D-Day - Royal Artillery Run In Shoot

At Ver sur Mere a Sexton self-propelled gun has been preserved. On D-Day no towed guns landed on the beaches, the Artillery support being provided by SP guns. The British used a Sexton, a SP 25 pounder, the Canadians 105mm Priests.

SP Sexton 25 Pounder
Ver Sur Mer

SP Priest 105 mm
Ouisterham

As part of the overall fire plan the Royal Artillery would fire from modified Landing Craft Tank (LCT A), utilising the period when sailing to the beaches to provide fires.

The self- propelled Sextons and Priests of ten field regiments would fire on the run in. The LCT’s had been modified with blast screens to protect those outside the guns, and other modifications made to facilitate this task.

The SP regiments in their LCT's followed the infantry assault onto the beaches whilst firing their guns at specific hard-point targets. The landing craft with the guns then turned away 3,000 yards short of the beaches, and re-joined the third wave of assault craft to land the guns.

Assault Technique

The approach had been timed on the basis of a speed of 6 knots, meaning the expected movement would be 200 yards per minute. Ranging was to commence at the earliest possible moment. The Sextons (25 pdr SP) with a range of 13,200 yards could therefore provide 50 minutes of fire, the Priests (105mm SP), range 11,400 yards, 40 minutes of fire.  

Royal Artillery Run In Shoot

The guns fired from 10,000 yards to 4,000 yards on 60 separate barrage lines. The range was controlled by means of the ‘Coventry Clock’ (named after the IG who conceived the idea, major Coventry). The clock was aligned to the expected speed of the landing craft and showed ranges, so as the clock moved the ranges were known. Alignment was through the crafts captain  steering towards the shore, Nos 1’s firing when elevation bubbles were level. On reaching a barrage line guns would fire at rate 3.

SP Sexton of 86th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) RA
Ver Sur Mer

SP Sexton Ver sur Mer

D-Day - Arromanches

In order to exploit beyond the bridgeheads and to ultimately capture deep water ports, a mechanism was required to offload the thousands of men and vehicles, and tons of supplies necessary to sustain operations. Thus the Mulberries were created to provide temporary port facilities, until permanent ports had been secured.

The proposed harbours would consist of block ships and huge caissons floated into position creating breakwaters, piers and other structures to provide quays and roadways to create the port. The caissons were built in a number of locations and would be towed to Normandy by tugs and be operational by D+3. Two harbours would be constructed, Mulberry A at SAINT LAURENT, OMAHA BEACH and Mulberry B at ARROMANCHES on GOLD BEACH, the latter would later become known as Port Winston.

Arromanches - remains of Mulberry Harbour

6th June Museum Arromanches

6th June Museum - Mulberry Harbour model

6th June Museum - Mulberry Harbour model

D-Day - Port en Bessin

Port en Bessin lay on the western edge of the Gold Beach area, A heavily defended small port, it's capture was tasked to 47 Royal Marine Commando. The Commandos landed with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division marching to the small Port to assault the German positions.

The port is situated in a bowl of steep hills, making it a difficult objective to seize. Unfortunately for the Commando's, two flak boats were in port and were able to use their anti-aircraft gums to supplement the strong points in the port.

The Commandos held up be the defenders during the day, found a route through the steep hills, and during the night infiltrated into the port, and conducted the assault. The port fell to the Commandos on the 7th June 1944.

In the months after D-Day, Port-en-Bessin assumed a vital role in the Allied Normandy breakout because it was the destination for the Pipeline Under The Ocean (PLUTO) which pumped millions of gallons of fuel under the Channel to France from the English coast.

D-Day - Gold Beach 4th Durham Survey Regt. RA

The 4^th (Durham) Survey Regiment were to land from D Day through to D+17 onwards. There initial task was the establishment of survey, with sound ranging and flash spotting capabilities being deployed for follow on operations.

