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HQ 3rd BN DIARY (1 of 16)
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A handwritten dairy on a few sheets of notebook paper
lends insights to activities of Headquarters Company, Third
Battalion with occasional mentions of
other 3rd Battalion elements. The cover and leading sheets have
been torn off, now probably lost to time, but the remainder fell into the
hands of the late Tom Porcella (Co G) and have been made available to
us by his family. The log appears to have been passed between
the various commanders of the Hq Company, 3rd Battalion during the
Normandy campaign.
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FRANCE
1944 |
LOG 3RD
BN, 508 PRCHT INF
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Note: All coordinates on 1/25000
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JUNE
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17 |
Reported to BN C.O. after release fr 709 Div Fld Hosp
(Ger.) located 3 kilos W of Orglandes. Assigned Bn S-2.
Section composed of [Lt James] Russell (LDR), [Henry] Mello, [John]
Cook, [Andrew] Vandermolen, [Henry] Gavazza, [William] Hughes, [Robert]
Mangers. BN at 206963 (E Bank of Douve at St Sauveur le Compte) in div.
reserve. 40 EM 1 Off captured by patrols included Poles, Russians
- morale low. Fr 921 Regt of 243 Div |
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18 |
Late afternoon BN moved to Biv. area W. outskirts Etienville |
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19 |
Crossed Douve R. 291915 at 0500. Organized and
moved S thru Vindefontaine in Bn. col. 1200 hrs held up at 269884
by strongpoint. Lt Lohman killed - shot thru stomach. Col.
moved to left and bypassed point without resistance. Gavazza shot
in hip. CP located 269882. Persistent sniping remainder
of evening and number of bursts in area fr own arty zeroing on Pretot
1000 meters S. Co I destroyed Mk IV by ATGL. |
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20 |
0430 - Bn to pos. astride stream running into Pretot
fr N.E. (G on L, H on R) 0600 - 15 min arty on Pretot, then attack.
Opposition light, town quickly occupied. 32 men, 1 ofc captd from
2nd Bn, 1049 Regt. Morale low/ 5th Co annihilated, 6th had 30
left, 7th 30, 8th 75 prior to attack. Defensive positions occupied
in town, High ground to S + E held by enemy. Heavy mortar
+ arty fire fell on positions all day. Lts Plunkett, McDuffie,
McAtamney, Bennett wounded. Lt Williams (S-1) killed by mortar
fragment into brain. Lt Lehman then S-1 and S-2. Visited
by Col Alexander. Gen Gavin 1400 hrs.
1600 hrs - withdrew fr town to original position 800 meters N.
Captd truck destroyed by AT mine in road. Rept 2 Mk VI tanks seen
S of Pretot. Identification as Mk VI not confirmed.
2330 hrs - relieved by 1st Bn, 507. Est 35 killed in town, |
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21 |
Into Regt biv. area 903915. Rejoined by Bn Mess
section.
Packs and rolls distributed to troops. Bn patrol 8 men out on
rcn mission for regt. Changes in off assignments: Lt Wilde to
C.O. Co G, Lt Moss to Co G, lt Garry to Co H, Lt Scudder to Co G.
Cpl Farris Co G accidentally shot thru abdomen- .45 pistol.
Evacuated. Pvt Riedel, Co G, sick, evacuated |
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22 |
Another 8 man patrol under Lt Moss out for Regt 1230
hrs. Recd Corps order to prohibit civilians passing thru lines
+ to arrest suspicious ones,
Strength: Hq 10/118, G 4/87, H 4/80, I 4/79, BN 22/364 |
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