Brigade Headquarters, 5th Parachute Brigade

112745

12/857

2 i/c

A/C

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Airldg

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A Tk
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Wef

Map Reference

12 Kompanie, 857 Grenadier Regiment

Second-in-Command

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Adjutant
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Commander Royal Artillery

Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General

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His Majesty

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Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

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With effect

0015 - Comd Post lands on DZ 'N' NORTH of RANVILLE. Coup de Main Force lands in glider on LZs adjacent to BENOUVILLE and PONT TOURNANT Brs. 5 out of 6 gliders land close up to brs. Br garrison surprised & brs captured intact.

0215 - 30% Bde HQ at RV 112745. HQ opens here. Clearing of obstructions on DZ 'N' begins.

0330 - Lt G ROYLE, 2 i/c Bde Sig Sec, killed. 4 A/L A Tk Bty & Bde glider element lands on LZ 'N' A Tk guns move quickly into posn. 9 x 6 pdr & 2 x 17 pdr landed safely.

0230 - 7 Para Bn (approx one coy in strength) move from Bn RV., cross brs & est tight bridgehead on WEST of Canal.

0400 - LE BAS DE RANVILLE occupied by 12 Para Bn (Str approx about 2 coys) PWs from 736 Gren Regt taken.

1100 - 7 Para Bn extend brhead posns on arrival of further tps which had been dropped off DZ. Series of counter attacks begin against 7 Para Bn from NW & SOUTH. Elements of 736 Gren Regt & 192 PZ Gren Regt identified & supported by light tks & a few SP guns. All attacks successfully beaten off.

1200 - Patrols and recce elements of 125 PZ Gren Regt attack 12 Para Bn. from the SOUTH, attacks continuing during the afternoon with considerable losses to enemy. Some PWs taken. Tks and SP guns seen. All attacks repulsed.

1300 - 1 SS Bde, seaborne tps, reach and cross brs BENOUVILLE & PONT TOURNANT. 3 Cdo remains area brs to reinforce 12 Para Bn if necessary.

2100 - Glider borne forces land. RUR on LZ 'N' & move to LONGUEVAL, 2 OXF & BUCKS on LZ 'W' & move to HEROUVILLETTE. Two glider casualties.

1600 - 12 Para Bn attacked from SOUTH by inf and small number of tks - attack repulsed. Intermittent shelling of RANVILLE, DZ & Bde HQ.

1900 - Movement of enemy tps, guns & small amount of armour in ST HONORINE and SOUTH of ESCOVILLE.

2300 - ST HONORINE and wood 082311 shelled by own tps. Enemy withdraw in some confusion SOUTHwards.

1100 - 12 Para Bn move towards LONGUEVAL to take over posn of RUR which is to attack ST HONORINE, but later is withdrawn to original posn on discovering that ST HONORINE is too strongly held for attack to be successful. 2 OXF & BUCKS come under comd 5 Para Bde & patrols fwd to ESCOVILLE. Intermittent shelling & mortaring of Bde area throughout the day.

4 SP A Tk guns (17 pdrs) arrive in Bde area from 3 Div - now 61 A Tk guns defending Div locality incl 5 from 3 Div arty. First outgoing mail cleared. Day quiet until hvy shelling of Bde area & straffing by enemy A/C 1940 hrs.

2200 - Set piece attack on 2 OXF & BUCKS supported by Tks & SP guns. Attack beaten off & enemy 2 OXF & BUCKS reoccupied ESCOVILLE. Shelling of Bde area.

1100 - Enemy est one bn in strength attacks towards RANVILLE from direction of BREVILLE. Attack not supported by arty or tks. 13 and 7 Para Bns inflict hvy casualties on enemy as they cross open ground. Some enemy penetrates RANVILLE but later mopped up. Isolated pockets of enemy remain in orchard Le MARIQUET and other areas on DZ. Many PWs taken.

1600 - 2 Coys 7 Para Bn supported by sqn Sherman tks & covering fire of 13 Para Bn attack Le MARIQUET and mop up enemy on DZ. Heavy casualties inflicted on enemy and many PW taken. Est total of enemy cas for day 300 dead 70 PW. 153 Bde 51 Div passes through Bde area and occupy area TOUFFREVILLE. BREVILLE heavily shelled during night.

