On this day 16th July
1857 - 52nd - engaged mutineers about the Ravee River
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI –CAMBLAIN CHETELAIN.
(Sunday). Church parade for the Regiment less a number of men of all companies bathing.
Brigadier General Eden D.S.O visited the Regiment in the afternoon.
1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – SENLIS
Battalion in Billets.
1944 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BATTLE OF CAHIER (NORMANDY)
0200hrs. At approx 0200hrs, Coys began moving up to the start lines for the attack:
“B” Coy moved from COLLEVILLE through GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON 9164 to X RDS 912636: “D” and “C” Coys moved through MONDRAINVILLE 926640, past Regtl HQ to the Wood 9216625 (called HORSE-SHOE COPSE) where their start line was.
0300hrs. “B” Coy crossed the start line at 0300hrs: “D” Coy and consequently “C” behind them, were slightly delayed by an enemy patrol in WOOD 922627 and were a few minutes late.
“D” Coy moved cross country against the MILL and took it after a short struggle, in which Capt J H COOPER was killed.
Heavy Mortar fire soon began to come from the other side of the River ODON and from area MONCEAUX 907614 , supported later by a counter attack, and “D” Coy were compelled to abandon the MILL itself and withdraw to the high ground 150 yards above it 916624. During the mortaring, Major NH PIERCE, the Coy Commander, was seriously wounded.
“C” Coy moved into the attack from the same start line as “D” Coy and a few minutes after them, went round the SOUTH edge of HORES-SHOE COPSE and reached area TINY COPSE with only minor resistance. In and around the copse itself, the fighting bacame most fierce and bitter, especially the in fighting caused by the thickness of the undergrowth and the short fields of fire. Casualties were heavy in “ C” Coy and included the Coy Comd Capt W R B HAZELL. As with “D” Coy heavy mortaring was followed by a counter attack which succeeded in driving “C” Coy out of TINY COPSE. The Carriers however held firm in their positions North of HORSE-SHOE COPSE and prevented the enemy moving forward of the Road GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON - GAVRUS.
“B” Coy on the right flank moved across open fields from their start line at X RDS 912636 and took CAHIER after a short struggle. As with “C” and “D” Coys however heavy mortaring preceeded a counter attack during which the Coy Comd Major S P FLORY was wounded and Capt P A F COLVILLE killed and the Coy was compelled to withdraw from CAHIER itself. A position containing the enemy in the buildings was taken up and as all the Coy Officers were now casualties the Adjutant Capt H P PATTERSON went up and took command for the remainder of the operation.
1400hrs. – At 140hrs the Commanding Officer put “A” Coy into the attack. The South bank of RIVER ODON was now in the hands of 15 Scottish Division and so “A” Coy moved round the left flank SOUTH of HORSE-SHOE COPSE and advanced on TINY COPSE and from SW under cover of a barrage from three Field Regts, the 4.2” Mortars and MMGs of 1MANCHESTERS and the Regtl 3” Mortars. TINY COPSE was cleared despite heavy mortaring and an assault was launched on the final enemy position in the hedgerow forward of JUMBO WOOD 914626. But as the enemy saw the final bayonet charge starting they began to surrender. A batch of 40 prisoners was taken here alone.
Meanwhile the enemy had withdrawn from CAHIER and “B” Coy occupied it without further opposition.
Coys consolidated their positions as follows:
“B” Coy – CAHIER;
“A” Coy with remainder of “C” Coy under command – area TINY COPSE and JUMBO WOOD;
“D” Coy - area 915623.
A/TK guns were brought up to relieve the Regiment and by 0015hrs had taken over all the regiments positions. The regiment moved back into the areas vacated by 2MONMOUTHS:-
“A” Coy into the Orchards 916637,
“D” Coy into the area of the Farm buildings 918640 and the remnants of “B” and “C” Coys into the COPSE 925630.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – CHATEAU ST COME.
Last night's patrols got further infm concerning the layout of the enemy posns. 'C' Coy snipers claim a definite hit this morning and this evening our standing patrols fired a Bren Magazine at a group of about 7 of the enemy in a hedgerow about 250 yds away. The enemy all went to ground but it was not possible to ascertain how many had been hit. 'A' Coy standing patrol spotted an enemy working party of about 10 men on their front and our arty put down fifty shells on to them, again it was not possible to estimate the enemy's casualties. Other than these activities it has been a quiet day and we have not been trouble by enemy mortar or arty fire.
The following officers and men have been granted immediate awards by the Comd-in-Chief. Maj M. Darrell-Brown and Maj J. Howard - DSO.
Lt A.E. Bousfield, Lt H.D. Brotheridge (deceased), Lt H.J. Sweeney, Lt C.A. Hooper, Lt R.A.A. Smith - M.C.
L/Cpl Stacy - M.M.
Of these only Maj Darrell-Brown, Major J. Howard and Lt A.E. Bousfield received their awards from General Montgomery today, the remainder are still casualties.
