British 69th Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
.
The 69th Infantry Brigade was a World War II
British Army
formation. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France
served with the British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division
a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded. The brigade was included in the "order of battle" of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division , together with the 150th Infantry Brigade
and the 151st Infantry Brigade
and became part of IIX Corps , British home forces ,.
It went onto fight in the North African Campaign
, the Sicily Landings , the D-Day Landings
and the North West Europe Campaign
s.
The "Gazala Line" was a series of occupied "boxes" each of brigade strength set out across the desert with minefields and wire watched by regular patrols between the boxes. The Free French were to the south at the Bir Hakeim box. The line was not equally staffed with a greater number of troops covering the coast leaving the south less protected.
By late May Rommel was ready. Facing him on the Gazala defences were 1st South African Division, nearest the coast, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (on their left) and 1st Free French Brigade
furthest left at Bir Hakeim. The British 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions waited behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force while 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and Indian 5th Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve Indian 4th Infantry Division) were held in reserve.
The 69th Brigade position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map (right) , it was during this battle that their sister brigade the 150th Infantry Brigade was destroyed in The Cauldron by the Afrika Corps and never reformed. The 69th Brigade and the remaining units of 50th Northumbrian Division had to escape by attacking west througth the enemy lines then sweeping back east to the south of the enemy forces, eventually they reached the El Alamein
line by the 1st July.
The Battle of El Alamein is usually divided into five phases, consisting of the break-in (October 23–24), the crumbling (October 24–25), the counter (October 26–28), Operation Supercharge (November 1–2) and the breakout (November 3–7). No name is given to the period from October 29 to the 30th when the battle was at a standstill.
In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
, 69th Infantry Brigade and 50th (Northumbrian) Division were initially deployed in the south (see map), where it was to attack the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore, supported by elements of the British 7th Armoured Division. Since the Division was understrength, owing to the loss of the 150th infantry Brigade, the 1st Free French Brigade
and 1st Greek Brigade were attached to it for the battle. It was then transferred north to take part in Operation Supercharge.
On 19 March 1943 XXX Corps of the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery now part of 18th Army Group , assaulted the Mareth Line
. The 69th Infantry Brigade part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, with difficulty, penetrated the Italian held line near Zarat
. The terrain and heavy rain, however, prevented deployment of tanks and anti-tank guns and the 15th Panzer Division's counter-attack on 22 March recaptured much of the bridgehead.
Soon after, XXX Corps prepared a new attack towards Tallouf. The 4th Indian Infantry Division was detailed to make a night attack on 23 March around the left-hand end of the Line. This would coincide with the wide "left hook" manoeuver Montgomery was planning.
The division fought in Tunisia
, where Montgomery launched his major attack, Operation Pugilist
, against the Mareth Line
in the night of 19 March 1943 – 20 March 1943. Elements of the British 50th Infantry Division penetrated the line and established a bridgehead west of Zarat on 20 March/21 March, but a determined counterattack by 15th Panzer Division destroyed the pocket and established the line once again during 22 March.
Lieutenat Colonel Seagrim was killed in action shortly afterwards, on 6 April 1943
, was destroyed, although casualties among the 6th Green Howards had been severe; two senior officers, six senior NCO's and junior officers and one hundred and eighteen other ranks killed.
"When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors," recalled British infantryman Bill Cheall of the 6th Green Howards, who had just seen his section leader shot down by a San Marco Marine. "It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal."
German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim later said of the San Marco Marines fighting abilities in Tunisia in 1943, that they were "the best soldiers I ever commanded".
Eighth Army's attack along the eastern coast of Tunisia ,lead eventually to the surrender of Axis forces in Africa. 250,000 men were taken prisoner, a number equal to that at Stalingrad.
After Tunisia
the Brigade still part of 50th Northumbrian Division was involved in the Sicily landings of 1943,Eighth Army , The latter was to operate in the eastern sector, and had as its objectives the port of Syracuse
and the airfield at Pachino
. Its XIII Corps
, (which included 50th (Northumbrian) Division) , was to land south of Cap Murro Di Porco with 5th Division on a two-brigade front, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on a one-brigade front. XXX Corps , would operate on three sides of Passero, where the British 231st Infantry Brigade
, who had joind the Division to replace the destroyed 150th Infantry Brigadewould advance on a one brigade front. When it landed at Avola their objective was the hills above the landing beaches.
