7th Survey Regt. R.A. Aug 1944

  1 AUG   53 Bty locations BHQ 946685
        A tp 999669
        C tp 953679
        X tp 953679
        A FSp base A Post 024649
        B Post 957673
        C Post 977674
        D Post 011671
        C SRg base M1
        M2
        M3 944662 AP "P" 931638
        M4 957664 "Q" 987645
        M5 976670
        M6 992674
        4-Pen Recorder M1 398004.3 165283.4
        M2 986652
        M3 992652
        M4 998652
        Night 31 Jul/1 Aug - very quiet
        Flash - communications good - wireless and line to all Ops. Activity -
        little. Shellreps 3. Single Bgs 6. Visibility - poor.
        Sound - very little activity - in action on 6 and 2 - HBs located, 7
        4-Pen - HMs, 4 - two known to have been bombarded.
        Day 1 aug 44;
        Flash - very little activity- visibilty poor until 1600 hrs - line laid to
        "I" Post by 2000 hrs.
        Sound ; In action 6 and 2 - ploughing in of line between M2 and M6.
        4-Pen: In action - 2 HMs located - several sound bgs
        Survey- coords of gun fixed for 72 Med 393134.6 166608.2 93.5m
         
  1     54 Bty locations: BHQ 916682
        B tp 916682
        D tp 891668
        Y tp 898701
        B Fsp base: D post 919639 B post 937660 C post 915647
        A post 956673
        D Srg base: M1 384885 M2 386340 M3 387991 M4 389700
        166487 166482 166518 166522
        M5 391382 M6 393086 AP "U" 863 AP "V" 907
        166487 166568 652 638
        Night 31 Jul/1 Aug - activity negligible
        Flash: in action - 2 single OPs and S/base
        activity
        Sound: In action 5 mics and 1 AP
        Day 1 Aug:
        Flash: A Post - deployed at CARPIQUET - otherwise NTR
        Sound: HBs - 2, communications good.
  2     53 Bty - locations as for 1 Aug
        Flash - Night 1/2 Aug: night fairly quiet - HBs 5 areas - 17 single bgs
        Sound: in action 6 and 2; locations obtained 16 HB; lines between mics
        4, 5, 6 ploughed - in.
        4-Pen: 2 HMs
        Day 2 Aug 44:
        Flash- period 0600 - 1730 hrs very quiet - visibility during most of the time
        4 - 6000x - communications satisfactory - all OPs on line; locations obtained;
        1 HB (NBW) - 6 single bgs - 1 shellrep
        Sound: - in action 6 and 2 - ploughing in of base completed; period 1200 - 1800
         
  2     4-Pen recorder - NTR - wireless mechanic checked instrument but pens still
        give trouble.
        Survey - NTR
        BHq - communications with A tp intermittent - due to demolitions in CARPIQUET -
        breaking line
        54 Bty - locations as for 1 Aug 44
        night 1/2 Aug - fairly active except for short period 0100 - 200hrs
        flash - inaction - 3 post Long base and 1 S/base
        HBs - nil - A and D Posts withdrawn at first light
        sound - in action 6 and 2
        HBs located - 6, mortars -2
        large flashes reported by AP V at 0418 hrs with no report brg 170o
        communications - good - line to M1 reeled in (3/4 mile) by truck RB2
        4 Svy Regt RA
        Day 2 Aug 44
        Guns in VACOGNES 9056 and ST HONORINE du FAY 9356 areas suspected active
        Flash - 3 shellreps and one I rep
        Sound - HBs 3 (one rough to flank)
         
         
        53 Bty
        night - 2/3 Aug 44
        A FSp tp - little activity during night - all posts on line - results
        shellreps - 1, single bgs - 54
        Sound - reasonably quiet - front on our left S of CAEN lively - in
        action 6 and 2 - HBs located 9 - all lines now ploughed in
        4-Pen - little activity - HM2
        Day 3 Aug
        Flash - very quiet day - no movement reported on front - communications -
        line and wireless good
        Results - HBs nil, shellreps 3, single bgs 9
        Sound - meteor conditions unfavourable. Slight activity - HB 3
  3     54 Bty. Night 2/3. Slight activity, mostly in VACOGNES area. Flash, long
        base with A,B, C posts; D post on S/base (short base). Results: 5 Shellreps, 3 single bgs.
