On this day 24th August
1857 – 52nd – engaged at Delhi (Indian Mutiny).
1914 – 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Retreat from Mons commenced;
1914 - 5th (Service) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI formed at Deepcut (Aldershot).
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BUS-LES-ARTOIS.
1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BATTALION IN TRENCHES
In the early morning a German prisoner belonging to the 28th IR was taken about point 19.
The day was fairly quiet.
After the successful attacks of the 7th Inf Bde in the LEIPZIG REDOUBT, German artillery shelled the front line from point 81–19–29–46 heavy with 15cm shells from 4.30 to 7.30pm
Trench 24 – 46 was caught in enfilade & badly hit in places. The damage was made good during the night.
Further attempts to gain points 31 & 79 by bombing attacks were made but were held up by enemy machine guns trained down the trenches.
A patrol left our lines & ascertained the enemy held points 31 & 79 in some strength & that a working party was at work in the trench between these points.
Our guns opened fire on this target & appeared to do good shooting.
1916 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - present at capture of Delville Wood (Somme).
1916 – 5th Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – DELVILLE WOOD
Assaulted & took German trenches in Delville Wood allotted to Battn.
Line finally established from junction with Worcester Regt. 100th Bde 33rd Div on FLERS Rd S 12.a.54. through S.12.c.99 to S.12.c.84 where 5th K.S.L.I. joined 5th K.S.L.I. holding from Inner Trench to edge of wood.
Casualties. 2nd Lt’s. BRADLEY & WESTON-WEBB Killed. Capt. CRAWFORD, Lt. FORSHAW, 2nd Lt’s CLUTSON, ROBINSON, DE PASS, & THOMAS wounded. 2nd Lt. TALBOT Missing. O.R. 39 Killed, 115 Wounded, 9 Missing.
One M.G. captured with 200 prisoners including 5 Officers, estimated enemy killed and wounded 150 – 200.
1944 – 2nd (AB) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – TOURGEVILLE -Normandy:-
The 52nd was ordered forward to cross the river at Touques and D Company moved to the high ground overlooking the river. The 52nd received a particularly warm welcome in Touques.
Place: Tourgeville
At 0700 hrs a member of the F.F.I. came into Regtl HQ and said that he had got across the river TOUQUES. He stated that the Germans had pulled out early in the morning. This was further supplemented by 'D' Coy who were fwd at ST ARNOULT who stated that the local population the other side of the river at the village of TOUQUES were dancing and waving flags. Immediately the Comd Offr ordered 'D' Coy to cross the river and establish themselves on the high ground beyond taking the HONFLEUR rd as their axis of adv. The night before, the Comd Offr had ordered 'B' Coy to relieve 'D' Coy at ST ARNOULT and they duly carried out this relief before 'D' Coy crossed the river establishing themselves as a firm base. By 0800 hrs 'D' Coy had reached their objective and reported it clear, taking on route two or three prisoners who waved a white flag from a lonely farmhouse. In the meantime the Comd Offr had ordered Major A.C. Mason to take a recce party to the river to see what could be done about getting the Regt's vehs and men across. 'A' & 'C' Coys were also ordered to stand by having received orders to adv when instructed and consolidate the X rds on the crest of the high ground the other side of the river.
The river TOUQUES at LE TOUQUES is 30 ft wide with a fast running current and up to 10 ft deep. As it is also tidal considerable difficult faced Major Mason in his job of arranging the river crossing. The br was brick consisting of 3 spans and the roadway to it was the only possible approach as, on the North side the way was blocked with partially demolished houses, and on the South by an embankment which dropped down sharply to the leas running up to the river bank. The banks themselves were steep and were faced with thick slimy mud. No bridging or raft eqpt of any kind was carried so Major Mason was faced with a tricky problem. However, providence in the shape of the newly liberated population came to the rescue and the whole of the male population of the village standing around was immediately organised by him with two parties on either side of the river to pull a boat which had been found by 'D' Coy across by means of ropes attached to it. So was the problem of the personnel settled but what of the vehs? Nothing daunted at his difficult task he got the population to produce suitable timber for building a raft and soon our Pioneers and some civilians were up to their necks in water constructing a raft. Meanwhile the Comd Offr had been on the scene and appreciating that congestion had to be avoided if a quick crossing was to be effected he came back and called fwd 'A' Coy, leading them across the river by means of a difficult crossing place well to the North. 'C' Coy then commenced to cross the bridge site and in a very short time they were across. By 1000 hrs the whole of the marching personnel of the Regt were across. The Regt were given a terrific welcome in LA TOUQUES.
