Normandy - June 1944The mission:
In June 1944, the first battalion of the Suffolk Regiment receives the role of reserve battalion of the 8th Infantry Brigade loaded in the third British division to storm the beach coded "SWORD" between Ouistreham, at east, and Lion sur Mer, to the west. The Regiment has been prepared by an intense and specific training exercises with several landings on the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Wight.
The mission of the first Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment is to land one hour after the two assault battalions (2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and 1st battalion South Lancashire Regiment), crossing the coastal defences, cleaning the village Colleville sur Orne at 2.5 km inland, to capture a battery of guns in armoured casemates (code name: Morris) and finally to storm the German headquarters of the sector in a sheltered position fortified (code name: Hillman) south of the village.
The First Battalion of Suffolk Regiment is supported by a squadron of tanks of 13/18e Royal Hussars, two batteries of the 76th and 33rd Regiment Royal Artillery, a detachment of the 246th Company of the Royal Engineers (Engineering), a machine gun platoon of the 2nd battalion of Middlesex Regiment and a detachment of the 8th Ambulance. Finally,before they attack, the fortified positions must undergo a naval and air bombardment.
Landings:
Upon landfall around 8:30 am, the Battalion was subjected to enemy fire even run on the tracks and suffered its first losses. After connexion with armored support in the zone, the unit initiates the progression toward Colleville. She then joined to 10.30 1st Special Service Commando Brigade commanded by Lord Lovat, which turns south-east towards the bridge Bénouville and "Pegasus Bridge".
The C Company, supported by some tanks began releasing Colleville, defended by few snipers
B Company is preparing an attack in good standing of Morris's position on the west of the village, intact despite the aerial and naval bombardment. The 67 defenders, however, were highly affected and the remission is obtained before the start of the attack by the British infantry. The position is ultimately free to noon.
Company A suffered losses after passing through the village while it prepares an attack on Hillman. This preparation is severely hampered by the death of the officers responsible for liaison with the vessels of bombardment. In addition, the radios work very poorly: accordingly, the site does not suffer from naval bombardment. Finally, the first contact conducted by the reconnaissance regiment lead to the discovery of the existence of armored domes on the site. This element of defense had escaped Allied air reconnaissance.
Taking Hillman:
At 13h10, a preparation of artillery is directed Hillman. Five minutes later, the company at (reinforced with a platoon of D), B and C will launch the attack. Hampered by barbed wire and minefields, the men were mown down by German machine guns. The domes are intact despite the preliminary bombardment. The attackers fell back to their starting position with several losses.
A second attack is then established. Sappers are sent to clear corridors in the network of barbed wire and minefields.
The attack resumed around 16:30 after a new artillery preparation. Tanks borrow corridors identified and thus enable the Suffolk Regiment infantry to approach the machine gun nests and especially domes that take still unabated. One of them is however offset by the soldier who Hunter was dangerously exposed to approach it. Gradually the British managed to neutralize all the shooting locations. At 20h, the Suffolk Regiment had 50 prisoners on the site and cleared the farm south of Beauvais also fortified by the Germans. It then starts from a position of defense in fear of an attack against the German tanks reported north of Caen.
The website reserves but still a surprise to the soldiers of Suffolk: Colonel Krug, commanding the 736th Regiment of German grenadiers remained locked in a bunker with 70 men. He comes to us by phone his superior General Richter of the 716th Division to his command post established in a cave near Caen (the underground still exists and is part of the Memorial for Peace). The Colonel explains his situation: "The enemy is on my bunker, I have no way to resist and I have no communication with my men. What should I do?". The General, after consultation with other officers witnessed the scene (General Feuchting, commanding the 21st Panzer Division and Colonel Meyer commanding a regiment of 12th SS Panzer Division) replied to the besieged it can no longer give of order and leaves the master of its decision.
On June 7 at 6:45, Colonel Krug and his men surrendered to the British.
Review:
The first battalion of the Suffolk Regiment has achieved the objectives that had been set for D-Day and has about 200 prisoners. Its losses were 7 killed and 25 wounded. The support troops have also suffered: 1 killed and 7 wounded for armored 13/18 Hussars, 1 wounded to the Royal Engineers, 1 killed and 6 injured for the 2nd Middlesex Regiment and finally several liaison officers of artillery.
