4/7th RDG 4th troop B sqdn THE CAMPAIGN

6th June - D-Day The Troop's objective on D-Day was an unidentified structure on the King Green Sector of Gold Beach. The Troop's amphibious DD tanks waded in at H hour minus 5 minutes - 07.20 from a LCT - a tank landing craft. The original intention had been for the tanks to swim in but the sea was too rough. The structure was found to be a block house with the gun traversing rear and firing enfilade to both sides along the beach. The Troop Leader's tank with the Troop Sergeant attacked the blockhouse form the left and the Troop Corporal's tank from the right. However the latter sank in a large shell crater below the surface. Attempts to pull it out failed and the other two tanks took the track immediately behind the block house inland after the crew of the block house surrendered. The two surviving tanks of the Troop crossed the River Seulles at Villers-le-Sec. So ended DDay.

4th Troop inspecting the Blockhouse 11th June - Cristot A gap had been detected in the German line between Points 102 and 103 - Cristot - and attack began with 'B' Squadron and the 6th Battalion Green Howards infantry. The infantry became separated from the tanks resulting in the 12th SS in a defensive position picking off the tanks and infantry. The operation became a complete failure. 4th Troop suffered three of the Troop wounded including the Troop Leader Lt T.E Apps 14th June - Verrires On the 13th June the Troop was reunited with new diesel tanks at Jerusalem and as reserve Troop went into action with the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Verrires (next day?). The Troop Leader was 2/Lt Robinson who had taken over as Troop Leader from Lt Apps who was wounded at Cristot. 2/Lt Robinson had just arrived from England. After the start at 10.00 hours, lining up with the infantry, they came under heavy fire in a corn field and the Troop Leader's tank was hit, killing all the crew, then the Troop Sergeant's tank, killing the Troop Sergeant, Sgt Fry and the operator Tpr Busbridge , who because of previous casualties were the only crew manning the tank. The driver, Fred Hall, driver escaped. The Troop Corporal's tank took evasive action and escaped from the long range German anti-tank gun. The casualties amongst the infantry were grievous. August 3rd - Jurques

The attack against the enemy at Jurques. By now the Troop had a fourth tank - a Firefly with a 17 pounder gun. This gun was a match for the German Panther tank. A tank from 3rd Troop led the attack but was soon hit by the Panther dug-in at the top of the hill. A Typhoon plane winkled the Panther from out of its dug-in position and it came down the hill towards the Troop. The 17 pounder, with gunner Tpr Moffatt, scored a direct hit on the turret of the German tank September 3rd - Lille A reconnaissance was made of Lille and 'B' Squadron with 4th Troop leading entered the town to a rapturous reception.

Troop Corporal's tank entering Lille

THE SHERMAN

'B' and 'C' Squadrons were equipped with the amphibious Duplex Drive Shermans. A decking around the tank at top of track level supported a canvas screen which could be raised with the aid of collapsible pillars inflated with compressed air. The screens were kept in place by struts similar to those on a pram hood. The tank was steered by a tiller at the rear and propulsion was by propellers that could be raised for the tank's use on dry land. Within a week of D-Day the majority of the DD tanks had been destroyed. The Squadrons were equipped with conventional tanks with twin 150 hp diesel engines. These tanks did not burst into flames as quickly as did the previous petrol Shermans.

The Sherman was equipped with a 75 mm gun which was no match against the Panther and useless against the Tiger tank. However a modified version was brought out mounting a 17 pounder gun which was an effective weapon. The Sherman had a good turn of speed but the armour gave little protection against the superior enemy guns such as the 88. Training for the amphibious Squadrons, mainly on DD Valentine tanks, consisted of launching from LCTs (Landing Craft Tank) swimming the tanks and landing. Practically no training except gunnery practice, was undertaken for land warfare and no information was given of the dense Normandy bocage in which the tanks had to operate to their cost.

