Table Of Content
Battleground Europe
SWORD BEACH
Ot/Iel'guidesilltileBattlegroll/ldEllropeSeries: MonsbyJackHorsfallandNigelCave
AccringtonPalsTrailbyWilliamTurner
WalkingtheSalientbyPaulReed
Ypres•SanctuaryWoodandHoogebyNigelCave PoetsatWar:WilfredOwenbyHelenMcPhailandPhilipGuest
PoetsatWar:EdmundBlundenbyHelenMcPhailandPhilipGuest
Ypres.Hill60byNigelCave
Ypres-MessinesRidgebyPeterOldham GallipolibyNigelSteel
Ypres.PolygonWoodbyNigelCave Italy-AsiagobyFrancisMackay Battleground Europe
Ypres-PasschendaelebyNigelCave
Ypres-AirfieldsandAirmenbyMichaelO'Connor BoerWar-TheReliefofLadysmithbyLewisChilds
Ypres-StJulienbyGrahamKeech BoerWar-TheSiegeofLadysmithbyLewisChilds
BoerWar-KimberleybyLewisChilds
WalkingtheSammebyPaulReed IsandlwanabyIanKnightandIanCastle SWORD BEACH
Samme-GommecourtbyNigelCave RorkesDriftbyIanKnightandIanCastle
Samme-SerrebyJackHorsfall&NigelCave
Samme-BeaumontHamelbyNigelCave HougoumontbyJulianPagetandDerekSaunders
Samme-ThiepvalbyMichaelStedman 3RD BRITISH INFANTRYDIVISION'S BATTLE FOR
Somme.LaBoissellebyMichaelStedman WW2 PegasusBridge/MervilleBatterybyCarlShilleto THE NORMANDY BEACHHEAD
Samme-FricourtbyMichaelStedman WW2 UtahBeachbyCarlShilleto
Samme-Carnoy-MontaubanbyGrahamMaddocks WW2 GoldBeachbyChristopherDunphie&GarryJohnson
Samme-PozieresbyGrahamKeech WW2 OmahaBeachbyTimKilvert-Jones 6June - 10June 1944
Samme-CourcelettebyPaulReed WW2 SwordBeachbyTimKilvert-Jones
Sornme-BoomRavinebyTrevorPidgeon WW2 BattleoftheBulge·StVithbyMichaelTolhurst
Somme-MametzWoodbyMichaelRenshaw WW2 BattleoftheBulge·BastognebyMichaelTolhurst
Somme-DelvilleWoodbyNigelCave WW2 DunkirkbyPatrickWilson
Somme-AdvancetoVictory(North)1918byMichaelStedman WW2 CalaisbyJohnCooksey
Somme-FIersbyTrevorPidgeon WW2 DasReich-DrivetoNormandybyPhilipVickers
Somme-BazentinRidgebyEdwardHancock WW2 Hill112 byTimSaunders
WW2 MarketGarden-Nijmegen byTimSaunders
Arras-VimyRidgebyNigelCave Tim Kilvert-Jones
Arras-GavrellebyTrevorTaskerandKyleTallett BattlegrouudEuropeSeriesgil/desIIndercontractforflltllrerelease:
Arras-BullecourtbyGrahamKeech Somme-HighWoodbyTerryCarter
Arras~MonchyIePreuxbyColinFox Somme·German-A-dvance1918byMichaelStedman
Somme-ComblesbyPaulReed
HindenburgLinebyPeterOldham Somme-BeaucourtbyMichaelRenshaw
HindenburgLineEpehybyBillMitchinson WalkingArrasbyPaulReed
HindenburgLineRiquevalbyBillMitchinson WW2 Boulogne byJohnCooksey
HindenburgLineVillers-PlouichbyBillMitchinson WW2 MarketGarden-Hell'sHighway byTimSaunders
HindenburgLine-CambraibyJackHorsfall&NigelCave PoetsatWar:Sassoon&GravesbyHelenMcPhailandPhilipGuest
HindenburgLine-SaintQuentinbyHelenMcPhailandPhilipGuest War..,oftheRoses-Wakcficld/TowtonbyPhil1pA.Haigh
LaBassee-NeuveChapellebyGeoffreyBridger
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LEO COOPER
CONTENTS
Dedkation~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~6
Foreword byLieutenantGeneralSirMichaelJackson~.~.~....~7
Introduction ~ ~.~..~..~.~ ~.~..~ ~..~ ~.~ 9
Acknowledgements ~..~..~..~ ~.~ ~..~ ~ 15
Chapter 1: GERMANY'S SECOND FRONT ~ .....~............~..17
Chapter 2: THE ALLIES PREPARE~ ~.~....33
Chapter3: THEINVASION ~..~ ~ ~.~ ~..~ 57
Chapter4: THEASSAULT: LABRECHED'HERMANVILLE
Stand A..~ ~..~..~..~ ~.~ ~..~ ~81
