Accounts of officers of 7th Field Reg't first 2days from D-Day

Hi. I have seen the above account on Google which is 83 pages long and of poor quality type, it is a very interesting read if you can decipher it. Would I be allowed to decipher pages and POST it here?
Al.Owens.

 

I should think that would be very interesting Al.

Look forward to seeing it.

 

Accounts of operations of the7thField reg.tRA(SP) during the Xtwo days of invasion,Normandy.
XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Page38of83
XX X X X X X X XAcount by Captain HW Bruce MC RA MA 7thField(SP) RA
XX X X X X X X X X X X X X SOMEWHERE IN MID CHANNEL:
Very dark night with moon barely visible at times behind stormy clouds.Wind of some gale
force blowing.Regimental F.O.O. Party of three consisting of self and two signallers on board
an L.C.P. One of the flotilla L.C.T.s carrying D.D.tanks Tank deck contains D.D. SHERMANS
manned by 13/18th ROYAL HUSSARS.My own craft L.C.P..(L)282 is in tow astern secured by two Manilla hawsers and at present by a skeleton crew of ROYAL MARINES.The minor craft is wallowing in wake of L.C.T, imposing great strain on hawsers which break three times during the voyage.Craft is safely recovered each time and finally secured by wire hawser thanks to the unceasing efforts of theNo.1 and deck hands.At this time my party are aboard the L.C.T. Myself in cabin studying maps and wave-top photographs of the coastline
04.00hrs-Nearly everyone on deck is watching bombing of the targets byR.A.F. Fires and flak visible at several points On our flanks destroyers and cruisers just distinguishable in the Xdarkness. X X X


0500We cast off. Personnel on board L.C.P.consist of ROYAL MARINE crew of four under Corporal BARNARD R.M. Myself and two signallers (ASHLEY and OWENS) manning wireless sets as follows.----(It would be appropriate at this stage to note the following) . The villages of Le Breche and Lion sur Mer are emitting large volumes of smoke X
and dust from the target area as it drifts out to sea obscuring targets Xand enveloping craft. Gunnery observation was one of the least satisfactory aspects of the landings with many ships compelled to waste ammunition on objectives selected from the map, for lack of targets pinpointed by forward observers. As the first wave of landing craft headed for the beach,the guns lifted their barrage according to the time schedule as a Xresult,with many craft running many minutes late,theGerman defences had a breathing space before the first infantry hit beach.Because of the lack of discernible targets due to the smoke, the order was given to FIRE FOR XEFFECT.

LCP(282) now a free agent.For a while we keep stationto Port of Naviation Leader.
nothing seen of other LCP( X)s as yet
0600 hrsX
netting Xbegins--------------owing to gyrations of our craft.--------- in addition----signaller very sick,very sick myself 46 Set(Crystal Control) through without any troubleX
0610hrs
Heiled by LCT carrying DD Tanks.OP? Alongside in Xdifficulties in high seas,take aboard
Regimental FOO of 33rd Field Reg't and party together with Royal Marine Officer and crew.The FOOs XLCP had foundered Xin heavy seas during the night.X
There are now fifteen people aboard my craft ,causing considerable congestion ,apart from wireless sets and batteries much space is taken up by Naval stores----apparatus----X
Conditions agravated by the fact that nearly everyone including the marines is being violently sick.
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X(C) Crown Copyright/MOD/1975
X X X XWith excerpts from “Overlord" by Max Hastings . Chapter “To the far shore"


Sent from my iPad

 

Here's my attempt at deciphering MOD's rather faint scan of the Account by Captain Hendrie William BRUCE (100236), RA, who was the Regimental Forward Observation Officer for the Approach.

Sword Beach and the Airborne Assault - Outline plan of assault on the coast of Normandy 3 British Infantry Division and accounts by Officers and NCO’s - CONF4300_Ops7thFieldRegiment
http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/jscsc-library/archives/operation-overlord/the-d-day-landings/CONF4300_Ops7thFieldRegiment.pdf
Starting page 38/83 of pdf document:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
-35-

ACCOUNT BY
CAPTAIN H.W. BRUCE, M.C., R.A.

Somewhere in mid-Channel: Very dark night with moon
faintly visible at times behind stormy clouds. Wind of semi-
gale force blowing.

