A Tribute to a Soldier of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment 75 Years On

John and Jan Clews at his Father's grave in the Bayeux Militery Cemery

29th June 2019.

Last month it was my privilege to participate with members of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division Association in their annual pilgrimage to the town of Thury Harcourt and its environs. The 59th Division landed on Normandy in late June 1944 as a follow up Division. Highly trained in the UK, their time as an active fighting unit in France was short. Such was the intensity of the fighting in which they were engaged in Operation Charnwood (a frontal assault on the Northern perimeter of Caen) and Operation Pomegranate (engagements to the south west of the city intended to force a crossing over the River Orne) that the Division was formally disbanded on towards the end of August 1944 and its soldiers were transferred to other reinforcement hungry English, Scottish and Welsh Regiments.

The relationship between the 59th (Staffordshire) Division and the townsfolk is very strong by virtue of the fact that on 13th August 1944 the actions of the 59th finally resulted in the liberation of Thury Harcourt.

My Grandfather served with ‘A’ Company of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment, a unit within 177 Brigade of the 59th Division. My Grandfather came home from the war, injured but otherwise intact, the same cannot be said for many of his Divisional comrades. One such fellow soldier of ‘C’ Company of the 5th Staffs was 4923121 Private Percy Clews who was killed in action on 10th August 1944, 75 years ago yesterday. One of our travelling party that visited the grave within the Bayeux Military Cemetery was John Clews, son of Percy, who was just two years of age when his father fell. With John was his wife Jan. The couple reside in Lichfield which then as now is the home of the Staffordshire Regiment.

At the time of his death, the 5th South Staffs were engaged with the enemy on a series of ridges that approached the River Orne and overlooked the town of Thury Harcourt. In that second week of August the 5th from their high ground vantage point were able to direct vital artillery fire into the dense forest of Grimbosq, that faced the fragile bridgehead that had formed across the Orne, in which Panzer Battle Groups were forming up for counter attacks intended to smash the bridgehead.

At his Father’s plot, John delivered a speech about the fate of his Dad that was largely based upon a letter sent to his mother by ‘C’ Company Commander, Major Pearson which is reproduced below.

‘Copy of a letter sent to Mrs Percy Clews from Major B. Pearson, The South Staffordshire Regiment

Major B. Pearson
The South Staffordshire Regt
Maindiff Court
Abergevenny
Mon. Wales.
August 29th. 1944

My Dear Mrs Clews,

You have no doubt been wondering why I have taken so long to write, and offer not only my sympathy, but those of the whole Company at the loss of your Husband, my Batman.

I was hit by the same mine, and I have only just heard officially that Percy was killed, as I had feared. 

It isn’t an easy story to tell , Mrs Clews, and I am sure you don’t want to know all the full details.

I found it necessary to lead a patrol with stretcher bearers to recover one of my boys who had been wounded sometime before, and who was in need of treatment. Percy would not think of leaving me behind. We found the man but the Germans had surrounded him with shrapnel mines, I presume they realised that they would try to recover him. A stretcher bearer, after giving aid, trod on a mine which exploded, causing the death of your husband and wounding two of us. 

I had the lives of the others to consider so I ordered them back whilst I tried to give Percy some help, but poor lad, he had gone – without pain and without knowing what had happened. He looked very peaceful, his job well done. I had him recovered the same day and he was given a Military funeral, although I regret that I was not present, being on my way to hospital.

Between and Officer and his Batman there develops a spirit of comradeship far above expression by words – we thought such a lot of each other, and I have grieved for him very much indeed. He was killed giving help to his comrades and myself, and all of the Company have missed him so much.

His determination to make sure that I was not left unprotected at any time caused him to be killed.

He volunteered to join me that morning and was somewhat grieved, his words were “You are not going anywhere without me, are you Sir?” He always said, that to remain behind and wonder what was happening to me, was worse than accompanying me on the various excursions.

Above all my personal feelings, he was so very popular with his comrades. I am told that the whole Company were unbelievably depressed after the news had spread around, and each letter that I have had so far mentions how much they all miss Percy. They cannot miss him anymore than I do. His courage, devotion to duty, his cheerfulness, and his great personality endeared him to all our hearts, a sad loss.

Please forgive me for not writing before – I did hope that in the excitement of the battle that my diagnosis of his death might have been false and in fact he might be alive, I hoped so hard but to no avail.