The first party to land consisted of one officer, Captain Hamer and 13 men from Y Troop who landed at 08:20. The party consisted of 4 computers under a sergeant compiler and a despatch rider, the equipment being landed on hand carts. The parties embarked on 3 separate landing craft, and were widely dispersed when they landed, and due to difficulty moving along the beaches due to the self-propelled guns firing, it took time to join up.

 Initially visibility was virtually nil due to smoke from grass fires caused by the initial bombardment. Consequently it was not until 10:00 that survey tasks commenced. The initial survey data based on one trigonometrical point, a lighthouse, with a measured base and sun observation was established by 12:00, and made available to Artillery Regiments. The party then began to establish trigonometrical points along the beach marking these with flags. This survey was then used by the Landing Craft Guns (LCG) and the ships of naval support force G to accurately fix their positions improving the effectiveness of their fire.

 At 12:20, the first mechanical transport landed, a jeep, allowing more mobility and the development of a more comprehensive survey plan. Within 24 hours Theatre Grid was established.

D-Day GOLD Beach

The 50^th Northumbrian Division landed on Gold Beach. The assault was conducted by 2 brigades, 69 Brigade on King sector and 231 Brigade on Jig sector. Once the beaches were secured, the follow on Brigades would land, 56 Brigade on Jig and 151 (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade on King.

Within the divisional artillery, fire support for the assaulting phase was conducted by 86^th and 9^th Field Regiments with SP guns on the Run in Shoot. The towed guns of 74 and 124 Northumbrian Field Regiments would not land till later.   The Northumbrian Regiments did provide BC’s and FOO’s to the assaulting brigades.

 At 05:00 6^th June, the transport ships dropped anchor 12 km off the coast and started to lower their landing craft. At 05:30, soldiers started to board thir craft, and the preliminary bombardment of the German defences commenced. The bombardment would last till 06:30, and was augmented by heavy bombers of the USAF. On the approach of H-Hour as the troops neared the beach, the rocket firing Landing craft tank (rocket), supported by the divisional artillery self-propelled guns on the run in shoot engaged their allotted targets.

The bombardment was partially successful, some coastal batteries were neutralised and the shock shattered the morale of many of the defending troops.  However, some key points remained intact, which would cause difficulties for the assaulting troops on the beaches and the subsequent establishment of routes off the beach. In addition, some of the specialist vehicles of the 79^th Armoured Division sank in the heavy seas, which would reduce the capability to clear lanes on the beaches.

The difficulties were further compounded by 147 Field Regiment being unable to fire on HAMEL on the run in shoot, though it was able to augment the fires of 90^th Field Regiment.

As a result of the heavy seas it was decided to land the DD tanks nearer the beaches in shallow water. This worked well in KING sector, the tanks being able to support the 69^th Brigade; in JIG sector, the deployment was delayed consequently the troops of 231 Brigade were without armoured support till 07:58.

The assault on the JIG sector did not go to plan. The failure to suppress the strong points around HEMEL, the loss of the specialist vehicles to clear lanes on the beaches, and the delay in the arrival of armoured support le to heavy casualties and the situation became chaotic. A decision was taken to abandon the attack on strongpoint WN37, to concentrate on WN36. This proved successful, and with gallant actions by the men of the 1^st Hampshire’s and 1^st Dorset’s WN36 was captured and the movement inland began.

147 (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA Palques Anselles

147 (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA Palques Anselles

As follow on troops arrived, together with the Self Propelled guns of 147 Field Regiment, the bridgehead began to be developed. This then allowed the follow on 56^th Brigade to land at midday, 2 hours behind schedule, and the breakout continued.

On KING Beach, the assaulting companies of the 6^th Green Howards and 5^th East York landed at H hour. Landing alongside them were 38 DD tanks and breaching teams of the 79^th Armoured Division with AVRE’s Sherman Crabs and bulldozers.  The preliminary bombardment had suppressed defences in the area, and with their armoured support available, the 69^th Brigade attack was a rapid success. One notable act of gallantry was the awarding of the Victoria Cross to to CSM Hollis.