Regimental FOO party of three, consisting of self and
two signallers on board an LCT, one of the flotilla of LCTs
carrying DD Tanks. Tank deck contains DD Shermans manned by
13/18 ROYAL HUSSARS. My own craft, LCP(L) 282 in tow astern,
secured by two heavy Manilla hawsers, and at present manned
by a skeleton crew of Royal Marines. The minor craft is
wallowing in wake of LCT imposing great strain on hawsers which
break three times during the voyage. Craft is safely
recovered each time and finally secured by wire hawser,thanks
to the unceasing efforts of the No 1 and deck hands. At this
time my party are aboard the LCT. Myself in cabin studying
maps and wavetop photographs of coastline.

0400 hours:
Nearly everyone on deck watching bombing of targets
by R.A.F. Fires and flak visible at several points. On
our flanks destroyers and cruisers just distinguishable in
the darkness.

0500 hours:
We cast off. Personnel on board LCP consist of
Royal Marine crew of four under Corporal BARNARD, RM, myself
and two signallers (Signallers AHSLEY and OWENS) manning
wireless sets as follows:-

One 19 Set: (On 7 Field Regiment Control Net
(Flick to 76 Field Regiment Control Net.

One 19 Set: (On 76 Field Regiment Control Net.
(Flick to 7 Field Regiment Control Net.

501 [sic, 510] Set (On 7 Field Regiment Control Net.
(Flick to 76 Field Regiment Control Net.

LCP (L) 282 now a free agent. For a while we keep station to
port of LCH Navigation Leader. Nothing seen of other LCP
(L)s as yet.

05?? hours:
Netting begins. 19 Sets netted with great difficulty
owing to gyrations of craft. In addition both signallers very
sick. Very sick myself. 510 Set (crystal control) tunes in
without any trouble.

0610 hours:
Heiled by LCT carrying DD Tanks. Go alongside with
difficulty in rough sea and take aboard Regimental FOO 33 Field
Regiment and party, also RM Officer and crew of FOOs LCP which
foundered in heavy seas during night. There are now fifteen
people aboard my craft, causing considerable congestion.
Apart from wireless sets and batteries much space is taken
up by naval stores and a bulky smoke-generating apparatus.
Cramped conditions aggravated by the fact that nearly everyone,
including the Marines, is being violently sick.

-36-

0620 hours approx.:
Through on all wireless sets. Daylight now.
Coastline now visible and becoming clearer every moment.
Long row of houses visible on the sea front and mouth of R ORNE
at OUISTREAM identified by lighthouse. Target not yet
identified. Very difficult to use binoculars owing to
pitching and rolling of craft. By this time DD tanks have
been launched and appear to be swimming well although launching
appeared rather difficult. Cruise around in wake of DD Tanks
and close the shore to a distance of about 3,000 yards.

0630 hours:
Coastline very clear. Target 'COD' now definitely
identified from wavetop photographs. All ready to start shoot-
ing. Enemy manning defences on beaches to our immediate
front appears to be holding his fire, although Coast Defence
batteries to flanks have opened fire and shells are pitching
into sea somewhat haphazardly.

0640 hours: H-45.
Ranging on Target "COD" commences with section salvoes
from "A" Troop embarked on control LCT, firing White Phosphorous
Smoke, FUZE 48 DELAY. First two salvoes unobserved. At
0643 hours the third salvo hits the foreshore to right of
target area (to the best of my knowledge the first rounds to
hit our sector of the coast of NORMANDY in the invasion).
Correction of "Left 400 yards" and order for fire for effect
given, and range reported to 76 Field Regiment.

0645 hours: H-40.
The Divisional Artillery of 3 British Infantry Division
goes to fire for effect, rate 3, on target "COD" - 7 Field
Regiment centre, 76 Field Regiment right, 33 Field Regiment
left. Target area well covered by burst both on the beach
head and among the buildings. Enemy suddenly becomes very
active with guns and mortars and the sea is dotted with
splashes of varying sizes. LCA's carrying assault infantry
of 8 British Infantry Brigade and LCTs with AVREs embarked,
pass through us and close the beach in the face of enemy fire.