I do hope that your loss has not proved to be unbearable. My wounds are confined to my left leg and I am managing to get around on crutches.

When I come to Lichfield I will endeavour to call and see you, if I may.

With best wishes for the future, and rest assured that your Husband will not be forgotten by

Yours sincerely,

B. Pearson. Major.'

To read these touching words from a man that I had previously written about in a book about my Grandfather’s service was something else and it was an absolute honour to be with John and Jan Clews as he paid tribute to the Father he never had the opportunity to know.

After the speech John laid the Association wreath at the Cross of sacrifice.

Wreath laying at the Bayeux Military Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice.

59th (Staffordshire) Division Association memorial wreath.

Later we paid a visit to the small but highly poignant Museum to the men of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division in Thury. Here there can be found a photograph of Percy Clews.

Private Percy Clews (Killed in action 10th August 1944)

'C' Company 5th South Staffordshire Regiment.

The incription on his headstone reads:

“MY DARLING HUSBAND PERCY. LOVE STILL LIVES IN TREASURED MEMORIES. WIFE MEG AND SON”

Memorial to Percy Clews in the 59th (Staffordshire) Division Museum

Thury Harcourt.

A Small Act of Remembrance - Normandy 2019

Two weeks ago it was my good fortune to be able to travel to Normandy with members of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division Association on a pilgrimage of Remembrance that formed part of the 75th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings.

My Grandfather, Jim Heath, was born in Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme in September 1914. Although he left The Potteries in 1936 to join his older brothers who had found labouring work in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, soon after war came he travelled to Brighton to enlist. In January 1940 he joined the North Staffordshire Territorials and received instruction to report to Lichfield Infantry Training Centre where upon completion of his basic training he was transferred to ‘A’ Company of the 5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. It was with the South Staffords, as part of 59th Division, that he sailed to Normandy as a follow-up Division in the third week of June 1944.

In our small travelling party were close family members (sons and nieces) laying wreaths at the graves of their relatives. But, my Grandfather came back. Nevertheless, I wanted an act of Remembrance of my own. With hundreds or even thousands of graves in each of the three British War Cemeteries that we visited I did some homework to find someone in each with whom I could say that there was a connection with my Grandfather (be it home town or fighting unit or as in this case). Some basic research on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission website threw up some worthy candidates. I picked one Private William Edwin Robinson, like my Grandfather a soldier of the 5th Battalion and of a similar age, separated by 12 months or so (in relative terms at 30 and 31 they were old within their ranks).

On 7th July 1944, the newly arrived troops of the 5th South Staffs looked on from their forming up positions directly north of Caen as Bomber Command sent in wave upon wave of Halifax and Lancaster bombers (467 aircraft all told) over the northern perimeter of the Norman capital. They dropped a combined payload of 2,560 tons of high explosive, incendiary and delayed action bombs. This action was controversial and still triggers passionate debate despite the passage of 75 years. The issue was that Bomber Command insisted upon a 6,000 yard distant safety margin forward of the British line. However, such was the close proximity of the two opposing forces that the raid only served to damage areas behind the German defences and the result was that the bombing gained very little strategic advantage. At best it provided a morale boost to the newly arrived Staffords about to experience combat for the first time.

The 5th South Staffs (of 177 Brigade) were to be held in reserve in front of the fortified village of Cambes-en-Plaine with a view to exploit any gains of 197 Brigade opposite Galmanche and 176 Brigade facing La Bijude, La Londe and Epron.

The 5th first went into action on the afternoon of the 8th July with an attack on the Chateau of Galmanche. In a baptism of blood and fire the 5th Battalion and the 2/6th Battalion suffered heavy losses. Private Robinson’s ‘D’ Company launched a further attack on the Chateau in the half light of evening but were forced to withdraw. A regrouped ‘D’ Company would renew the assault on the 9th.

The fighting on the 9th and 10th July* in which ‘D’ Company of the 5th Battalion were engaged is described within the Battalions War Diary. Where military abbreviations have been used I have added the meaning in brackets for ease of reading.

‘At 1915 hrs 9 July, orders were received for the Coy (Company) attack to be put in on GALMANCHE, an enemy stronghold which the 2/6 S. STAFFORDS had not been able to capture. A recce (reconnaissance) was carried out and a plan was made. A troop of tanks was given to the Coy to support this attack.

