TangoTwoBravo
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11 June is observed among the 1st Hussars as "the Black Day" to commemorate the battle of le Mesnil-Patry in 1944.
Le Mesnil-Patry is a small town NW of Caen, near Capriquet, and occured during the fighting between the beachhead forces and the German reinforcements. The attack had been launched with little preparation, as H-Hour was moved up almost a day. It involved the 1st Hussars and D Coy of the Queen's Own Rifles. The Germans had knowledge of the attack through radio intercepts.
B Sqn advanced with D Coy riding on the tanks. They encountered a company from 12th SS in a wheatfield and a vicious close-range battle ensured. The Sqn then appears to have pushed on (less some tanks that stayed with the QOR) and encountered German tanks, TDs, AT guns and infantry. B Sqn was wiped out, losing all but two Shermans and these had broken down. C Sqn also suffered heavy tank losses, and the Hussars lost a total of 34 Shermans that day.
B Sqn had suffered 61 killed in action or still listed as missing after the war. D Coy of the QOR sustained 55 killed in action out of 99 casualties that day. The Germans lost three Mk IVs and 196 casualties, many from the fight in the wheatfield.
A tragic day, and other Regiments who fought in Normandy have similar days. The Normandy battles were extremly intense with heavy casualties on both sides. The battle is well described in Seven Battles and Steel Inferno.
Hodie Non Cras,
Iain
postscript - The two sources I have read are "Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles 1758 - 1945" by J Gronzinski and "Steel Inferno" by Michael Reynolds. Both are excellent books. The first deals with seven Canadian battles and should be in everyone's library. Mike McNorgan wrote the chapter pretaining to the battle in question. The second deals with the fighting between 1st SS Panzer Corps and the British/Canadian formations in Normandy. Major General Reynolds' book is outstanding and I highly recommend it to those interested in the campaign.
Editted to credit chapter correctly.
Le Mesnil-Patry is a small town NW of Caen, near Capriquet, and occured during the fighting between the beachhead forces and the German reinforcements. The attack had been launched with little preparation, as H-Hour was moved up almost a day. It involved the 1st Hussars and D Coy of the Queen's Own Rifles. The Germans had knowledge of the attack through radio intercepts.
B Sqn advanced with D Coy riding on the tanks. They encountered a company from 12th SS in a wheatfield and a vicious close-range battle ensured. The Sqn then appears to have pushed on (less some tanks that stayed with the QOR) and encountered German tanks, TDs, AT guns and infantry. B Sqn was wiped out, losing all but two Shermans and these had broken down. C Sqn also suffered heavy tank losses, and the Hussars lost a total of 34 Shermans that day.
B Sqn had suffered 61 killed in action or still listed as missing after the war. D Coy of the QOR sustained 55 killed in action out of 99 casualties that day. The Germans lost three Mk IVs and 196 casualties, many from the fight in the wheatfield.
A tragic day, and other Regiments who fought in Normandy have similar days. The Normandy battles were extremly intense with heavy casualties on both sides. The battle is well described in Seven Battles and Steel Inferno.
Hodie Non Cras,
Iain
postscript - The two sources I have read are "Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles 1758 - 1945" by J Gronzinski and "Steel Inferno" by Michael Reynolds. Both are excellent books. The first deals with seven Canadian battles and should be in everyone's library. Mike McNorgan wrote the chapter pretaining to the battle in question. The second deals with the fighting between 1st SS Panzer Corps and the British/Canadian formations in Normandy. Major General Reynolds' book is outstanding and I highly recommend it to those interested in the campaign.
Editted to credit chapter correctly.