        Sound: enemy interference with radio from APs; desirable in future to use
        line if possible. Day 3 Aug: from the small amount of activity on the front
        the general picture can be drawn - unless it signifies the beginning of a with-
        drawal.Flash: except for one location - mortar firing from EVERECY at 1650
        hrs - this sector has been quiet; no enemy movement seen. Sound: AA films
        have been plentiful at long range but only one plot. There has been no mortar -
        ing in the GRAINVILLE-MONDRAINVILLE area since 0430hrs this morning. Informa-
        tion from ground sources that NOYES stn point 123 and MISSY are in our hands,
  4     53 Bty. Night 3/4 Aug: Flash: visibility 8 - 10,000 meters until 0130hrs
        closing to 100m at 0300 hrs. Communications: good, line and wireless. HBs,
        3 (2 areas, 1 B); 3 activive HB, 29 single bgs. Sound: met conditions not
        very favourable. Phantom AP lines working well; in action 6 and 2; HBs, 10.
        4-Pen: base in action, several sound bgs; fault in the instrument at 1800hrs;
        fault remedied at RHQ and in action again 2300. Day 4 Aug: Flash: positions
        on hill 112 and FUGEROLLE- sur-ORNE recced during the afternoon. B Post ordered
        to pack up at 1700 hrs to move to 396110 161515 at 1800 hrs; C Post to area of
        FUGEROLLE- sur-ORNE. Sound: slight enemy artillery activity; meteor conditions
        unfavourable; in action, 6 and 2. 4-Pen: base closing down and reeling in;
        attached personnel returning to own units. 54 Bty: night 3/4 Aug: Flash:
        slight enemy activity, visibility very poor: HB nil, single bgs 7. Sound:
        very little doing; HBs 5, all south of 55 grid line; explosions heard give
        credance to the belief that a withdrawal by the enemy is being prepared. Day
        4 Aug 44: enemy reported to have withdrawn to def posn EPINAY-SUR-ODON, line
        of R ODON. Flash: deploying on ridge Pt 213; C post remains at present posn;.
        probable intention - short base on ring contour pt 213 with C post as single OP
        - intermediate post not yet possble - communications, wireless for night 4/5
        Aug 44. Sound: NTR. Intention: no change
Putot-en-Bessin 5       Observers from Z tp attached to Svy 53 Bty to assist in
906712       fixing fwd BPs
Longues 5     Z tp fixed and manned ranging base for calibration shoot with 112 LAA Regt RA
785875       53 Bty. Night 4/5 Aug. Gnr Raven accidentally shot in leg at 2315 hrs.
        removed to hospital. Flash: very quiet night. HB, 1; single bgs 100.
        Communications by line to A and D; radio to A,B, and D; by DR owing to wireless
        interference C post; C post withdrawn at 0500 hrs; A post stood down at
398165 163349       0600 hrs; I post closed down at 0500 hrs; C post coords 398165 163349.
        Sound: in action 6 and 2; survey party to stand by as from 051200B to assist
        in survey of possible sound base in 54 Bty. HBs. 1. Day 5 Aug: BHQ at new
937584       location 919576; Flash: Tp HQ moved to new location 937584. Posts deployed
        at C post 981610; D post 974582; A post 945574; sun shot observed at C and
        D; B post in reserve; casualties suffered in area 94/53 through S mine; Sgt
        Breckenbridge and Lieut F Coverdale RA injured.
913628       RHQ moved to new location 913628
  6     Z tp calibration shoot with 112 LAA Regt RA
Putot-en-Bessin       Mikes V and Vl on SRg base fixed by Z tp: M V393177 158076.1 M VI 392079.7
        156283.7
Bougy 909612       Z tp to move to new location
913628       53 Bty. Night 5/6 Aug: very quiet night; communications fair. FSp, single
        bgs 7 (4 being mortar). SRg, in action 5 and 2; little enemy arty fire;
        HBs nil. Day 6 Aug: FSp, very quiet day, B and C posts deployed in new
        position; recce of new position for B post: communications , wireless: HBs
        nil. SRg: base reeled in, 54 Bty: night 5/6: very little activity
        during night; visibility 50x from 0330 hrs. sound in action 4 mics 1 AP;
        activity nil. Day 6 Aug: FSp A, B,C long base; D post deployed 1530
        church tower OUFFIERES 932511 in an intelligence role; post to be withdrawn
        at dusk; very quiet day; 3 shellreps (mortars); communications R/T. Sound
        Rg; 5 mics and one AP; mics 1,2,4,5 on radio; mic 3 on wire. Surveyof mics
        1,2 and 3 completed; HBs, nil
  7     53 Bty. Night 6/7. Quiet. FSp A post 941 578, B post 933528, C post
        001 609. D post withdrawn at darkness; communications R/T. HBs, Nil.
