. In the evenings we go to a local farm, swap Sardines + Choc for cider + sit on the steps and talk, a few months of this and I shall speak French like a native. They say the weather here is the worst for 40 years, for July it is appalling, Hitler’s secret weapon I think. But it's been good today. So Rob busted his specs I hope it didn’t upset him. That toothache gag was Jake’s way of breaking the news my dear. How are you managing to house another one, does she sleep on the stairs?
This one (letter below 24th L War Diary excerpt) relates to 14th July 1944, where it isn't completely clear (from the Wardiary) where they were, though Conde-S-Seules and La Senaudiere are mentioned, as well as Hottot. i.e. From the 24th L Wardiary: Conde-S-Seules 13/7/44 In the early morning at about 0645 hours, several enemy shells fell in the Regimental area killing two men and wounding three others, one of which was the Officer commanding AI echelon. In the afternoon ‘A’ Sqn went forward to area North of Hottot in support 231 Bde. 14/7/44 ‘A’ Sqn were relieved by ‘B’ Sqn area Hottot, in the late afternoon. ‘A’ Sqn had nothing to report from their forward area. La Senaudiere 17/7/44 The Regiment moved to area La Senaudiere with the roles of Supporting any Brigade of 50 (N) Div and , should the opportunity arise to strike South in a pursuit East of Caumont. During the period 17 – 22 July, Sqns of the Regiment supported 231 Bde, and 69 Bde in small advances following up the slight enemy withdrawal in this sector. There is nothing of consequence to report during this period. The Regiment was directly under command 50 Div and in that Div reserve. Letter: 24thL_14d7m1944_You'd_think_they_were_in_Hyde_Park by Ramiles posted Aug 3, 2017 at 7:23 PM Sgt B Symes 24th Lancers B.W.E.F 14-7-44 Dearest Phyl + Rob, We went to the flicks this morning and I saw Abbot and Costello in “Hit the Ice” I had seen it but it was still a good laugh. Your guess as to our location was a bit wide of the mark. They don’t keep us at it all the time. The crowd has done particularly well and if you ask your Dad where he’d expect us to be, he’d probably guess right. Anyhow with what you know and what the newspapers have told you since D-day you should guess easily. I haven’t seen any of the letters from home censored so you needn’t worry about that. The Russians are doing very well indeed. They have the Boche scared badly but with Hitler still in control they’ll have to keep on. I didn’t think they’d scrap so hard in the West as they have done. They’re good soldiers of that there is no doubt, but they are now being hammered, and not with a toffee hammer. Even so, I think our infantry are hard to beat and they’ve always got a grin. There were a few in a trench the other day, we went to chat with them, not about politics, and you’d think they were in Hyde Park. Spud is where you suggested, he hurt his arm and Eric broke his leg. I must write to Spud at his home address at the first opportunity or I shall get told off from those too. It’s amazing how little one knows of this sort of thing. The ordinary man can’t possibly have any idea at all. One could write a thousand books a week on it and leave plenty out. So glad to hear you saw Gaynor, give her and Trevor my regards. I expect you found it very quiet (my what a lovely word, quiet) living on your own for a week, how did Rob like it? That’s about all for this time so will have some dinner, bravo for M+V.* All my love to you... your loving husband, Ben. XX * M+V = Meat and Veg - rations
This letter was written by my grandfather to my grandmother just after the 24th L were disbanded at the end of July 1944: First SRY Letter from Ben 1d8m1944 by Ramiles posted Jan 5, 2016 at 12:22 PM 7880500 Sgt.B.Symes Sherwood Rangers 265 FDS. B.L.A. August 1st 1944 Dearest Phyl and Rob, There is a nice big address for you. I’m not allowed to explain even yet why the change. As you probably know Regiments go in threes, The Sherwoods are sister Reg. to the 24th. I have all my boys with me, so it’s just a change of name at the moment. The application for a commission in the R.A.S.C. has probably gone into the waste paper basket by now, although I had a very good write up from the Sqn, “I can’t see them allowing first class tank commanders to beetle off” says the intelligence officer… …seven of us applied I suspect we’ve left it just a few years too late. Well, to continue with my story after I pulled Spud out we were sent off to keep an eye on a village, five Boche came out with their hands up and then dived into a hedge. I took my crate to look for them and hit a mine. We were all O.K., it only blew the track off. We were pulled off it and I was busy patching it up when we were told to scram. That was the end of that crate. We kept with the squadron in a truck until next day when Spud had a lump taken of his arm by a piece of shrapnel. I held his hand while it was being dressed and then saw him off to England. Later in the evening when we thought the day’s work was done…. …Eric came in with a broken leg. I didn’t see him. Next day we came back to the FDS (Forward Delivery Squadron) for another crate. After that more stuff was getting off at the beaches so we were eased off. Those first few days were a bit hectic, there wasn’t much stuff around and this country is thick with trees and high hedges, there could be a hidden Boche in every hedge and you just couldn’t spot them. We didn’t rely much on the French, they are only farmers and haven’t done too badly. One other little thing Sgt. Cooper was sat in a hedge late one evening when a Tiger tank came up, he didn’t know what it was until it was twenty five yards away, Cooper is quite bold, so was the… …Boche and they sat there looking at each other for a moment. Cooper was quickest to the draw and got the Tiger. The weather out here was lovely yesterday but today it’s misty and doesn’t look like clearing. I don’t know how your mail will come now it may be okay as they know where we are. If you haven’t yet written to Spud you might give him my new address. Well darling they seem to be chasing him now, I do hope for everyone’s sake that they’ll chuck it, if they don’t know now that they’re beaten then they must be mad. All my love to you both from your loving husband, Ben.