The Coy was brought up from the assembly positions and the attack was timed to go in at 2045 hrs. At 2040 hrs the tanks were withdrawn from the Coy, as they had to go and rejoin their Regt. As arranged the attack went in, 16 Pl (Platoon) right, followed by 17 Pl who were detailed to carry out the thorough clearing of the buildings. The final objective was a row of trees some 400 yards from the start line.

The Coy advanced about 200 yards before it was opened up on by 6 or 8 M.G.s (machine guns) firing from either flank – the fire from these M.G.s was held until such time as the nearest M.G.s were firing almost into the rear of the Coy, thereby hemming them in. The enemy M.G.s fire was so fierce, that it was impossible for the Coy to advance further., although some men from 16 Pl actually reached the objective – they were however so few in numbers that they were unable to hold it.

17 and 18 Pls made desperate efforts to enter and clear the buildings, and under the leadership of Lieut L.A Stilling and Lieut T.H. Dando they succeeded in killing several Germans. Fierce fighting continued in the area of the buildings and adjoining orchard, until the enemy fire made it necessary for both the Pls to be withdrawn to the line of the hedgerow some 50 yards from the main buildings. Meantime the remainder of 16 Pl and Coy HQ were pinned to the ground by strong enemy fire from the left and from M.G.s sited in the upper rooms of the house. As it was by this time impossible to advance further, the only alternative was to remain under cover till dark, when it would be possible to withdraw the Coy. At approx. 2315 hrs the Coy was withdrawn, after having been more or less under continual heavy fire for almost 2 ½ hours.

During the clearing of the house excellent leadership was shown by 3770737 Pte (Private) Robinson, who after destroying an enemy M.G. continued to organise parties of men to try and clear the house. The Coy having been withdrawn, it was found that 5 men had been killed and 16 wounded, Lieut L.E. Hall, Comdr (Commander) 16 Pl had also been wounded.

During the night the Coy was reorganised and preparations were made for a further attack the following morning, this time two troops of tanks and on troop of AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) were in support.

The attack was starting at 1015 hrs and right away the tanks almost completely destroyed the buildings – the Coy advanced with 17 Pl left, 18 Pl right and 16 Pl following 18 Pl to carry out the clearing of the buildings. On this occasion the attack was successful, the objective taken and held until orders were received to rejoin the Battalion. One man was wounded’.

*As one would expect the account included the above quoted Appendix tallies with the information in the body of the War Diary itself in all but one detail. The Annex states that the fighting took place over the 9th to 10th when in fact the battle was fought over the 8th and 9th July, with the 10th occupied by weapons and equipment salvage and burial of the dead.

An aerial reconnaissance photograph of the Chateau and its grounds exists. It is clear even to the non-expert eye the extensive efforts that the SS had made in an attempt to make this stronghold impregnable.

The fortified village of Galmanche ahead of the 59th Division attack.

Today, Galmanche is a remote hamlet. The Chateau has been rebuilt, albeit on a more modest scale. The uninformed visitor would hardly know that anything had happened during the war in this place. Even to those in the know the clues are subtle. If approaching the new building along its extensive drive two of the outer walls of the original Chateau can be seen. Close examination reveals a great many pock marks left by bullets and scars gouged into the masonry by shells. At the top of the driveway almost hidden from view is a memorial to the men of the 59th who gave their lives in the struggle to capture Galmanche.

The battle scarred outer wall of the original Chateau that was destroyed on 9th July 1944.

The memorial to the 59th at Galmanche

(one of the hardest momuments to find in the whole of Normandy).

Our Private Robinson survived the battle and for his leadership of men on 8th July he received the Military Medal.

The citation reads as follows:

‘Pte Robinson took part in “D” Coy attack on the strong enemy posn (position) of GALMANCHE on the evening of 8th Jul 44. His Pl was detailed to clear buildings in which were several enemy machine guns. Several of his section were either killed or wounded, but in the face of heavy enemy fire, Pte Robinson went forward alone with a Bren gun and destroyed one enemy post. He then re-organised his section and continued the attack. Throughout the attack his gallant actions and powers of leadership were an inspiration to his comrades.’

The citation is signed by B.L. Montgomery Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group.

The recommendation for the award was initiated on 12th July; just four days after the events took place. However, the passage of the recommendation up the established chain of command was slow such that by the time that Monty added his signature, then Corporal Robinson’s war was over. The Military Medal was awarded posthumously on 19th October 1944.

Corporal William Edwin Robinson was killed on 9th August 1944. He was 31 years old. At that time 176 Brigade had forced a crossing over the River Orne to form a bridgehead opposite the Forêt de Grimbosq. At the same time the 5th battalion with 177 brigade were further to the south fighting for the successive ridges of high ground that approached the river and overlooked the town of Thury Harcourt. It is likely that he fell in this fighting that aimed to hold up German troops and armour and prevent them from turning their attention on the fragile bridgehead at Grimbosq.

In the oppressive heat (37°C in Bayeux) that scorched France on the weekend of our visit, I located the plot and placed a Royal British Legion cross at the grave.

William was son of Emily Duncalf and husband of Annie Robinson, both of Liverpool. His grave bears the inscription ‘A Foreign Grave is a Painful Thing Where Loving Hands No Flowers Can Bring ’.

‘When you go Home, tell them of us and say, For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today’.

With The Back Tuesday Club Monknash 19th December 2017

The Plough & Harrow

Monknash, Vale of Glamorgan

As I posted sometime ago, back in October I travelled down to Southsea in Hampshire to attend the UK gathering of the 59^th (Staffordshire) Division Association a.k.a. The Friends of Thury Harcourt. There it was my great pleasure to meet (for the first time with the exception of Michele Guillerm) other people with a shared interest in and/or history with the 59^th Division.

One such chap was John James from Bridgend in South Wales. At a quiet moment in the evening’s proceedings, he took me to one side and asked what my diary looked like in December and would I be interested in travelling to Wales to be a guest speaker at the annual Christmas gathering of a group of friends that collectively go under the name of the ‘Back Tuesday Club’.

‘The Back Tuesday Club’ is I learned a collection of likeminded individuals who meet weekly in a local pub for general chat and discussion around issues military. Each year, their ranks are increased for a planned trip to a theatre of war or some other site of military significance. Their club shirts feature a roll call of manoeuvres completed to date (The Western Front, Normandy, Arnhem, Waterloo and the Tower of London).... with the exception of Waterloo these are all places where I too have spent time. The ‘Back Tuesday’ term relates to the duration of these annual long weekend excursions.

It was with not a little trepidation that I accepted the invitation. The trepidation stemmed from the subject matter. Whilst I am very familiar now with my Grandfather’s service history as related in ‘A Pithead Polar Bear’ I have never presented on the subject (to date Powerpoint presentations have been confined to dry topics such as pharmaceutical drug registration etc etc!). This was something entirely different.

Nevertheless, I think that I pulled it off and the group of 30 or so somewhat inebriated Welshmen (mostly from the Vale of Glamorgan farming community), with whom I shared the evening in one of the bars of the rather lovely Plough & Harrow pub in a place called Monknash, were very appreciative.

What was especially pleasing for me was to be able to speak at length about the 59^th Division with John in the audience since his father was in killed in action fighting with the Division (2/6^th South Staffordshire Regiment) on 8^th July 1944 (two days before the birth of John). He lies in Cambes-en-Plaine CWGC Cemetery, Normandy.

It is making such connections and sharing such personal histories that I have found to be the most rewarding aspect of this project.

Yesterday I received a very nice email from the club:

 Dear Adrian,

I apologise for the delay in emailing, but I thought you would be pleased to learn of the universal appreciation given to your talk by the club members and the other attendees at the gathering in the Plough & Harrow pub on the 19th December 2017.

Everyone who attended felt the uniqueness and importance of what you were able to tell us. Most of those assembled were born after 1945, and have no direct experience of conditions during WW II. However, I think it is true to say that everyone present has a keen understanding of its huge significance, and its relevance to the well-being of those alive today.

As a group we make an annual excursion to some location that has some relevance in terms of military history, usually relating to one or other of the two world wars.

However, the relating of the experiences of a single individual who has endured the horrors of war always adds a different perspective.

Finally, may we wish you well, and long may you give others the benefit of your unique insights.

    Yours Very Sincerely

        Malcolm Lloyd
   
            Back Tuesday Club

I would like to thank all of the members of The Back Tuesday Club for the warm reception and kind words and to John for the initial invitation.

Cheers!

Adrian.

South Staffordshire Regiment headstone

Cambes-en-Plaine CWGC Cemetery.

A Veteran of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment Responds

Bert Bamford

5th South Staffordshire Regiment.

Today I was the very happy recipient of a personal letter from one of the veterans who kindly took the time to share his wartime experiences with me during the preparation of 'A Pithead Polar Bear'. Herbert (or Bert) Bamford was, like my Grandfather, a soldier of the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment within the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division. Prior to sailing to France in mid June 1944 he trained on the North East Coast, in Northern Ireland and Kent. Once in France he shared the experience of battle to the north of Caen, in Noyers Bocage and on the high ground overlooking the River Orne before the Division was disbanded in August 1944 to supply other regiments with much needed reinforcements.

6th July 2017

Dear Adrian,

Many thanks for the book, I have read a few pages and look forward to reading the rest. I am glad you were able to find the monument at the Chateau Galmanche. Also you were able to still see the signs of the battle. 

It must have taken a lot of work and research to complete your book. I also enjoyed being able to talk and reminisce about those times as my memory is getting a little hazy these days, a sign of age I suppose. 

Again, many thanks for the book.

Yours,

Bert.

Bert (on the left) with a fellow veteran at the St Contest Memorial to the actions of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division on the area on the 8th and 9th July 1944.

Book Update

Good evening all! I just wanted to say a big thank you to all those who have purchased a copy of my book 'A Pithead Polar Bear' to date. I am really pleased with the way that the sales are going. So far, 108 books of the 150 print run are accounted for. It is quite something for me to think that this humble family history is to be found on the bookshelves of friends and colleagues in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, America, Canada and Australia. Thank you one and all!

Adrian x.

Tribute to Corporal Peter W. Pimlott 7th South South Staffordshire Regiment

As ‘A Pithead Polar Bear’ was in its final stages of preparation, I received an email requesting some assistance in providing information about the South Staffordshire Regiments in Normandy. The email came from Paul Simpson MBE, a retired warrant officer, who is researching the service of his great uncle, Corporal Peter W. Pimlott of the 7^th South Staffords. As this enquiry neatly coincided with a planned return to Normandy I said that if at all possible I would visit Corporal Pimlott’s plot in the Banneville-la-Campagne cemetery and lay a Royal British Legion cross.

Corporal Pimlott was killed in action with the 7^th South Staffordshire Regiment on 7^th August 1944 in the Grimbosq bridgehead established in order to allow the 59^th (Staffordshire) Division to cross the River Orne. He survived just 41 days in Normandy.

Yesterday I received an email from Paul with a photograph of his great uncle’s mounted medals.

Corporal P.W. Pimlott

7th South Staffordshire Regiment

Killed in Action on 7th August 1944.

Update on Publication Date

Hi,

I decided to postpone the publication date by one week in order to be in a position to include some additional photographs and information resulting from my most recent visit to Normandy in mid-May. I think that the poignancy and relevance of this additional information justifies this additional delay many times over.

I have been informed by the publisher that the books should be with me by 9th June at which point I can start sending them out.

As I have stated on the flyer and elsewhere, the book proceeds will be split between projects relevant to both the 59th (Staffordshire) Division and the 49th (West Riding) Division. Given the fact that my Grandfather transferred to the 11th RSF after the conclusion of the Battle of Normandy, my focus in this area has always been on the 59th Division. This fact took me back to Thury Harcourt, a significant Norman town on the west bank of the Orne that was liberated by the men of the 59th Division in August 1944.

Previously I had been here oblivious that I was in extremely close proximity to a recently opened permanent exhibition to the town's liberators.

The Old Fire Station, located within 10 meters of the main 59th Division memorial now houses the start of a permanent tribute to the men who fell (and indeed those that survived) in the Division's ultimately successful efforts to liberate the town.

It was on an early Friday morning the my travelling companion, Owen, and I met up with a lovely lady by the name of Micheline Guillerm, the  'French Connection' in terms of the 59th (Staffordshire) Division, a.k.a. 'The Friends of Thury Harcourt'. Micheline was a young witness to the liberation and the recollections of the events have stayed with her in the intervening years.

We discussed the meaning of the museum and plans for possible expansion into additional rooms of the old station. I told her of my proposal to make a donation to the project and at this she welled up. I hope that Micheline is the first and last French lady I make cry!

Adrian and Micheline Guillerm

Thury Harcourt May 2017.