After Sicily the Brigade and Division was then recalled from the 8th Army
in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 51st (Highland) Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe
On 19 October 1943 the Brigade as part of 50 Northumbrian Division was withdrawn to Britain for reforming and training before landing on Gold Beach
on D-Day
, 6 June 1944, together with the 151st Infantry Brigade
,the 231st Infantry Brigade
(previously an independent unit formed from regular troops stationed on Malta
) permanently attached to the Division , and the 56th Infantry Brigade temporarily attached.
and then head south towards Route Nationale 13 linking Caen
with Bayeux
.
The first wave is made of the 231st Infantry and 69th Infantry Brigades. Once the initial assault is over and the beachhead established, the follow-up brigades the 56th and 151st will push inland to the south-west towards RN 13 supported by the tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade
.
To the west, the 47 Royal Marine Commando's mission is to capture Port-en-Bessin and link-up with U.S. forces landed on Omaha Beach
.
The 50th Infantry Division was also meet up with Canadian troops coming from Juno Beach
.
Allied invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. It lay between Omaha Beach
and Juno Beach
, was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors. From West to East they were How, Item, Jig, and King.
The beach was assaulted in multiple brigades of the 50th Northumbrian Division , on the West was the 231st Brigade
, followed by the 56th Brigade
, attached to this was a regiment of DD tank
s from The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the West were; the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment
. On the East 69th Brigade
, followed by 151st Brigade
, again a regiment of DD tanks was attached, they were from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the East were; the 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
, and the 6th Battalion The Green Howards
. Their primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux
, the Caen
-Bayeux
road, and the port of Arromanches with the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach
to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach
to the East. The 716th Static Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant
Wilhelm Richter, and elements of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division
commanded by Generalleutnant
Dietrich Kraiss
, defended the Channel coast for the Germans.H-Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours,
Company Sergeant-Major Stanley Hollis of the Green Howards was already a seasoned veteran when he landed on Gold Beach. His first action was the single handed capture of a pill box which had been bypassed by the first waves of troops. Later that day he led an assault to destroy German gun positions. For his action he was awarded the Victoria cross
. He was the only soldier to earn that medal on D-Day.
, VC
(September 21, 1912 - February 8, 1972)
He has the unique distinction of winning the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day
(June 6, 1944).
On June 6, 1944 in Normandy
, France
, Stanley Hollis 6th Battalion Green Howards , went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. He rushed forward to the first pill-box, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners. Then he cleared a neighbouring trench. Later that day, he led an attack on an enemy position which contained a field gun and Spandau machine guns. After withdrawing he learned that two of his men had been left behind and told Major Lofthouse, his commanding officer, " I took them in. I will try to get them out." Taking a grenade from one of his men Hollis carefully observed the enemy's pattern of behaviour and threw it at the most opportune moment. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade but the enemy didn't know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realised their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them.
military operation in World War II
in the Netherlands and Germany.
, would drop in two locations just north of XXX Corps to take the bridges northwest of Eindhoven at Son
and Veghel
. The 82nd Airborne Division
,would drop northeast of them to take the bridges at Grave
and Nijmegen, and the British 1st Airborne Division, and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade
would drop at the extreme north end of the route, to take the road bridge at Arnhem
and rail bridge at Oosterbeek
.
17 September 1944 at 13.30hrs the 50th Division watched as one of the largest air armadas of the war pass overhead. The division's field artillery 74th, 90th and 124th Fd Regts RA and the Mortars of Cheshire Regiment took part in the opening barrage. At 14:35hrs the Sherman’s of the Irish Guards crossed the start line and despite heavy fighting reached Valkenswaard five miles (8 km) south of Eindhoven by dusk.
22 September , 69th Brigade was in trouble when two battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden
, eight miles (13 km) south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with East Yorkshires in the north while the Green Howards where in the south.
Rations were short because of the road congestion.69th Brigade were forced to eat captured German rations witch were terrible the jam tasted like rubber, the margarine was rancid and the medical officers confirmed that the meat was all bad.
23 September 69th Brigade, with 124th Fd Regt RA continued onward towards Nijmegen. They then came under the command of the Guards Armoured Division with the task of capturing Bremmel , north of the river.
