History day
At 0730 on 17 June, the 1st battalion again moved out in the attack with Hill 108 as its objective.
During this advance, Lieutenant Colonel George, the Regimental Commander, was seriously wounded by an enemy hand grenade while leading a patrol against an enemy machine gun position.
At 1045, the battalion was held up by heavy machine gun and machine pistol fire.
An enemy counter-attack, launched against the right flank of the 1st battalion, was beaten off by the 2nd battalion.
Meanwhile, the 3rd battalion was attacking South from Amy and captured the town of Le Meaune at 1100.
At 2210 on the night of 17 June, the 1st battalion was only 600 yards from its objective, but encountered determined resistance.
Patrols located the German position about this time and after artillery and mortar preparations, an attack was made and the ground which was being organized by the enemy was occupied just as it became dark.
An 88mm gun, a 150mm mortar, a 20mm gun, and much miscellaneous equipment were captured and 15 prisoners taken. Under continued enemy fire a temporary defensive position was assumed for the night.
At 0620 the following morning, while preparation of a defensive position as ordered by the Division was under way, the Germans delivered a strong counter-attack.
Although many casualties were suffered, including the battalion Commander and Executive Officer, the ground was held with the exception of about 200 yards. This was finally organized completely.
During the entire remainder of the day until after dark that night, the battalion was completely isolated by enemy mortar and artillery fire from the balance of the regiment.
Further severe losses were suffered during this period, but the position was maintained.
During the night and early morning of 18-19 June, the 3rd battalion relieved the first and the latter was withdraw to a less exposed position immediately to the rear of the defended area.
The operations to this point resulted in the regiment being situated in a salient extending to the farthest point of advance of the 1st battalion, which was within 3 miles of St Lo, the closest approach to that place by any part of the enemy on three sides, was successfully held against one major and several minor counter-attacks from 19 June up until the end of the period, during which time the battalions were restated no that each held the foremost part of the position for a portion of the time.
Active and vigorous patrolling was conducted by day and by night, eventually developing an accurate picture of the enemy organization.
The close of this period finds the regiment defending with the 1st battalion and 3rd battalion on the position in the order xxxx and the 2nd battalion withdrawn to reserve. The creation of a reserve had become possible by constant improvement of the defence despite continuous artillery and mortar fire of varying intensity during the entire time.