The Panzer Lehr

The Panzer Lehr, the finest armoured division in the Wehrmacht, created from demonstration units in the armoured corps was the enemy armour that faced 'A' Squadron of the Regiment at Lingevres. Sgt Harris of 'A' Squadron had spectacular success on 14th June 1944 when five 'Panther' tanks were knocked out, thereby securing the village. The Panzer Lehr division was located well to the South, in the area Illiers and Nogent-le-Rotrou between Chartres and Le Mans. On the 6th June they were ordered to take up positions to the left of 12th SS arriving in the area of Tilly-sur-Seulles on 9th June. During the 90 mile drive they lost 130 trucks, five tanks and 84 self-propelled guns due to attacks by the allied air force.

A 4th/7th Dragoon Guards Sherman knocked out beside the Lingvres church.

Knocked out Panthers pushed into the ditches on either side of the road

The SS (The Shtztaffeln)

On 11th June 1944 at Point 103 the Regiment , with the 6th Battalion Green Howards was engaged in action against the 12th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, commanded by SS Major Gerhard Bremer and Panthers of the 2nd Company, commanded by SS Lt. Helmet Gaede. On 26th June 1944 at Tessel, the beginning of Operation Epsom, the Regiment and infantry, the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish, met head-on with elements of the German Kampfgruppe (Battlegroup) - namely the 12th Panzer Regiment commanded by Max Wunsche who was counterattacking from Rauray in the same area. The right flank of the attack was protected by the 12th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and the 24th Lancers. The German unit comprised Wunsche's Panthers and a few men of the 12th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion. The 12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion and the 2nd Panzer Company were part of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, which was the Regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend.

Michael Trasenster D-day A squadron

On D Day 6th June 1944 my tank was the first to approach Crepon and I passed through M. Leon Vereeckes field near their farmhouse "La Ranonnire" on the way to Creully. Sherman tank 27 (Winchester) 2 Troop A Squadron was the first tank into and through Creully. The crew was then Cpl R Cox, Tprs Redford and Stokes, L/Cpl Willets and myself. A German tank got a near miss at only 300 metres gouging the armour and disintegrating the spare bogie: even more fortunately our 2 inch smoke landed on the bridge instead of being drowned in the river, so he did not get a second shot at us. The second tank, 29 crewed by Cpl Lipscombe, L/Cpl Richards, Tprs Aston, Bingley and Catlow moved right to give supporting fire. Later about a kilometre past Creully this tank was brewed and all the crew wounded. I name all crew members, as I feel, like one of our Colonels, Gordon Barker, that many got little recognition for their part in the shared dangers unlike their German opposite numbers. Incidentally Sherman 27, supported by another tank, commanded by then L/Sgt Cox were the first two British tanks across the Seine (mentioned in a David and Charles book 1988, Assault Crossing the River Seine, by Ken Ford

CRISTOT -

Memorial to B and C Squadrons and the 6th Battalion Green Howards

On 11th June 1944 at Point 103 B and C Squadrons, with the 6th Battalion Green Howards was engaged in action against the 12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, commanded by SS Major Gerhard Bremmer and Panther tanks of the 2nd Panzer Company commanded by SS Lt Helmut Gaede. The ground was ideal for enemy defence. B Squadron was separated from the infantry and during bitter fighting the Regiment suffered grievous losses both in tanks and the crews

CC Newsletter Feb 2002 Cristot An Episode in Normandy by Jackie Weir The following is an extract from L/Cpl Weirs account of the day on the 11th June 1944 when his tank was knocked out and his commander killed. It was only many years afterwards that Jackie felt able to tell the story to his friend, SQMS Jim Dowse After the tank had been hit, the four survivors, two of whom were wounded, managed to reach a ditch and what they thought to be shelter but....
By now the light was beginning to fade and the firing became more sporadic. Feeling more recovered, we began to think of making a move to get back. At that moment we heard a snap and rustle of twigs close by, accompanied by some indistinct muttering; it was too vague to tell what language it was we wondered if it was perhaps some of our chaps looking for us... As the sounds came closer, we lay there not daring to breathe. I knew that whoever it was would soon discover us. I glanced up just as two Panzer Grenadiers armed to the teeth with Schmeissers and Lugers, and with stick grenades stuck down their jackboots burst into our refuge. They at once began