The 5th East Yorks achieved on the 25 September , but the Germans kept them under heavy artillery fire for days.
26 September the 6th Green Howards were ordered to occupy Halderen , but ran in to opposition, and failed to capture their objective. The 69th Brigade now attacked in the direction of Halderen continued throughout the 27 September. During the day the East Yorks gained some ground as they were supported by a quick barrage.
The airborne troops farther north at Arnhem had by now been withdrawn. The attempt to reach them by land had clearly failed, and attempts to supply them by air had been only partially successful. Thus the final objective of Operation "Market Garden" Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine defences had not been achieved.
30 September All of 50th Division was tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and the 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd Division across the Nederijn.
The intensity of the attack on the 69th Brigade and their defence can be judged by the fact that 124th Field Regiment RA fired a total of 12,500 25-pound shells during the action and 'B' Company of 2nd Cheshires fired 95,000 rounds of medium-machine-gun fire.
The 69th Infantry Brigade was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
formation. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
served with the British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division
British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division
The 23rd Infantry Division was a 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate of the 50th Infantry Division during the Second World War.- History :...
a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded. The brigade was included in the "order of battle" of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division , together with the 150th Infantry Brigade
British 150th Infantry Brigade
This World War II British Army formation was part of the Territorial Army unit the British 50th Infantry Division. It was overrun and forced to surrender during the Battle of Gazala in the North African campaign. For almost 72 hours during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank...
and the 151st Infantry Brigade
British 151st Infantry Brigade
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. Part of the British 50th Infantry Division.-Commanders:* Brig. Viscount Downe* Brig. J. A. Barstow* Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine...
and became part of IIX Corps , British home forces ,.
It went onto fight in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, the Sicily Landings , the D-Day Landings
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
and the North West Europe Campaign
North West Europe Campaign
The North West Europe Campaign was the name given by the British and Commonwealth armed forces to the two land campaigns they fought on the Western Front during World War II....
s.
Commanders
- Brig. Viscount DowneViscount DowneViscount Downe is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation came in 1675 for William Ducie. However, the title became extinct on his death in 1679. The second creation came in 1680 for John Dawnay. He had earlier represented Yorkshire and Pontefract in the...
- Brig. J.A. BarstowJohn Anderson BarstowJohn Anderson Barstow MC was a British Army officer, the brother of Major General Arthur Edward Barstow and son of Lieut.Col. Thomas Adam Anderson Barstow of the Seaforth Highlanders and Jane Cape Barstow....
- Brig. G.W.E.J. Erskine (later C.O. British 7th Armoured DivisionBritish 7th Armoured DivisionThe 7th Armoured Division was a British armoured division which saw service during the Second World War where its exploits made it famous as the Desert Rats....
) - Brig. L.L. Hassall
- Brig. E.C. Cooke-Collis
- Brig. A.G.B. Stanier
Component Units
- 5th Bn, The East Yorkshire Regiment
- 6th Bn, The Green HowardsThe Green HowardsThe Green Howards was an infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division...
- 7th Bn, The Green HowardsThe Green HowardsThe Green Howards was an infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division...
North Africa
In April 1941 the Brigade as part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was dispatched to the Middle East first via Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and then into Libya as part of XIII Corps in the British Eighth Army which was one of the best-known formations in World War II.Battle of Gazala
By late May Rommel was ready. Facing him on the Gazala defences were 1st South African Division, nearest the coast, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (on their left) and 1st Free French Brigade
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
furthest left at Bir Hakeim. The British 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions waited behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force while 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and Indian 5th Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve Indian 4th Infantry Division) were held in reserve.
The 69th Brigade position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map (right) , it was during this battle that their sister brigade the 150th Infantry Brigade was destroyed in The Cauldron by the Afrika Corps and never reformed. The 69th Brigade and the remaining units of 50th Northumbrian Division had to escape by attacking west througth the enemy lines then sweeping back east to the south of the enemy forces, eventually they reached the El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
line by the 1st July.
El Alamein
In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, 69th Infantry Brigade and 50th (Northumbrian) Division were initially deployed in the south (see map), where it was to attack the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore, supported by elements of the British 7th Armoured Division. Since the Division was understrength, owing to the loss of the 150th infantry Brigade, the 1st Free French Brigade
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
and 1st Greek Brigade were attached to it for the battle. It was then transferred north to take part in Operation Supercharge.