0740 - Attack by 5 BLACK WATCH on BREVILLE fails. BREVILLE becoming enemy strongpoint. Day quiet except for spasmodic mortaring from area BREVILLE. 12 Para Bn relieve 4 Cdo during night in area HAUGER and come under comd 1 SS Bde. Chester WILMOTT and Leonard MOSELY, war correspondents with 6 Airborne Div leave for ENGLAND.

Morning quiet. Enemy attack SOUTH from BREVILLE and punch in left flank of 5 BLACK WATCH. Counter attack by 1 CDN PARA BN partially restores situation.

2300 - 12 Para Bn and 1 coy 12 DEVONS with two sqn tks u/c attack BREVILLE after 15 mins arty conc from five arty regts. BREVILLE captured but casualties heavy due to inaccuracy of Arty support. Col JOHNSON, CO, 12 Para Bn, killed.

0400 - 22 IND PARA COY arrive in BREVILLE to reinforce 12 Para Bn & coy 12 Devons. 154 Bde captures ST HONORINE.

Intermittent shelling and mortaring. 51 (H) Div takes over SOUTH part of bridgehead EAST of river and canal. 5 Para Bde comes into Div reserve. 12 Para Bn relieved at BREVILLE by 2 OXF & BUCKS. Maj WAB HARRIS, MC., assumes comd and Maj N STOCKWELL 2 i/c of 12 Para Bn respectively wef 13 Jun.

0500 to 0600 - Small attacks on EAST front of Div posn, all repelled. 7 Para Bn attacked from direction of ESCOVILLE. Attack repelled & 8 PW; Recce Regt 21 PZ Div taken.

1800 - Conference; subject Relief of 3 Para Bde by 5 Para Bde. Capt C BLISS posted to 12 Para Bn to comd 'A' Coy. Lt ROBSON, Bde LO returns to 12 Para Bn as pl comd.

Relief of 3 Para Bde by 5 Para Bde. Relief starts 0700 hrs finishes 1300 hrs. Bde HQ est 137729. Patrols 7 Para Bn report Fm 147723 occupied by enemy. Track approaching from WEST mined with Tellermines. 2 MG and one mortar post occupied.

1200 - Patrol conference. 'B' coy 7 Para Bn attack fm 147723 - 7 PW taken all 9 coy 857 Gren Regt and about 30 casualties inflicted on enemy. Our casualties 3 offrs wounded 2 OR dead & 13 wounded. Inf gained from PW concerning strength and location of enemy.

Sqn lt tks from Armd Recce Regt come under comd. Pl 13 Para Bn attack SP gun posn 146773. Posn stronger than expected and pl withdraws with 16 cas incl 2 missing. Bde HQ hit by shell - 1 OR dead 1 OR wounded [Webmaster's note: See attached note for details].

1200 - Patrol conference. Contact patrols during day and night. 13 Para Bn occupied fm 143730 and lay minefield across road. Bde HQ engaged with rocket projectors. Capt M. BOUVERIE BRASCO wounded and evacuated. 1 OR wounded.

1800 - One tp 2 RM Armd Sp Regt comes under comd (95mm How in CENTAURS). Congratulatory letter received from GOC & passed to bns.

1000 - Patrol conference. Shelling and mortaring continues. Contact patrols by 12 Para Bn on 13 Para Bn front and by 22 Ind Para Coy on 7 Para Bn front. Fighting patrol by 22 Ind Para Coy on enemy posns track 148722. 3 PW taken and 6-7 enemy killed. Lt LATOUR and 1 OR killed. Infm gained from PW Identification 9 coy 857 Gren Regt. Location Coy and Bn HQ. Strength of PW's and possibly other coys down to 50%. Tp 591 Para Sqn RE placed in support of each of 13 and 7 Para Bn for constructing defences, wiring and clearing fields of fire.

1000 - Patrol conference. Coy of 12 Para Bn relieves 'C' coy 7 Para Bn. Brig lays down policy of putting down 3 bombs on enemy fwd posns for every bomb falling on our own. Own mortars intensely active.

1700 - LE PRIEURE shelled by Navy. Counter Mortar Offrs att 5 Para Bde in accordance with Div Counter Mortar Plan.

1000 - Patrol conference. 5 CAMERONS capture ST HONORINE. Enemy mortar and Arty less active on Bde area. Contact patrols and fwd tps report mov of MT & Horse drawn vehs from enemy posns during the night also shouting and digging.

2350 - Fighting patrol of 1 offr & 6 OR provided by 12 Para Bn goes out from 7 Para Bn posn to bring in PW with a view to seeing if noise of previous night was due to arrival of reinforcements.

