Battle for Hottot 11 July 1944: 1st Dorsets

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Dee27, Jun 2, 2018.

  1. Dee27

    Dee27 New Member

    Hi looking for in particular any information of the 1st Battalion Devon and Dorset regiment 11 July 1944 battle for hottot
    my grandfather was killed their
    Thanks
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    Perhaps you could confirm your grandfather's name and unit?

    001 BATTY CT 5574302 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. E. 22.
    002 BROWN IHJ 14679121 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. D. 14.
    003 CANNING GA 5734155 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. C. 8.
    004 DAVIS A 5734575 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT PANEL 15, COLUMN 2.
    005 GENTLE JP 5989760 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. D. 22.
    006 HUNT FJ 14588985 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. F. 23.
    007 JAMES L 1796406 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXVII. D. 12.
    008 MEREDITH KE 66463 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. E. 6.
    009 MILLER RA 5725766 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. E. 15.
    010 MILLS RS 5389545 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. E. 25.
    011 SIDWELL LDJ 3715581 1ST BN 11/07/1944 DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT XXI. D. 8.


    There is a War Diary in the National Archives at Kew, which would cover that period, for the above unit:
    WO 171/1284 1 Dorsetshire Regiment 1944 Jan.- July
     
  3. Dee27

    Dee27 New Member

    Hi dbf
    Leonard James 1796406 1st battlion Dorsetshire regiment.
    Do you know how the process of applying for service records works at all ?
    And thank you for the information on Kew will look into it.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Here's a link to MOD site, reference records for deceased personnel. You won't need a death certificate as a copy of the CWGC certificate should suffice.
    Request records of deceased service personnel


    If you cannot get to Kew yourself, there are a couple of forum members who go there regularly and who charge far less than TNA does for copy documents.

    Good luck with your research. (I'll edit the title to include the regiment details in the hope it'll attract someone who has the information you need.)
     
  5. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum, Dee27.

    The 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment, was brigaded with the 1st Bn Hampshire Regiment and 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment, in the 231st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

    It had landed in the first wave on Gold Beach on D-Day and fought throughout the
    NW Europe campaign.

    I have the battalion history and will get back with details from this next Wednesday, if no-one else has in the interim.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
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  6. Dee27

    Dee27 New Member

    Many thanks to you both your help is very much appreciated. I purchased a book from the keep the regiments museum but it did not have much info of the action that took place for hottot where he was killed.
    Thanks again
    Dee
     
  7. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Dee

    They were supported that day I believe by tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade - not sure which Regiment - so that might give you more leads.

    Edit: a quick check suggests it could have been the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry the day your grandfather was killed (my late fathers Regiment, 24th Lancers, relieved the SRY a couple of days after your grandfather was killed, hence my comment).
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2018
  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    The Wardiary for the SRY for the period 10-12th July 1944 has the following info. re. Hottot:

    10th July 1944: The Regt moved forward to a lying up area in area FOLLIOT preparatory to taking part in MAORI II. "A" Sqn will be with the Devons and B with the Hamps both of 231 Bde (5- Div) and C Sqn is on the left with 10 D.L.I. (70 Bde, 49 Div) in what is to be at first a reserve role. The objective for MAORI II is to attack HOTTOT and exploit the ground 2 or 3 hundred yds South of the TILLY Road which runs through the village.

    11th July 1944: A + B Sqns completed the first 2 of the four Phases of the attack with sp of an Arty barrage, but found the very enclosed country favoured the Germans defensive methods. The Inf had a trying time, but more than 50 prisoners including several Poles were taken and many Germans were killed and seriously wounded. We "brewed up" 4 Mk IV Specials and probably K.O'd another at very short range.
    So close were the two "sides" that an attack by the R.A.F. with Tank busting TYPHOONS troubled us more than it did the enemy, though we suffered no causalities from this, several tanks were hit by small cannon shells. C Sqn advanced with 10 D.L.I. and reached the road on the left. A Sqn had had a very tiring day, but acceeded to the special request of the much depleted Inf. and left two troops in their forward positions throughout the night.

    12th July 1944: Inf continued to consolidate around A + B Sqns (i.e. the North of the road). B Sqn K.O’d a Mk IV Special. Our tanks have been repeatedly subject to heavy mortar and shell fire during the two days of battle and we have lost seven Tank Commanders killed and wounded of whom only one (Major Makins*) was out of his tank at the time of being hit. This is a serious loss to us. A Sqn were particularly unfortunate in losing 3 Officers and 1 N.C.O. crew Commanders – all wounded. In the evening the Regt was withdrawn to the orchard near CHOUAIN, except C Sqn who remained in sp of Inf. Again tanks were left with the forward Inf and one troop was troubled by a strong German patrol during the night. The tanks opened fire and found several dead Germans in the next field when day broke.

    * And re. Makins, Geoffrey Ernest : Winchester College at War

    Which also has for instance: "Makins arrived to take command of “A” Squadron and on 10th July they moved to a concentration area near Folliot and from 11th – 13th July all three squadrons of the Sherwood Rangers were involved in heavy fighting in the Hottot area of Normandy. Stuart Hills’ memoir “By Tank into Normandy” (Cassell 2002) recounts what happened:

    “…. but the biggest loss was Geoffrey Makins, who had only recently arrived to take over command of ‘A’ Squadron. He was badly wounded by shrapnel while observing from his tank, and taken to the Casualty Clearing Station, where he was visited by the Colonel a few days later. Stanley Christopherson thought he looked very ill, although the doctors believed he had a good chance of pulling through. Geoffrey died on September 4th and was buried in his home village of Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire, aged twenty-eight. All this had taken place in a battle which we had been told beforehand would be easy. We had knocked out seven enemy tanks but had lost four ourselves as well as seven valuable crew commanders. The infantry had suffered even worse casualties. On July 14th we were pulled out of the line…” "
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2018
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  9. dave sidwell

    dave sidwell New Member

    Hi, my father was killed in Hot Tot on the 11/7/44, I have a copy of the officers diary for around that day but there is little info about the actual fighting or anything relating to how or when my dad died, also I am going over for the 75 comemerations this year.
    I wonder if they new one another?
    Dave
     
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  10. ypres5

    ypres5 Junior Member

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  11. Plassey39

    Plassey39 New Member

    There are some details about the battle of Hottot in the book three assault landings by Col A E C Bredin
     

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