First assault on the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
. The 69th Infantry Brigade part of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, with difficulty, penetrated the Italian held line near Zarat
Zarat, Tunisia
Zarat is a town and commune in the Gabès Governorate, Tunisia. As of 2004 it had a population of 5,205....
. The terrain and heavy rain, however, prevented deployment of tanks and anti-tank guns and the 15th Panzer Division's counter-attack on 22 March recaptured much of the bridgehead.
Soon after, XXX Corps prepared a new attack towards Tallouf. The 4th Indian Infantry Division was detailed to make a night attack on 23 March around the left-hand end of the Line. This would coincide with the wide "left hook" manoeuver Montgomery was planning.
The division fought in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, where Montgomery launched his major attack, Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist was an Allied operation in Tunisia during the Second World War. In his General Plan, General Bernard Montgomery stated "...the object of operation Pugilist is to destroy the enemy now opposing Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture Sfax." Pugilist itself...
, against the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
in the night of 19 March 1943 – 20 March 1943. Elements of the British 50th Infantry Division penetrated the line and established a bridgehead west of Zarat on 20 March/21 March, but a determined counterattack by 15th Panzer Division destroyed the pocket and established the line once again during 22 March.
Lieutenant Colonel Derek Anthony Seagrim, VC 20/21 March 1943
On 20/21 March 1943 at the Mareth Line, Tunisia, Lieutenant Colonel Seagrim's courage and leadership led directly to the capture of an important objective. When it appeared that the attack on the position would fail owing to the intensity of the enemy fire, he placed himself at the head of his battalion and led them forward. He personally helped to place a scaling ladder over an anti-tank ditch and was the first across. Leading an attack on two machine-gun posts, he accounted for twenty of the enemy and when a counter-attack was launched next day he moved from post to post quite unperturbed, until it was defeated.Lieutenat Colonel Seagrim was killed in action shortly afterwards, on 6 April 1943
Gabes
Both the Eighth Army and the U.S. II Corps continued their attacks over the next week, and eventually the 8th broke the lines and the DAK was forced to abandon Gabes and retreat to join the other Axis forces far to the north. On the night of 5 April, Wadi Akarit , was attacked and the "Tobruk" Battalion of the Italian San Marco MarinesSan Marco Regiment
The San Marco Regiment , located in Brindisi, are the marines of the Italian Navy. Until the middle of the 1990s the unit was known as the “San Marco Battalion” , until it was expanded beyond battalion size because of the new geopolitical situation after the end of the Cold War and an increasing...
, was destroyed, although casualties among the 6th Green Howards had been severe; two senior officers, six senior NCO's and junior officers and one hundred and eighteen other ranks killed.
"When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors," recalled British infantryman Bill Cheall of the 6th Green Howards, who had just seen his section leader shot down by a San Marco Marine. "It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal."
German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim later said of the San Marco Marines fighting abilities in Tunisia in 1943, that they were "the best soldiers I ever commanded".
Eighth Army's attack along the eastern coast of Tunisia ,lead eventually to the surrender of Axis forces in Africa. 250,000 men were taken prisoner, a number equal to that at Stalingrad.
Operation Husky , Sicily Invasion
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
the Brigade still part of 50th Northumbrian Division was involved in the Sicily landings of 1943,Eighth Army , The latter was to operate in the eastern sector, and had as its objectives the port of Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
and the airfield at Pachino
Pachino
Pachino is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . The name derives from the Phoenician word pachum which means guardia in Italian ; an alternative origin is the Greek word paxum translating into fertile...
. Its XIII Corps
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
, (which included 50th (Northumbrian) Division) , was to land south of Cap Murro Di Porco with 5th Division on a two-brigade front, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on a one-brigade front. XXX Corps , would operate on three sides of Passero, where the British 231st Infantry Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
, who had joind the Division to replace the destroyed 150th Infantry Brigadewould advance on a one brigade front. When it landed at Avola their objective was the hills above the landing beaches.
After Sicily the Brigade and Division was then recalled from the 8th Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 51st (Highland) Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe
Operation Overlord , D-Day
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, 6 June 1944, together with the 151st Infantry Brigade
British 151st Infantry Brigade
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. Part of the British 50th Infantry Division.-Commanders:* Brig. Viscount Downe* Brig. J. A. Barstow* Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine...