        Single Bgs 45 (11 mortar, 20 NBW). SRg, NTR. Day 7: FSp : communications
        all posts at W/T. A post new position 393326 156985. Locations; shellreps 5
        single bgs 47. SRg deploying a mic radio link base. HQ 903517. 54 Bty;
        night 6/7: FSp : HBs one, single bgs 15; areas active 9750 9751. SRg: much
        activity between 0001 - 0100 and 0200-0330 from area; 50 films only; 3
        locations obtained. Day 7: FSp : two new posts deployed : Pt 232 (9050) and
        932533 part of long base: HBs 1 ; sound Bg 5 NBW. SRg : six mics now wired
        and survey of added mic expected shortly. HBs located 6 average accuracy
        B.
907588       RHQ moved to new location 907588. 53 Bty night 7/8 Aug.
  8     FSp. Heavy interference on R/T. Visibility deteriorated during night. B
        post withdrawn 2200 on information that own tps had withdrawn across the
        River Orne. Later post was redeployed in same position.. HBs 6, single bgs
        57. SRg. Much radio interference. HBs, nil. Day 8 : FSp. Quite an
        active day. Communications difficult IO RA 53 Div. HBs 4 (2 area) ;
        mortar single bgs 27. SRg very little activity until 1730 hrs. HBs located
        nil. Survey of M1 completed; maintenance on lines. 54 Bty, night 7/8 Aug,
        FSp : visibility 1000x at one period ; HBs nil: a few flash and sound bgs.
        SRg: very little activity during the night; only 2 mortar bgs; HBs nil.
        Day 8 : FSp intelligence : a few int reports; HBs nil; wireless comn to all
        post. SRg: all mics wired; Aps on radio/1. HBs located 1.
  9     53 Bty night 8/9 : FSp : communication by line to A,C,D: DR to B post.
        HBs 8 (area); single bgs 50. SRg : NTR in action 4 and 1. 53 Bty : day
918545       9 : FSp : new base in action : HQ 918545; A post 933569; B post 933528; C
        post 902502; D post 972581 ; communications to A and D by line; line in
        progress to B and C posts. HBs. Nil. SRG : heavy radio interference (strength
        5) strength of speech 2; CBO line completed ; HBs 4. 54 Bty night 8/9 ; fairly
        active periods 1800-1900 and midnight to 0100. FSp HBs 6 : single bgs 15 :
         
        R/T to all posts. SRg : one mic out of action : HBs, 5. Day 9 : mainly
        intelligence reports. One HB active. A post deploying in area. 54 Bty :
913507       913507 covering zone 90o - 170o ; communications good, R/T. SRg : little
        activity; interference on radio considerable; 3 distant HBs located.
905588       Observers from Z tp visited HB positions to report on accuracy of fire and
        CB fire.
La Caine 10     Z tp moved to new location. BP fixed by A tp for 3 AGRA. Coords 39585
902522       153000. Map resection and sun brg. 53 Bty : FSp, a quiet night; much
        interference on wireless to the posts ; C post off the line until 0345 hrs;
        all posts now on line. HBs located 2 (area); single bgs 12 (2 mortar).
898545       SRg in action 4 and 1 ; little enemy activity ; HBs 2. Day 10 53 Bty HQ
        moved to 898545; in communication by W/T to A and C tps and regt; line
        laid to 53 Div and to X tp. FSp : C tp deployed 903495 ; B post in area
        9450. A and D posts in reserve ; little enemy activity; HBs nil; single
        bgs 7 (4 mortar). SRg very quiet day; HBs 2. Recce of two mics carried
909549       out. X tp moved to new location 909549. 54 Bty ; night 9/10. No sitrop
923513       received. Day 10 : 54 Bty moved to 923513 ; come under command (less D SRg
        tp) 59 Div. FSp C post deployed 904496 with THURY HARCOURT appropriate
922519       centre of zone; HBs nil but a few intelligence reports. B tp HQ now at
        922549. SRg : very quite day; 5 films taken no plots. AP comns
904524       good. RHQ moved to new location 904524.
  11     53 Bty. FSp : little activity ; only two posts in action; HBs nil; single
        bgs 28. SRg : in action on 3 and 1; maintenance of line communications
        very difficult owing to traffic on roads to and from FDLs. From bgs and
        general intersection of strings enemy guns appear to be in the FALAISE area.
        HB.s nil. Day 11 : FSp : 4 post base in action on wireless; little
        intelligence. Single bgs 48. Coords of posts A 912507 B 934518 C 903595
        D 892492 HQ 923518. SRg : coords of base M1 889468 M2 895483 M5 922518 M6
        934529. Mics 3,4 and 5 on wire; M6 in process of being wired. Svy
        fixed points X92 PF 390091.3 150376.0 .231m X 93 393783.2 131404.3 131.1m
        Night 10/11. 54 Bty. FSp; very quiet night; 3 single bgs ; visibility
        poor. D post deployed in area 892493; moon parallelism done at 0255hrs.
