Chateau La Londe 27th June 1944

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by 2EastYorks, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Hello everyone

    My Grandad (sadly deceased) was with the 2nd Batt. East Yorkshire Regiment and went ashore on Sword Beach on D-Day.

    He never talked about his wartime experiences but I do know that he was wounded on the 27th June 1944, sufficiently seriously to be sent home for treatment.

    I think that the East Yorks were in action at Chateau La Londe that day, so I'm presuming that's where he was wounded. Can anyone tell me what happened in this action? Who the East Yorks (and any others) were up against?

    I'm in the process of applying for his Army Service Record but any meat to put on the bones would be most welcome.

    Many thanks

    Matt
     
  2. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Matt, the East Yorks were in formation with the 1st South Lancs. There is a lot about the Chateau in the below thread

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/17194-ist-battalion-south-lancashire-regiment.html

    Also, some details on the East Yorks on D-Day itself

    The East Yorks on D-Day

    Between 0430 - 0600hrs the assault landing craft were lowered from the Empire Battleaxe and HMS Glenearn. Just after 0600hrs the seven mile journey to the beaches began. At 0725hrs the East Yorks landed on Queen Red beach where heavy mortar, machine gun and artillery fire were encountered.

    A and B companies supported by tanks were to break through the beach obstacles.

    A company, along with C company of the 1st Battalion South Lancs, would attack and eliminate the Strong Point Cod. This consisted of: One 75mm gun, two 50mm anti-tank guns, three 81mm mortars, a 37mm gun and 5 machine gun posts.

    B company were to move inland and assault Strong Point Sole with C company in support.

    The next task was to attack and eliminate the Daimler Battery, a heavily defended gun battery with four 75mm guns capable of firing onto the invasion beaches. This was the main responsibility of D and C companies supported by tanks of the 13/18 Hussars.

    Strong Point Cod was taken by 1000hrs and Sole was overrun by 1300hrs. Daimler Battery was put out of action by 1800hrs with little loss and 70 prisoners in the bag.

    The East Yorks continued on to the village of St Aubin d’Arquenay. They were relieved by the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. The East Yorks spent the night in a cornfield near Hermanville.

    By the end of the day the East Yorks had lost 5 officers and 60 men killed, and 4 officers and 137 men wounded.
     
  3. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    On the 27th June 1944, the 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment put in a determined attack and were beaten back with great loss. Obviously one battalion was not enough and the East Yorks would have to do it, with the assistance of the Suffolks. The attack went in at first light and the 'Snappers' ran through a field of standing corn against a hail of small arms and artillery fire. With gritted teeth and fixed bayonets, the position was taken. The forward companies were about to consolidate the position and they were fiercely counter attacked by tanks supported by infantry. With a display of all the qualities which made Rommel an admirer of the British infantryman, the position was held and the counter attack beaten off. The Divisional History of the action recounts "they were ready to move by 0400hrs. At 7 minutes past, the barrage came down as arranged, and 8 minutes later in they went. It was still fairly dark. Dense clouds thrown up by the bursting shells added to the already terrifying atmosphere. The memory must accompany those who were present to the grave, it cannot be described. The position was consolidated by 1600hrs that afternoon".

    After the fall of the chateau and its surrounding defences, war correspondents visited the area and it became known as 'the bloodiest square mile in the whole of Normandy'.

    Source : 2eyorkshistory

    Ps. The operation was called Mitten
     
  4. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Phil, many thanks for this - plenty of reading to be getting on with there! It sounds horrific (just read the other thread you linked to).
     
  5. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Phil, do you know where I'd be able to find the regimental diary that would cover this action?
     
  6. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    i'll have a look in the Regimental History for the South Lancs and see what it says about the East Yorks.

    The casualties over the two days for the 3 Regiments involved, excluding RA etc are as follows


    1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment
    27th June - 24
    28th June - 13

    2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
    27th June - 4
    28th June - 20

    1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment
    27th June - 2
    28th June - 36
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  8. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  9. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  10. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Matt, have looked at the Regimental History for the South Lancs, and it makes the following reference.

    'A new attack on the chateau by the 2nd Battalion East Yorks and the 1st Battalion The Suffolks began at 04:15 hours and after heavy fighting and severe casualties the objective was at last taken at 08:25 hours'

    This relates to the 28th June, as it previously stated that the initial attack by the the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment took part from 15:30 to 19:00 when the attack stopped due to heavy casualties.

    It dows however state that the whole of the 8th Infantry Brigade, came under heavy shell fire in the area of Le Landel were the brigade was stationed. It is possible that your man was killed whilst at Le Landel prior to the attack on the 28th.