2350 - Heavy shelling and mortaring of Bde area and of 154 on right. 154 reports that 7 BLACK WATCH are being attacked. 4 Bde DF tasks fired. No enemy inf seen by Bde fwd posn. Patrol caught in open ground and unable to carry out task.

0230 - All quiet. Patrol returns having been unable to obtain PWs & reported a new enemy posn in NORTH edge of BAS DE BAVENT. 5 Para Bde relieved by 3 Para Bde & proceed to rest area 1175. Bde HQ opens 124759. 'Stars in Battle Dress' concert party.

0930 - Trg conference. Subject (a) Lessons learned from campaign to date. (b) Trg of patrol teams.

2030 - Conference for COs of 7 and 13 Para Bns and CRA. Raid planned with object (i) to maintain offensive domination of ground in front of FDLs (ii) to break into and mop up locality 153722 (iii) to bring back PWs. Raid to take place 0200 hrs night 6 Jul.

1830 - Conference for COs of 7 and 13 Para Bns and CRA. Op Instr No.1 issued Non Paratp reinforcements arrive Bde HQ. 2 Offrs (Lt M Mustoe, 2/Lt GLJ Seager) and 20 ORs. Offrs att as LOs.

2100 - Conference Op "ROSE, "RED ROSE". Plan of raid (Appx 'A') replaced by plan for Bn attack. Lt B Metcalf Bde LO posted 12 Para Bn as Adjt. 2/Lt J Jenkins att as 2IC Bde Sig Sec. HM the King grants authority for Brig Poett to wear Silver Star awarded by US Army.

12 Para Bn with under comd C Coy/RUR relieve 13 Para Bn. 13 Para Bn moves to area Chateau de Benouville for special trg for operations "ROSE" and "RED ROSE".

1900 - 12 deserters from 1 Coy 642 Ost Bn cross to 12 Para Bn lines giving final confirmation that this unit was opposite us.

Brigadier lays down policy of gradually advancing and eating up of enemy defences. 7 Para Bn push front fwd to 146722 and 147718. 12 Para Bn establishes post at 146727. Casualties Lt Col WAB Harris comd 12 Para Bn shot in shoulder by sniper and evacuated. 2 Offrs and 5 ORs of 12 Para Bn wounded on patrol attempting to establish post at 146778. Maj Stockwell 2IC 12 Para Bn wounded slightly. Maj Steele Baume temporarily takes over comd of 12 Para Bn and Capt Fellowes, Bde LO temporarily att 12 Para Bn as Pl comd.

1830 - Propaganda broadcast to enemy in German and Russian results in enemy mortar fire in loud speaker area.

1000 - Conference - patrols. Fall of CAEN. 7 Para Bn engage BOB's farm with PIATs largely demolishing buildings.

13 Para Bn relieve 12 Para Bn - relief complete by 1200 hrs. 12 Para Bn move to area Chateau de Benouville.

1000 - Conference. 7 Para Bn raid on BOB's Farm planned. Object of raid (i) to obtain PW (ii) to mop up Bob's Farm hedgerow posn Bob's Farm to 148720. This raid replaces op "ROSE" and "RED ROSE".

7 Para Bn raid on Bob's Fm starts with Arty and Mortar Programme 65 Med Regt, 53 Airldg Lt Regt, 150 Fd Regt in sp. Left hand pl reaches Fm and finds it empty of enemy and is itself heavily engaged by enemy DF fire. Right hand pl held up in gulley by booby traps and MG fire. Coy withdraws and reaches rear of bn area by 1750 hrs. No PW taken or dead Germans seen in Fm hence no identification obtained. Own casualties 1 Offr and 5 ORs wounded, 1 OR killed. Interchange of arty and mortar fire continues until 1940 hrs.

8 Para Bn come under comd 5 Para Bde and relieve 7 Para Bn who come under comd 3 Para Bde. Relief complete 1500 hrs. 2 Secs Def Pl return to Bde HQ.

0400 - Shelling and mortaring of Bde area. 4 Polish deserters come in (one shot), 2 to 13 Para Bn from 11/858 and 2 to 8 Para Bn from 10/857. Lt Robson assumes comd Bde Def Pl.

1000 - Brig JHN Poett decorated by Gen Bradley at 21 Army Gp HQ with Silver Star. Lt Col Pearson assumes comd Bde during Brig Poett's absence.

