- 4 -

So far as the remainder of the front was concerned, the evening of the first day of the invasion found 69 Brigade established six miles inland. The first two phases and half the third, phase of their operation had been completed; at dusk they were within five thousand yards of their final objective of St Leger. 231 Brigade had consolidated around Ryes but had not succeeded in reaching Longues or Fontenailles or in exploiting beyond them to the East. 56 Brigade had completed phase three and were established on the line Vaux-sur-Aure to St Sulpice; phase four had not begun. The operation was proceeding to plan but, owing to the delay encountered on the beaches, was behind schedule.

The second day of the invasion saw a further advance along the whole divisional front and the final objectives which should have been captured on the first day were made good. On the 69 Brigade sector 5 East Yorks moved forward on to the St Leger cross roads, and from here 6 Platoon who were with them, successfully supported an attack by 7 Green Howards on to the fortified farm which lay North of the main road and East of St Leger. After the capture of the farm 8 Platoon moved up to positions near the main road to cover the Southern approaches. 7 Platoon, with 6 Green Howards, passed through 5 East Yorks at St Leger and advanced South along the Duoy Ste Marguerite road. They reached a point to the South of the latter village, but as it was decided that the Brigade was too stretched, the 6th Battalion was withdrawn to the North of Duoy, and 7 Platoon took up positions facing the West.

In the centre of the front "A" Company with 151 Brigade had a fairly uneventful day and no opportunity of firing. They moved forward with the Brigade onto a line running through Blary, La Valliere, Ellon and Conde-sur-Seulles. Snipers continued to provide the main opposition and no counter-attack developed during the day.‘

"C" Company, on the right, were still divided between 56 and 231 Brigades. 9 Platoon supported the attack of 2 Devons onto the Longues battery at midday - the Boche hoisted the white flag after the preliminary pasting - and then reorganized with this Battalion on the Masse de Cradaille. In the early morning 11 Platoon had moved on with the S.W.B's to just North of Bayeux where, after considerable difficulty, they found positions of a kind; the country was very enclosed and snipers were everywhere, though gradually eliminated. 11 Platoon remained here throughout the day but in the afternoon 10 Platoon, with the Essex, moved round their left and, passing through the town, occupied Monurinel - a final objective in Phase four. Everyone was surprised to find Bayeux almost untouched - the Cathedral was quite undamaged, the Lion d'Or Hotel functioning normally, although these first troops had no opportunity of confirming this last. It was not long before Bayeux had resumed a normal wartime life and had become the metropolis of the Allied front.

14 Heavy Mortar Platoon lost their second, and only remaining Officer when Lieutenant Parry-Jones, who had only joined the Battalion the day before embarkation, had his carrier blown up on a mine, and, with his driver, had to be evacuated.

The opposition on this second day had not been strong aid the expected counter-attack had not so for materialised. But the difficult country - far more close even than had appeared from the maps and air-photos - slowed down the advance. It was quickly apparent that this was to be far from good machine-gun country, the land being intersected by small fields, high hedges and many orchards; no good for Vickers and difficult for Mortars requiring an O.P., but ideal for the enemy sniper.