2nd Essex, 56th Inf Brigade, 50th Divn

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Pete Thomas, Sep 15, 2012.

  1. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    Hi, does anyone know what the 2nd Essex were doing on 9th July 1944? One of the men on our war memorial (Irlam and Cadishead) was lost on this day.

    [FONT=&quot]On[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Sunday, 9th July 1944, Private 3455758 Herbert Arstall, of the 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, was killed in action, aged 29.[/FONT]

    Any help much appreciated (as always) :)

    Cheers
    Pete
     
  2. BFBSM

    BFBSM Very Senior Member

  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Do a Essex Regt search-One of the forum members has a Regt History who offers to do look ups.
     
  5. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    On 9th July 1944 the Essex Regiment will quite likely have been to the west / south-west of Tilly-sur-Seulles and therefore not directly involved in Operation Charnwood but rather one of the 'side-shows' designed to relieve pressure from the main British/Canadian thrust around Caen which featured Operations Charnwood and Goodwood. The village of Hottot, located about 2 miles south of Tilly-sur-Seulles also features a lot in the fighting at that time. The War Diary is what you really need!
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Just shout if you need a copy-I'll be at Kew (touch wood) by the end of this month. Click the red link below for further details.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  8. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    Thanks everyone for your help.
     
  9. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    I don't suppose anyone knows what the 2nd Essex were doing on 27th August 1944? Private 1607306 Fred Corder died on this day.

    Regards
    Pete
     
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    56 Bde joined 49 Div on 19th August.

    First action for 2 Essex with 49 Div was on 24th when they took Cormelles.


    Cant find anything in Delaforce's ''The Polar Bears'' specific to 2 Essex but on that date they were in the area of the Seine.
     
  11. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    Thanks Owen
     
  12. AussieNipper

    AussieNipper Member

    Hi Pete,

    Owen is correct, the 2/Essex were involved in the action to take Cormeilles on the 24th. After some R&R they continued eastward to Pont-Audemer on the 26th. Pont-Audemer was a small town on the River Risle, which with all its bridges destroyed, had to be taken so a bridgehead could be established for the 1st Corps to push through to the Seine. The 2/Essex, along with the 2/SWB were tasked with crossing the river and eliminating enemy positions holding the escarpment on the east bank. At about 11:30pm, the leading platoon crept down the bank of the river to cover the arrival of a boat party, when several MG-42's from the opposite side opened fire, with no cover, the platoon suffered a number of casualties and became disorganised. "A" Company returned fire with Piats and eventually won the fire fight, with two companies on the right flank receiving the same treatment. a company from the 2/SWB eventually made it across the other side undetected but were cut off from the rest of the Battalion and orders were made to reinforce their position. A few sections of "A" Company made it across and took cover in some semi demolished buildings, they were surrounded by enemy forces but held out until early afternoon of the 27th of August, when the Germans finally withdrew from the stalemate.
    By late afternoon, both the 2/Essex and 2/SWB had cleared Pont-Audemer and the remainder of the Battalions crossed the river, where they continued the march eastward towards Foret de Bretonne on the 28th.
    The 2nd Essex took a number of casualties at Pont-Audemer, and the CO was quite dissented at having to make a river crossing at night without the proper preparation and unit training.
     
    Rosemary Rudland and Owen like this.
  13. Jen'sHusband

    Jen'sHusband Punchbag

    I can let you have an excerpt from the War Diary (I got my copy from Drew5233 and it's something I would most definitely recommend that you do). I'll do it tonight, if that's OK?
     
  14. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    AussieNipper, thank you very much.

    Fruitcake, yes please, that would be really helpful.

    Regards
    Pete
     
  15. Jen'sHusband

    Jen'sHusband Punchbag

    I haven't forgotten about this, but my home computer expired the other day so am waiting on it coming back from the repair man.

    Sorry.
     
  16. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    I haven't forgotten about this, but my home computer expired the other day so am waiting on it coming back from the repair man.

    Sorry.

    Thanks, there's no rush, I'm just grateful for your help.

    Cheers
    Pete
     
  17. Jen'sHusband

    Jen'sHusband Punchbag

    And bam! We're back up and running.

    Sadly, the existing war diary does not cover either in detail. There is a gap in July (see attached) and the page entry for 27th Asugust is very brief.. Sorry.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    And bam! We're back up and running.

    Sadly, the existing war diary does not cover either in detail. There is a gap in July (see attached) and the page entry for 27th Asugust is very brief.. Sorry.

    Thank you very much. One final question (I promise). The 7-11 July entry refers to "sp. arms". Do you know what is meant by this? Special arms?

    Thanks once again for taking the trouble to scan and post. These are really helpful.

    Regards
    Pete
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    "sp. arms"

    Support Arms .

    Mortars, MG, artillery , tanks , sappers etc etc
     
  20. Pete Thomas

    Pete Thomas Member

    Support Arms .

    Mortars, MG, artillery , tanks , sappers etc etc

    Thanks Owen
     

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