The usual kisses and drinks were distributed but what was more to the point to the men who had been living on compo rations since 'D' day, plates of steak and chips were produced on the far side. Despite all these distractions the Regt marched smartly through the village. An American airman reported himself to us. He had been hidden by the French for two months after being shot down and had been bombed out of 3 houses in that time. Meanwhile Major M. Darrell Brown, DSO, and Capt J.M.A. Tillett were organising the crossing of the vehs and they soon had soldiers of 'H' Coy and civilians working like fury constructing approaches to the raft. This was a most inspiring sight. The men were as keen as mustard and by 1130 hrs the first veh was rafted across. By this time the marching Coys had reached and consolidated their objectives and 'B' Coy were ordered fwd with Regtl HQ. The whole operation was a real trial of patience and the tension was much relieved by the sight of the Comd Offr being driven up the hill in a farmer's cart with the two wireless sets on it and by 1200 hrs the Regt less tpt was intact on the high ground above the river and ready to carry out further orders. The rafting parties worked steadily throughout the day bringing across essential vehs with only one mishap, a jeep falling in the river, but that was only a detail in a harassing day.
We were favoured by a visit from the G.O.C. 1st Corps, Lieut.Gen. Crocker, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. and the G.O.C. 6th Airborne Division, Major. General Gale, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. who seemed impressed by the Regt's efforts to affect a speedy crossing of what could have easily been a serious obstacle.
1944 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion (Normandy):-
0900 - Conference of all comds and proposed minimum cadre given out.
1000 - C.O. goes to L of C to clear posn re stores. Adjt goes to 1 Corps who do still not know that we are no longer under their command, and arranged for certain personnel who are attached to Corps Reception Camp to be released the following day.
1400 - CO on return from L of C announces we have been given the wrong cadre and we should be working on a cadre of 9 offrs and 72 ORs incl all Coy Comds and QM but no Sp Coy at all.
1857 – 52nd – engaged at Delhi (Indian Mutiny).
1914 – 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Retreat from Mons commenced;
1914 - 5th (Service) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI formed at Deepcut (Aldershot).
1916 –2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BUS-LES-ARTOIS.
1916 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – BATTALION IN TRENCHES
In the early morning a German prisoner belonging to the 28th IR was taken about point 19.
The day was fairly quiet.
After the successful attacks of the 7th Inf Bde in the LEIPZIG REDOUBT, German artillery shelled the front line from point 81–19–29–46 heavy with 15cm shells from 4.30 to 7.30pm
Trench 24 – 46 was caught in enfilade & badly hit in places. The damage was made good during the night.
Further attempts to gain points 31 & 79 by bombing attacks were made but were held up by enemy machine guns trained down the trenches.
A patrol left our lines & ascertained the enemy held points 31 & 79 in some strength & that a working party was at work in the trench between these points.
Our guns opened fire on this target & appeared to do good shooting.
1916 - 5th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - present at capture of Delville Wood (Somme).
1916 – 5th Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – DELVILLE WOOD
Assaulted & took German trenches in Delville Wood allotted to Battn.
Line finally established from junction with Worcester Regt. 100th Bde 33rd Div on FLERS Rd S 12.a.54. through S.12.c.99 to S.12.c.84 where 5th K.S.L.I. joined 5th K.S.L.I. holding from Inner Trench to edge of wood.
Casualties. 2nd Lt’s. BRADLEY & WESTON-WEBB Killed. Capt. CRAWFORD, Lt. FORSHAW, 2nd Lt’s CLUTSON, ROBINSON, DE PASS, & THOMAS wounded. 2nd Lt. TALBOT Missing. O.R. 39 Killed, 115 Wounded, 9 Missing.
One M.G. captured with 200 prisoners including 5 Officers, estimated enemy killed and wounded 150 – 200.
1944 – 2nd (AB) Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – TOURGEVILLE -Normandy:-
The 52nd was ordered forward to cross the river at Touques and D Company moved to the high ground overlooking the river. The 52nd received a particularly warm welcome in Touques.