,the 231st Infantry Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
(previously an independent unit formed from regular troops stationed on Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
) permanently attached to the Division , and the 56th Infantry Brigade temporarily attached.
Objectives
The 50th (Northumbrian)Infantry Division was to establish a beachhead between Arromanches and Ver-sur-MerVer-sur-Mer
-References:*...
and then head south towards Route Nationale 13 linking Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
with Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
.
The first wave is made of the 231st Infantry and 69th Infantry Brigades. Once the initial assault is over and the beachhead established, the follow-up brigades the 56th and 151st will push inland to the south-west towards RN 13 supported by the tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade
British 8th Armoured Brigade
The 8 Armoured Brigade was a British Army brigade, formed in August 1941 during the Second World War and active until 1956. The brigade was formed by the re-designation of 6th Cavalry Brigade when the 1st Cavalry Division based in Palestine , converted from a motorised formation to an armoured...
.
To the west, the 47 Royal Marine Commando's mission is to capture Port-en-Bessin and link-up with U.S. forces landed on Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
.
The 50th Infantry Division was also meet up with Canadian troops coming from Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
.
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the Allied codename for the centre invasion beach during the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Allied invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. It lay between Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
and Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
, was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors. From West to East they were How, Item, Jig, and King.
The beach was assaulted in multiple brigades of the 50th Northumbrian Division , on the West was the 231st Brigade
British 231st Infantry Brigade
.- History :The 231st Infantry Brigade was a Second World War British Army unit, originally formed from the 1st Malta Brigade.It was composed of regular British Army battalions, was stationed on Malta at the start of the Second World War...
, followed by the 56th Brigade
British 56th Infantry Brigade
The British Army's 56th Infantry Brigade was originally a Kitchener's Army brigade within 19th Division during the First World War.Later during the Second World War it was reformed on 15 February 1944 in the United Kingdom....
, attached to this was a regiment of DD tank
DD tank
DD tanks , were a type of amphibious swimming tank developed by the British during the Second World War...
s from The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry
The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry is one of the five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry , an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army. Designated as 'S' Squadron, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry's current role is to support the Formation Reconnaissance Regiments and the Joint Chemical Biological Nuclear...
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the West were; the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment
Dorset Regiment
The Dorset Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1958, the county regiment of Dorset. Until 1951 it was formally called The Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as "The Dorsets".-History:...
. On the East 69th Brigade
British 69th Infantry Brigade
.The 69th Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France served with the British 23rd Division a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded...
, followed by 151st Brigade
British 151st Infantry Brigade
The 151st Infantry Brigade was a World War II British Army formation. Part of the British 50th Infantry Division.-Commanders:* Brig. Viscount Downe* Brig. J. A. Barstow* Brig. G. W. E. J. Erskine...
, again a regiment of DD tanks was attached, they were from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the East were; the 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
, and the 6th Battalion The Green Howards
The Green Howards
The Green Howards was an infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division...
. Their primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
, the Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
-Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
road, and the port of Arromanches with the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach
Juno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
to the East. The 716th Static Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Wilhelm Richter, and elements of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division
German 352nd Infantry Division
The 352nd Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. A western front unit, the 352nd became notable for its tenacious defense of Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944.-Formation and strengths:...
commanded by Generalleutnant
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Dietrich Kraiss
Dietrich Kraiss
Dietrich Kraiss was a German Generalleutnant during World War II, awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.Kraiss was born in Stuttgart...
, defended the Channel coast for the Germans.H-Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours,
Company Sergeant-Major Stanley Hollis of the Green Howards was already a seasoned veteran when he landed on Gold Beach. His first action was the single handed capture of a pill box which had been bypassed by the first waves of troops. Later that day he led an assault to destroy German gun positions. For his action he was awarded the Victoria cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. He was the only soldier to earn that medal on D-Day.
Stanley Elton Hollis VC
Stanley Elton HollisStanley Elton Hollis
Stanley Elton Hollis VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(September 21, 1912 - February 8, 1972)
He has the unique distinction of winning the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
(June 6, 1944).
