D-DAY DOCUMENTS 6th Airborne Division - 6th Airlanding Brigade - 12th Battalion - War Diaries |
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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. |