Chapter5: HILLMAN AND PERIERS RIDGE
Stands B& C ..~..~ ~ ~..~..~ ~ ~..~ ~..~ 121
Chapter 6: FALTERING ON THE ROAD TO CAEN~J59
Chapter 7: EPILOGUE: ATTHE GOING DOWN
OFTHE SUN ~.~ ~ ~..~..~ 175
x Order ofBattle: 3rdBritishInfantryDivision ~ 187
LtColonelWelby-Everard's pre invasion address ~.188
Some recommended museums/Where to stay ~~...189
Publishedby INDEX ~..~..~ ~..~ ~ ~ 190
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IN MEMORIAM
This bookis dedicated to thememoryofColonelEricT. Lummis,
FOREWORD
the Suffolk Regiment,veteran ofD-Day, notedRegimental officer,
by
andhistorian. Eric was also arespectedfriend to several
generations ofyoungBritishArmyofficerswho hadthe benefitof
LIEUTENANT-GENERALSIRMICHAELJACKSON CB
beingtaughtaboutthe realities ofwarbythis quiet, truly
professionalsoldier, andgentleman. Former GeneralOfficerCommanding
COLONELERICT. LUMMIS 3rdDivision
DIEDON11THJUNE 1999,AGIjD79.
This book provides a valuable tool for all students of war. The
author sets the scene for the great drama of Sword Beach and the
thrustforCaen,withthebroadcanvasofD-Dayasthebackdrop.The
work then guides the reader through the complexities ofthebattles
from the beachhead to William the Conqueror's medieval capital
astride theRiverOrne.
This workhighlights the realities ofcommand at the operational
and tactical levels where decisions - even to this day - are made
morefrequentlywithincompleteintelligence,ratherthantheperfect
situational awareness that hindsight allows us. The story of 3rd
British Division in Normandy is typical of many Commonwealth
infantry divisions committed to battle in the wider struggle to
destroyHitler'sEuropeantyranny.Theyoungmenwhoweretobear
the brunt ofthis bloody strugglewere drawn from the shires ofthe
UnitedKingdomandwerecommitted- manymenforthefirsttime
- to battle in one of the most difficult, complex, and historically
significant campaigns in the history ofEurope. Their courage, will,
and sacrifice contributed to the shattering of German power in
France and ultimately, in the course of ten months, throughout
WesternEurope.
The study of the Normandy campaign remains an important
componentinthe understandingofthatprofoundlytransformative,
hugely destructive conflict, that provides historians, students, and
warriors with such a rich tapestry of lessons and insights into the
realities oftotal war. The recommended stands in thisbookgive an
excellent snap-shot of the five bloody weeks of attrition fought
betweenthe men of3rd British Infantry Division and their ruthless
andhighlyeffectivefoesintheWehrmachtandWaffen-SS.OnD-Day
confusion would reign on Sword Beach, where landing schedules
slippedandsucceedingwavesofassaultcraftpiledajumbleofmen
and vehicles at the water's edge. Even so, the leading troops in
Sword sector were off the beach within an hour oflanding and by
dark had joined up with the forces of the British 6th Airborne
7
DivisionastridetheOrneandpushedsouthtowithinafew milesof INTRODUCTION
the cityofCaen. Britishand Canadianforces failed toseizeCaenon
D-Day in part because the Germans threw the weight of their Understanding Historic Battlefields
available reserves, and the only armored division to hand, mto the
defense ofthecity.
