大象传媒

Material transcribed from the 1944 diary of 鈥�7584301鈥�
Staff Sergeant William Arthur Harrison (1906-1978),
30 Corps Troops Workshop, R.E.M.E.

Section 2: July and August. Across northern France.

Notes:-

See Section 1.

Interesting to note that one of Dad鈥檚 wartime pals was 鈥楪eoff Harrison鈥�, possibly a source of inspiration!

**

July 1944

Sat. 1
White Rabbits! Better night. Plenty guns in now, but beat for spares. Always cannibalizing. Prematures of mediums well above average. Pretty rough jobs these guns. No 155鈥檚 in yet! (Yanks). Attacks all going well, but slowly. Still very showery.

Sun. 2 4th after Trinity
Much better weather. Quite hot and no rain until evening. Half day granted! went into Bayeux after tea and had a few drinks. Disappointing. Rear party arrived late on 鈥� all here now. 14 Cigs issued free to all. Monty鈥檚 gift.

Mon. 3
Paratroop patrol this morning. 5 to 5.30. Time wasted. Plenty work still. Rained all morning and most of afternoon. Free rum issue at night, though fairly weak. Naffi now open 鈥� might be able to get summat.

Tues. 4
Best night鈥檚 sleep so far. Only awoke once. Brilliant moonlight and dead quiet. Work falling off a bit 鈥� nice change. Much better day, only two slight showers. Sgts mess opened 鈥� not worth the trouble yet. Nothing exciting to report. Weather still unreliable.

Wed. 5
Another good night, and better day. Rain in evening. Mail coming in pretty good. Work steady. Rumour of Corps going back to Blighty in September! Blimey!! Am all for it. Received word Bowie died. Buried in Bayeux.

Thur. 6 FM
Disturbance slight through night. Glorious day, but spoiled with thunderstorm at night. Never a day without rain. Worked late to finish 5.5.

Fri. 7
Paratroop patrol 鈥� nothing doing. Raiders over through night 鈥� good barrage. Raiders again over in afternoon 鈥� planes marked as ours. Pay day 鈥� first for 6 weeks! Cigs from Gladys. Work still plenty. Bombers over Caen 鈥� 500 鈥� target troop concentrations. Wonderful to watch, lasted an hour, barrage weakened very much.

Sat. 8
Another disturbed night, though nothing happened. Big push on Caen started 鈥� doing very well. More rumours about going home! Ian Donaldson posted to 7th Arm. Div. Very sorry. Still getting showers. Guns bashing away in the distance.

Sun. 9 5th after Trinity
Caen captured now 鈥� and high time. Monty reckons 9 days to Paris! Some forecast. Guns still very busy, and so are we. No half-day this time. Much cooler and rain in evening. Another big push due to start any day.

Memo.
Countryside very nice round this district outside Bayeux. Pity the rain is here. Town itself unharmed. Plenty Frenchmen idling about, maybe some conscription is indicated.

Mon. 10
A good night鈥檚 rest. Dull and cold and damp day. Lone enemy fighter tried to straff this morning and in 30 seconds the AA had him down! Work easing off, though still plenty. Bayeux in bounds now.

Tues. 11
A good night鈥檚 sleep again, up at 4.45 though for paratroop patrol. Really silly. Much better day but not much sun. Reg Collins called. Still the same 鈥榗ept his tash is clipped. Bull**g bd! Big improvement in meals lately, yet still compo. Rainless day!

Wed. 12 LQ
Disturbed once again, though AA was disappointing. Had jerry in beams but couldn鈥檛 contact. Bread on the menu! One slice per man and very welcome. Went into Bayeux at night, crowded, in bounds now. Glad to return to camp. A really fine day, and no rain.

Thur. 13
Best night as yet, all quiet. Rather dull day. Mediums still rolling in, blast 鈥榚m. Another slice of bread. Very monotonous days at present. Maybe we鈥檒l move when Caen area is cleared.

Fri. 14
Disturbed until midnight 鈥� then slept in! Good weather again. Ordered to report to Vehicle Gun Park tomorrow for a few weeks 鈥� after a row with Mitchell. Suits me, I think. More air activity by jerry 鈥� 3 down in evening. Whose? Letter from Elise 鈥� feel much better.