1857 - 52nd - engaged mutineers about the Ravee River
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI –CAMBLAIN CHETELAIN.
(Sunday). Church parade for the Regiment less a number of men of all companies bathing.
Brigadier General Eden D.S.O visited the Regiment in the afternoon.
1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – SENLIS
Battalion in Billets.
1944 – 1st Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BATTLE OF CAHIER (NORMANDY)
0200hrs. At approx 0200hrs, Coys began moving up to the start lines for the attack:
“B” Coy moved from COLLEVILLE through GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON 9164 to X RDS 912636: “D” and “C” Coys moved through MONDRAINVILLE 926640, past Regtl HQ to the Wood 9216625 (called HORSE-SHOE COPSE) where their start line was.
0300hrs. “B” Coy crossed the start line at 0300hrs: “D” Coy and consequently “C” behind them, were slightly delayed by an enemy patrol in WOOD 922627 and were a few minutes late.
“D” Coy moved cross country against the MILL and took it after a short struggle, in which Capt J H COOPER was killed.
Heavy Mortar fire soon began to come from the other side of the River ODON and from area MONCEAUX 907614 , supported later by a counter attack, and “D” Coy were compelled to abandon the MILL itself and withdraw to the high ground 150 yards above it 916624. During the mortaring, Major NH PIERCE, the Coy Commander, was seriously wounded.
“C” Coy moved into the attack from the same start line as “D” Coy and a few minutes after them, went round the SOUTH edge of HORES-SHOE COPSE and reached area TINY COPSE with only minor resistance. In and around the copse itself, the fighting bacame most fierce and bitter, especially the in fighting caused by the thickness of the undergrowth and the short fields of fire. Casualties were heavy in “ C” Coy and included the Coy Comd Capt W R B HAZELL. As with “D” Coy heavy mortaring was followed by a counter attack which succeeded in driving “C” Coy out of TINY COPSE. The Carriers however held firm in their positions North of HORSE-SHOE COPSE and prevented the enemy moving forward of the Road GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON - GAVRUS.
“B” Coy on the right flank moved across open fields from their start line at X RDS 912636 and took CAHIER after a short struggle. As with “C” and “D” Coys however heavy mortaring preceeded a counter attack during which the Coy Comd Major S P FLORY was wounded and Capt P A F COLVILLE killed and the Coy was compelled to withdraw from CAHIER itself. A position containing the enemy in the buildings was taken up and as all the Coy Officers were now casualties the Adjutant Capt H P PATTERSON went up and took command for the remainder of the operation.
1400hrs. – At 140hrs the Commanding Officer put “A” Coy into the attack. The South bank of RIVER ODON was now in the hands of 15 Scottish Division and so “A” Coy moved round the left flank SOUTH of HORSE-SHOE COPSE and advanced on TINY COPSE and from SW under cover of a barrage from three Field Regts, the 4.2” Mortars and MMGs of 1MANCHESTERS and the Regtl 3” Mortars. TINY COPSE was cleared despite heavy mortaring and an assault was launched on the final enemy position in the hedgerow forward of JUMBO WOOD 914626. But as the enemy saw the final bayonet charge starting they began to surrender. A batch of 40 prisoners was taken here alone.
Meanwhile the enemy had withdrawn from CAHIER and “B” Coy occupied it without further opposition.
Coys consolidated their positions as follows:
“B” Coy – CAHIER;
“A” Coy with remainder of “C” Coy under command – area TINY COPSE and JUMBO WOOD;
“D” Coy - area 915623.
A/TK guns were brought up to relieve the Regiment and by 0015hrs had taken over all the regiments positions. The regiment moved back into the areas vacated by 2MONMOUTHS:-
“A” Coy into the Orchards 916637,
“D” Coy into the area of the Farm buildings 918640 and the remnants of “B” and “C” Coys into the COPSE 925630.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – CHATEAU ST COME.
Last night's patrols got further infm concerning the layout of the enemy posns. 'C' Coy snipers claim a definite hit this morning and this evening our standing patrols fired a Bren Magazine at a group of about 7 of the enemy in a hedgerow about 250 yds away. The enemy all went to ground but it was not possible to ascertain how many had been hit. 'A' Coy standing patrol spotted an enemy working party of about 10 men on their front and our arty put down fifty shells on to them, again it was not possible to estimate the enemy's casualties. Other than these activities it has been a quiet day and we have not been trouble by enemy mortar or arty fire.
The following officers and men have been granted immediate awards by the Comd-in-Chief. Maj M. Darrell-Brown and Maj J. Howard - DSO.
Lt A.E. Bousfield, Lt H.D. Brotheridge (deceased), Lt H.J. Sweeney, Lt C.A. Hooper, Lt R.A.A. Smith - M.C.
L/Cpl Stacy - M.M.
Of these only Maj Darrell-Brown, Major J. Howard and Lt A.E. Bousfield received their awards from General Montgomery today, the remainder are still casualties.
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