Professor Sir Michael Howard once described three general
D-Day remains one of the epic assaults of history, a "mighty
guidelinesfor theeffectivestudyofmilitaryhistory. Hesuggestedthat
endeavor," as President Franklin D. Roosevelt described it to the
it should be studied firstly in depth, to get beneath the historian's
American people, "to preserve ... our civilization and to set free a
imposed pattern of seeming orderliness and to try and understand
sufferinghumanity."AswithhisOmahaBeacheditioninthisseries,
whatwarisreallylike,ineffecttogetanideaoftheconfused natureof
the author has succeeded inbringing to life the realities ofwar, the
fighting. Secondly, it should be studied in breadth so that the
complexitiesofcommandandcontrolandthechallengesofcoalition
developmentofwar over along period canbe understood. Thirdly,it
operations against a tough resolute enemy who has not forgotten
should be studied in context to appreciate the political, social, and
how tofightorhow to die. .
economicfactorsthatexerciseimportantinfluencesonthemilitarypart
Tim Kilvert-Jones - formerly a principal staff officer in 3rd
ofthe equation. The Battleground Europe serieshasbeendesigned to
Division and the trainer of the divisional staff in Headquarters 3rd
meethis demandingrequirements.
DivisionduringitsrelocationfromGermanybacktoTidworthunder
The focus of the guidebook will be on one relatively short period
my predecessor's command - has analyzed the operations and
during the momentous, but bloody events in Normandy in the mid
tacticsthatdefinedtheconductofthebattleforCaen,thepivotinthe
20th century, the assault by a joint military force from the United
AlliedstrategyfortheliberationofFrance.Theauthorhaspresented
KingdomonaGermandefended andfortified sectoroftheNormandy
incisive portraits ofthe leaders, soldiers, sailors and airmenonboth
coastlinefrom 6Juneto 10July 1944.
sides of this climactic battle. The ambiguities of the struggle, the /
Anappreciationofthemilitaryframeworkbehindtheoperationsof
opportunities seized or missed, are all examined within a structure
1st British Corps in Sword sector on 6th June 1944 is a fundamental
thatallowsthereadertogettheverymostoutofavisittothishistoric
necessity. In order to appreciate the scale of this battlefield and the
field ofbattle. I commend this work to all students, historians,.and
significance ofthe greatsacrifice made by so many young men in the
instructorsinthe artofwar.
assault divisions of June 1944, it is essential to visualize the whole
LieutenantGeneral
'canvas' of Operation Neptune-Overlord. To that end Chapter 1 will
SirMichaelJacksonCB
provide sufficient explanation for the reader to fit the more personal
accounts of a single division's battles into what Winston Churchill
described thus: 'this vast operation is undoubtedly the most
complicatedand difficultthathaseveroccurred.'
Thespecificcombatactions thatarediscussed inthisbookoccurred
at the tactical leveL The tactical level of war is concerned with the
conduct of battles and engagements; these normally unfold within a
sequence ofmajor operations.Above this levelofmilitary activitylies
the operational level of conflict. This level provides the gearing
between national political and military strategy and all tactical
activities in a theater of operations. It is at the operational level that
military resources are directed to achieve the campaign objectives, or
end-state. Throughout the Northwest European Campaign, the
operational commander was the American General Dwight D.
8 9
Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander. Eisenhower arrived in ofthe Germancoastaldefense units, alreadybatteredbyairand naval
London in January 1944 to take up an appointment that would bombardmentand thenbloodiedatclose quarters on6June. By2July
influence the very conduct of the Anglo-American effort against the Allied Expeditionary Force had deposited 1,000,000 men ashore
Germany. He was not operating in a vacuum. Eisenhower received including twenty-four divisions at a cost of 60,770 casualties (8,975
strategic guidance from the political leaders of the western powers were killed). This extraordinary summary of achievement belies the
principallyPresidentRooseveltoftheUnitedStatesandPrimeMinister veryrealfear, exhilaration,cost,andhorrorenduredbythosemenand
Winston Churchill in Britain. Military direction was then issued by womentouchedbythis climacticbattle.
