STE HONORINE 4AGRA/51ST (H) DIVISION 12/13TH JUNE

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by middy, Sep 7, 2017.

  1. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Would anyone have access to either War Diaries or other information sources to help me identify the specifics of action by the 51(H) Division who were supported by the 65th Medium Regiment on the 12th June (possibly?) and 13th June( definitely). My dad was wounded somewhere on the 13th ( and evacuated on the 14th) but i am having trouble confirming the location on the day.

    I understand that the 51st were at/near Ste Honorine on the 13th but the WD'S for the 65th don't mention Honorine until the 23rd June when part of op.PERTH. I suppose they could have been there for 10 days or returned a second time but these are the gaps in my information.

    Hope someone can help,

    John (middy)
     
  2. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

  3. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    John,

    This appendix is from the war diary of 5 Camerons (WO171/1270), I hope it answers some questions:

    "
    APPENDIX A

    THE ENGAGEMENT AT STE. HONORINE LA CHARDONERETTE

    In order to strengthen and enlarge the bridgehead established by the 6th Airborne Division on the East bank of the River ORNE, it was decided to capture the village of STE. HONORINE LA CHARDONERETTE. The attack was to be carried out by 5 CAMERONS behind a barrage just before dawn on the 13 Jun 44. The Start Line was the South East edge of the orchards in front of LONGUEVAL which was held by 2nd ROYAL ULSTR RIFLES, and the route thither was along the towpath which was covered from the enemy to the East by a high escarpment. A very steep track led from the towpath up into LONGUEVAL and this made it impossible to bring the battle transport by this route. The only alternative was to bring it by the road from RANVILLE which ran over the slight rise known as Hill 30. It had been ascertained that this was held by the enemy and it was accordingly arranged that the 12th DEVONS from RANVILLE should attack and capture Hill 30 with one company in order to clear the way for the passage of the CAMERON’s battle transport.

    On the evening of 12 Jun 44, the CAMERONS moved up from West of the ORNE bridges into an assembly area just East of RANVILLE and lay up there in the woods. Meanwhile the battle transport assembled in the village under Capt. C.W.R. HILL, ready to move to STE. HONORINE LA CHARDONERETTE when Hill 30 was captured by the DEVONS, and he was called forward by wireless from the Bn.

    Everything went according to plan and the way along the tow path was lighted by the glow in the sky from burning CAEN and accompanied by the thunder of the fourteen inch shells of HMS NELSON shelling the town. By 0340 hrs the CAMERONS were forming up along the orchards East of LONGUEVAL and at 0356 hours the barrage opened. To everyone’s consternation however, shells began to fall thick and fast on the Start Line so that when the Bn left it at 0400 hours companies had already suffered casualties and become disorganised. Further casualties were suffered crossing the open cornfields from LONGUEVAL to STE. HONORINE by Spandaus firing from the right flank. In fact, Bn HQ moving with the wireless in the C.O.’s jeep along the track had to take to the cornfields in order to reach the safety of the wall running round the orchards North West of STE. HONORINE. Here a number of prisoners left by the leading companies were picked up and sent back by road to RANVILLE as nothing could move towards LONGUEVAL for fire from the South. A number of these prisoners were Czechs and Poles and were only too glad to be captured but the NCOs were the most arrogant type of Nazis.

    At about 0445 hours Major G.A. NIXON, MC, commanding B Company, sent a signal by wireless indicating that he had captured his objective, the North East corner of the village. Soon after major E.N. MAINWARING, MC, commanding D Company, next on the right, sent a similar signal and Bn HQ thereupon moved along the wall of the orchard to the position marked by the St. Andrew’s Cross on the plan. From there the signal calling up the Bn transport was sent and as soon as it arrived three A/T guns were sent into the village to consolidate the positions secured by B and D Coys.

    Wireless touch had been lost with A and C Companies whose objectives were the South West half of the village, but from the sounds of battle it was obvious that the Germans were holding on tight in the houses. By 0730 hours everything was quiet and Colonel MONRO walked round the positions with the conviction that the village was completely in our hands.

    The Bde Comd had arrived at Bn HQ by this time and the success signal was sent; the time for exploitation by the 2 SEAFORTH Southwards past the East of STE. HONORINE was fixed for 0915 hrs.

    About 0800 hours a sharp counter-attack by infantry was repulsed by D Coy but at about 0845 hours the most vicious shelling and mortaring descended on the whole village causing many casualties including the adjutant, Capt. E.P.M. BROWN and the Carrier Officer, Capt. J. ELLIOT, MC. About 0930 hours the shelling ceased abruptly and a heavy attack by infantry developed from the South, supported by 14 tanks. Owing to the walls, thick orchards and high corn, only two A/T guns were in a position to engage these tanks which moved forward about 600 yards East of the village and blasted it while the infantry attacked. Sgt. A. MACKENZIE commanding one of the anti-tank guns managed to manhandle it into a position from which he could engage after the carrier rolled the corn in front of the muzzle to clear the field of fire. From this position MACKENZIE engaged and destroyed three Mk IV tanks in succession. In spite of this action however, the infantry came on to such effect that A, B and D Coys withdrew, A and D towards LONGUEVAL and B over Hill 30 to RANVILLE. Wireless touch had been lost with C Company and

    - 2 -

    It was impossible to order C Company to withdraw and as stick grenades were beginning to come over the orchard wall into Bn HQ it withdrew also on to the original Start Line covered by D Company.

