6th DLI at Verrieres June 1944

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by Paul Reed, Oct 21, 2008.

  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Hi Verrieres - welcome to the forum. Perhaps you can tell us something about your interest? Am presuming your name refers to the place in Normandy?
     
  2. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi Paul
    You`re right Verrieres is the small village in Normandy where my Uncle Cpl J W S Gibson was killed on the 14/06/1944 whilst serving with The 6th DLI.He had been a pre-war regular since 1931 with 1st DLI he joined 6DLI I believe in Dec 1943/EarlyJanuary 1944 in preparation for D-Day.My grandmother used to have pictures all around her house of him in uniform she was so proud of him.I was given some of his letters home which started an interest, which my wife now describes as an obsession! With many years of digging into the DLI histories I have been able to help quite a few people find out about relatives/service etc,I hope I can help more people and in turn find out some of the more unique/personal accounts of DLI soldiers
    Thanks for the Interest
    Regards
    Verrieres.
     
  3. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks - I might have some more on that action on my other PC. Will have a look this afternoon.
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Sorry, taken me longer than expected. This is a wartime map of the area:

    [​IMG]

    Do you have the war diaries of his unit?
     
  5. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Brilliant Paul! Thanks I have seen extracts and quotes but not the Actual Diaries of the 6th DLI.
    Over the years I have searched for information regarding my uncle and found very little. I know he arrived back in this country in December 1943 after serving with 1st DLI for what he told my grandmother was special training.I know that he joined the 6th DLI (I know which company) and I always assumed that this took place in December 1943 immediately on his return,however this week I have been told that reinforcements did not join 6DLI until Jan 28th 1944 when thirteen NCOs and other ranks joined from 1 DLI! Was he amongst those. My uncle kept a list of places he served but it is incomplete ending mid 1943.My grandmother has tagged brief details on the bottom but nothing like the original detail he added.
    Questions that I would love answers to are;-
    Did he serve with 1st DLI on Kos (his record ends at Malta)
    What date did he join 6 DLI?
    What happened to D Company 6 DLI 13th -14th June 1944 (attack on Verrieres)
    Any help or pointers gratefully accepted.
    Cpl GIBSON, JOHN WILLIAM SAWYERS 6DLI KIA 14/06/1944
    4450472
    Regards
    Verrierres
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    War Diary pages for you:

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

  8. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

  9. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Thanks Very Much Paul these pages are very much appreciated they help to put another piece of the puzzle in place.Thank you again
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
  10. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Glad it was of interest - moved this to its own thread as I thought it would be better and of more use that way.
     
  11. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    There is a published personal account of events of 14th June 1944, surrounding the attack on the French village of Verrieres by 6DLI.It was written by Pte Ernie Harvey who was present on that day;-

    “We were all going into the attack and we were going to cross this cornfield. We got about 20-25yrds into the cornfield when Jerry opened up with Spandaus. Well there was a small groove in the ground where fortunately I got into it. I got down. The men were getting mown down, left, right and centre. In fact the company was getting slaughtered, it’s as simple as that .As those were going down more men were coming up and these were getting knocked down. The cry then was, Mother! Mother! . I know it’s a funny thing but everybody was crying for their mothers! Eventually there was two tanks came up behind us. This was after a long while and all the corn had been completely mown down as though it had been with shears, by the spandaus…we couldn’t move. If you moved you got shot, You had to stay down and I remember the two tanks came up eventually and they blasted this hedge…Eventually we took the position, but the point was that nearly all the men had gone…You’d think they’d expected us coming. I thought that only went on in the World War 1 I never thought that it would have happened in 1944…The sergeant says “Ernie go round and collect the ammo out of the pouches”…and I started gathering the ammo from the wounded and the dead. Of course the stretcher-bearers were coming up and tending the few wounded that was left.. Suddenly this voice said, “Leave that alone! Don’t touch them!” It was the Padre. The tears were streaming from his eyes. I went back to the hedge and this German was running across the field and someone started firing at this German and this chap knocked the gun out of his hands. It was the Padre again He said, “There’s been enough killing for one day. The sergeant and he had words..