Adjutant 76 Field Regiment comes up on the wireless,
request to observe fire of his Regiment as nothing has been
heard from his Regimental FOO. Orders are thus given to 76
Field Regiment on their net and orders for 33 Field Regiment
are sent to 76 Field Regiment for retransmission. As the
sole surviving FOO craft, LCP (L) 282 is now the eyes of the
Divisional Artillery.

By this time the full weight of our fire support has
been brought to bear as now the monitors and cruisers, destroyers,
LCS( R )s, LCG's and other craft join the bombardment. When
the rocket-firing craft open up the villages of LA BRECHE and
LION SUR MER are smothered in. ?????? and enornous dirty
clouds of dust, smoke and brick-dust rise from the target area
and drift out to sea, completely obscuring our target for a time
and enveloping many craft in a veritable 'fog of war'.

The smoke having cleared somewhat, the houses are
again shattered by explosions and a glimpse of our bombers
through the clouds gives the answer to their great upheaval as
the sound of aircraft is completely inaudible in the general din.

-37-

0725 hours:
The run-in shoot is concluded and at this time the
LCP is cruising practically blind amid the smoke. Decreasing
speed we turn out to sea and, emerging from the smoke, we
have the good fortune to see the LCTs, led by LCT(IV)331,
with "A" Troop guns embarked, proceeding seawards to cruise
around until the time scheduled for beaching arrives. LCP(L)
282 is then put alongside LCT(IV) 334 ("B?" Troop aboard)
and my party transfer to the major craft. For approximately
the next 2½ hours our LCT division cruises around offshore
while final preparations for the landing are made. There
is some shelling from Coast Defence Batteries, but nothing
very near us. Some craft nearer the shore are observed to
be on fire and to our flank an LCI(L) blows up in a sheet of
flame. QUEEN RED BEACH is seen to be under heavy fire and
WHITE BEACH is still somewhat obscured by smoke.

1040 hours approx:
It is almost high tide when our LCT beaches on WHITE
BEACH (owing to change of plan) and disembarkation is greatly
hampered by the fact that the narrow strip of beach between
the high-water mark and the minefields is crowded with tanks
and vehicles, three deep and practically nose to tail. Room
for disembarking vehicles is made only by crowding disembarked
vehicles still closer together. The beach is under mortar
and shell fire fortunately only intermittent on our sector.
After a delay of at least an hour the flow of vehicles from
the beach exits becomes more rapid and we proceed in an orderly
column through the streets of HERMANVILLE, lined with happy
but bewildered inhabitants, to the gun position on the South
West outskirts of the town.
All guns in action.

It is worth recording here that all vehicles of the
battery arrived at the gun position in good running order.

In front of the battery position lies a large open
expanse of cultivated ground rising gradually to a crest.
Tanks are dotted about on the slopes and an 88 mm.gun,
concealed near PLUMETOT, opens fire and "brews up" three
tanks and one M 14 of the STAFFORDSHIRE YEOMANRY, before
being silenced.

Enemy snipers concealed in buildings, especially attics
and church towers, are quite active in the area and the 'ping'
of odd bullets is a common sound. Many snipers are silenced by
direct fire from tanks and Anti tank guns.

The Battery has so far suffered two casualties:-
Driver of Fitters truck - wounded by sniper.
Representative with
Unit Landing Officer - wounded on beach

1820 hours:
"Tank alert" -no developments.
So far there has been very little shooting and no enemy
artillery fire has directly been experienced on the gun
position. Preparations are going ahead to spend the night
in this position, when, at 2030 hours, the Command Post
Officer’s Reconnaissance Party leaves to reconnoitre new
???????????????

???? hours:
?????????????????????????????? position.
Move carried out without major incident, although roads are now

-38-

very crowded with transport, including large numbers of
DUKWs. The gun position is among orchards East of HERMAN-
VILLE, fringing the open ground to the South.

2130 hours:
Large formations of gliders, carrying the Airlanding
Brigade of 6 Airborne Division, come in from the sea at
about 600 feet, towed by Stirlings and Albemarkes [sic]. Slipping
their tow topes, the gliders circle round and land in open
fields astride the bridges over the RIVER ORNE and ORNE
CANAL at BENOUVILLE. Many aircraft drop large quantities of
coloured parachutes with supply containers attached. At
this encouraging sight the morale of our men rises, if
possible, still higher.