    C Company were given up as lost and heavy artillery fire was brought to bear on STE. HONORINE. This lasted until about 1200 hours when an ominous silence fell over the village, and those watching from the LONGUEVAL orchards wondered what could be left of C Company among the ruins. To everyone’s surprise however, about 1300 hours, Lt. W.C. CHALMERS arrived across the cornfields saying that Major H.W. CAIRNS with the remnants of C Company was still holding out in a house and that the whole village was clear of the enemy. This was immediately reported to Brigade but it was decided not to re-occupy STE. HONORINE but that the Bn should relieve the ULSTER RIFLES in LONGUEVAL leaving STE. HONORINE to the dead and the debris of battle. Major CAIRNS, Lt. CHALMERS, CSM. CLELAND and 15 men of C Company, had held out in their position for eight hours with the house at times completely surrounded by Germans and being indiscriminately shelled by both sides.

    Many of the men of B and Support Companies who withdrew across Hill 30 together with other stragglers were collected in RANVILLE by the QM, Capt. W.M. MILNE, MBE, who was waiting there in the vain hope of bringing up breakfast. Capt MILNE directed these men to assemble in the old Bn area West of the ORNE bridge with the result that for some hours small parties of men were seen crossing the bridge in search of the Bn area. There they were reorganised by Major NIXON and brought up to LONGUEVAL at 1500 hours. The relief of the ULSTER RIFLES, however, did not take place that night so the Bn spent the night in the quarries and took over LONGUEVAL next morning.

    The Bn casualties in the action were 8 Officers and 107 Other Ranks, of whom 29 were Killed.
     
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  4. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    On the 13th June 1944,HQ 4AGRA were established at PLUMETOT, with it's 65th Medium Regt RHQ at COLLEVILLE. There are no co-ords for either the AGRA or 222/223 Btys of the 65th in the diaries. The AGRA & it's regts were engaged in Heavy Artillery support of the 51st (H) Div's advance. The 65th's Medium 5.5" guns had a max range of aprox 9 miles (100lbs shell) It was never going to be easy finding them, but that was the idea!
    Another route could be the diary of the RASC Arty Platoon's dumping operation,i don't have their No.(could be 1611 which was the 79th's) only the higher command, 319 Arty Coy RASC
    Rob
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2017
  5. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Many thanks to all of you,you're very helpful.

    I feel as though i am now getting closer and understanding more.

    I will work through your suggestions and perhaps be back if i need clarification or further guidance.

    Regards,
    John
     
  6. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    My Father was under the impression that the "Shorts" were mediums. He and the rest of the battalion were a bit miffed as it was "outsiders" who were firing the artillery, that is to say it wasn't their own arty. Not that it makes much difference who is firing when your on the receiving end of short rounds.
     
  7. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    Hi Rob,John,

    Here's the diary pages for 1611 arty plat, rasc.(my father was a driver in this unit)
    sorry about the quality, hope it helps.

    Graham. june 11.jpg june13.jpg
     
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  8. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    i
    I am no apologist for the (Outsiders) The 65th (Highland) Medium Regt & their Gunnery Officers, who were under direct command & receiving on call fire orders from HQ 51st Div at this time. This was 1944 not 2017 tec. The BL 5.5" Medium Gun had a max approx. range of 9miles (100lbs shell) & was very accurate with observed FOO direction from the fdl's, but unfortunately in battle Infantry moves & the ranging can change in mins and these things happen!
    Friendly fire always has & always will happen sadly.
    PS, 53rd (Lowland),79th (Scottish Horse) Medium Regts were also shooting for the 51st Div.
    Best
    Rob
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2017
  9. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Only trouble this time was that the Infantry were at their start line, and got casualties before they moved. I wasn't blaming anyone, I guess you had to be there.
     
  10. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Hi Rob, 51 Highland,
    Graham

    Do i take it from this interchange that dad's Medium Regiment were involved in some 'friendly fire ' incidents. I'm new to this but willing to learn, good or bad!
    'Casualties on start line' implies missing targets/distance?

    Rob, i'm not familiar with some of the terms if you could clarify i'd appreciate.?:
    RASC
    DUMPING
    OUTSIDERS ( not part of ?)
    FDL's

    Thanks for WD'S GRAHAM

    Regards,
    John
     
  11. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Graham, just read through the 1611 diary pages. Can you explain the link; is it with the 51st Division or the 65th Regiment. The place is just described as ''field''
    I've just reread and have seen that ''dumping'' refers to delivering.
    Cheers,

    John
     
  12. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    John
    RASC = Royal Army Service Corps
    Dumping= Delivering large numbers of Shells, Charges, fuses to each gun on site for a large engagement.
    Outsiders = the post refers to the Medium Regt not being part of the 51st Division, as Medium Arty are Corps Troops part of an AGRA & attached to a Division When they needed heavy Arty Support as opposed to the Divisions own generic field arty Regts.
    FDL = Forward Defence Line, The limit of the troops advance defensive position.
    Best
    Rob
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2017
  13. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    Hi John,
    I was replying to Rob's query, ref- the last sentence of post 4.(1611 Arty Plat,RASC,what/where, they were on and around the 13 June)
    The diary for this unit is WO/166 15689. It covers Jan-June 1944.

    best......Graham

    ps, enjoyed both the books Rob.
     
    Rob Dickers likes this.
  14. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Thanks Rob & Graham,
    Rob do you know if there were casualties in the 'friendly fire' situation in which the 65th, 53rd and 79th were supporting the 51st ?

    Cheers,
    John
     

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