The North Nova Scotia Highlanders near the crossing of the Orne River, Normandy, 18 July 1944. Photo by Frank L. Dubervill. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-141709.

7 June 1944 Wednesday

Weather: Clear and warm.

At 0045 hours "A" and "D" companies on "A" and "C" squadrons arrived in from COLOMBY-SUR-THAON, "A" company digging in behind and on the right flank of "C" company and "D" company astride the road behind "A" and "B" companies, with Battalion Headquarters in the centre. Patrol of carriers from the vanguard to ANISY, map reference 015759, which was protecting our Pioneers making a road block, were out of their carriers and, coming under fire of the enemy, were forced to return to the fortress minus their carriers.

At 0245 hours three more Prisoners of War were captured, and like those captured later the following day, were Panzer Grenadiers. One half hour later another prisoner was captured. Having by this time received two casualties from "B" company seriously wounded, it was decided to despatch these stretcher patients and the Prisoners of War to Brigade. For this purpose a jeep was obtained on which the casualties were loaded and they proceeded under escort with the prisoners marching ahead, following just behind our jeep to Brigade were the Adjutant and Intelligence Officer of the 27 Canadian Armoured Regiment also on their way to Brigade.

About this time the enemy attempted to counter-attack "B" company on out left flank, and after "B" company had put up tracers to show the edge of their troops the tanks opened fire with their machine guns and set three enemy half-tracks on fire. This apparently discouraged their efforts, as they withdrew. Although things had apparently quietened down, the battalion stood to 100 percent. Shortly after this, machine gun fire and mortaring was heard to our rear and we learned that the enemy, trying to cut round the rear, had encountered the Regiment de la Chaudiere, resulting in an enemy loss of many men and seventeen half-tracks, and their final withdrawl for the night.

At 0500 hours we received word that our jeep had not reached Brigade and on sending a despatch rider after it we found it on the road side undamaged, with the wounded men lying by the side of the road and the prisoners gone. On enquiring from the 27 Canadian Armoured Regiment we were told that their Adjutant and signal Officer were both missing, together with all the code signs and orders for the operation. Apparently they ran into the enemy as they were encircling us.

At 0630 hours a patrol was sent out to 1ook for the carriers which we had lost the night previous. They were picked up in the same spot near a hedge, undamaged, apparently not having been noticed by the enemy.

At 0645 hours the Brigadier gave a warning order that the advance would be continued as soon as we were ready.

At 0740 hours the Battalion again moved off in the same order, changing our axis of advance through VILLONS-LES-BUISSONS along the main road to CARPIQUET. At 0745 hours several enemy gliders were sighted landing at approximately 9978. The vanguard encountered light opposition on the main axis. "A" company on the right encountered enemy in the wood and cleared it successfully. The area was full of snipers and machine guns, and just to the right of LES BUISSONS an 88 millimetre gun opened fire on the tanks. This was taken out by a pincer, with the carriers and infantry of vanguard doing very excellent work. Just after this a 16 barrelled German mortar was knocked out by the vanguard, the first captured so far. They also accounted for three half-tracks in the same area.

By 0930 hours the village of LES BUISSONS was cleared and the command post moved up to that point. As the vanguard moved on to BURON, just to the edge of the road into BURON was another 88 millimetre gun which was captured by the vanguard and demolished by fire from a 75 millimetre tank gun. The command post was ambushed and the Commanding Officer and the Intelligence Officer had to clean out three or four snipers before they could go on. It was here we saw our first Officer casualty, Captain D.L. Clarke, injured by mortar fire.

After some heavy mortar fire from ST CONTEST, the vanguard captured BURON and reported "ALE" at 1150 hours, and we then moved the command post up to the edge of the town. Being pressed for time, the vanguard advanced quickly through BURON on AUTHIE, leaving the mopping up to "D" company coming behind, "A" and "B" companies bypassing the town. The troops at the edge of the town of BURON were under very heavy mortar fire. One bomb which came close to our carrier threw the Commanding Officer flat on the ground. Fortunately he was not injured.

At 1230 hours the leading elements of the vanguard who had reached AUTHIE reported "DANUBE" and were closely followed on the right by "A" company on "A" squadron of tanks. Shortly after this the Stuarts of 27 Canadian Armoured Regiment reported "EVE" (FRANKVILLE). "D" company clearing BURON came under fire of snipers and machine guns which still remained in the town and suffered casualties. The vanguard in the meantime reached AUTHIE and encountered three machine gun posts and hectic fighting took place. The vanguard commander reported mortar and shell fire from both flanks and the front, and asked for a troop of tanks and some artillery to take it on. The Forward Observation Officer then reported that artillery was out of range and it would be some time before it could be moved up.

