As James highlighted in our last blog post (Holding the line at Grainville), the allied soldiers advancing through Normandy suffered casualty rates on a par with those witnessed on the Western Front during the First World War.
Adrian Smith has researched the casualties of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in depth, and has calculated 9th Cameronians losses throughout Operation Epsom (26th June – 1st July 1944) as 87 killed or died of wounds, 169 wounded, and 12 men taken prisoner.
One of those killed on 29th June was 20 year old, Rifleman Jack Schofield of Heywood, Lancashire.
This is the official letter received by Jack’s mother, informing her of her son’s death in action on 29th June 1944. The letter is dated 16th July 1944.
Jack and the other men of 9th Cameronians who were killed on 29th June were buried near to where they fell, in the vicinity of Grainville-sur-Odon. In July 1945 the battlefield graves in the area were concentrated into the newly formed St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux.
The following images have been very kindly shared by Mr John Baird, who’s father was Officer Commanding 9th Cameronians Pioneer Platoon during the Normandy campaign.
As the advance of 46 Brigade came to a close the men of the 9th Cameronians began to entrench themselves in and around Grainville-sur-Odon. They were relieved by soldiers of 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division on 1 July. The Cameronians moved back to a defensive position around Les Saullets. The riflemen began digging narrow slit trenches, the standard defense for British Infantry during the North-West European Campaign.
Along with the other battalions of the Brigade, the Officer Commanding, Brigadier General Barber paid a visit to the 9th. As stated in the War Diary for 2 July:
O Gp at Bn H.Q. for local defence. All weapons to be sited and dug in by morning of 3 JULY. Coy [Commanders] to recce areas allocated. Memorial Church parade for men fallen in action. Brig C.M. Barber D.S.O was present at this service and complimented troops on their fine action during last operation. Remainder of day spent in adm and re-organising Coys and specialist Pl[atoons].
The need for entrenchment was well warranted. From a starting strength of 36 Officers and 815 Other Ranks, the Battalion mustered 28 Officers and 669 Other Ranks by the time the order to dig in had come. Alongside the rest of the 15th (Scottish) Division, a corridor had been driven deep into the German lines held by the 12th SS Panzer Division and a foothold established on the south side of the Odon River.
As units of the 53rd (Welsh) Division took over the area, preparations for the next stage of the Anglo-Canadian drive towards Caen were already underway. The Germans meanwhile were not idling by as RAF aerial photographs identified new entrenchments awaiting the British. Operation Epsom had achieved much of its goals, wearing down the German Army in Normandy and pushing them to a minimum of reserves and supply. For a British infantry battalion, however, Normandy would be more costly even than the Battle of the Somme. The 15th Division itself lost 25% of all it’s Second World War casualties during the six days it was involved in EPSOM.
Charles was born on 19th September 1924, in the parish of Eythorne in Kent. He joined the Army on 25th September 1942, six days after his 18th birthday. Charles was posted to 9th Cameronians and trained with them at Keighley in Yorkshire prior to the Battalion’s departure for Normandy on 17th June 1944.
While training at Keighley, Charles wrote a letter home to his mum and dad, exchanging some news on the Battalion’s billets and recent activities and asking his parents about life at home;
Dear Mum & Dad
I was ever so pleased to get a letter from you both today. I’m glad you are both OK & getting on alright & that you have finished getting the potatoes up alright. … I suppose Dennis wasn’t staying at home was he, couldn’t very well with all his animals to feed, when did Sis go back, Sun? With Jack moving its made a change all round about it. How was the fruit up at Jacks, mum, plentiful I expect wasn’t it – down here there’s a bit more fruit than up North but nothing like it is at home, its mostly apples here. Its not bad down here, more places to go & enjoy yourself but the money goes quicker. The billets are not bad, we are in a big mill. The room I’m in there is two Coys [Companies], about 300 men but there is still plenty of room, the room in fact is about 150 feet long & 60 feet wide but its not cold as you might think, but gets hot at night.
We are having an easy time here, although Fri[day] we done a hard days work, built a hundred yard range in one day, the RSM said that this Coy was the only one in the Battalion that could do it in a day & we did it, quite pleased he was…
We go out on a ten day stunt next week & I believe we move from this place as well, so I might not be able to write for quite a time. Well I must close for now so hoping this finds you OK as it leaves me at present. I’ll say cheerio, your every loving son
xxxx Charles xxxxx
The everyday topics of conversation finished with, and slightly distracted, Charles had to disclose his big news as a postscript:
P.S.
I finished the writing before I had said all I wanted to say, you see I’m on fire duty tonight & was listening to what the Sgt was saying & not thinking went & finished the letter so I hope you don’t mind it being sort of instalments. Well Mum, Eileen & I have decided to get engaged on my next leave, I hope you don’t mind, but I know what you are going to say & that is we are quite young yet. I thought I’d tell you now & see what you think of it. Well, I must close now as I have to parade in a few minutes time for this blue pencil fire guard so I’ll say cheerio, you loving son,
Charles xxxxx
From Keighley the 9th moved in May 1944 to Hove, where they joined the tens of thousands of troops gathering in the south of England awaiting the Normandy invasion.