Sat. 15
Came to V.P. and think I鈥檒l be ok. Own boss and mostly inspection work. Easy hours. CSM Thompson from Bedlington quite a good guy. Went back to w/shops in evening to collect first Naffi issue. 80 cigs, 1 Gin 1 lime 鈥� bottles! Started in on return and enjoyed the night fine. Oh boy!

Sun. 16 6th after Trinity
Oh boy 鈥� my head! Mustn鈥檛 do that too often. Big bang woke me once, but was soon asleep again. Much better weather, very hot and sunny. Steady working day without overdoing it. Army building up for next push. Am in Tilly area 鈥� still with 30 Corps.

Memo.
All armour withdrawn from Tilly front and sent to Caen area. More suitable for tanks there 鈥� Tilly area very close 鈥� ok for infantry. Guns in VP include 5.5 鈥� 4.5 鈥� 25pdrs 6pdr and 40mm AA. Also 155mm Yankee gun (Long Tom.) 30 Corps Army Troops Sub-Park.

Mon. 17
Bad head again this morning, mustn鈥檛 do this too often. Jerry shelled petrol dump and landing strip, about 3 miles away, throughout the night. Another push this morning 鈥� Monty all set now 鈥� wont be long. W/shops for spares 鈥� no mail. Won 拢1 for story in Sunday Pictorial! Weather still fine. Job going well so far.

Tues. 18
Our guns blazed away all night, then heavy bombers came over to complete job. Made very substantial progress. Monty reckons October. Another fine and hot day. Received letter from Elise, mother and cigs from Gladys. Badly in need of haircut, but no tonsorial artiste in this mob. Another drink at night, but very little. One snifter left for tomorrow.

Wed. 19
Bit quieter at night. Kept very busy checking these guns. Major Childs called to see me about guns, seemed impressed. Very hot day, really grand, though sultry. Great progress around Caen area. Still on compo, getting fedup. Bread twice a day now, but not much.

Thur. 20 FM
Quiet night and very misty, had a good sleep. Very close day, seems like rain coming. Startling news about Hitler 鈥� maybe something will come of it. Rain started in evening, and how.

Fri. 21
Rained all night and still at it. Will hold up progress once again, dammit. Got very wet having to work in open. Run to W/shops in evening for mail. Naafi issue in again, but only bottle of beer this time. Rained mostly all day.

Sat. 22
Bit brighter today with occasional showers. No sign of clearing up at all. Still very busy but getting on top now. Rained until evening 鈥� hope it clears away.

Sun. 23 7th after Trinity
Sleep disturbed again. Petrol dump hit about 3 miles away 鈥� terrific explosion and fire. Otherwise peaceful night. Rain? None, but very sultry and warm, improving towards evening. Maybe we can get going again.

Memo.
Good crowd in this RAOC mob. Very sociable and unselfish. Hours very easy. 8.30 to 12.30 with 陆 hr break for tea, then 1.30 to 5pm. Cooks waken us with tea in mornings at 7.15! Getting spoiled.

Mon. 24
Weather better still, with sunshine very hot. C.R.E.M.E. called to see me (Lt Col Josling) and asked a lot of questions. Think I satisfied him. First of Duty free cigs from Elise reached me. Very nice. Knocked off early for a change and did my laundry. Glorious evening 鈥� plenty planes going over, but cannot see much in haze. Bombers shape. Correct!

Tues. 25
Much disturbed sleep again 鈥� single raiders every 录 hour it seems. Attack started at 3.30am S of Caen. Bitter fighting but making progress. Very warm and hazy day. Trying to rain in evening.

Wed. 26
Slept very well until 5am 鈥� and after. Big improvement in weather, bright and sunny with cool breeze. Attack in this sector not going so good, but ok on the flanks. Very difficult. Jerry well dug in and in good strength. Letter from Elise.

Thur. 27
Another good nights鈥� sleep. Slight showers but mainly bright, strong breeze. Had haircut this morning after 5 weeks. Another letter from Elise 鈥� just the job. Fallen back a mile on main front, other sections ok, but hand fighting. Yanks making progress.

Fri. 28 FQ
Sleep disturbed again, then some of ours went over. Weather holding out well now. Still busy in gun park, and liking it. Mail not coming in so well. One jerry brought down at night. Loud cheers!

