D-DAY DOCUMENTS

4th Special Service Brigade - No.46 (Royal Marine) Commando - War Diaries

6th June 1944
Place: Cowes Roads
1230 - LSsI sailed in company with H.M.S. ISIS (Destroyer escort).
Place: At Sea
1830 - Arrived at anchorage JUNO (off ST. AUBIN-SUR-MER) proceeding one hour later to anchorage SWORD (off OUISTREHAM) to report to Flag Officer, Force S.
2200 - The order was received that both operations were postponed as neither of the Btys was harassing our shipping and also because the weather was not altogether favourable for the operations. The LSsI returned to anchorage JUNO for the night.

7th June 1944
Place: At Sea
0600 - Signal received that the unit was to come under command 1 Corp and to be landed on NAN WHITE Beach as early as possible. Hasty re-adjustments and improvisations were made to equipment.
Place: Hernieres 002853
0900 - The unit was landed by the ships flotillas on NAN WHITE Beach. Orders were received that the unit was to capture strongpoint PETIT ENFER area 048833 - 052830 - 051829 - 047832 with u/c one troop RMAS Gp.
1330 - Attack in three phases commenced from rd junc 033838.
Place: Petit Enfer
1800 - Strongpoint surrendered; 65 prisoners (716 Coastal Div) were captured, together with a considerable quantity of enemy weapons and equipment. Own casualties - NIL.
2000 - Orders were received that two troops were to occupy LA DELIVERANDE 0881 jointly with 7 Black Watch that evening after a heavy naval bombardment.
Place: La Deliverande
2200 - 'B' and 'X' Tps with Command Post reached LA DELIVERANDE and occupied the town.

8th June 1944
Place: Petit Enfer
0215 - Wireless communication between unit HQ in PETIT ENFER and LA DELIVERANDE having failed, a patrol was sent out to find out the situation in LA DELIVERANDE and report back to 4 SS Bde.
0500 - Orders were received to push a patrol forward to DOUVRES 015806.
Place: La Deliverande
0800 - 'S' Tp left on patrol, returning at 1245 hrs, reporting that DOUVRES was clear of the enemy but that they had contacted the enemy in a strongpoint position immediately SOUTH of DOUVRES (this was the Radar Station between DOUVRES and BASLY 9979). The patrol suffered two casualties. DOUVRES was then occupied on orders received by 4 SS Bde. This task was carried out by 'A', 'Y', 'Z' and 'S' Troops who searched the village and took up positions to support an attack on the Radar Station which was to be made by 7 Black Watch at 1800 hrs with naval and air support. This attack was cancelled by 1 Corps.