D-DAY DOCUMENTS

6th Airborne Division - 6th Airlanding Brigade - 12th Battalion - War Diaries

5th June 1944
Ships at anchor inside Thames Estuary Boom.

6th June 1944
0445 - Ships sailed in convoy. Convoy shelled in STRAITS OF DOVER.  A Coy under comd Major J. Rogers emplaned in gliders at FARRINGDON aerodrome and flew to area of operation. One glider crashed in sea 8 miles off French coast. 6 O.Rs missing. Gliders landed in FRANCE in area F/7 1273 assembled and moved to HEROUVILLETTE. Village held until arrival of Bn on 7 June. No casualties. 

7th June 1944
Day - L.C.I's and Transport ships landed on coast of FRANCE off OUISTREHAM. All personnel landed safely. Some equipment drowned.
1600 - Bn regrouped in unit assembly area 'HOMER'.
Place: Le Bas de Ranville
1700 - Moved to Concentration Area Le Bas de RANVILLE and took up defensive posns from 12 Para Bn at 1800 hrs.
2200 - A Coy joined up with Bn.
2230 - Bn 'Stood To'.
2315 - Bn 'Stood Down'. 3 P.Ws taken. Two identified 125 Pz Gren Regt one 100 Pz Gren Regt. (One P.W. a sniper captured by B Coy).
2200 - Bn positions subjected to enemy mortar fire.  16 O.Rs wounded.
2300 - Bn positions MACHINE gunned and bombed by enemy aircraft. New type of anti personnel bombs dropped. 3 O.Rs killed.

7th / 8th June 1944
Place: Le Bas de Ranville
Intermittent bombing and shelling by enemy on our positions during night. No casualties.

8th June 1944
Place: Le Bas de Ranville

1100 - Bn positions subjected to heavy enemy mortar fire. 1 O.R. killed.
1400 - Bn positions subjected to heavy enemy mortar fire and shelling by sp guns. No casualties. Infm received enemy forming up for attack. Enemy dispersed by Arty.
1630 to 1830 - Increased shelling and enemy air bombardment on bridges. Arty replied with heavy barrage of enemy positions.
2359 - Bn sent a patrol to ring contour above STE HONORINE de CHARDONNERETTE. Patrol reported enemy lorried inf moving up from STE HONORINE. 6 Airldg Bde informed. Arty fire brought to bear on enemy convoy.