Charles was a member of 15 Platoon, in ‘C’ Company. During the attack on 28th June, ‘C’ Company had been heavily engaged against enemy tanks in and around Grainville-sur-Odon. Major S. Bingley, who had commanded ‘C’ Company during Operation Epsom, wrote to Charles’ mother shortly after his death:
Dear Mrs Tupper
My task is, I fear, a very painful one. Already you will know that your son has been killed in action and I know full well that anything that I can say is of little consolation.
He died as a good soldier should, bravely, during an advance which pushed the enemy back many thousands of yards. Military security will not at present allow me to say more of the operation, but if you wish to know where is buried, please write to me and I will be only too glad then to tell you. He was, mercifully, killed instantly by a mortar shell. He suffered no pain.
May I then, on behalf of his comrades and myself, offer our deepest sympathy in your loss, and hope that time will show that he died not in vain.
Rifleman Charles David Tupper is buried in Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery. Authorities sent his family a photograph of his original, temporary grave marker.
After their success in taking le Haut du Bosq on 26th June, 9th Cameronians didn’t have much time to rest before their next assault. In the early hours of 27th June, plans were drawn up for a follow up attack later that day – the objective being Grainville-sur-Odon in an attempt to prevent German forces from regrouping and launching their own counter-attacks.
Orders for Operation Epsom reveal that local towns, villages, and geographical features had been given code names after famous London, streets, hotels and other iconic landmarks. Le Haut du Bosq was codenamed ‘CLARIDGES’ while the new object of Grainville-sur-Odon was given the codename ‘DORCHESTER’. The rivers Odon and Orne were ‘FORTNUM’ and ‘MASON’.
Most of the morning and afternoon of 27th June was spent planning and re-organising ahead of the attack on Grainville-sur-Odon. At 17:15 they set off for the attack point. 9th Cameronians was to be supported by two troops [8 tanks] of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment. On the outskirts of Grainville they encountered a Squadron of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry who had been observing the village; they believed the village to be clear although they suspected German tanks were operating in the vicinity.
‘D’ Company, under Captain W. Leggat Smith, led the attack, closely supported by the tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment. Unfortunately for them, the village turned out to be more heavily defended than was thought; three tanks being quickly knocked out by the accurate fire from four German Tiger tanks hidden in the village. ‘D’ Company reached their objectives but were unable to destroy the enemy tanks as their PIATs [Personal Infantry Anti-Tank weapon] were not up with the leading platoon. Captain Leggat Smith and one section, under Corporal McGilvray, got to within about 50 yards of two Tiger tanks and effectively sniped at the crews whenever they showed themselves . At around 22:00 ‘D’ Company and the remaining tanks were ordered to withdraw to a defensive position west of Grainville-sur-Odon.
With the attack halted for the night, new plans were made to assault Grainville on 28th June with the entire Battalion, supported by a Field Regiment Royal Artillery and a barrage from heavier support artillery. This time, the tanks would stay clear of the village and instead protect the open right flank. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies would lead the attack, ‘B’ Company with the anti-tank platoon in support, and ‘A’ Company in reserve.
After an hour’s artillery barrage the attacked commenced at 12:15. ‘C’ Company quickly engaged the enemy and located an enemy tank hiding in a railway cutting. Lieutenant Fairhurst assembled a team of three PIATs to deal with this threat, but as they crept within range they were spotted by the tank crew. The tank fired it’s main gun and killed or wounded the entire detachment. ‘C’ Company proceeded to work around to the rear of the tank, flushing it from it’s cover where it was quickly destroyed by the British tanks protecting the right flank – pay back for their losses on the previous day.
‘D’ Company, on the left front of the attack, suffered heavy losses clearing snipers from the village but managed to secure and hold their objective. Grainville-sur-Odon had been secured.
The two days fighting to take the village resulted in the deaths of 19 men of 9th Cameronians, with many more wounded.
Shortly after the end of Operation Epsom, Lt-Col. Villiers made recommendations for gallantry awards to those who had particularly stood out for their bravery and actions during the Battle. Among them was 9th Cameronians’ chaplain, Captain The Rev. Sam Cooke.
Lt-Col Villier’s lengthy recommendation for an award of the Military Cross to Captain Cooke is worth quoting in full:
On 26 June 1944 the battalion to whom the Rev S Cook, CF [chaplain to the Forces] was attached, was one of the leading battalions on HAUT DU BOSQ. He had been instructed to move with the RAP [regimental aid post], but he chose instead to move on out with one of the leading companies. During the attack he attended many wounded men and arranged for their evacuation, often under intense MG [machine gun] fire.
On the night 27/28 June, there were a number of casualties in GRAINVILLE SUR ODON, from which a company had withdrawn after an unsuccessful attack. Padre Cook volunteered to accompany a search party that night to evacuate our wounded although it was suspected that the village was still occupied by the enemy.