eithertheJointChiefs,orviathenationalmilitarystrategicauthorities; On 6 June 1944 disaster would only really threaten the Allies at
in Washington D.C. General George Marshall spoke for the President, OmahaBeach. Here theVUSCorpslauncheditsRangers, elementsof
whileinLondon, FieldMarshalSirAlanBrooke (Chiefofthe Imperial the 29th 'Blue and Gray' Divisionunder command ofthe veteran 'Big
General Staff and Chairman of the Chiefs-of-Staff Committee) spoke Red One' (1st Division), in a frontal assault against a natural, well
for Churchill. defended, fortress betweenPointe du Hoc and St. Honorine. That the
Eisenhowerwas ablysupportedby amulti-nationalstaffand most operation was to prove successful is a testament to the undaunted
notablybythepreliminaryplanningcarriedoutunder the directionof courage and small unitleadership ofso manyyoungmen throughout
a British officer, Lieutenant General.Sir Frederick E. Morgan, Chiefof the Omaha assault force. Their story canbe found in the Omaha Beach
Staff to the as yet unnamed Supreme Allied Commander. It was book from this series. Another related title in this series is Carl
Morgan's efforts and breadth of vision that provided so much of the Shilleto's Pegasus Bridge/Merville Battery. The valiant glider force that
planningframeworkforthesubsequentCommonwealthandAmerican captured the bridges over the Orne were dependent for their overall
victoryonD-Day. success and survival on a timely link-up and reliefby troops coming
ashore on Sword Beach. On that beach the assault battalions from 8
D-Dayin Perspective InfantryBrigadewere tosufferlocalizedslaughterdisproportionate to
D-Day was the greatest combined amphibious assault the world the rest of the division as individual boat sections and companies
has yet seen. It was a staggering feat of planning and synchronized beached into prepared killing areas or directly under the guns of
military action. On that day a total of 156,205 men, 3,000 guns,.1,500 Germanstrongpoints.
tanks and 15,000 other assorted vehicles landed in Normandy across In the past the story of the 3rd Division in Normandy has had an
theassaultbeachesorbygliderandparachuteontothefieldsofFrance. inappropriatelymixed press. This has beenlargelydue to the adverse
In all, eight allied divisions were put ashore. It was and still is an criticisms writtenby the Australian war reporter Chester Wilmot and
astonishingachievement.Theseforces thenpressedbacktheremnants General Sir David Belcham in their respective books The Struggle For
Europe and Victory in Normandy. Agreat many writers have followed
Camouflaged vehicles lining the roadway of an English south
their baleful influence since these works were first published in 1951
coast village in the weeks leading up to D-Day.
and 1981 and few have thoughtto challengethemuntilmore recently.
Wilmot criticized the division for a lack of drive and a loss of
momentumonD-Daycaused- asheputit- bybeingover-trainedfor
the assault rather than focused on the exploitation to Caen. Belcham,
the BrigadierGeneralStaff(Operations) of21ArmyGroup wrote 'The
record of 3rd British Division is the most disappointing of all the
assaultingsections...Amoredynamicformationwouldnothavedugin
at Hermanvillebut would have devised a planto outflankthe enemy
at Periers.' In retrospect these criticisms are largely ill-founded and
misconceived. Thisbookwillguide the reader andbattlefieldexplorer
over the complex terrainand show how enemy action, Clausewitzian
11
friction- aneternalconstantinanyconflict- and the environmentcan
allplayacrucialpartinconstrainingthebestdevisedplans ofwar. As
ColonelBillFriedmanofthe 16thRegimentalCombatTeamlandingat
OmahaBeachstatedaftersurvivingthree amphibious assaultsagainst
occupiedEuropeandNorthAfrica:
Once launched this kind ofoperation is totally out ofthe hands
of higher level commanders... Regardless of the planning, an
opposed landing is chaos incarnate. It must bedealt withas such.
Studying Sword Sectorusing this guide The French seaside resort of Colleville-sur-Orne. A few years on
The three recommended sequential tours of Sword sector can be and this area would be designated 'Queen Beach' for the
completed within a day if transport is used, to move between the Normandy Landings.
locations.Inthisguidethevisitorisdirectedtothreesites,orlocations, momentouscampaign.
whereactionstookplace- these are referredto asSTANDS. Whether you will be playing on the beautiful beaches, or touring
STANDAislocatedattheseafronttownofLaBreched'Hermanville across the open fields beyond the dunes into the bocage, you cannot
where the landings are described, helping the reader to visualize and avoid the evidence of great sacrifice and terrible loss that surrounds
relivetheeventsof6June 1944. this now beautiful, tranquil and ancient region ofFrance. Nor should
STANDB is situated on the German bunker system which was the visitor ignore the region's broader tapestry ofhistory and culture.