Sat. 29
Sleep satisfactory. Went to W/shops in afternoon in jeep, then coming back through Bayeux MP asked me to give a lift to a couple of nurses who didn鈥檛 know where they lived! I didn鈥檛 either, but found camp eventually. Bottle of beer in Naffi issue 鈥� lovely. Mushrooms for brekker!

Sun. 30 8th after Trinity
Awoke to sound of bombers going over. Wonderful procession of them 鈥� a great sight. Push started on this front 鈥� centre 鈥� but defences and mine fields very strong. Advancing slowly under heavy mortar and anti-tank fire. Glorious day for weather. More mushrooms for brekker. Guns still coming in but few issues as yet.

Memo.
Yanks did very well this week. Advanced 25 miles 鈥� 10,000 prisoners. Padre reckons this battle is beginning of the end 鈥� maybe.

Mon. 31
Good sleep again, but no mushrooms. Very hot day. Big ammo and petrol explosion and fire not so far away. Casualties fairly high. More guns again 鈥� 52 all told, and more to come. Advanced about 5 miles, but rumour has it 50 Div are retreating. Hope not, unless it鈥檚 a trap for jerry. Don鈥檛 want to chase him.

August 1944

Tues. 1 Aug. Lammas (Scottish Quarter Day)
Very misty morning but cleared in afternoon. Running round W/shops to get jobs done. 8 T.T. obliged. ASM from Corbridge 鈥� worked at Scotswood, (4 shop.) Guns still coming in. Working late at nights now.

Wed. 2
Very hot and very busy. Rush on just now 鈥� 50 odd guns.

Thur. 3
Similar. More guns still.

Fri. 4 FM
Disturbed slightly. All set for Gen. Williams visit. Glorious weather still. General didn鈥檛 show up after all. Naafi issue but no gin, whisky or beer! Terrible state of affairs.

Sat. 5
Wonderful sleep for a change. AQMS Mitchell at W/shops getting ASM in 12 Corps. Am next on list as senior tiffy 鈥� here鈥檚 hoping!

Sun. 6 9th after Trinity
Again undisturbed sleep. W/shops in afternoon. Seemingly Staff Baxter is in running for promotion instead of me. Stated my case well but have my doubts.

Memo.
Appears as if it was all arranged for me to go to Vehicle Park then Baxter could nose in with our pompous major.

Mon. 7 Bank Holiday
Only disturbed once during night. Glorious day 鈥� best yet. Still plenty of work, until all hours. Word came through regarding a move 鈥� starting tomorrow. Our planes over in strength in darkness. Caen area blasted again.

Tues. 8
Quite a good night. Still grand weather. Unit started moving to Aunay (-sur-Odon) 25 miles away. Will take a few days 鈥� 400 trucks and 60 guns. W/shops in afternoon arguing about promotion. QM very kind to me. Mail from Elise and Gladys. Address wanted 鈥� Sunday Pictorial.

Wed. 9
Moved off at 16.30 to site between Villers Bocage and Aunay. Former absolutely flat 鈥� seen nothing like it. It stinks too. Quite a good site we have, with front line 8 miles away 鈥� but moving forward. Truck I was driving kept stopping so had to be towed at finish. My bed collapsed on getting onto it. Tuff.

Thur. 10
Slept very well. Weather getting even hotter. Busy sorting guns out. Camp in orchard, but apples not ripe yet. Good clean up in evening and felt grand. Stuff still coming in. Dead cow just over hedge stinks like by. Blimey! Bed repaired and seems very firm now.

Fri. 11 LQ
AA barrage early on, but slept ok afterwards. Hotter than ever today. A few jerry shells came over this afternoon 鈥� some dropping in camp 鈥� but no one hurt. Food very good now, mainly through having a potato field next to us. Cow now burned, buried and covered with lime.

Sat. 12
OK for sleeping again. Usual weather. Still plenty guns and work too. Naffi supplies in, with something to drink. Lovely! Was very pleased to receive beer, gin and lemon. Had quite a pleasant evening, without overdoing it of course.

Sun. 13 10th after Trinity
Good sleep again. Heavy bombers passed over in strength towards the enemy pocket between Vires and Falaise. Jerry certainly catching it, and looks as if we are going to have a real good victory soon. Finished off drink tonight, though others have to draw theirs yet.

Memo.
Jerry in very bad spot, either got to be cut off or else retreat. All going very well.