CSM Hollis VC Hut. Plaque detailing CSM's Hollis actions

CSM Hollis VC Hut

The move off the beaches was temporally stalled by heavy resistance in LA RIVERE. Effective naval  fire support coupled with an assault by 4^th/7^th Dragoons knocked out a troublesome strong point and the advance continued.

The Northumberland Hussars had converted to Gunners at the beginning of the war and had fought with the 50^th Division in the Middle East and Scilly.Equipped with the M10 SP tank destroyer, the anti-tank batteries landed with the assault brigades from H + 90 onwards.  RHQ and echelon came ashore with the follow on brigades.

By late morning 69^th Brigade has secured their objectives and controlled the MEUVAINES RIDGE. This would set the conditions for the breakout by the 151^st (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade which commenced landing at 10:30

Gold Beach June 1944

Gold Beach March 2012

69th Brigade Entrance near Ver sur Mont Fleury

The exits off the beach were secured and what would become known as 50^th Divisional Way provided one of the vital routes inland for the division.

The 74^th (Northumbrian) Field Regimen landed 7th to 9th June. The 124^th(Northumbrian) Field Regiments would not be complere till 30th June.  The guns of 74 and 124 Regiment would go on to support the 50^th Division throughout the campaign in North West Europe.

D-DAY - Juno Beach

The 3^rd Canadian Division were allocated JUNO beach. The division was to protect the flanks of the forces on SWORD, clear specific villages, and penetrate in land to link with the British 3^rd Division (JUNO) and the 50^th Northumbrian Division (GOLD), in order to establish a bridgehead along the BAYEUX to CAEN railway line for subsequent operations.

The landings planned for 07:35 arrived 10 minutes late. The pre landing bombardment had been in effective. Heavy machine gun fire from strongpoints, together with beach obstacles accounted for 50 % casualties in the first waves. Where DD tanks with the infantry, they were effective in providing immediate fire support. Assisted by the specialist vehicles from the 79^th Armoured Division, the defences were breached and exits cleared. Subsequent waves began to clear the strongpoints and advance inland.

The Canadians were off the beaches within hours, the villages of GRAYE SUR MER, COURSELLES, and BERNIERES were captured during the morning, though resistance in ST AUBIN, meant it was late afternoon before this was secured.

In land the defences were sparse, the Canadians being able to advance until being met by a counter attack from the 192^nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment, preventing the link up with the forces in the SWORD BEACH area. To the west, the link up with the British on GOLD was achieved at CREULLY.

The Canadians then began consolidating their gains, strongly digging in on a 5 mile frontage on a line running between CREULLY, PEIRREPONT and COLOMBY SUR THAON. By the end of the day 3,200 vehicles, 2,500 tons of material and 15,000 men had been landed for losses of 946 killed, wounded or missing. Most objectives had been achieved, though the CAEN-CARPIQUET AIRFIELD would remain in German hands till July.

Juno Beach

Juno Beach

Juno Beach

D-Day - SWORD Beach

SWORD Beach

Before daylight a smoke screen was laid by aircraft and naval guns between the invading force and the German batteries at LE HAVRE.  The naval bombardment was concentrated on the beach area, a 3 mile stretch, ½ mile in depth.

The landings on the beach began at 07:25. Despite the rough seas, the leading DD tanks of the 13/ 18^th Hussars, and the Engineer Assault Teams with their specialist vehicles deployed onto the beaches ahead of the infantry of the 8^th Brigade Group.

Resistance was weak. By 08:00 leading assault troops had pushed inland. The remaining waves deployed according to plan, though many casualties were sustained by landing craft hitting Teller Mines. Heavy resistance was met at LA BRECHE, and was not cleared till 10:30.

The 185^th Brigade began landing mid-morning, and passed through 8 Brigade. Enemy resistance on the PERIERS RIDGE, between DOUVRES and BENOOVILLE prevented further penetration inland.

 The Commandos of 1^st Special Service Brigade linked up with the paratroopers who had captured the bridges on the ORNE WATERWAYS by 13:00. To the west however the division were unable to link up with the Canadians until much later in the day.

