1st KOSB WAR DIARIES

1st KOSB WAR DIARIES - NORMANDY

Wednesday, 19 July 1944

D +

NORMANDY

WD CHECKED ✓

START LOCATION

TROARN

FINISH LOCATION

SANNERVILLE

WAR DIARY

SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND INFORMATION

*There is a more detailed view of the battle for Troarn here

The attack on enemy positions forward of TROARN was continued.

"C" Coy were to take Station at 158677 and "A" Coy the X roads 161676. Both attacks were met with heavy cross fire from MG's and though supported by tanks had to withdraw with heavy casualties.

Bn resumed former positions and later in day heavy shelling and mortaring caused casualties.

The Commanding Officer (Lt. Col G. D. Renny) having been previously wounded, left under orders from Brigadier and Major TG Coverdale took over command of the Bn.

Casualties in the Bn during these two days fighting were 12 Officers and 140 Other Ranks.

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Personal accounts, other War Diaries and excerpts from books

July 19th 1944, saw the heaviest losses for 1st KOSB with 38 Killed in Action and 88 wounded in a single day.

9th Infantry Brigade War Diary

By 0700 hrs 1 KOSB were close up to TROARN Sta but encountering strong opposition and 2 RUR had reached main rd running NORTH and SOUTH WEST of TROARN. The latter encountered an enemy strongpt in the church in square 1569, a church which was to change hands continually for many days to come.

152 (H) Bde were clearing the main rd NORTH of 2 RUR and 2 LINCOLNS remained in res at SANNERVILLE.

1 KOSB made a set piece attack at 1000 hrs along the rd and rly axis, but met vigorous opposition and suffering 150 cas were unable to adv, being ordered to hold their posn while 2 RUR attacked from the NORTH with 2 LINCOLNS attempting a diversionary attack from the SOUTH.

2 RUR attack went in at 1800 hrs and progressed as far as the fork rds 158684, but nightfall found them still 800 yds from their objective and they were ordered to consolidate. The Bde was thus disposed by darkness in a semi-circle WEST of TROARN.

Many of the casualties from the action on the 19th of July were buried in Ranville Cemetery and Banneville Cemetery

WAR DIARIES

Preparing for D-Day

Normandy Jun - Sept 44

North-West Europe

Post War

CASUALTIES ON THIS DAY

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DIED ON THIS DAY

RANK	First Name	Surname	Service Number	AGE	Memorial
Private	WILLIAM HENRY	RACKLIFF	14655819	19	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ALFRED	BOYD	14403449	20	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Private	WILLIAM DEAN	McLEAN	2887487	21	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Lance Corporal	ROBERT	BLYTH	3066196	21	LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Serjeant	DUNCAN	MACRAE	3186485	29	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Lieutenant	CHARLES EDWARD	ELLIOT	134281	25	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	FRANCIS JAMES	OATES	2934759	24	LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Private	JOHN	SHEDDEN	3313589	20	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Private	MATHIE WALLACE	WAINWRIGHT	3197674	21	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	DENNIS REGINALD	BROOKS	14425623	19	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ALEXANDER (Sandy)	DOUGLAS	3186481	33	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Lieutenant	ERIC WILFRED	KEFFORD	232403	29	BAYEUX MEMORIAL
Lance Serjeant	GEORGE	NAYSMITH	3193919	27	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	KEITH JOHN	BREWER	3197649	23	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	HUGH MURRAY	SORE	3193098	26	LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Private	GEORGE ALLISTER	WELSH	3193971	28	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Lance Corporal	FRANK LAURENCE	BRUCE	3066954	19	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Lance Corporal	HILTON	HARDMAN	2934668	30	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ARNOLD	PALLISER	3193158	27	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Corporal	THOMAS WILSON	ADAMS	3189444	23	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Private	HORATIO HERBERT KITCHENER	TURNER	3194268	29	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	RICHARD	WARREN	3196262	30	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	JOHN ALLAN	SCOTT	3197006	26	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Lance Corporal	WILLIAM FOREST	MALLEN	3186889	33	LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Serjeant	ERIC	MARSHALL	3195004	29	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	RALPH	SANTINI	3197081	34	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ERNEST	WHEWELL	1571968	27	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Private	HENRY ROBERTSON	BARNES	4621173	29	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Private	JOHN	HALLIDAY	3197655	22	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	EDWARD	SHORT	14216823	21	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ARTHUR JAMES	MACDONALD	3194516	30	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	PETER	COLE	3715538	34	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	STANLEY ALEXANDER	COLLEY	3194496	30	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	GEORGE JOHN	READING	3976469	31	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Private	ALEXANDER	DOIG	3186486	31	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Major	SAMUEL HENRY	COWLEY	149280	33	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY
Corporal	WILLIAM R.	CAMERON	3194283	28	LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Corporal	WILLIAM	DAVIDSON	3194798	28	RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Lance Serjeant	HERBERT GRIFFITH	WILLIAMS	6023061	27	BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY

WOUNDED ON THIS DAY

Name and Rank	Service No	Notes
Pte L. W. Cope	2767035	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Norman. Bowie	3196908	Critically wounded between Sannerville and Troarn.
Cpl F. Martin	3191327	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte David Vallance	3193926	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W.R. Tait	14406096	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl K. Bettney	14002927	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Lt K. R. R. King	288429	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte William Murray	4277815	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte J. Harkness	3188184	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte John. C. P. Coode	14423128	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn. Bullet from sniper.
Sjt James Wedderburn	3186724	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte A.R. Ezard	3195079	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Lt Donald. Gray	217390	Wounded in attack on Troarn resulting in loss of arm.
Pte Alfred Boyd	14403449	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl John 'Jock' Dick	3193932	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte G.R. Savage	14216697	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte P. H. Graham	3065062	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Capt B. H. Valentine MC	151611	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl T.C.G. Ker	3194347	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte K.H. Hill	14585234	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
CSM T. Morrison	3185283	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
CSM G.T. Belm	3183155	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W.R. Millar	3193963	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte J.W. Jolly	14679390	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl S. H. Luckham	5501372	Most likely wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte William Williamson	3246420	Most likely wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Hugh A. Gillies	3189559	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl G.F. Peakman	3195010	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte J. S. Duncan	3196955	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte H. H. Graham	14217610	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl Leonard Deakin	3193399	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte H. Barton	14002773	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Fred Harper	3195037	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte H.H. Umpleby	11404109	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl E.R. Emslie	2878252	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W.W. Close	2937342	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Clarence. Howell	2578155	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte C.W. Ansell	14438416	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn. KIA March 1945
Pte T.W. Thornton	3194073	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte G. F. Matthews	6213542	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Harold Martin	2045878	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte L.A. Gwinnett	14207004	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte James Hawthorne	3191640	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Peter Barclay	3065407	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Capt J. B. Boyd	165710	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W. Burns	3195344	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte D.E. McGill	3192286	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl C. E. Packer	3186187	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn. Received M.M.
Pte J.C.E. Smith	1808382	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl J.S. Borley	14002710	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Lt Col G. D. Renny	40655	Wounded twice in attack on Troarn.
Pte L. Preston	3976535	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte. E.F.J. Akehurst	5504019	Most likely wounded in the attack on Troarn.
Sjt Andrew. Johnstone	3184114	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte J. Bostock	14404466	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Capt Peter Smith	191713	Royal Army Medical Corps. Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Robert Lynn	14499153	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl J.T. Hill	3192458	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W. Renwick	3188821	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte R. A. Warrick	3065456	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl W. Rathie	3192431	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl T. Ferguson	3191292	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl C.W. Simpson	14003087	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Francis Hopper	3065998	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte R. Roberts *(?)	3065323	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Alexander. Douglas	3186481	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl R. Lang	3185091	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W. Grant *(?)	3316523	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte C. Chadney *(?)	14432021	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte W. Dove	3192617	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl John Clark	14357627	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl A. Dickens	3194244	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Capt Kenneth Taylor	204353	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte T. Cummins	3191541	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte A. McWhirter	3197665	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Cpl Henry Watson	3050052	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte G. Cairns	3195599	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte R.J. King	3189400	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte G. Briggs	4621194	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Sjt George Shiel	3192409	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte Robert Hamill	3196730	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Sjt J. Boag	3193903	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl W. T. Williamson	3194081	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
W/Capt R.S. Smith	254927	Reported as 'Dangerously' ill on official casualty sheets.
Pte Adam. H.C. Dawson	14002988	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
L/Cpl J. J. Beattie	3196376	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Pte J.C. Mitchell	3065824	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Capt P. C. Blair	99783	Received multiple shrapnel wounds most likely in the attack on Troarn.
Pte John Hardie Brown	3064843	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.
Sjt Thomas Spence	3186997	Possibly wounded in attack on Troarn.

PHOTO AND MAP CREDITS

Map:

War Office map with kind permission of Normandy War Guide

Photo:

Ranville Cemetery c.1944 Image Links to be added (contact us for removal)