Mon. 14
Not so hot today, but hot enough. Had my pants off to bed last night! Only second time I think. 鈥楽awful. Masses of heavies passed over in afternoon on return trip. Passing over for 2 hours! Fight still going very well, but jerry retreating in good order so far. No drink tonight.

Tues. 15
Sleeping ok now 鈥� but for how long? Invasion in south of France started this morning 鈥� wonderful news. Still going strong on Normandy front with enemy catching it in Falaise pocket. I give a guess at three weeks for jerry to be finished.

Wed. 16
Another great sleep. Weather still perfect, though a drop of rain wouldn鈥檛 come amiss. New invasion going strong 鈥� very slight opposition. Pocket gradually closing. Still very busy with guns pouring in. Falaise captured.

Thur. 17
Great progress all round. Yanks going great 鈥� Paris 30 miles! Pocket getting tighter still. 14 Divs reckoned inside. Likely to be moving soon. Record of over 80 guns in park now! They shore keep me at it.

Fri. 18 NM
Normandy Victory! Everything going extremely well. Moving up in a few days. Weather still perfect though rain is needed. 90 guns in park now, and no customers. Mail coming in alright now. Rabbit pie for tea! Must catch some more. Collecting hens and chickens too.

Sat. 19
Jerry on the run again. Cleaning up in Falaise pocket. Rain in afternoon and night. Countryside looking much better. Beer again tonight then a good drink of whisky. Just the job. Straight to sleep. Poultry farm growing 鈥� duck included!

Sun. 20 11th after Trinity
Head not too bad this morning but a bit thick. Bright weather but dull in evening. Probably moving tomorrow to Falaise area.

Memo.
Grand chaps in this mess. George Thompson, Les Hughes, Jack Walkley, Jack Gray, Fred Messenger, Geoff Harrison, Mick Mulligan, Dick Fenn.

Mon. 21
Rained all night and day. Moved to new camp. Falaise 鈥� Argentan. Poor site 鈥� vehicles and guns in mud all over the place. Number of drivers missing at 11pm. Searched until 3am but no sign of 鈥榚m. Bedded down on spare wheel on back of Scammell. Travelled 45 miles.

Tues. 22
Misty but no rain. New site found 12 miles further on. Busy getting out guns and overturned truck until 7pm. reached new camp at 9pm, tired out. Had dinner, shave and bath and so to bed. Camp in village, must have a shuftie tomorrow.

Wed. 23
Rained very heavy through night. No work today 鈥� moving on again soon! Glorious day. Village in morning, drinking Calvados and caf茅. Not bad, but sickly. Same in evening and cider too. Big improvement on Bayeux 鈥� folk quite friendly. Drinking with a couple of Spaniards! Paris liberated.

Thur. 24
More rain in early hours. Moved off again, twixt Exner and Bac茅. 38 miles. Raining and muddy on arrival, but fine later. News still tip top. Rumania out now. Apples galore, sick of eating 鈥榚m. Rather like Sicily a year ago, only it was grapes. Letter from Fred Moncur.

Fri. 25
Heavies passed over throughout the night. Awaiting Guns and Vehicles coming from old site. Quite a few guns damaged. Really glorious day. Letter from Bob Hunton. Running around plenty in various types of trucks. Rumoured moving again on Sunday to other side of Seine!

Sat. 26 FQ
Plenty aircraft through night, but mostly ours. Sleeping very well just now. Grand morning. Busy sorting out guns, but pretty hopeless. Don鈥檛 settle long enough to do anything. Camp almost in Bac茅 鈥� not much of a place.

Sun. 27 12th after Trinity
Another grand day. Jerry miles away now, cannot keep up with forward troops through having so much equipment.

Mon. 28
Had run out to Rugles today and called in W/shops. Major reckons I鈥檒l have to go back. Hope not. Weather still good.

Tues. 29
Rain once again, everything wet and uncomfortable. Plenty running around without doing much. Moved after tea to new camp at Laigle. No rest these days. 20 mile run.

Wed. 30
Busy sorting things out again, but fairly hopeless. Moving tomorrow again! All vehicles and guns ready by midnight, bed at 1.30am. Very tired.

Thur. 31
Moved off to Miserey, near Everoux. (Evreux) 45 miles. Weather fine this time. Had an egg for tea! Grub very poor these days.

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