to kick us to our feet. Young D and I helped J to his feet and, with more kicking and pushing, we moved in the direction from whence we came. After about a hundred yards of scrambling and stumbling we came to more open ground. From here we could see the German forward positions. By now we were physically drained again, and J was dragging his feet in great pain. Still kicks and blows came from behind, and I felt a gun prodding me in the back. I turned, and one of the gunmen motioned to put J down on the ground. This we did, and I could see he was in very poor shape. I remember thinking that perhaps they would send some medical assistance to him. Relieved of J, we were able to give more help to B as we moved closer to the German lines. We had gone about ten yards when a shot rang out; I turned to see one of the Germans straightening up from Js body. He had simply shot J in the head. I shouted, calling him you German bastard! He rushed up to me and levelled his Luger at my head stared at me and I could see a face full of hate, with at least a weeks growth of dark beard and bloodshot eyes. I could plainly see the SS insignia on his lapels. It was a face I can still see plainly to this day. All the while the other German stood a few yards away, covering us with his Schmeisser. The man with the Luger at my head looked down the barrel, but did not press the trigger. Instead, he delivered another kick and got us on the move again. B was on my right with my arm under his, giving him some support. Our progress was very slow, and B about all in. Young D was on my left, and our shoulders were touching as we staggered forward. Suddenly I heard a bang close to my head and saw D pitch forward and fall, with the back of his head shattered. He had been walking with his hands raised above his head not making a sound. He was shot in cold blood for no apparent reason except that he was British. I turned towards his killer, and before I could speak I felt the muzzle of his Luger pressed to my head. It was still hot from being fired. I closed my eyes and was sure my end had come. Instead, I received another hefty kick and we were again pushed forward. B and I dragged ourselves forward slowly. He was in a poor state and pleaded with me to put him on the ground. I refused, knowing that there would be only one outcome if I did so. We were now close to the German lines. I could see mortar and machine-gun positions and to the rear, a Tiger tank. We entered the trees and were kicked and pummelled into a ditch lined with troops all SS men. The gestures and remarks they made were all aimed at shooting the two of us. We were now close to the Tiger, and I was amazed at the size of it. I wondered if it was responsible for our present plight A few feet away from us an SS soldier with blood running down his sleeve still sat behind his machine-gun, ready for action. After a short time our guard responsible for the shooting of J and D made me lie face down on the ground. Once more the Shoot him chorus began. He grabbed me by the hair and pulled my head back until I thought my neck would break. He began asking me questions in broken English, and for some reason wanted to know who was the driver of our tank. I tried to shake my head, and he asked me again but I didnt reply. Still holding my head back, he then asked me if I was Canadian. Once again I tried to shake my head. Suddenly there seemed to be a Roman Candle bursting inside my head and I felt blood running down my face. He had hit me with his Luger. I found out later that to be a Canadian would have meant being shot. The Germans suspected Canadians of shooting German prisoners. We were stripped of all our possessions. My wallet and wristwatch had been taken, and the contents of the wallet tipped onto the ground. My photograph of Muriel, my wife, fell to the ground. It was looked at, and again thrown away. I was determined to keep the photograph, although B thought it was too risky. Nevertheless I did retrieve it and, fifty years later, it stands on my mantelpiece. After

about fifteen minutes we were taken a few hundred yards to the rear to a farm building. One by one we were taken in front of an SS officer, who asked questions such as regiment, name, type of tank, weapons etc. I gave only my name, rank and number; he then proceeded to give me the answers to his own questions even including the name of our Commanding officer. By now it was night, and we were in a half-track vehicle and driven to Bretteville a few miles away. There we found ourselves in the local school. It was full of prisoners of different nationalities, many badly wounded. Several were members of tank crews, swathed from head to foot with bandages because of burns. B had still received no treatment for his wounds. We sank to the floor, two exhausted and weary young men who in the last few hours had become old. So ended the 11th day of June 1944.