On June 6, 1944 in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Stanley Hollis 6th Battalion Green Howards , went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. He rushed forward to the first pill-box, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners. Then he cleared a neighbouring trench. Later that day, he led an attack on an enemy position which contained a field gun and Spandau machine guns. After withdrawing he learned that two of his men had been left behind and told Major Lofthouse, his commanding officer, " I took them in. I will try to get them out." Taking a grenade from one of his men Hollis carefully observed the enemy's pattern of behaviour and threw it at the most opportune moment. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade but the enemy didn't know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realised their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them.
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden (September 17, 1944–September 25, 1944) was an AlliedAllies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
military operation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Netherlands and Germany.
Market
Market would employ three Airborne Divisions. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, would drop in two locations just north of XXX Corps to take the bridges northwest of Eindhoven at Son
Son en Breugel
Son en Breugel is a municipality in the southern Netherlands just outside of Eindhoven. 15,204 lived in this municipality as of June 1, 2005. Son en Breugel is 26,67 km² . Son en Breugel used to be two different towns 'Son' and 'Breugel'. The border between these towns is made by the stream...
and Veghel
Veghel
Veghel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Since 1994 Veghel and the neighbouring village of Erp have formed a single municipality.Veghel is twinned with Goch in Germany.- Population centres :*Boerdonk*Eerde*Erp*Keldonk...
. The 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
,would drop northeast of them to take the bridges at Grave
Grave (Netherlands)
Grave is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. Grave is a fortified city, in the province North Brabant.-Popular attractions:Near to Grave lies a bridge, built in 1929. It is the northern connection to Gelderland, spanning the river Maas...
and Nijmegen, and the British 1st Airborne Division, and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade
Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade
The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was a parachute brigade under command of Maj.Gen. Stanisław Sosabowski, created in Scotland in September 1941, with the exclusive mission to drop into occupied Poland in order to help liberate the country. The British government, however, pressured the Polish...
would drop at the extreme north end of the route, to take the road bridge at Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and rail bridge at Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
.
Garden
Garden consisted primarily of XXX Corps and was spearheaded by the Guards Armoured Division, with the 43rd Wessex and 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division including 69th Infantry Brigade , in reserve.17 September 1944 at 13.30hrs the 50th Division watched as one of the largest air armadas of the war pass overhead. The division's field artillery 74th, 90th and 124th Fd Regts RA and the Mortars of Cheshire Regiment took part in the opening barrage. At 14:35hrs the Sherman’s of the Irish Guards crossed the start line and despite heavy fighting reached Valkenswaard five miles (8 km) south of Eindhoven by dusk.
22 September , 69th Brigade was in trouble when two battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden
Uden
Uden is a municipality and a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.- History :Uden was first recorded around 1190 as “Uthen”. However, earlier settlements have been found in the areas of the modern day Moleneind, Vorstenburg and Bitswijk and evidence of ice-age settlements has been...
, eight miles (13 km) south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with East Yorkshires in the north while the Green Howards where in the south.
Rations were short because of the road congestion.69th Brigade were forced to eat captured German rations witch were terrible the jam tasted like rubber, the margarine was rancid and the medical officers confirmed that the meat was all bad.
23 September 69th Brigade, with 124th Fd Regt RA continued onward towards Nijmegen. They then came under the command of the Guards Armoured Division with the task of capturing Bremmel , north of the river.
The 5th East Yorks achieved on the 25 September , but the Germans kept them under heavy artillery fire for days.
26 September the 6th Green Howards were ordered to occupy Halderen , but ran in to opposition, and failed to capture their objective. The 69th Brigade now attacked in the direction of Halderen continued throughout the 27 September. During the day the East Yorks gained some ground as they were supported by a quick barrage.
The airborne troops farther north at Arnhem had by now been withdrawn. The attempt to reach them by land had clearly failed, and attempts to supply them by air had been only partially successful. Thus the final objective of Operation "Market Garden" Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine defences had not been achieved.
30 September All of 50th Division was tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and the 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd Division across the Nederijn.
The intensity of the attack on the 69th Brigade and their defence can be judged by the fact that 124th Field Regiment RA fired a total of 12,500 25-pound shells during the action and 'B' Company of 2nd Cheshires fired 95,000 rounds of medium-machine-gun fire.
External links
- http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/bill-cheall/cheall05.htm
- http://www.routetovictory.info/50history.php
- http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/50InfDiv.html