        SRg : some films obtained of very distant guns but no results. Expecting to
        come out of action today. Day 11. Little enemy activity. FSp : 2 posts
        and adv HQ moved at 1230hrs with HQ 158 Bde to 879512 from where 2 single Ops
        were recced in Coy area CROISILLE 9548 and FORGE a CAMBRO 9748 looking S for
        int. Svy ; adv report arty established at LE MOISSONIERS 965500. Follow -
        ing charge of Div plan this survey section was withdrawn until further moves
        were more imminent. Points fixed on near slopes of spur CROISILLES. SRg
        obtained 4 HB locations.
902522       BP put on theatre grid by traverse and intersection, Z tp, 395879.2 153009.1
THURY HARCOURT area       Mikes I,II, V and VI on 54 Bty, SRg base fixed by Z tp
        Night 11/12 Aug, 53 Bty. FSp : quiet night; visibility 300x ; all posts on
    12   wireless; Ops withdrawn at 0500hrs; HBs 1 NBW; single brgs 52 including
        12 to mortars. Srg : in action 5 and 1; survey of 5 mics complete: HBs 1.
        Survey: one section ordered to move to area 9651 before first light; R/L to
        be established with 83 Fd at 960518. Day 12 Aug : Bty HQ moved to 983520;
983520       line communications good to RA 53 and A tp 53 Bty. Wireless comn to X and C
        tps, also RHQ not on owing to interference; 34' ground aerial being used.
        FSp at same locations as Bty HQ. A post 963 480; C post 979496; D post
        deploying in area 99/49. SRg : in action on 5 mics wired ; 1 mic on radio
        also AP; radio worked satisfactorily. Very little enemy arty activity.
        Survey: BPs fixed ; sunshots taken at FREN 001489 and orchard 959481
        Night 11/12. 54Bty: FSp: short base deployed at 964480 up until 2000,
        then withdrawn. SRg : HBs during the night 6; 6 mics in action. Day
        12: 54 Bty: FSp : in action at A, C and D posts of original base; no HBs.
        FRESNEY a VIEUX now in our hands but EUPINS still occupied by enemy; small
        enemy pockets still in valleys SW and W of THURY HARCOURT. SRg in action
        on 4 mics; HBs 4 at long range. Survey : report centre opening at 967494 at
        1930hrs in readiness for Div arty tomorrow- area TICMENIL 8549 LE MESNIL 9649
La CAINE 12     BP for 72 Med Regt RA fixed by Z tp
  13     Nights 12/13 Aug. 53 Bty. FSp: little activity during the night; shellreps
        1; single bgs 19; SRg : in action 5 & 1; locations obtained 3 HBs. Comns
        good; all lines OK. Day 13: FSp; short base deployed at 963480; single OP:
        B 982494; D 996494. 53 Bty: SRg : extremely quiet day; no HBs. New "P" AP
        at 916476; old P Ap now known as "Q". Survey: div arty on theatre grid. Night
        12/13: 54 Bty: FSp : 1 HB located and a few single brgs obtained; R/T to all
        posts; line to CBO net through, CBO not on air, visibility nil at 0315hrs.
        SRg : in action on 5 mics; one AP on radio; several bgs but no HBs. General
        gun area appears to be THURY HARCOURT 9344. Day 13 : FSp ; no activity
        of note; a little intelligence; fires still burning in THURY HARCOURT;
        single mobile OP est in COY area 913450 with instructions to move forward to area
        930445 and to observe down the road if possible. SRg withdrawn at 0900;
        maintenance. 5 Hbs located between 0530 and 0611.
  14     Night 13/14. 53 Bty: SRg; very little activity night 13/14; 1 HB; in
        action 6 and 2 - 5 mics on line. 1 R/L, 2 APs R/L. Day 14 ; FSp deployed;
        A post 0375 4740 ; D post 0169 4621 ; B and C posts in reserve at HQ 024478
        SRg : in action on 5 mics wired and one mic radio/L ; P AP on R/L ; Q AP with
        drawn as being superfluous ; no comns with RHQ and CBO except by DR ; consid-
        erable activity has made film reading difficult or impossible ; HBs obtained
        4 ; Svy : fixed points fwd on theatre grid. Night 13/4 : 54 Bty. FSp.
        very little activity. 1 possible area location 33000 ; visibility down to
        200 at 0100hrs. Base deployed A 391260.6 C 390448 D 389240
        150701.8 149559 149285
        SRg out of action maintenance. Day 14 : FSp : single OP at 921443
        withdrawn at 1600hrs. As there was no activity. S/base deployed CROISILLES
        - FORGE - a - CAMBRO for NBWs. Svy : task for La MOTTE completed ; recce for
        survey of COMBRAY - DONNAY area in progress. RHQ moved to new location
  002498     002498.