The only fire available was a cruiser, which the Naval Forward Observation Officer said could engage ST CONTEST for twenty minutes. This fire would have wiped ST CONTEST out, but faulty communications made it impossible to obtain it in time. In the meantime the troop of tanks had reached the vanguard and all were hit by 88 millimetres. The vanguard was then ordered to dig in and form a firm base. In the Commanding Officer's opinion it was impossible to go on. There was no one within miles of us on either flank or in the rear, so the flanking companies were ordered to close up on "C" company and form a fortress. The vanguard commander wanted to come back to high ground in the rear of AUTHIE. This permission was granted, and "A" company who had not yet arrived, dug in on the right, just NORTH of AUTHIE. "B" company were ordered up to dig in on their left and the rest of the battalion to bring up the rear.

While this was in progress the vanguard was heavily attacked from the direction of ST CONTEST - CUSSY by at least nine tanks and about two companies of infantry. It was too late for the vanguard, to withdraw to the battalion position so they decided to fight it out in front of AUTHIE. Captain F.C. Fraser, who was with the leading elements, took command of the situation and hastily organized the defence, taking the Brownings from three knocked out tanks and a machine gun from the platoon commander's carrier of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, who had become a casualty. Nothing further was heard from this small formation and no one escaped to tell the story of their gallant action.
At about the same time German armour struck past AUTHIE and it could be seen a major counter attack was being launched. All available tanks from "A" and "B" squadrons manouvered from hull-down positions SOUTH of BURON and as enemy armour broke though a great tank battle took place, 27 of our tanks being knocked out and 40 of the enemy's being confirmed. The enemy armour having taken a licking withdrew SOUTH of AUTHIE. A second attempt was then made to occupy AUTHIE and Major Rhodenizer, commanding "A" company, reported on the 18 set that he was O.K. and wanted to knew what was happening. He was told that "B" company was moving down with the carrier platoon on the left flank, and the battalion was closing up on AUTHIE as soon as it re-organized. "B" company did not get beyond the SOUTH of BURON.

At 1630 hours it was found that it was impossible for the battalion to push forward to AUTHIE and Major Learment was ordered by the Commanding Officer to bring the forward troops back and form a fortress just on the outskirts SOUTH of BURON. Battalion Headquarters moved back to the woods at LES BUISSONS. We could not get "A" company on the 18 set but Major Learment was in touch with them on his, and it was learned that "A" company were surrounded by tanks and infantry and unable to withdraw to the battalion fortress which was being formed. Shortly after this the position South of BURON came under very heavy shell fire and mortar fire and when armour broke around our flanks the position became untenable. As there was no field of fire on the flanks the remainder of the battalion was faceing another encircling movement had they remaind in their positions. Major Learment who was then in command of the two forward companies with captain Wilson then in command of the remnants of "B" company ordered to withdraw to the previously dug slit trenches, in rear of "D" company and the battalion went to ground and prepared to hold on to the last.

As the tanks came round the flank the remaining tanks of the 27 Canadian Armoured Regiment and the Self Propelled guns of the Anti-Tank opened up from the woods of LES BUISSONS and also small arms fire from machine guns and brownings over the heads of our troops to the North fringe of BURON. The enemy then engaged our fire from BURON with 75, 88s, mortars and everything they had. Under this fire enemy infantry advanced and penetrated the forward slit trenches of "D" company. It was impossible to stop them as they had to remain in their trenches to avoid our overhead fire and also the enemies. They had no field of fire due to the high grain. Machine gun fire and grenades were fired into the slits and 10 platoon and 16 platoon having run out of ammunition were forced to surrender and were rounded up. Under our heavy Artillery fire which followed the captors went to ground and in the moment afforded by this break two sections of 16 platoon escaped and returned to their company.

About this time one of "D" company men reported to Battalion Headquarters that the forward positions were overrun and they were out of communication with everybody and that support was needed immediately. A fast counter-attack was immediately ordered by the Commanding Officer. Fierce fighting followed, and under a heavy artillery concentration on the forward positions of "D" company quickly laid on by our forward Observation Officer we counter-attacked with the 12 remaining tanks which moved out under cover of the barrage. Artillery fire got the enemy in our forward positions and with the help of the tanks they were driven out of BURON to AUTHIE. Many casualties were inflicted by the tanks' guns and in some instances the enemy being so numerous they were run over by them.

The town of BURON was re-captured, but by this time we could only account for part of "D" company and the remnants of "B" and "C" companies, which was not sufficient strength, and as it was getting dark it was impossible to consolidate there and held the position overnight. In view of this, permission was asked of the Brigadier to withdraw to the high ground in the woods at LES BUISSONS with the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders and the remainder of the 27 Canadian Armoured Regiment. Permission was granted and the remnants of "D", "A", "B", "C" and Support Companies were withdrawn into the fortress. No counter-attack came in that night and the battalion prepared to go back and occupy the town next morning, but higher authority called this off and the remainder of the Brigade was brought up on our right to occupy the town of LES BUISSONS.

Casualties: