going higher, it also spread itself wider and we were bombarded with mud and stones for what
seemed ages. Fortunately, the gun was well away, but even that was hit. There were questions by
neighbouring troops as to the origin of the exceptional bang, but that was all, except, so far as I
know, the experiment was not repeated.' After holding the Goodwood flank for almost three weeks,
3rd Division moved back west of the Orne on July 31 and next day 92nd LAA occupied St Aubin
and Beuville, with 319 Battery at Cresserons. The division's next task was to join Eight Corps in a
southward drive out of the beachhead towards Vire. The aim was to intercept Germans forces falling
back under the onslaught of the Americans, who were now breaking eastwards in Operation Cobra.
By August 2 the 92nd were on the move, with 318 camped in an orchard near Caumont and 317
at Quesney-Guerson. August 3 saw 319 drive forward to St Martin des Besaces on the main Caen-
Avranches road, defending divisional HQ administrative area, while 318 protected field gun areas.
That same day, Major George Williams, CO of 318, was killed in a road accident near Reviers as
he travelled back to Cresserons to be a member of a court martial. He was stepping out of his Jeep
when he was struck by another vehicle. On the 4th, a gun of G Troop was blown up by a mine, but
only one man was injured.
Next day, the regiment went three miles further down the Caen-Avranches road to Foret
L'Eveque, with 318 established at Le Beny Bocage - where Major J Wilkinson, commander of A
Troop, took command of 318. 317 deployed at Mazieres and 319 at Le Bas Mougard, still
defending divisional HQ. Here, Lieutenant Richard Forbes of 319 died of wounds and was buried in
the cemetery at St Jean des Essartiers by the padre, Captain L J Birch.
On August 7 the regiment was deployed in front of Vire, with RHQ at La Viellere. At this stage of
the campaign, with the Allies in complete command of the air, the need for anti-aircraft cover was
not as pressing as it had been in early June - since July 31, the 92nd had fired only ten rounds
against fleeting German targets. But in the protracted fighting for Caen, British infantry casualties had
been unexpectedly high. So on August 8, came an order which was `a bitter blow' to everybody,
Captain Almond wrote.
20mm troops, X, Y and Z, being disbanded. Each 40mm battery was reduced to two troops, each
having one tractor-drawn and one self-propelled Bofors detachment. The personnel thus released
were sent back to England for redeployment as infantry or as artillery specialists. Some were
dispersed to other units in the division.
The regimental make-up was now 317 (A and B), 318 (D and F), 319 (G and I). Each
battery retained a mobile counter-mortar observation team consisting of a sergeant, a bombardier
and four gunners, equipped with wireless, Jeep and a 15cwt truck. The divisional anti-tank
regiment furnished the plotting centre and an armoured observation post and 92 LAA provided HQ.
'It was hard to say goodbye to so many old friends in the 40mm troops and to the 20mm
troops who, although they had been in the regiment a comparatively short time, had by their work
firmly established themselves as part of the regiment,' wrote Captain Almond. The reorganisation
was barely sinking in when there was fresh drama. On August 9, the regiment nearly became a
victim of its own side when three American Thunderbolts wheeled over the 92nd's area and
dropped six bombs around 318 and 319 headquarters.
As the explosions reverberated, recognition flares in the colour of the day were desperately sent
skyward to warn off the pilots. There were no casualties, but the incident was immediately reported
to divisional headquarters. Next day, 319 moved to La Groudiere, two miles north east of Vire. On
the 12th, 318 moved forward to La Diabline, encountering many mines and booby traps - one
detachment of F Troop neutralised more than a dozen Teller mines. The local people were `very
friendly' and were allowed to listen to the news in French on 318's radio. Indirect firing, using
radioed or telephoned co-ordinates to bombard an unseen ground target, was becoming a larger
part of Bofors operations as the threat of German aircraft temporarily receded.
Because the 40mm shells self-destructed after a few thousand feet, they could be used in open
country for low-level airbursts against enemy positions - sending out a fierce hail of shrapnel. Fired
into buildings or wooded areas, the shells would explode against walls or trees, with similar
devastating anti-personnel effects.
`By the time we left the Caen sector we were confident that we could shoot along the ground and
shoot with success,' wrote Captain Almond. `A salvaged steel pipe sawn into cross-sections, tinned
and engraved by REME personnel, provided our sight drums and officers and NCOs trained hard in
the new method of firing whilst keeping watch on the skies.'
The first major indirect fire shoot took place in support of Operation Wallup, a divisional artillery
barrage, on August 11. Some 1,200 rounds were fired at a crossroads, but the Germans had pulled
out of the target area. On August 13 the regiment moved to La Graverie and three days later to La
Saliere, with 319 HQ at Landisacq and 317 in the Tinchebray area. The battle was moving very
quickly, with frequent actions against enemy aircraft. At one point, 318 engaged six FW 190s which
carried black and white striped Allied markings under the wings.
The regiment moved to St Quentin les Chardonnets before concentrating on August 20 near
La Chapelle Biche, south-west of Flers. `In perfect weather we enjoyed ten days' refit and rest.' The
regiment was strung out along the edge of the `great dark' Foret de Halouze. After looking at it
`apprehensively' for a day or two, it was decided to comb it for German stragglers -`Boches,
booby-traps, booty and any suspicious persons or materiel.'