Tony Chapman LST & Landing Craft Association writes: - "There were two flotillas of LCTs assigned (May 1944) to carry in the DD Shermans on to Gold Beach on the morning of 6th June 1944, the 15th (Mk3) LCT Flotilla of D LCT Squadron were assigned to Assault Group G1, the craft assigned being LCTs 442, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470 and 476, with them, still 15th Flotilla, were the second series Mk3*Star LCTs 7006, 7007, 7008, 7009 and finally 7013. With your group G2, assigned to carry in the DD tanks of the 4th/7th Dragoons were Mk3 LCTs of L Squadron, the craft assigned being 427, 428, 429, 430, 432, 433, 451, 453, 454, 463, 475 and the Mk3* 7012. Having discharged her duties on Gold sector the LCT 427 returned home; at approx 0300 hours on the morning of June 7th H.M.S. Rodney left Spithead Gate running down and sinking LCT 427 in the process all 12 crew lost. Wireman Sumner.. the only marked grave amongst 427s crew, being interred at Haslar, his fellow crew all recorded Lost at Sea .. I discovered that on the morning of 6th June 1944, the American built, British manned tank landing craft the Mk5 LCT (A) 2121 of the 109th LCT (A)(HE) Flotilla touched down on King Red sector, the easternmost flank of Gold Beach at La Rivire, the tanks she carried were Centaurs and Shermans of the 1st Royal Marine Armoured Support Group. The LCT (A) 2121 was one of some 48 craft that had been adapted for their part in the assault. To the fore of the tank deck(s) a purpose built ramp had been constructed, this facility allowing the tanks carried, mounted on the ramp, to fire over the bows of the LCTs as they approached the beach, thus, hopefully subduing resistance, at the same time providing support for the incoming assault infantry". SQMS W Harris DCM Sergeant Harris had been a pre-war Regular, called back to the Regiment as a Reservist in 1939. Having survived the evacuation from Dunkirk he left the comparative safety of Transport troop in A Squadron and volunteered as a tank commander. By D Day on June 6 th 1944 he was the experienced sergeant of fourth troop A Squadron. On June 14th Sgt Harris commanded a Sherman tank equipped with the new 17 pounder gun. Fourth troop had supported the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in their capture of the Normandy village of Lingvres. Sgt Harris and his crew destroyed 2 German Panther tanks in the morning and then later in the day were positioned to the flank of a heavy German counter-attack lead by three Panthers, each of which was destroyed by his gunner, Trooper McKillop (Mentioned in Dispatches), on the road leading into the village. Commander and gunner had destroyed 5 enemy tanks with 5 shots, and the village was held. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for this outstanding action. The action is immortalised in

a painting by David Shepherd, which was presented to the Officers mess by Major General I G Gill. Sgt Harris fought right through the Normandy battle and was promoted SQMS of B Sqn in September 1944. He left the army shortly after the war ended but always remained in contact with the Regiment. Shortly before he died he visited the museum and presented a Nazi pennant from one of his kills for display. He was presented to the Colonel in Chief in 1987. Sgt Harris lived in Walsall and died there on 19 March 1988.

CC Sept 06 newsletter The Liberation of Le Plessis Grimoult and St Pierre-la-Vieille

Le Plessis - Grimoult is 9 kilometres south of Aunay-sur-Odon and is on the south side of Mont Pinon. Mont Pinon was a key feature of the sector with a radar station constructed on the 365-metre summit by the German Todt organisation with prisoners and some local labour The significance of the radar station was mentioned in our Newsletter No17. Radio beams were transmitted from the radar station which German bombers followed. This beam was bent by the Royal Air Force specialist unit Beam Benders centred at Radlett Hertfordshire. (LACW Owena Chambers ne Newton was a member of the team) Further advance was barred by Mont Pinon, which dominated the whole sector from the River Vire to Odon. From its slopes German observation was uninterrupted and they were able to bring down deadly artillery and mortar fire on any movements.