    Casualties for the day were high Twenty Three other ranks killed,Sixty two wounded anf fifteen missing.
    Does anyone know of any other personal accounts of this action that may be posted elsewhere?

    Regards
    Verrieres
     
    Owen likes this.
  12. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi
    Fifteen of 6DLI Casualties are pictured below does anyone have photographs of the other ten? Sgt Moralee,Cpl Dewar,Pte Barrett,Pte Bradley,Pte Humphries,Pte Oakley,Pte Oliver,Pte King,Pte Thornton,Pte Williams. May I apologise in advance ,as I am sure many more died of their wounds recieved on this day,for any I have missed but at this time I am only aware of those actually KIA on this day.
    Regards
    Verrieres
    LEST WE FORGET
     

    Attached Files:

  13. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Hello Verrieres,

    Each June i take a party of Veterans DLI and 6th Airborne, all from Durham and the North east to Normandy for a D Day tour , one of our main focuses is the Battles of Lingevres and Verrieres and we do a full Battlefield walk and talk on the Battlefield and attend the cermonies that take place in honour of 151 Brigade.

    Many vets of 6,8 and 9 DLI are in attendance and we have probably one of the best living DLI Historians with us.

    I have the copies of the war diary that Paul has kindly posted if you want copies please let me know.

    regards

    Paul

    PS Forgot to mention i'm from Durham also :D
     
  14. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Many thanks Paul E-Mail on its way I`m glad I joined this Forum its a treasure trove of information and its members are Top Men!
    Thanks Again
    Verrieres
     
  15. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    This was published in a local newspaper back in 1994 there are no author credits or regimental details I believe it to be an account of the Actions at either Lingèvres or Verrieres by someone who was supporting the infantry on that day;-

    I remember

    “I was reluctant to go really I’ve never been one to talk about the war let alone return to where it all happened, but my daughter said it was something I should do while I still could! Like I said I never really wanted to go, I never attended reunions never kept in touch with anyone from them days, my memories of the whole thing were not to good…until I arrived here… then I remembered….”
    I remember the day… 14th June 1944 I was with ‘B’ Squadron our column turned off the road and through the hedgerow..Our commanding officer stood watching us. We took up our positions alongside the infantry…Durham’s I recall…in the distance cornfields bordered by a black wood. Then the barrage opened up. I looked out through the periscope Orders were given and we moved off..I remember the infantry chest high in the corn..I remember the Troop leader well forward compared to the rest of us who were still line abreast …I remember the plume of smoke from the commanders tank..the shells coming in from the wood well out of range of our 75mm gun..the sergeants tank heading back..a shell landing so close it halted us in our tracks..I remember…. the infantry who realised their support was in trouble and attempted to fall back but were prevented doing so by their officers and NCO`s who waved ..them forward into a hail of bullets that cut them down..I remember the noise the screams the slaughter….and I remember why I choose to forget
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
    Mr Jinks likes this.
  16. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Just as a matter of interest has anyone got a photograph of the memorial situated at the cross roads near Verrieres and the Roll of Honour which lists those who died on the 14/06/1944 .I`ve found two but the detail is`nt too sharp.
    [​IMG][​IMG]



    Regards

    Verrieres
     
  17. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I'll have to go through my Normandy photos on my other PC as I am sure I have one of this. I stayed in Lingevres one year, and we chanced on this one day going out for some bread. There is also a WW2 wrecked church up the road that has DLI graffiti on it. I also have some photos of that somewhere.
     
  18. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Cheers for that Paul anything and everything is appreciated.
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
  19. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Did you receive the war diary copies ? :)
     
  20. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Yes thanks. I did send you an E-Mail but obviously it has`nt arrived which means I`ll have to check the others I`ve sent on the same day to make sure they are not floating in Cyberspace!!!! The wonders of modern technology Cheers again !
    Regards
    Verrieres
     

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