Place: Tourgeville
At 0700 hrs a member of the F.F.I. came into Regtl HQ and said that he had got across the river TOUQUES. He stated that the Germans had pulled out early in the morning. This was further supplemented by 'D' Coy who were fwd at ST ARNOULT who stated that the local population the other side of the river at the village of TOUQUES were dancing and waving flags. Immediately the Comd Offr ordered 'D' Coy to cross the river and establish themselves on the high ground beyond taking the HONFLEUR rd as their axis of adv. The night before, the Comd Offr had ordered 'B' Coy to relieve 'D' Coy at ST ARNOULT and they duly carried out this relief before 'D' Coy crossed the river establishing themselves as a firm base. By 0800 hrs 'D' Coy had reached their objective and reported it clear, taking on route two or three prisoners who waved a white flag from a lonely farmhouse. In the meantime the Comd Offr had ordered Major A.C. Mason to take a recce party to the river to see what could be done about getting the Regt's vehs and men across. 'A' & 'C' Coys were also ordered to stand by having received orders to adv when instructed and consolidate the X rds on the crest of the high ground the other side of the river.
The river TOUQUES at LE TOUQUES is 30 ft wide with a fast running current and up to 10 ft deep. As it is also tidal considerable difficult faced Major Mason in his job of arranging the river crossing. The br was brick consisting of 3 spans and the roadway to it was the only possible approach as, on the North side the way was blocked with partially demolished houses, and on the South by an embankment which dropped down sharply to the leas running up to the river bank. The banks themselves were steep and were faced with thick slimy mud. No bridging or raft eqpt of any kind was carried so Major Mason was faced with a tricky problem. However, providence in the shape of the newly liberated population came to the rescue and the whole of the male population of the village standing around was immediately organised by him with two parties on either side of the river to pull a boat which had been found by 'D' Coy across by means of ropes attached to it. So was the problem of the personnel settled but what of the vehs? Nothing daunted at his difficult task he got the population to produce suitable timber for building a raft and soon our Pioneers and some civilians were up to their necks in water constructing a raft. Meanwhile the Comd Offr had been on the scene and appreciating that congestion had to be avoided if a quick crossing was to be effected he came back and called fwd 'A' Coy, leading them across the river by means of a difficult crossing place well to the North. 'C' Coy then commenced to cross the bridge site and in a very short time they were across. By 1000 hrs the whole of the marching personnel of the Regt were across. The Regt were given a terrific welcome in LA TOUQUES.
The usual kisses and drinks were distributed but what was more to the point to the men who had been living on compo rations since 'D' day, plates of steak and chips were produced on the far side. Despite all these distractions the Regt marched smartly through the village. An American airman reported himself to us. He had been hidden by the French for two months after being shot down and had been bombed out of 3 houses in that time. Meanwhile Major M. Darrell Brown, DSO, and Capt J.M.A. Tillett were organising the crossing of the vehs and they soon had soldiers of 'H' Coy and civilians working like fury constructing approaches to the raft. This was a most inspiring sight. The men were as keen as mustard and by 1130 hrs the first veh was rafted across. By this time the marching Coys had reached and consolidated their objectives and 'B' Coy were ordered fwd with Regtl HQ. The whole operation was a real trial of patience and the tension was much relieved by the sight of the Comd Offr being driven up the hill in a farmer's cart with the two wireless sets on it and by 1200 hrs the Regt less tpt was intact on the high ground above the river and ready to carry out further orders. The rafting parties worked steadily throughout the day bringing across essential vehs with only one mishap, a jeep falling in the river, but that was only a detail in a harassing day.
We were favoured by a visit from the G.O.C. 1st Corps, Lieut.Gen. Crocker, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. and the G.O.C. 6th Airborne Division, Major. General Gale, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. who seemed impressed by the Regt's efforts to affect a speedy crossing of what could have easily been a serious obstacle.
1944 – 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion (Normandy):-
0900 - Conference of all comds and proposed minimum cadre given out.
1000 - C.O. goes to L of C to clear posn re stores. Adjt goes to 1 Corps who do still not know that we are no longer under their command, and arranged for certain personnel who are attached to Corps Reception Camp to be released the following day.
1400 - CO on return from L of C announces we have been given the wrong cadre and we should be working on a cadre of 9 offrs and 72 ORs incl all Coy Comds and QM but no Sp Coy at all.
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