The 13th/18th Hussars in support of 129th Infantry Brigade of the 43rd Wessex Division 4th Somerset Light Infantry, 4th Wiltshire Regiment, 5th Wiltshire Regiment made repeated and determined assaults on the western foothills on 6th August but enemy mortars and machine-guns pinned down the infantry. Towards evening 2 Troops of the 13th/18th Hussars crossed an ant-tank ditch and despite the thick scrub and steep escarpments reached the summit. By morning the 4th Somersets and the 4th Wilts reached the top and the Germans were driven out. Meanwhile the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards under Operation Blackwater which was the code name for capturing Le Plessis - Grimoult and Danjou attacked from the west. 7th August, 'C' Squadrons attack was not successful but two Troops of B Squadron with the 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry of 214th Infantry Brigade made a feint attack on the flank and the main body of the infantry charged straight down the slopes of Mont Pinon. The enemy re-entered Le Plessis Grimoult and it was finally captured on 8th August. A number of prisoners were taken and the first King Tiger of the war. B Squadron suffered one casualty who was wounded. As for the village the Germans mounted a gun in the porch of the 12th century Church, which was destroyed by British artillery. The tower survived, as did a small part of the beautiful chapter house and the remains of the porch after the religious wars, the monks avarice, the French Revolution and the liberation of 1944 C Squadron resumed its attack on 9th August which was successful but with the loss of its Squadron Leader, Major Michael Bell, an officer whose conduct in battle was quite outstanding and seven wounded. A & B Squadrons, meanwhile made an abortive attempt to push southwards with the loss of two killed and two wounded On 10th August, the Regiment prepared to push southwards suffering three killed and five wounded by enemy shelling. On 11th August A & C Squadrons of the Regiment attacked southwards with the 2nd Devonshires and the 1st Hampshires of the 231st Infantry Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division with the intention of capturing St Pierre-la-Vieille which they did at mid-day. The advance came to a standstill and evening was drawing near. In an impossible situation 3rd Troop was ordered to advance whatever the consequences and two tanks of the Troop went straight up in flames. B Squadron was committed and although it was now dark reached their first objective taking a number of prisoners. During this action seven were killed and seven wounded 12th August the push continued at 0600 hours by A & B Squadrons. The high ground to the right was still held by enemy armour, B Squadron having one tank hit with two tank commanders wounded. The Regiment harboured south of Le Plessis Grimoult and then withdrew west of Aunay sur Odon. Thus ended a most bitter and bloody struggle. The Great Swan with the enemy in full retreat had begun.

Feb 07 Newsletter

The Echelons
For those who served in the Echelons the job must have been indeed very hairy driving a 3-tonner or sitting in the front must have been anxiety producing with the thought that less than a metre behind was a truck packed with fuel or ammunition and with no protection. The tanks would pull out of the lines at the end of the day to harbour at the rear. This was most unpopular with the infantry; the exhaust smoke and dust would bring down enemy shell and mortar fire. In harbour the tanks would be refuelled and restocked with ammunition. For the lorries, getting to the harbour was

an achievement; impassable roads owing to shell fire, fallen trees and telegraph poles let alone finding the place. A few lorries were hit by shrapnel but none were lost through enemy action except for A1 there were three Echelons i.e.: A1 carrying the most urgent requirements, A2 and B. On September 9th the Echelon was attacked at Beringen, on the Albert Canal (Newsletter No 21, Correspondence and No 22 The Battle for Beringen Bridge) Frank James writes At the start of D-Day we went back to the beach head to reload our lorries until they made supply dumps inland. Apart from Beringen we hadnt lost a lorry. I still see the morning we were shot up. We crossed the Beringen bridge and moved down the road. After about half a mile we went down a lane towards a small wood and coming out on the other side was the Albert Canal. The paratroopers came in from the right and shot us up. We lost all the lorries and 10 captured, two wounded and two killed. A lorry carried about 30-40 Jerricans and ammunition. I stacked them each side of the lorry with a path down the middle. B Echelon comprised stores lorries, the cooks lorry and office staff lorry. The logistics of supplying the British Second Corps were indeed formidable with the supply lines stretching back to the landing beaches. During the Normandy landings fuel was pumped ashore from tankers direct to storage tanks via buoyed pipelines, an operation under the code name TOMBOLA. After Cherbourg was captured in June 44, PLUTO (Pipe Line Under the Ocean) laid from the Isle of Wight came into action. At the end of the supply line fuel was delivered to the tanks in the 5gallon Jerricans*. To give an idea of the amount of fuel that was required, the fuel capacity of petrol Shermans was 140 gallons, its range on the road 130 miles and across country 80 miles. These figures would have to be slightly amended for diesel Shermans. The food came in cardboard crates reinforced with timber edgings and cross pieces. They comprised A and B packs to give a variety to the diet. There were no complaints about the food in the packs. Despite all the difficulties there was no shortage of fuel or food for the Sabre Squadrons thanks to the dedication of our Echelons.