code-named'Hillman'bytheAllies.Heretheattackonthisstrongpoint The quiet villages, verdant countryside, dramatic castles, memorials
by1Suffolksisdescribed indetail. and museums present physical evidence of an Anglo-Saxon, Viking,
STANDC forms a vantage point on Periers Ridge to examine the Norman, French, and English heritage. That dynamic melange of
onlyarmouredGermancounterattackagainstthebeachesonDDayby cultures is characterized by an inscription on the Commonwealth
(
the elementsof21stPanzerDivision. Memorialto theMissinginBayeux.Itreads:
We, once conquered by William, have now set free the
Each tour is accompanied by a historical account; these accounts Conqueror's Native land.
shouldbe used asbackgroundmaterialto the morepoignantstudyof
theground,thememorialsandthepersonalmemoriesofthemenwho Maps
fought inSwordsector. Inadditionto thesesuggestedtours, thisbook Michelin maps are an excellent and essential aid to navigation in
provides the reader with selected recommendations for visits to Normandy. These maps are a useful start point and can usually be
associated sites of general interest within the Lodgment Area. Today, obtainedfrom mostwellstockedbookshopsinFranceand Britainand
there is no shortage of private museums and memorials competing, onthe cross Channelferries. IntheUnitedStates theycanbeobtained
along with the more significant national and regional collections, for from theInstituteGeographiqueNational(IGN) distributorat:
thevisitors'attentionand revenue. Map LinkInc. or InEuropeIGNcanbecontactedat:
Youmaywishtointerspersestudiesofthebattlefieldwithvisits to Map Distributors ESPACEIGN
appropriatemuseumsinCaen,Ouistreham,BenouvilleandBayeux. 30SouthLaPateraLane 107,rue la Boetie
D-Day and the Battle for Normandy remain amongst the most Unit#5 75008Paris
fascinating and accessible European military campaigns in the long, SantaBarbara France
I, painful history of human conflict. Since the end of the Second World California93117 EMail: www.ign.fr
:i
War, the region's military history has attracted a broad range of Tel: (I) (805) 692 6777
I pilgrims. The veterans and their families have been frequent, if Fax: (1) (805) 6926787
I unwitting companions to historians and soldiers studying this
13
12
Airborne sector. The southern boundary runs between the Odon and
Hill 112. Anew 1:25,000series entitled La Carte de Randonnee is also
available withCaen1612OTcoveringtheJun,Sword, PegasusBridge
and MervilleBatterylocationsinsuperb clarity.
Military students are also advised to obtain copies of the excellent
French military map series. These maps are available through official
mapacquisitionprocesseswithinformationheadquarters.
Copies of original Allied planning and battle maps for Neptune
Overlord are now available from the ImperialWar Museum, London,
for afee.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In the research for this book I had the honour and privilege of
interviewing a number of those very special veterans from 3rd
Division who landed at Sword Beach. Iowe my gratitude to every
one ofthese venerable gentlemenwho gave so muchoftheir youth
Colville-Plage pre-war. Soon to be in the thickofthe fighting on 6
andsoulsinthenameoffreedom andtheserviceoftheirnation. We
June 1944.
owethemallsoverymuch.
I owe particular thanks to the late Colonel Eric Lummis of the
Recommended Maps
Suffolk Regiment, a true gentleman, warrior, and historian in his
Carte Topographique. InstituteGeographique National (IGN) Serie
ownright.Heopenedmyeyestotherealitiesofabattlethathasbeen
VerteNumber6:Cherbourg-Caen1:100,000.Ifvisitswillbemadetothe
simplified and misjudged by several senior officers and historians
easternextremities of the invasion area then IGN map Number Twill
over time. His dedicated research into the events surrounding 3rd
alsoberequired. ThismapcoversanareafromOuistrehaminthewest,
Division'sactionsinNormandyprovidedanessentialcomponentin
across the OrneRiver and itsship canal,where PegasusBridgecanbe
thewritingofthisbook.
found, andsoontothenortheast,MervilleBatteryandbeyond.
