[Mark W. Tonner]

John;

I thought you might find this of interest, its taken from the War Diary of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders:

June 7, 1944

"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. By 0930 hours the village of Les Buissons was cleared and the command post moved up to that point. After some heavy mortar fire from St. Contest, the vanguard captured Buron and reported 'Ale' at 1150 hours. 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). The vanguard reached Authie and en-countered 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 crusier, 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 van-guard 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 the 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 FLC 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 through a great tank battle took place. 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 forward troops back and form a fortress just on the outskirts South of Buron.

'A' company were surrounded by tanks and infantry and unable to withdraw to the battalion fortress. 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 facing another encicling movement had they remained 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 were 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 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 the 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 position of 'D' company quickly laid on by our Forward Observation Officer we counter-attacked with the 12 remaing tanks which moved out under cover of the barrage. Artillery fire got the enemy in our forward position and with the help of the tanks they were driven out of Buron to Authie. Many casualties were inflicted by the tank's 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 hold 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."

Taken from the NNSH War Diary for 7 Jun 44 - Casualties - Killed: 1 Officer and 10 Other Ranks; Wounded: 3 Officers and 27 Other Ranks; Missing: 9 Officers and 195 Other Ranks