0445 hours
Battalion moved off to F.U.P.
0545 hours
Leading Companies crossed the Start Line.
0615 hours
Leading Companies report only a very slight resistance and objectives captured.
Follow up Companies ordered to advance.
0700 hours
Battalion in position, except for No. 3 Company who have had some difficulty in getting into their orchard and are under fire from the tip of it and the ground around 115617.
0800 hours
2 SP Anti-Tank guns knocked out by tanks reported in the area 125623.
1400 hours
The Battalion is by now firmly dug in with Companies in the following areas:-
No. 1 Company in reserve behind FRENOUVILLE 114632.
No. 2 Company astride the road and in the forward edge of the ORCHARD at 120633.
No. 3 Company in the ORCHARD and to the Left of it around 117622.
No. 4 Company astride the RAILWAY at 118627 and in the BUILDINGS to the North.
Artillery D.F. tasks:-
134 ORCHARD at 126630
135 Bend in TRACK at 126625
133 (SOS) forward edge of WOOD 123617
Mortars on North edge of WOOD 123636, RAILWAY at 124636.
Anti-Tank guns: 17-pounder firing North and 17-pounder firing South from area of No. 1 Company.
Both Batteries of S.P. have withdrawn.
M.M.G. Platoon covering Right flank.
Command Post 113632.
Rear Battalion H.Q. and Regimental Aid Post back on the Start Line.
2200 hours
Civilians from the village report that all but about 20 of the enemy withdrew the day before the attack.
About four were shot during the clearing up stages and were found to be from 12 S.S. Division.
Since then the enemy have been fairly active.
About a Company are dug in at 117618 and in the WOOD 123618.
Another Company seems to be along the hedge at 126624 and down the road to the ORCHARDS at 125630.
Leading Platoons of both No.s 2 and 3 Companies find it difficult to move in daylight.
An 88mm covers all the main road from a position at 123628 and there is another at 128625 that shoots High Explosive at our CHURCH TOWER and anything else visible.
Reports of tanks are now nearly all reduced to probable S.P. Anti-Tank and S.P. Infantry guns.
Shelling has been quite heavy at times and comes down almost anywhere but happily most of it on the village.
There is some fear that Battalion H.Q. is overlooked. (In fact it is, but they do not seem to shell it more than anywhere els, and as digging in has been very difficult owing to the rocky ground it is not worth moving)
Persistent shots and reports of Snipers from the area of the CHATEAU 113628 have given trouble, but searches have found nothing and it is now traced to firing at the forward Companies which comes through here.
2200 hours
The main road by No. 2 Company blocked by mines.
