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having inflicted any casualties. For the rest of the day and the rest of the night the Battalion patrols covered the area in front of the positions and kept watch on Ste Honorine, but the enemy made no further attacks

About this time considerable difficulty was experienced in maintaining R/T communication with Brigade. The enemy had got on to our frequency and carried out a continuous jamming programme with endless and meaningless Morse transmissions. Also at times a voice speaking in English kept asking for code-signs and would not give Slidex authentication when challenged. The station sending out these transmissions was either very powerful or very close, and succeeded in causing considerable difficulties and for some time a complete break in communication with Brigade HQ.

Early on the 9th June our patrols reported the forward areas clear of enemy, and the Reece Platoon reported that the artillery fire on Ste Honorine during the night had been very successful and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Prolonged inspection of the village from a respectful distance failed to reveal any indication of enemy occupation and it was decided to occupy it as soon as possible with 12 Para Battalion taking over Longueval. "D" Company was split into two strong patrols of two platoons each. One, under Major A.J. Dyball, was to proceed up the river to Colombelles (reported clear of enemy by civilian sources) and thence to Ste Honorine, and the other, under Capt K.H. Donelly, was to start an hour later and move direct to Ste Honorine. Major Dyball's party was accompanied by the Intelligence Officer (Lieut R.W. MacD. Crockett) with Lieut A.A. Milliken as Interpreter, left Longueval at 1000 hours and moved up the towpath to a point on the outskirts of Colombelles where they turned up through a wood and debouched on the main road opposite some cottages on the fringe of the town. Contact with French civilians was made and it was discovered that a party of about twenty enemy had moved up the road towards Longueval. It was also learned that a force about 200 strong had left earlier by the Ste Honorine road and approximately the same number were in Colombelles itself, with some armoured cars. Almost immediately it was discovered that the party of twenty were returning along the road and Major Dyball decided to ambush this party. The enemy come down the road unsuspecting and, when a grenade thrown by Major Dyboll exploded in their midst, were mown down by intense fire from Brens, Stens and rifles at short range. In a few seconds almost the entire party was lying in the road, but almost immediately the rear party of the enemy patrol opened intense fire with an MG 34 and there were indications that an armoured car was approaching from Colombelles As the enemy was known to be in some strength, it was decided to withdraw. This operation was carried out successfully but some casualties were suffered by the platoon crossing the road to rejoin the main body and had to lay up for some time. On re-joining he reported that in a very short time large number of enenmy appeared and made a search of the area. A subsequent patrol again contacted the civilians and learnt that eleven enemy dead and a number of wounded were left on the road as our patrol withdrew. Our casualties were two Killed and one wounded. It was also learned from civilian sources that the enemy in Colombelles were very perturbed and annoyed as a result of this operation and threatened severe reprisals on the civilians whom they suspected of having given information. The letter were, however. able to clear themselves.

In the meantime an intelligence observation post at Longueval reported at 1100 hours that an enemy force of at least a company in strength with a gun was moving an Ste Honorine At this time. the remainder of 'D' Company was on the FUP but was held there to await further orders, and a company of 12 Para Battalion was