IalsowishtothankEvanDaviesforhisconstructiveobservations
Otheruseful maps include Michelin's map Number 54 Normandie
and detailed knowledge of Normandy. Kenneth Fortune, President
in the 1:200,000 series, whichcovers the whole invasion area, but at a
of REEP Inc. the premier United States military studies Staff Ride
considerablysmallerscale.
Corporationforhissupport,andDr. RussellHart,seniorLecturerin
The serious student or walker may also acquire appropriate maps
theDepartmentofHistoryatOhioStateUniversity.Dr.Hartgaveme
from the IGN 1:50,000 series in order to find the more obscure routes
full access to hiseminentbutas yetunpublished dissertationonthe
throughthe region. Theseare,however, no longerinprint.
battle for Normandy. I am also grateful to Richard Harris, a
Amore useful 1: 25,000series is now available. These maps are the
NormandyveteranoftheSuffolkRegimentwhoverykindlygranted
IGNSerieBleue.Thisserieshasbeenarrangedinawonderfullylogical
me permission to quote from his privately published accounts 50
French manner, with all maps the same size and shape. There are a
YearsOnandTheBattlefor ChateaudelaLonde.
small number of maps that are exceptions to this rule including map
The story of 3rd Division would be incomplete without the
number1512E, Caen;this larger thannormal map covers an area that
contribution of Sir Robin Dunn. As a Battery Commander in 7th
includes both Juno and Sword Beaches. The eastern boundary runs
Field Regiment Royal Artillery his insights and memories of the
north south to the east of the river Orne and cuts through the 6th
battlearecriticaltoanyunderstandingoftheopportunitieswonand
14 15
lostbythe'IronDivision'. Chapter One
Imustalso thankinretrospectthe
late Colonel Hans von Luck,
GERMANY'S SECOND FRONT
commander of the 125th Panzer
Grenadier Regiment, 21st Panzer
Division. He enlightened the author
Bythewinterof1943theGermanswerealreadyengagedinamulti
and generations of other NATO
frontwar. Onthe Russian Frontthe finest units oftheWehrmachtand
officersonaseriesofnow legendary
Waffen SS were being consumed at an appalling rate. In the
Normandy Staff Rides with his
MediterraneantheAxispowershadbeendefeated inNorthAfrica, an
sophisticated analysis of his own
Anglo-American expeditionary force had conquered Sicily and the
experiencesinNormandy. Hanswas
mainlandofItalyhadnowbeeninvaded.IntheskiesoverGermanyan
a professional, dedicated warrior
air war of extraordinary proportions was also consuming manpower
whose insights were enriching,
and industrial production capacity as losses of aircraft and ground
forthright andthoughtful.
defenses climbed. In an effort to stem the devastating tide ofday and
Mywife Louise and our children,
nightareabombingbytheAlliedbomberfleets, theGermansrelocated
Edward, Victoria and Hugo must
fighter wings and air defense systems to protectthe Fatherland at the
also be thanked for their patience
cost of other fronts. The German air defense system (including
and tolerance of a husband and
searchlight units, gun crews, and radar centres) had absorbed 900,000
father toooftenconfinedtohisstudy
tomeethispublishers'deadline. Defending the Reich from night and day bombing raids was
Any errors or lack of Colonel Hans Ulrich von Luck. absorbing largenumbers of men, armaments and munitions.
acknowledgement are the author's fault alone. This book has been
writteninhonourofthe veteranswhofoughtinNormandyand for
whom there can have been few greater tests than crossing the fire
raked sands or pushing inland against the coastal def~nce
fortifications and the 21st Panzer Division onJune 6th, 1944. Those
brave men were a very long way from their homes across the
ChannelonD-Day.
TO Kilvert-Jones
Fairfax, Virginia, USA,June 2001
[email protected]
Wefew, wehappyfew, webandofbrothers;
Forhetoday thatshedshis bloodwith me
Shall bemybrother; behene'ersovile
This day shallgentlehiscondition.
Andgentlemen in England, nowa-bed
Shall thinkthemselves accursed theywere nothere,
Andholdtheirmanhoodscheapwhilesanyspeaks
Thatfought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
SHAKESPEARE
16 KingHenryV
