|
Bn Strength - 28 Offrs 617 O.R’s - LT COL W.A. STEVENSON / MAJ A. ANDREWS wounded
S.O.S - LT R.B. ANDERSON missing S.O.S
00.01hrs - Flares going up all along enemy line.
00.30hrs - Corps “VICTOR” target came down unexpectedly on objective.
0.40hrs - TAC Bn H.Q opened up in area of X rds between A & D Coy’s pos’ns (086717)
01.00hrs - A Cot & B Coy advanced supported by 7 Fd Regts. 2 Med Regts. 1 Heavy Regt.
A Coy were out of touch most of the time, their axis being the tow
path. B Coy advanced & cleared the first few houses of COLOMBELLES but were subjected
to very heavy Spandau fire & Nehelwaifer bombardment.
MAJOR ANDREWS & LT BROWN were wounded and 2 Sgts were killed. LT ROBERTSON took over
command and in view of the impossibility of either
pushing forward with the 36 remaining men of remaining in the houses, withdrew at
03.45hrs to re-organise in the cemetery (083712) ( Sheet 40/16 5W 1/25000)
02.00hrs - D Coy was ordered to advance but to keep to EAST of houses avoiding B
Coy’s battle with the intention of reaching their original objective thereby helping
both B & A Coy’s.
02.02hrs - A Coy reported they were almost on their objective but that they had been
‘expected guests’ and street fighting and house clearing was in progress.
02.40hrs - A Coy had gained it’s objective & C Coy was ordered to move up tow path
& help mop up & consolidate S.W end of COLOMBELLES. The whole time B & D Coy’s &
Advance Bn H.Q was being continuously mortared.
03.00hrs - D Coy was held up 100x SOUTH of Cottage ?? just EAST of B Coy. C.O ordered
B & D Coy’ to reorganise in cemetery and await tanks which were being sent up to
support a new attack.
03.45hrs - Reports from rear Bn H.Q indicated that the tow path had been blocked
by a knife-rest & by mines, which the R.E’s were unable to remove quickly.
O4.35hrs - Owing to mortaring & unhealthiness of cemetery, B & D Coy’s were ordered
by C.O to return to old A & D Coy pos’ns in order to reorganise and liaise with tanks,
which had just arrived, preparatory to making a new attack on the Rd triangle.
04.55hrs - C Coy was in touch with A Coy in COLOMBELLES & started mopping up operations
most successfully. Bde. Comd arrived and discussed the situation with C.O.
05.40hrs - the tow path had been cleared & A & C Coy’s were able to get their much
needed wheeled transport.
06.00hrs - LT COL W.A. STEVENSON was hit by a shell splinter & wounded. The 2 I/C MAJOR
H.C.H.T. CUMMING BRUCE assumed Comd of the Bn and carried on organising B & D Coy’s
for attack. No attack was to be made until B & D Coy’s had re-organised.
06.58hrs - Padre returned from enemy lines having been in captivity for 3 hrs. He
reported that the enemy were very ‘bomb happy’ & that they appeared to be retreating.
A & C Coy’s were ordered to ‘ Hunt the Hun’.
07.30hrs - By now 5 B.W ( Black Watch) reported enemy tanks attacking them and by
07.50 hrs they were ordered to withdraw by Bde. Comd having being badly short up
by TIGER tanks.
08.10hrs - A & C Coy’s were also ordered to withdraw to main pos’n, which they did
unwillingly, having completely dominated COLOMBELLES except for the Rd triangle in
the EAST. The rest of the day was spent re-organising the Bn and handing over to
the 7 B.W who were to ‘Hold the Fort’ and give the Bn
24hrs to rest & re-organise in a rear area.
15.00hrs - The Bn marched out of LONGHEVAL & returned to the area of RANVILLE (1143)
(sheet 40/16 1/250000).
The Bn came under Comd of 154 Bde at 14.00hrs.
|