2230 hours: ,
Message received that “B” Troop OP tank LANDRECY [LANDRÉCY]
has been knocked out by enemy anti-tank gun on the road to
BLAINVILLE.
Casualties are as follows:-
One Signaller killed; Troop Commander and OP Assistant
seriously wounded.
Before dark a careful reconnaissance of the perimeter
of the battery area is made and an elaborate local defence
scheme is arranged and tied up with adjoining units.

During the hours of darkness the Luftwaffe, which
has had a poor innings during daylight, becomes very active
over the beachhead and large numbers of HE and anti-
personnel bombs are dropped, chiefly on the beaches and
beach maintenance areas. Our light AA defence is intense.
Altogether a noisy night.

No firing by our guns during the night.


7 June: D+1.
During the morning some Regimental and Divisional
targets are registered and recorded by “A” Troop Commander,
who is observing the enemy defensive positions based on
LEBISSEY WOOD or “VERMOUTH” to give it its code name.
Firing is still not strenuous enough for the gunners, who
are positively itching to fire vast numbers of rounds at the
enemy.

At about 1115 hours a straggling formation of about
ten JU 88 bombers comes weaving out of the low clouds and
drops bombs, one falling 30 yards from “A” Troop pivot gun.
No casualties among our men but some men of 33 Field Regiment,
on adjoining position, wounded?. One aircraft seen to be shot
down and another on fire.

1210 hours:
Order ‘Prepare to move’ received. Command Post
Officer’s Reconnaissance Party moves off shortly after.
Soon to move by batteries in order of march 17 Battery,
16 Battery, 9 Battery.

1300 hours approx:
The SP guns come out of action and, amid clouds of
dust, ??????????????
forward ????????????????????
????????????????????

-39-

No sooner are guns in action that heavy firing commences in
support of our hard pressed infantry, 2nd Battalion ROYAL
WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT, on LEBISSEY. “C” Troop position is
sniped by anti-tank rifle in a house in BEUVILLE and an
anti-tank shell of small calibre enters the gun mantlet of
“C” subsection and, deflected downwards, penetrates the
propeller shaft.

At about 1700 hours the enemy opens a heavy and
accurate fire from mortars on to the gun position, just as
the M.14s of the Ammunition Group are arriving to deliver
ammunition. Firing and unloading of ammunition continues
in spite of enemy fire.

During this mortaring some casualties to personnel
are suffered, four men being wounded. In addition “C” Sub-
section gun received two direct hits, one M 14 is damaged
and two motor cycles are destroyed.

As it is suspected that our gun flashes are visible
to enemy on LEBISSEY orders are received for battery to
move to alternative position behind the main crest. Battery
comes out of action immediately and drops into action
again. Command Post established in farm, a previous German
strong point (HILLMAN). Ammunition Group, having released
dumped ammunition rejoins remainder of Battery. All
vehicles, less motor cycles, are able to move.

From this position Divisional and Regimental targets
are fired in support of our infantry. Firing slacked off
towards dark.

2245 hours:
The Command Post, “B” Troop and Ammunition Group,
move back to form a closer Battery position around “A”
Troop.

“C” Subsection gun barrel is condemned by E.M.E.
although the motor carriage is undamaged.

Digging-in on an intensive scale is started immediately
and as darkness falls the last fighter patrol returns to
ENGLAND and amid intense AA the Luftwaffe again commences
attacks on the beachhead.

Casualties up to 2359 hours:-
1 other rank killed.
1 officer, 7 other ranks wounded.

==============

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Any comment/correction/addition welcome.

Michel

 

My father Derek Findley now aged 93 was Lieutenant on LCT 331 which fired the first shells; the other Lieutenant was Alan Bowman, my godfather who died some years ago. I have often hear Capt Hendrie Bruce spoken of by my father and met him many years ago when he and others got together.

Christopher Fidnley

 

This picture matches the story.
http://www.davidrowlands.co.uk/gallery/gal_detail.asp?varPaintCode=056

 

Well, not quite, as it makes the usual confusion between LCT Pennant Number and Landing Table Index Number, respectively 859 and 331. The pennant number on the bow of the LCT in the painting should have been LCT 859. See:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/16174-run-in-shoot-by-ra-in-overlord-assault/?p=548150

Additionally, there was no Sherman tank ahead of the M7.

Michel