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Gunner Arthur Moore
Battle of Falaise Pocket August 1944
97 Anti Tank Regiment
Royal Artillery
British and Canadian forces had launched Operation Goodwood south of Caen on the eastern flank of the Allied Normandy beachhead. This had made the Germans to concentrate the bulk of their forces, particularly their armoured units, between St Lou and Caen. The Germans occupied ideal terrain for defence, the hedge lined roads and fields of the Normandy bocage. Extensive minefilelds had been laid. Due to bad weather the bombardment by 1,000 bombers was not very successful as many bombers had problems locating the target area. Many units were held up by minefields and steep gullies, but in the centre, the attackers gained five miles. RHQ move to Grid ref 716626 completed.
8th August 1944
RHQ moved to Grid ref 682425 then 696463. 286th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA G troop claim two Mk IV Panzer tanks.
Arthur's younger brother Sid's Sherman Tank is hit. He is six
miles south of Caen. He is the only one to crawl out of the
burning tank. He suffers extensive burns and eventually has to
have his leg amputated.
12th August 1944
Battle of Falaise Pocket Starts. 346th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA withdrawn from line.
14th August 1944
RHQ move to Grid ref 962577 Amaye-sur-Orne a small town south west of Caen on the right bank of the river Orne. 161st Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA in support 46th Highland Infantry Brigade. 346th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA in support 44th Lowland Infantry Brigade. 286th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA in support 227th Highland Infantry Brigade. 159th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA withdrawn from line.
16th August 1944
Inspection by Commander of the Royal Artillery
17th August 1944
161st Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA deployed in suppport 46th Highland Infantry Brigade to the area of St Martin-le-Mieux
18th August 1944
RHQ & 159th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA move to Fresney-la-Vieux which is south of Caen and north west of Falaise
20th August 1944
RHQ move to Le hamel with 286th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA and 159th Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA in reserve. 161st Battery, 97 ATK Regt RA and 346remain in support og 46th Highland Infantry Brigade and 44th Lowland Infantry Brigade. 129th Self Propelled battery placed under 97th ATK Regt RA command. 11 OR’s (other ranks) posted as reinforcements. (one of these ORs could have been Arthur) A self propelled battery comprises of 17 pounder anti tank guns placed on sherman tank bodies. These vehicles do not have movable turrets. They were called Archers.
21st August 1944
Battle of Falaise Pocket Finished.
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