    I suspect only the war diary or regimental history will tell

    P
     
  11. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  12. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Matt, the following is an extract from the 1st Bn Suffolks War Diary

    1944- D-Day and into Europe

    April Moved to Portsmouth.
    3rd - 4th June Loaded onto LSIs (Landing Ship Infantry, huge ships capable of carrying a Battalion).
    5th June Sailed into the Channel.
    6th June 1st Suffolks land at Queen beach, their designated area of the British landings named SWORD, on the coast of Normandy. They are on the extreme eastern flank of the Invasion, just west of Ouistreham. At the end of the day the Battalion digs in, though they have suffered 7 killed and 25 wounded and capture 270 prisoners.
    7th -10th June Pause for re-organisation and regrouping against any enemy counter-attack.
    25th - 26th June Ordered to capture Epron. This operation is codenamed " Mitten", and the Suffolks are to take an enemy position, the Chateau de la Londe.
    27th June 1st Suffolks come under enemy shell fire and the South Lancs who were in support suffer heavy casualties and do not reach their objective. The 1st Suffolks stay the night in cornfields.
    28th June 1st Suffolks attack the Chateau de la Londe and by the end of the day they take possession of their objective, though at a cost of 161 men killed, wounded or missing.
    29th June For a week, constant enemy shells fall into the area of the Chateau and their are daily casualties of the Suffolks.

    The 2nd East Yorks were in reserve on the 27th, whilst the 1st South Lancs supported by Crocadile Tanks attacked the Chateau. As you can see above, the brigade area was shelled before, during and after the attack, so I dont suppose that the War Diary for the East Yorks will say much different.

    Source : Suffolk Regt
     
  13. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Phil, that's absolutely brilliant, thank you so much! Fortunately, Grandad wasn't killed in the war, he was only wounded on the 27th June. He was returned home and spent a month in a hospital in Gwent before returning to the front.

    If his date was right and the East Yorks were in reserve on the 27th, I wonder if he was injured by shelling then? As an aside I looked at the other thread you mentioned and have ordered both books that were highlighted as suggested reading.

    My thanks again :)

    Matt
     
  14. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    War Diary at TNA.

    WO 171/1397

    Detecting your browser settings

    Matt, I would also suggest trying to obtain a copy of the war diary from Kew, or contact the museum in York.

    P
     
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I was there, but never took parrt in this operation, I di know it was named
    "The Bloodiest square mile in Normandy"

    I have several first hand accounts from my mate in the Suffolks, and Captain Edwards RE who took part.
    Sapper
     
  16. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    I've actually been to the regimental museum in York and was a little disappointed to be honest, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I'll have a look at getting the regimental war diary from Kew, I've always shied away a bit from the National Archives as I've always found it a nightmare to navigate; but thanks to the link I'll get straight onto it.

    It might shed some light on a bit of folklore too re my Grandad's service, as I got this from my Uncle recently:

    ..[the incident] was I believe around the Caen area when apperently some captured East Yorks were summarily shot by [SS ?] the enemy. A small band of East Yorks [including Dad] decided to take revenge, and one night raided the enemy and killed several of them.
    The East Yorks because of that incident were nicknamed the Polar Bear Killers, a polar bear being the 2nd battalion sleeve badge. As an aside the original polar bear badge was deemed not aggresive enough, the polar bear had his head in a lowered position, so it was altered with the head raised and the bear roaring.

    How much truth there is in that I don't know. I wasn't aware that the East Yorks were nicknamed the Polar Bear Killers, I thought that it was the snappers? mind you what I know about the Army can be fitted onto a match head! Does this incident ring any bells with anyone?
     
  17. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Matt, this is the sort of incident that would be referred to in the War Diary, albeit not in massive detail.

    Below are the battalion loses by Day between landing on the Beeches and the end of the Chateau battle.