This one was written probably starting on the 17th July, but this looks like it has been scrubbed out and replaced with 18th perhaps: 24thL_18d7m1944_Part1 by Ramiles posted Aug 3, 2017 at 7:13 PM Sgt B Symes 24th Lancers British Liberation Army B.L.A 17 & 18-7-44 Dearest Phyl + Rob, Many thanks for yours of the 13th it arrived this evening, so my mail comes in a lot quicker than yours. My health is O.K. The weather out here has dried up + now we have dust. Not ordinary dusty sort of dust but dust in complete clouds, we make it ourselves of course. There’s no escape from it especially in the back areas. When we rest for a while we wash all our clothes + sponge bath right away, we don’t get dirty now only dusty. So Rob has become the complete proffessor (that must be spelt wrongly). I hope too that the specs will calm him down. No I’m not worrying about you, there’s no doubt you will have everything done that can be done, apart from the fact that now you are O.K. you are quite capable of seeing to things yourself. Casualties don’t find their way into my letters if I can help it, Spud + Eric weren’t too bad, but as you are writing to Lady Arbuthnot I feel I must tell you that her son Sir Robert was killed just over a fortnight ago. It was a sad blow to all of us as he was such a fine young chap, one very seldom met one such as he was. I couldn’t tell you this before as there are certain rules to which we have to conform. There was a good article in a Sunday paper we had here, The People it was in. P.T.O. It said “No wine, no song, no Mademoiselle, Normandy, No Bon.” It’s a curious place, it’s certainly true. They have nothing to sell except a few clothes in some of the shops. There was one thing I would like to have bought had it been possible, a lace blouse or jumper, a most lovely thing. I visited a cathedral the other day; it was untouched by the war. They certainly know how to build them places, it was well worth visiting. As for wine they sell ordinary red wine which used to be five francs a bottle at ten francs a tot, one buys one only, they also sell a drink I know as Calvados, the troops here call it Cognac, it’s raw + is really apple Brandy, so we’re a sober crowd. As for the dames, we didn’t see many before, we see less now, we saw an officer walking with a girl the other day + everyone was quite startled, it really was the only soldier we had seen with a girl, + quite honestly I don’t think the troops are interested. I think the war has become really serious to everyone mind, everyone wants to get it over, everyone is literally sick of the sight + smell of war. We all knew that sooner of later it will end + we all wonder exactly what has to happen first, we know that it is only a matter of time before the German army is either captured or knocked-out just as their navy has been + their air force is almost. We had a bottle of Lager Beer last night, from Scotland, + Sgts a bottle of Whiskey (8/6) or Gin (6/6). I chose Whiskey, as we are allowed only one each month we shan’t have to drink too much at once. So that’s all for this time, except that the cows are having trouble keeping the flies down. All my love to you two darlings. Regards to the folks from your loving husband Ben. XX
The D-Day edition of the "The War Illustrated" was published just over a month after D-Day... 7d7m1944... ...and itself contains the picture of the 24th Lancers' Sherman "Armageddon" on Gold Beach... IWM A23942 THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS), JUNE 1944 You can download pdf copies of TWI here... The War Illustrated Archive