On the 28th, 29th and 30th June, while the Battalion was occupying GRAINVILLE SUR ODON, it was continually shelled and mortared. Many stretcher bearers were themselves casualties and the Padre was continually organising SB [stretcher bearers] parties; he himself took part in most of them, even during periods of the most intense bombing. Owing to the lack of ambulances, battalion tpt [transport] had to be used for evacuating casualties, and the Padre, using a captured German car, was continually taking wounded back to the CCP [casualty clearing post], a distance of over a mile; enemy activity in mortar and artillery fire made no difference to him. On the few occasions when there were no casualties to be evacuated, he invariably visited forward companies, although urged by everyone to rest, as he had practically no sleep for over 48 hours. His work was commented on by all ranks in the battalion and he set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty over a period of five days.
Also put forward for a gallantry award for his part in Operation Epsom was Corporal James McGilvray from Lanark, who Lt-Col. Villiers put forward for the Distinguished Conduct Medal – here follows his original recommendation:
On 27 Jun 44 Cpl McGilvray was commanding a Section of a Coy [company] which carried out an attack on GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON. Although separated from the Tanks supporting him and from the remainder of his Pl [platoon] he pushed on under heavy fire to the limit of his objective. Although within 50 yds [yards] of enemy tanks he held his ground till nightfall and then being still unsupported he withdrew his section bringing in two wounded men. In the second attack on GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON on 28 Jun 44 Cpl McGilvray commanded his Section with considerable skill. He was under heavy fire for 6 hrs [hours] and his good example has had a most heartening affect on the men of his Pl.
Awarded M.M. LG [London Gazette] 19.10.44 (signed) B. L. Montgomery, General Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group
Corporal McGilvray was posthumously awarded the Military Medal; by the time the recommendation process has been finally approved in October 1944, McGilvray was already dead – having died of wounds on 6th July, a week after Operation Epsom’s conclusion. James McGilvray is buried in Bayeux War Cemetary; his grave marker bears the touching epitaph from his family of ‘Our Jimmy’. He was 24 years old.
Even before the full Battalion mustered together on the evening of 23rd June, orders had been received by 9th Cameronians that the Division would be launching an attack on the 26th. This was the opening phase of Operation Epsom, an offensive designed to outflank and seize the city of Caen . 9th Cameronians’ opening objective was le Haut du Bosq, a small French village a few miles west of Caen.
The general plan was that 15th (Scottish) Division would attack on a two-brigade front; 46th (Highland) Brigade (containing the 9th Cameronians) on the right flank, 44th (Lowland) Brigade on the left flank. The Divisional attack was to be supported by an intense barrage fired by 680 guns, in addition to the huge naval guns of several warships lying off the French coast. Sixteen squadrons of fighter aircraft were also allocated for close support of the attack. The infantry would be supported on the ground with several squadrons of Churchill tanks.
The evening before the battle commenced, 9th Cameronians’ chaplain, Captain The Rev. Sam Cook, led the men in prayer during a short open-air service. Captian Cook would play an active part in the battle to come, helping wounded men from the battlefield.
The battle started at 7:36am on the morning of 26th June. 9th Cameronians started the attack with a strength of 36 officers and 815 Other Ranks.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Villiers, 9th Cameronians’ Commanding Officer, recorded in his personal diary:
At ‘H’ hour when we started to move forward there was utter confusion and chaos – or so it seemed to me. The noise of our barrage was terrific, and shells seemed to be falling everywhere. Many of them of course were German defensive fire. Although I intended to watch from various view points, I soon found myself right among the forward coys [companies] in my carrier. I soon lost my gunner and the tank C.O. We had all decided to move together.
Long Ago and Far Away: A travel diary, letters and Second World War letters of Dick and Nancy Villiers edited by their daughter, Linda Yeatman. Privately Published, 2005
‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies led the attack, with ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies following respectively. A squadron of Churchill tanks from 7 Royal Tank Regiment supported the Battalion. One of the biggest problems encountered during the attack was getting transport vehicles and Anti-Tank guns forward as no roads ran through the Battalion’s objective area.
‘A’ Company, who were on the extreme right flank of the attack, very quickly started to come under heavy fire and suffered many casualties – so much so that ‘C’ Company had to take it’s place at the head of the assault. The fields of long corn over which the Battalion attacked offered good cover to the defending Germans. A group of around 12 men of ‘A’ Company, led by Lieutenant McGregor, were ambushed and killed by a German position concealed in the corn.
On reaching the objective, a few prisoners were taken but it appeared that most of the enemy had withdrawn. There were still some snipers left in the village and a period of house searching followed. By 1300 hours, le Haut du Bosq was firmly in the hands of 9th Cameronians.
So ended 9th Cameronians first battle. They had met the German forces in the field and captured their objective. Casualties were considerable. When the Battalion prepared to move off towards its next objective the following morning, its strength had been reduced to 29 officers and 691 Other Ranks. The Battalion’s Second-In-Command, Major Walker, had been wounded in the early stages, as had both Company Commanders of ‘A’ and ‘C’ Company.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the names of 34 Cameronians who fell in action during the attack. Among those killed was Lieutenant L. H. Paff, a Canadian officer who was serving with the British Army as part of the CANLOAN scheme.
Le Haut du Bosq was the first objective for 9th Cameronians during Operation Epsom but they would have little opportunity for rest. The next day, 27th June, they would attack Grainville-Sur-Odon…