    001 , ARMIT, R, 14283370, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , BRINDLE, D, 4546207, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    003 , BYERS, D, 14623884, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    004 , CLARK, WE, 4345871, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    005 , COATES, H, 4343256, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    006 , COUPLAND, R, 4347758, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    007 , FENWICK, R, 4342341, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    008 , FREEMAN, H, 4351323, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    009 , GAMBRILL, G, 4341743, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    010 , GENTRY, G, 5784163, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    011 , HALL, G, 4351089, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    012 , HARRISON, G, 4547166, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    013 , HAWKES, W, 4446370, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    014 , HENDERSON, A, 4345616, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    015 , HERBERT, EJ, 5783053, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    016 , HOPKINS, GA, 4546853, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    017 , HUTCHCRAFT, P, 4343195, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    018 , HUTCHINSON, SH, 4347304, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    019 , IBBETSON, E, 4342710, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    020 , JACKSON, CE, 14660723, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    021 , JENKINS, R, 14617334, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    022 , JOHNSON, JTC, 4341055, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    023 , JOHNSON, H, 4350883, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    024 , JOHNSON, JF, 4341810, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    025 , JONES, A, 4342522, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    026 , KAY, JL, 4341823, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    027 , KELLY, H, 4342435, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    028 , MARS, DLB, 4344357, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    029 , MASSEY, H, 4543007, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    030 , MAW, L, 14672945, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    031 , MILNES, C, 4351524, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    032 , MORRELL, AW, 11266645, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    033 , MULLALLY, L, 14206204, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    034 , NICHOLLS, S, 4546224, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    035 , PLUMMER, A, 4547339, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    036 , QUANTOCK, JC, 14275327, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    037 , RAWLINS, WJ, 11266619, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    038 , RILEY, J, 14203176, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    039 , RODGERS, A, 4351165, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    040 , SCHOLES, P, 4546584, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    041 , SHAW, B, 233869, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    042 , SIMPSON, G, 4343272, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    043 , SMITH, H, 1816678, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    044 , STEAD, H, 4547579, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    045 , STOUT, JH, 4343208, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    046 , TILLEY, GW, 4546254, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    047 , TURNER, C, 4542624, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    048 , TURNER, TH, 4546640, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    049 , VINES, FV, 4341859, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    050 , WALKER, A, 7907334, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    051 , WHITE, D, 4546761, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    052 , WHITLEY, SW, 14677376, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    053 , WILKINSON, W, 4346080, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    054 , WILLIAMS, S, 14206389, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    055 , WILSON, GP, 4345058, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    056 , WRIGHTSON, GE, 14660634, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944 - - 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    057 , YARKER, F, 4350184, 2ND BN , 06/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , MOYLE, J, 4342727, 2ND BN , 07/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , BOARDMAN, V, 14547275, 2ND BN , 08/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , DUNBAR, N, 4343010, 2ND BN , 08/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    003 , MARSDEN, J, 14400746, 2ND BN , 08/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    004 , MONDAY, N, 4345329, 2ND BN , 08/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    005 , OLDFIELD, F, 14203267, 2ND BN , 08/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , BRIGHAM, C, 4339369, 2ND BN , 14/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , COWTON, AH, 4546309, 2ND BN , 16/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , KING, AG, 14203170, 2ND BN , 18/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , WHITEHOUSE, R, 4351544, 2ND BN , 18/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , LYDON, JM, 4345936, 2ND BN , 24/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , STEPHENSON, T, 4343288, 2ND BN , 24/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , BARR, LJ, 14439300, 2ND BN , 26/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , BRADSHAW, F, 4346108, 2ND BN , 27/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , CARTWRIGHT, RR, 14552658, 2ND BN , 27/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    003 , GAUNT, G, 5105532, 2ND BN , 27/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

    001 , ATKINSON, SS, 4350819, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    002 , BENSON, S, 4351491, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    003 , BLACKMORE, A, 14680723, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    004 , CARNEVALE, G, 14686888, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    005 , CLARKE, H, 4342101, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    006 , ELLIOTT, ES, 4342558, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    007 , GODDARD, CA, 4346988, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    008 , HARRISON, A, 6200571, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    009 , HOLMES, D, 4351250, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    010 , HOPKINS, AP, 14652148, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    011 , JACKSON, R, 13047490, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    012 , JOHNSON, JW, 4342463, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    013 , LEWIS, JR, 4342731, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    014 , MIDDLETON, FR, 4545780, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    015 , SCHOFIELD, PCPE, 4546608, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    016 , SHEEHAN, J, 14203147, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    017 , THOMPSON, GH, 14229183, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    018 , WELLING, J, 11060267, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
    019 , WILLIAMS, T, 4546418, 2ND BN , 28/06/1944, EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    ..[the incident] was I believe around the Caen area when apperently some captured East Yorks were summarily shot by [SS ?] the enemy. A small band of East Yorks [including Dad] decided to take revenge, and one night raided the enemy and killed several of them.
    The East Yorks because of that incident were nicknamed the Polar Bear Killers, a polar bear being the 2nd battalion sleeve badge. As an aside the original polar bear badge was deemed not aggresive enough, the polar bear had his head in a lowered position, so it was altered with the head raised and the bear roaring.


    WRONG DIVISION!!!!
    49th Div were the Polar Bears!!!


    49th (West Riding) Infantry Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
  19. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Thanks again Phil. I take it the names above are those who were killed in action? Where did you find the info?
     
  20. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    Thanks Owen, I'll have a look at that
     

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