The only significant German counter attack on D-Day occurred in the beach area. The 21^st Panzer Division mounted an attack at 16:00 between LION-SUR-MER and LUC-SUR-MER. The force included 50 panzer tanks, 80 light obsolete Czech tanks and panzer grenadiers. Robust defences, including anti-tank guns, and effective air attacks destroyed many vehicles, halting the attack. One company did penetrate the gaps in defences to LION SUR MER, but withdrew on observing glider borne troops flying over their location, fearing they would be cut off.

Whilst the German attacks were repulsed, the action meant that the objective of taking CAEN on D-Day was not achieved; indeed it would not be taken till 43 days later following bitter fighting and near destruction of the city by bombing.

Sword Beach Lion sur Mere

Sword Beach Lion sur Mere

D-Day Grand Bunker – Ouistreham



Le Grand Bunker Ouistreham

In March 1942 Hitler ordered the construction of the Atlantic Wall, a series of 15,000 strong points from Norway to Spain. In particular, ports were to be heavily fortified, and testimony to that order is Le Grand Bunker at Ouistreham.

Oberservation Tower Ouistreham 1944

Observation Tower Model

 The bunker was an observation post for a battery located at the mouth of the River Orne. The bunker contained many vignettes of the Germans manning the coastal defences, including the Command Post and Observation platform.

Observation Point view



Observation Point Rangefinder

Command Post

Signals



Barrack Room

D-Day Pegasus Bridge

The concept of the airborne operations plan  was to protect the eastern flank of the Allied seaborne landings and take control of ground of strategic importance to the east of Caen.

The specific objectives were:

• Capture intact the two bridges over the CAEN CANAL and the R.ORNE at BENOUVILLE and RANVILLE.  The bridges then would be defended against counterattacks.
• Destroy the heavily fortified MERVILLE coastal artillery battery located at FRANCEVILLE PLAGE, to ensure that it could not shell the British forces landing on Sword Beach.
• Destroy several bridges which spanned the R.DIVES, located near the towns of VARAVILLE , ROBEHOMME,BURRES, and TROARN.   The division would then hold the territory that it had seized until it could be relieved by advancing Allied ground forces

The airborne operation commenced 22:26 when the gliders of the Ox and Bucks LI took off,under the command of Major John Howard,  one force destined to capture the bridge on the CAEN CANAL, a second force tasked with a bridge on the R.ORNE.

In the operation on the CAEN CANAL, the first glider landed at 00:15, on LZ X, impacting an earth bank and stunning the crew and passengers. One minute later the second glider landed breaking in two, the third glider landing at 00:18 skidded into a pond causing several injuries and a fatality.

The troops emerged from the gliders, engaged trenches, gun pits and a concrete bunker which it was believed held the demolition trigger. After a brief fire fight, the bridge was secured at 00:24.

Bridge over the Orne Canal

At the R.ORNE Bridge, two gliders landed intact at 00:20 at LZ Y. A machine gun nest was suppressed by machine gun fire, however no other defenders were found and the two platoons quickly secured the bridge.

Bridge over River Orne

Both bridges were secured intact with minimal casualties by 00:20 6^th June 1944.

Horsa Glider

Glider 1 Marker Stone
Major John Howard & Lt Brotheridge landed 16 minutes past midnight

Glider 2 Marker Stone
Lt DJ Wood landed 17 minutes past midnight

Glider 3 Marker Stone
Lt RA Smith landed 18 minutes past midnight

Pegasus Bridge 6th June 1944

The Bridge on the ORNE CANAL would named PEGASUS BRIDGE in recognition of the Airborne forces who conducted the operation.  The original bridge was replaced in 1994 and is now in Pegasus Bridge museum.

Pegasus Bridge

Original Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge

The first house liberated in France was the Cafe Gondree. The owner gldly sharing champagne from his sellers with his liberators.

Cafe Gondree Pegasus Bridge