CHALLICE, Raymond R.
14649949, Fusilier, Raymond Ralph CHALLICE
Aged 19
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Born in Q3-1925 [Newmarket 3b:694] and lived in Newmarket. Ray was the son of Arthur and Sarah Annie CHALLICE (née PARMENTER)
of Field Terrace Road, Newmarket. He had an elder brother Robert Noel and a sister Edna P (later BANHAM) who were at 9 Kimberley Terrace, Newmarket in the 1939 register. Their parents and Raymond, have not been found in the register Below is a letter he wrote to his sister just 2 days before he was killed. This is courtesy of Jan Bursford, the baby referred to in the letter.   For some unknown reason his cousin Reginald Challice was not entered on the Newmarket War Memorial, but is commemorated on the roll of honour in St Peter's Church, Snailwell. His home though was perhaps counted in the parish of Snailwell. |
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He enlisted originally in the Suffolk Regiment.
From THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS 19191959 by Col. J. C. KEMP, M.C. late of THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS Operation Bluecoat "the objects of which were to cover the American flank, and to seize the Mont Pincon Ridge and Vire so as to prevent a controlled movement backward by the Germans under pressure from the 1st United States Army, under General Bradley". It was thought at first that the Germans were retreating from the area about Lassy and Estry; but this view was modified on August 5 and 6, when the 46th and 227th Brigades were repulsed after passing through the Scots Fusiliers at Montcharival and the Royal Scots and K.O.S.B. in Les Ficefes and La Motte. On August 8 the Fusiliers and the K.O.S.B., supported by the 4th Grenadier Tanks with flame-throwers, went forward to deal with Estry. A and C Companies of the Fusiliers were to clear the village while B and D Companies dug in on the line of the main road behind them. The leading, companies crossed the start line, a stream to the north-west of Estry, and reached the northern end of the village practically unassisted, as the tanks and flame-throwers were held up in the dense bocage and narrow sunken lanes. The tanks, in fact, never reached the start line. Thick hedges, trees and gardens gave ideal cover to the enemy defence, and the Germans had 88-millimetre guns and mortars emplaced in the houses, to support their infantry armed with machine guns, rifles, and bazookas. The field of fire on the village was restricted to no more than 100 yards. Despite all their efforts A and C Companies failed to enter the village itself, where well sited positions, including securely dug-in tanks near the Church, a strong point, finally held up the attack. The Fusiliers were counter-attacked by German infantry led by Mark IV tanks, while the K.O.S.B. on their right met equally tough opposition and by mid-afternoon on August 8 the advance was everywhere at a standstill. D Company of the Fusiliers was able to dig itself into position, practically unmolested, but B Company, which had been heavily shelled and bombed by mortars on the start line and greatly reduced in numbers, was established only shortly before dark. As night fell A and C Companies disengaged from the attack and retired to the firm base provided by D Company behind a crossroads outside Estry, leaving only one platoon of C Company forward of the Vire to Estry road. During the hours of darkness the Fusiliers were subjected to continuous mortar fire, as they remained in close contact with the enemy, and German tanks patrolled the adjacent orchards throughout the night. Casualties were heavy. It is not known in which Company Ray fought Initially buried at Estry, Raymond was moved to St Charles de Percy on 22nd January 1946. |
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