5 Coldstream Guards to Caumont-sur-Orne
0800 hours
Battalion arrived in area and ate breakfasts.
0915 hours
Battalion moved on to an area just North of CAUMONT at 719611.
We are at one hour’s notice to move from here.
1545 hours
'O’ Group at Brigade H.Q.
The Brigade is to advance on two Battle Groups, the first consisting of 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS with 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS in support, and the second of 1st Motor Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS with 2nd Armoured Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS in support.
Battle Group No. 1 is to be South of CAUMONT by 1700 hours.
Our forward troops have reached the line of the river South of ST. MARTIN DES BESACES 6748 and the BOIS DU HOMMES.
The objective of the Battle Group is the high ground above LE BENY BOCAGE Point 266 at 6942 and Point 279 at 7242.
The enemy are holding Point 238, the hill opposite ST MARTIN DES BESACES.
1645 hours
The Commanding Officer gave out orders:-
The Battalion advance to the BENY BOCAGE feature is to be made in four stages:
1. No. 4 Company goes ahead to area 6852, behind the high ST MARTIN DES BESACES and protects the Battalion debussing area.
2. Two Sections of Carriers will go on up to the Point 238 feature at 6848 and protect the Battalion as it goes along the road.
They will later hand over this position to two Squadrons of tanks.
3. The Battalion will occupy ST. PIERRE TARENTAINT 7045 as a firm base from which to attack the BENY BOCAGE feature.
4. The attack on the BENY BOCAGE feature.
The Order of March is as follows:-
No. 4 Company Group (i.e. Section Carriers, Section 6-pounders, Detachment 3” Mortars);
2 Troops of 3 Squadron 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS under command,
ROYAL ENGINEERS Recce Party;
Gap;
No. 3 Company Group
3 Squadron less 2 tanks
M.M.G. Platoon;
Joint Battalion H.Q.s;
Support Company;
2 Squadrdon;
1 Squadron (less two troops)
No. 2 Company ;
No. 1 Company Group (made up like No. 4 Company)
1700 hours
Head of column left CAUMONT
1900 hours
Head of column arrived debussing area.
The journey was delayed by congestion on the roads, and the very bad dust clouds raised by the tanks.
2000 hours
On contracting the leading troops of 15th S. DIVISION holding the ground opposite Point 238 we were informed that Point 238 was strongly held and the Commanding Officer decided that a Battalion attack would be necessary and gave out orders.
Intention: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS will attack and capture Point 238 supported by 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS.
Method: On the Left No. 2 Company will seize the crossing of the river at 675495 and the Right, No. 1 Company will establish themselves South of Point 192 672488.
On capture of these objectives No. 4 Company will go through to Point 238 685482 and No. 3 Company will go to the ROAD JUNCTION at 675488.
The attack will be supported by a Squadron of tanks who can shoot Companies in if necessary and the remainder of 2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS will be prepared to follow No.s 3 and 4 Companies up into their objectives.
Artillery fire can be called down beyond the objectives if necessary.
It is not possible to have H HOUR before 2130 hours owing to transport of 11th Armoured Division which is blocking the route through ST. MARTIN DES BESACES.
2130 hours
The attack went in and met with no opposition going up the hill, though a deserter from 326 Infantry Division was collected on the way up and an armoured car shot up.
2300 hours
Darkness came on before the consolidation was completed and as the leading Companies came up to the crest of the hill they encountered enemy opposition in very close hedged country.
No. 3 Company were held up by Machine Gun and rifle fire from the area of an ORCHARD 674485 and the darkness having come on they finally consolidated short of their objective at about 670487.
No. 4 Company also reported opposition and with the difficulty of finding exactly where they were in the darkness and very thick BOCAGE country they dug in short of Point 238 at 672489.
During the night small parties of enemy attempted to infiltrate down the banked hedgerows, but were successfully stopped.