carrying out artillery spotting for the battleship Rodney - whose massive long-range guns were
helping keep the enemy at bay by breaking up tank and troop formations up to 20 miles inland. It
was a job close to the heart of the 92nd's CO, Colonel Bazeley - who had put his gunners up for the
job - because he had earned his DSO while serving with Austers in North Africa.
June 24 saw tragedy strike C Troop as it took its guns across the road junction at Mathieu under
mortar fire. Sergeant John Hesford, standing up as he attempted to force his men's heads behind the
armour plating of the guns, was killed and Lieutenant John 'Robbie' Roberts was wounded.
'Lieutenant Johnny Kitchin and I managed to reach a trench just in time to be missed by the mortar
shell,' Jack recalled. 'But it took Robbie a few seconds longer to get off his motorbike and throw
himself on top of us, by which time he had been hit in the hand.' The body of Sergeant Hesford was
taken aboard his gun and carried to the field regiment area. There were more mortar attacks next
day. But on June 26, the British artillery unleashed a devastating bombardment on the German
positions north of Caen, with one thousand guns each firing 250 rounds. The following day, Gunner
Newcomen of C Troop was seriously injured by mortar shrapnel as he raced for the cover of a
trench. At Colomby-sur-Thaon and Anisey-le-Mesnil, B and F troops gave anti-aircraft protection
to observer planes.
Following the Sambut disaster, the survivors of RHQ and the two troops of 318 returned to
Britain and re-equipped at Blenheim Barracks, Aldershot. Soon after, they moved to a camp at
Silvertown in East London before embarking for Southend aboard the liberty ship SS Samark on
June 29. Next day, they left in convoy for France, the same day that 319 Battery and some
Canadian units sailed from Tilbury aboard the transport ship Coombe Hill.
On July 2, the Samark landed off Creully and the Coombe Hill off Graye-sur-Mer - at last
reuniting the whole of 92nd LAA in Normandy. 318 was deployed in the Hermanville area to
protect a gun and vehicle concentration, while 319 moved to the Anguernay area of the Periers
Ridge, joining 317.
Heavy shelling, strafing and low-level bombing continued to inflict casualties as the Germans tried
desperately to drive the invaders back into the sea. But on July 4, Maida Day - marking one of The
Loyal Regiment's main battle honours - was remembered, as was the fourth anniversary of the
raising of the 7th Loyals. Later that day, as the guns again engaged enemy planes, the unit's beach
ammunition dump was shelled, the resulting blaze attracting salvoes of enemy artillery fire.
Two days later, there was drama off the beachhead when a flotilla of German `human
torpedo' one-man midget submarines infiltrated between the Allied ships and sank three. Fifty
Germans were reported to have landed. `Prisoners to be taken alive,' was the order. On July 7, men
of the 92nd watched as 450 bombers pounded much of Caen to rubble in an attempt to force a way
into the city for the ground forces. '
dropped phosphorus and HE bombs,' said Jack Prior. 'The raid was very concentrated and a cloud
of dust, ashes and burnt paper spread over our area, so that it was impossible to see more than a
few yards. The raid lasted for half an hour, after which we felt it fairly safe to assume that the
German Army on the rear slope of the ridge before Caen had had it, for we too were affected by the
phosphorus fumes.'
Next day, A, B and C Troops moved forward with the advance, but the attack stalled. As
the Allied bridgehead was consolidated and the battle to capture Caen continued, the 92nd
remained static with its HQ at Colleville, suffering many casualties. On July 9, Captain Reid,
commander of F Troop, was wounded in both hands. On July 11, the men of F Troop - who had
been in the line since D-Day - and those of 317 were given priority to move to rest areas in La
Delivrande for a brief respite from the battle.
As the Luftwaffe tried to recover its balance, its planes made frequent bombing and strafing
sorties. At St Aubin on July 12, a bombing raid by a JU 88 left a crater 50ft wide and 20ft deep, but
no casualties. Two days later, the Germans made a concerted attack on the forward field gun areas
with waves of between nine and 15 ME 109s and FW 190s. Seven Category One claims were
submitted.
On the 17th, D and E Troops of 318 moved east of the Orne to protect an airstrip. The following
night, the men of 318 came under devastating attack by a JU 88, dropping anti-personnel bombs.
Sergeant Alfred Penrose, Lance-Bombardier Cyril Guest and Gunners Gordon Bone and Frederick
Kemp were killed and Lieutenant Russell and two other men were wounded. At noon next day, the
fallen were buried. The 18th saw the start of Operation Goodwood, Montgomery's mass armoured
attack out of the Airborne bridgehead to try to capture the Bourgebus Ridge south-east of Caen.
3rd Division, now commanded by Major-General L G `Bolo' Whistler after Major-General Rennie
was wounded on June 13, protected the left flank, fighting forward to Toffreville, Manneville and
Troarn.
On July 19, Major Crane and three other officers of the 92nd equipped themselves with jeeps and
a wireless and moved forward to set up a counter-mortar observation post, hoping to strike back at
the German weapon which was causing so many casualties.
Next day, amid torrential rainfall, two posts were established on the ridge of the Butte de la
Hogue with a radio link to divisional artillery headquarters. `They met with fair success, although the
methods at that time were somewhat experimental,' wrote Captain Almond. `Their equipment was a
compass, a watch and a map. Despite initial lack of skill, many accurate fixes were made and a
number of mortars were knocked out or otherwise silenced.'
Lieutenant Johnny Kitchin of C Troop, 317, wrote: 'All busy junctions could expect to receive
showers of mortar bombs several times a day, as we found out when trying to move our guns
forward. I was the first officer sent from our battery and I had with me Sergeants Allen and
Kendrick (great chaps) and a wireless operator