On this day 3rd July
1809 - At Vallada on the Tagus, 43rd, 52nd and 95th formed into the Light Brigade, under Major-General (“Black Bob”) Craufurd.
1917 – 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BETHUNE.
Quiet and uneventful.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – FORWARD RESERVE and VELU.
Battn in Reserve & VELU
Quiet Day.
Weather: Fine
At night the battalion was relieved by the 4th RF and moved out to transport lines where they bivouacked.
Relief complete by 2am.
Ration Strength: 23 Officers 540 OR.
1917 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Moved to BIHUCOURT.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – BREVILLE.
At 0230 hrs a strong fighting patrol from Letter B Coy under comd A/Maj Priday with Lieut. Fox in comd of the assault pl made a raid on an enemy pl posn in wood at 147747, with the intention of inflicting the maximum casualties on the enemy and then withdrawing. Unfortunately during the preparation some mortar bombs fell amongst the fire party and caused 4 casualties including Maj Priday and Capt Mertons F.O.O., this rather shook up the party and reduced the effectiveness of the supporting fire, with the result that when the Bangalore party came under MG fire, they were unable to put the torpedoes under the wire which was found to be much stronger than anticipated. The enemy MG was not neutralised and a section post was attacked with 36 and 77 grenades, as in the circumstances it was not possible to get inside the wire. Lt. Fox decided to withdraw, one casualty was received from S.A. fire and it was not possible to ascertain how many casualties were inflicted on the enemy. It rained heavily throughout the day, many of the slit trenches becoming waterlogged and the Regt's area resembled a quagmire whenever any movement was being made. The Regt was reinforced by three officers, Capt [Gadbles?], Lieut Preston and Lieut Ledsome. The Div Comd Major Gen R Gale visited the Regt this morning and the arrival of 'NAAFI packs' relieves the cigarettes situation.
1944 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - NORMANDY
At the beginning of July a fit and well-fed German soldier who had had an excellent view of our beaches for the past three weeks was found in a house at Lion.
In consequence No. 101 Beach Sub-Area decided that a methodical search should, be undertaken of all houses between Luc-sur-Mer and Riva Bella. It may seem strange that this had not been done before, but many of the houses were surrounded by minefields composed of old French box mines laid by the Germans and considered most dangerous to lift.
The Battalion began this search at Luc-sur-Mer on the 3rd July. A and D Companies, each with a platoon of C Company under command, carried out the task. Many civilians were detained and questioned, but none was considered suspect by the field security police, a section of which assisted the rifle companies in the search.
1809 - At Vallada on the Tagus, 43rd, 52nd and 95th formed into the Light Brigade, under Major-General (“Black Bob”) Craufurd.
1917 – 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – BETHUNE.
Quiet and uneventful.
1917 – 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion – FORWARD RESERVE and VELU.
Battn in Reserve & VELU
Quiet Day.
Weather: Fine
At night the battalion was relieved by the 4th RF and moved out to transport lines where they bivouacked.
Relief complete by 2am.
Ration Strength: 23 Officers 540 OR.
1917 - 1/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI – Moved to BIHUCOURT.
1944 - 2nd (Airborne) Bn, Oxf & Bucks LI – BREVILLE.
At 0230 hrs a strong fighting patrol from Letter B Coy under comd A/Maj Priday with Lieut. Fox in comd of the assault pl made a raid on an enemy pl posn in wood at 147747, with the intention of inflicting the maximum casualties on the enemy and then withdrawing. Unfortunately during the preparation some mortar bombs fell amongst the fire party and caused 4 casualties including Maj Priday and Capt Mertons F.O.O., this rather shook up the party and reduced the effectiveness of the supporting fire, with the result that when the Bangalore party came under MG fire, they were unable to put the torpedoes under the wire which was found to be much stronger than anticipated. The enemy MG was not neutralised and a section post was attacked with 36 and 77 grenades, as in the circumstances it was not possible to get inside the wire. Lt. Fox decided to withdraw, one casualty was received from S.A. fire and it was not possible to ascertain how many casualties were inflicted on the enemy. It rained heavily throughout the day, many of the slit trenches becoming waterlogged and the Regt's area resembled a quagmire whenever any movement was being made. The Regt was reinforced by three officers, Capt [Gadbles?], Lieut Preston and Lieut Ledsome. The Div Comd Major Gen R Gale visited the Regt this morning and the arrival of 'NAAFI packs' relieves the cigarettes situation.
1944 - 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion - NORMANDY
At the beginning of July a fit and well-fed German soldier who had had an excellent view of our beaches for the past three weeks was found in a house at Lion.
In consequence No. 101 Beach Sub-Area decided that a methodical search should, be undertaken of all houses between Luc-sur-Mer and Riva Bella. It may seem strange that this had not been done before, but many of the houses were surrounded by minefields composed of old French box mines laid by the Germans and considered most dangerous to lift.
The Battalion began this search at Luc-sur-Mer on the 3rd July. A and D Companies, each with a platoon of C Company under command, carried out the task. Many civilians were detained and questioned, but none was considered suspect by the field security police, a section of which assisted the rifle companies in the search.
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