1944 - 1949
The definitive research resource for the 1st KOSB from 1944-1949
1st KOSB WAR DIARIES
1st KOSB WAR DIARIES - NORMANDY
Thursday, 17 August 1944
D +
72
NORMANDY
WD CHECKED ✓
START LOCATION
LANDISACQ
FINISH LOCATION
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FORET D'HALOUZE
WAR DIARY
SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND INFORMATION
The Bn was ordered to sweep a large area of country SOUTH of FLERS.
Companies were taken out in 3 ton lorries and at 1100 hrs the sweeping started. A holiday atmosphere was obvious ahead, and the men and vehicles were soon covered with flowers pressed on them by the French.
Five prisoners only were found although the area included the large FORET D'HALOUZE.
An enemy gun park and three tanks - one of them a Panther in good condition were found. It was evident that a fairly large proportion of German armour had used this area in its retreat towards the gap between FALAISE and ARGENTAN.
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES
Personal accounts, other War Diaries and excerpts from books
From 9th Infantry Brigade War Diary for 17th August:
A quiet day; 6 German prisoners, mainly deserters and stragglers of Russian origin were brought in. On being interrogated, they all gave evidence of the complete state of chaos existing among the Wehrmacht in this area, and confirmed the stories of hy cas sustained through the med of our arty. The prisoners represented 84 Inf Div, 9 SS Div and 3 and 5 Para Divs.
The search, (Landisacq area) which commenced at 0900 hrs, brought to light quite a number of interesting items of enemy eqpt, chief among these being a Panther tk in good condition abandoned at LE CHALIER 853133 - other items were a gun dump containing 10 guns of varied calibre, most of them in good condition, at 847175 and three burned out tks scattered around the area.
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CASUALTIES ON THIS DAY
Click a name to open their page
KIA ce jour-là
0
Photo | RANK | First Name | Surname | Service Number | AGE | Memorial | Grave Marker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blessé ce jour-là
0
Photo | Name and Rank | Service No | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
PHOTO AND MAP CREDITS
Map:
War Office map with kind permission of Normandy War Guide
Photo:
Three French boys looking at a knocked-out German Panther tank in the Falaise pocket, 25 August 1944.