    15   Night 14/15 : 53 Bty : FSp : A post single OP; B post S/ base; D post as
        an intermediate stn. C post in reserve. 5 HBs located with many single
        bgs. SRg in action on 4 and 1. No activity during night. Lines to M2
012448       and 5 dis. Day 15. 53 Bty HQ now at 012448. Comn to RHQ, A and X tps
        also CBO and RA 53 Div. FSp : B post deployed on short base. Recce for
        A post in area of Pt 240 025393 completed. Single Brgs 18. Tp HQ now
028426       at 028426. Survey ; HQ at 020439 pts fixed 6 and sun brgs available at
        numerous points… (W/Sgt Jackson P wounded by S mine; died later in hospital
        (14 FA) ( Regt No 979702
        14373885 Gnr Cornish W admitted to 14 FA with exhaustion.
        54 Bty, night 14/15; FSp nothing to report. One short base deployed at
972490       Tp HQ at 972490. SRg : out of action for maintenance. Day 15 : Bty out
        of action rest and maintenance.
Foret de       Z tp moved to new location at BOIS-HALBOUT 014465
014465       107 HAA fixed by Z tp also BP for 59 Med and 67 Med
Bois Halbout       provided
013428 16 1400   Z tp moved to new location at 013428
045405   1600   Z tp moved to new location at 045405. Fixed BPs for 131 Fd Regt, 190 Fd
        Regt, 67 Med Regt, 59 Hy Regt, 59 Med Regt and 72 Med Regt.
        53 Bty; FSp : very quiet night 15/16. One short base in action, single
        bgs obtained but doubtful as to whether they are our own guns, due to
        battle being so fluid. SRg : rest for maintenance. Day 16. 53 Bty
051405       HQ moved to LE MESNIL 051405; communication by R/T to RHQ, CBO, A, C, X
065383       tps ; line to RA 53 Div. FSp, new HQ location. Shortbase deployed at
        059352. B, C and D posts in reserve at tp HQ. SRg at rest and maintenance
038428       038428. Survey. Tp HQ at 100370, pts fixed at many pts in fwd
100370       areas also sun brgs available. Night 15/16 : 54 Bty : NTR, all troops
        except svy out of action; further move expected today. Day 16 : FSp :
        one post deployed at 1200hrs on PIERREFITTE EN CINGLAIS church 0037 to
        cover zone OUILLY - LE HAUT D'OUILLY reported this area successfully
        attacked and in our hands by 1400hrs. Post withdrawn at 1430 hrs.
037428       RHQ also SRg tp C and D moved to new location 037428. Night 16/17 Aug,
        53 Bty, FSp : short base deployed 071 340 M HBs located 4 (3A, 1B)
        069 343 S
073385       Heavy interference on radio. Survey : report centre moved back to 073385
        Day 17 : FSp : S/base in action, also single Op at 089372. Survey : many
        points fixed X 123 - X 134, all sun bg. Night 16/17 : 54 Bty, NTR. Day
  17     17, FSp : Tac HQ att to 177 Bde at Le HAUT d'OUILLY 015343 with C post
        forward at 017339. B post with 56 Bde at 049355 with D post forward at
        057330. Svy : one section decentralised to regts. Night 17/18, 52 Bty:
        fluid situation and rapid leapfrogging of regts. Night 17/18, 53 Bty :
        FSp, short base being withdrawn 1030 hrs - quiet night HB3, HB single
        bgs 11.
LE MESNIL       Z tp and SRg tp supplied personnel for 107 HAA Regt Svy party and fixed
        BPs for this regt
  18 0900   Z tp moved to new location 099372. BPs fixed for 67 Med Regt by Z tp.
        Night 17/18, 54 Bty, FSp S/base at 037330. HBs located 3, single bgs 12.
        Day 18 : S/bases deployed in areas 105325 and pt 255 1529, instr obs on
        shooting area and 59 Div front : D post on 56 Bde front at 209 0732. Svy:
        Div arty on Div brg - carried forward to pt 215 0532 in anticipation of
082353       fwd gun areas 0629 and 0728. RHQ moved to new location 082353. Night