Enemy patrol of 1 NCO and 2 ORs captured complete by 13 Para Bn. Identification 11/858.

1800 - Cpl Waters, Bde Sig Sec awarded MM by C-in-C Gen B Montgomery. 12 Devons come under comd 5 Para Bde.

Op "GOODWOOD" begins with heaviest bombardment ever. Enemy reaction on Bde front slight. 12 Devons take over posn from 2 Seaforths on Bde right flank. Take over complete by 2000 hrs.

Two Polish deserters from 8/858 come into 8 Para Bn lines. Loudspeaker propaganda unit broadcasts from CHARLES Fm in German and Polish.

12 Devons revert comd 6 Airldg Bde. 7 Para Bn relieves 8 Para Bn and reverts comd 5 Para Bde. 12 Para Bn moves to ECARDE and reverts comd 5 Para Bde. 8 Para Bn reverts comd 3 Para Bde.

Brig H Murray 153 Bde and Brig Flavell 6 Airldg Bde visit Bde HQ to discuss take over from 5 Para Bde and 6 Airldg Bde by 153 Bde. Take over planned for 28 and 29 Jul.

5 Para Bde relieved by 1 SS Bde and moves into Div reserve in area RANVILLE - BAS DE RANVILLE.

Bde conference. Orders given for relief for 4 SS Bde in SALLENELLES LE PLEIN area by 5 Para Bde.

1600 - Brig and BM attend Div conference "PADDLE". The plan to follow up enemy as soon as he starts to withdraw toward R.DIVES.

1 BELGIUM Group relieves 5 Para Bde. Bde moves into Div Reserve area RANVILLE - BAS DE RANVILLE.

2100 - Comd Post est 223715. 3 Para Bde makes good the line of the rly 2372 2471.

2359 - Bde adv to area ANNEBAULT by ferrying MT begins. GERMANS move out of ANNEBAULT just before Bde arrives.

0900 - 13 Para Bn enter PONT L'EVEQUE and occupies WEST end of town against considerable enemy opposition.

1415 - PONT L'EVEQUE becomes unenterable owing to fires and enemy shell and mortar fire. 13 Para Bn evacuates town. "C" Coy 7 Para Bn covers evacuation from the WEST edge of town. Bde rests.

0500 - Patrol from "C" Coy 7 Para Bn reports enemy have withdrawn from PONT L'EVEQUE.

0600 - Bde follows up enemy withdrawal by march route. Adv and ferrying up of hy weapons by carrier held up by blown brs.

1700 - 1 ROYAL NETHERLANDS Bde comes under comd. 1 SS Bde pass through Bde area towards BEUZEVILLE.

0700 - Bde again follows up enemy by march route and MT (20 x 3 tonners and vehs of Airborne Armd Recce and 1 NETHERLANDS Bde.

1100 - 7 Para Bn enter town and suffer few cas from enemy posns EAST of river. Bde HQ est 758095.

1500 - Bde less 7 Para Bn moves by MT to rest area GONNEVILLE 5714 FOUBNEVILLE 5611 QUETTEVILLE 6008. 7 Para Bn remains in PONT AUDEMER under comd 56 Bde which is putting in night attack across R.RISLE.

"Your whole Brigade has been just first-class and no praise can be too high for the work each one your battalion has put in. I send you and them my best thanks and my best wishes."

I would like to thank you all for the splendid show you have put up. Will you let the men know of the General's letter.

Robert Mitchell, wounded on the 19th June, has contributed the following statement: "I was attached to the 7th, 12th and 13th battalions, to be the link to Brigade HQ. On the jump somebody’s kitbag became caught in the door of the plane as a result of which I being next to last to leave (jump), found myself was beyond the dropping zone and finished up in the chateau grounds. Unfortunately my rifle, which was in a valise at the end of long rope, finished one side of the chateau wall and I the other. Having retrieved the rifle I made my way to the village of Ranville where I remained until daylight. When I finally found my way to the agreed rendezvous. From there on I remained with the 13th Battalion until the 19th June when I was wounded. I was near Herouvillette when I lost contact with Brigade HQ on the 19th June so it was decided that I should go to Brigade HQ to see what was wrong. Having solved the problem I was returning to the battalion when the Germans decided to mortar the crossroads first when I was there. Hearing the mortars coming I lay down on the ground and when they exploded I was peppered up my right side with shrapnel, one chunk embedding itself in my right hand."