Cameronians

Operation Bluecoat takes its toll

Operation Bluecoat takes its toll

#9thInNormandy

On 30th July 1944, 9th Cameronians were destined to take part in the opening phases of Operation Bluecoat, the first move in the break-out from the Normandy beachhead.

15th (Scottish) Division’s objectives for 30th July were fairly ambitious and were broken into three phases;  Phase I – Wick, Phase II – Elgin, and Phase III – Nairn. 9th Cameronians were tasked with Phase I, namely the capture of the French village of Sept Vents with the support of 4th Grenadier Guards Tank Regiment.

According to written orders issued on 29th July, it was expected that 9th Cameronians would secure their objective by 10am on the 30th. Unfortunately, things did not quite go to plan. The Regimental History starts it record of this action with the ominous words “Many misfortunes were experienced in this engagement”, while Lieutenant Colonel Villiers, Commanding Officer of 9th Cameronians, starts his diary entry for that day “We started today badly”.

Universal carriers and infantry of 15th (Scottish) Division move forward during Operation ‘Bluecoat’, 30 July 1944. The soldier fourth from the right carries a PIAT anti-tank weapon.
© IWM. (B 8190)

There were delays in briefing the officers with the most up-to-date information in the hours before the attack was due to start. The knock on-effect of this was that some officers did not have sufficient time to brief their own men fully before ‘H Hour’. The consequence of this were fully felt when Major Peter Clarke, Officer Commanding ‘D’ Company, was wounded early in the action. His subordinates, lacking the full detail of the expected attack, struggled to keep on with their objectives.

Enemy resistance had also been under-estimated. 9th Cameronians received heavy shelling from German positions even as they approached the Start Line for the attack.

‘C’ Company took the wrong route to their objective which, although getting them there in good time, meant they had failed to clear a particular section of the village of Sept Vents en route. ‘B’ Company thus encountered additional resistance when making their way through the village, resulting in many casualties.

Unexpected mine-fields and delays in clearing this dangerous obstacle compounded the problems faced by the Battalion that day.

It was 12:30 before the Battalions objectives were secured and they could be employed to provide support to the units undertaking Phase II and III. While ultimately the day proved successful (the men having the thrill of hearing a BBC broadcast that evening describing their victory), the events of the day proved the potential difficulties they could expect to face. Colonel Villiers closed his diary entry that day with the telling statement:

“The battle was a good example of how many things can go wrong.”

The war diary for 9th Cameronians records that 14 men were killed on 30th July 1944. Among them was 27 year old Lieutenant George Alexander from Blantyre.

George was married and he and his wife Elizabeth had two young children. George was something of an “Old Sweat”, having first enlisted as a Rifleman in 6th Cameronians in February 1933. The 6th Cameronians were a Territorial Army battalion covering Lanarkshire – it’s headquarters were in Hamilton, where George was originally from.

Lieutenant George Murdoch Alexander.
© South Lanarkshire Council.

George rose steadily through the non-commissioned ranks and by early 1941 held the rank of Colour Sergeant. In December 1942 he was selected for Officer training and posted to 161st O.C.T.U. George received his commission on 2nd April 1943 and was appointed to 9th Cameronians.

George was a Platoon Commander in ‘B’ Company at the time of his death. ‘B’ Company suffered heavy casualties when they met fierce German resistance centred around the church in Sept Vents.

This poignant letter in the Museum Collection was written by George’s widow, Elizabeth. It was written in response to a letter of sympathy she received after George had been killed.

© South Lanarkshire Council
© South Lanarkshire Council
© South Lanarkshire Council

In the letter Elizabeth writes:

I just can’t realise that now he’s never coming back. Everyone has been so kind, and they have all said that time will heal. But I don’t think that it really brings forgetfulness. It is only that a little of the soreness leaves the heart as the weeks go past. At first it seemed as though the bottom had dropped right out of my world, but now as I slowly return to normal, I am realising that his two sons are his sacred trust to me and please God, I shall be worthy of that trust. When I look at them, I know that he is not lost to me entirely.

Elizabeth goes on to say:

I had a letter from Col. Villiers last week. He was his C.O. in France. He said that he was killed in the action which ultimately led to the big push which we are now having. He was leading his men against an enemy strong point across the River Orne and he says that I can be proud that he died so heroically. God knows it didn’t take this to make me proud of him. He was buried with eight of his men in a small regimental cemetery in a lovely little orchard on the banks of the river. A cross has been erected over his grave and the name of the regiment, Cameronians, was written out in flowers at the foot of all their graves.

She finishes her letter with:

I hope that Isa’s, Bessie’s, and your husband are spared to come back to you, my hopes and dreams are buried in a little orchard somewhere in France.

Buried near Lieutenant Alexander in Bayeux War Cemetery is 36 year old Rifleman Thomas Walker, also from Hamilton, who died in the same action. Both men are commemorated on the memorial panels at Hamilton Town House; these were unveiled on 29th March 1953, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) providing the Guard of Honour.

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) provide the Guard of Honour for the unveiling of the Second World War memorial tablets at Hamilton Town House, 29th March 1953.
© South Lanarkshire Council.

The inscription on George Alexander’s grave in France reads:

“ABREAST THEY FOUGHT ABREAST THEY FELL AND NOW ABREAST THEY LIE”

Comments: 1

Posted: 30/07/2019 by BarrieDuncan in #9thInNormandy, Collections, Second World War


One response to “Operation Bluecoat takes its toll”

  1. Adrian Smith says:

    Total casualties during the Battle of Sept Vent 30/07 – 01/08/1944 for the regiment were :
    Killed – 15
    Died of Wounds – 2
    Wounded – 26

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