D-DAY + 5

WD Jun 44 11 Jun

Extract from 50(N) Div Op Instruction No. 5
231 Inf Bde area x rds 7868 Pt 110 7768 LA BELLE 7669.
Sqn 61 Recce Regt reverts Div control and has moved to area just NE BAYEUX. Under comd from 1800 hours W Dgns and attd tps.
W Dgns. A force constituted as under will hold high around 7971 and rds running NE about BERNIERES - BOGAGE and East about 795718:-

11 Jun

Brigadier B.B. Walton assumed comd 151 Bde.
1330 1 Humps at 756715 and 747729.
1535 8 Armd Bde patrols meet inf and a tk weapons in areas 8769 and 867715.
1720 5 E Yorks reached sta 8672
6 Green Howards attacking NE corner of CRISTOT meeting by resistance.
2030 69 Bde report 7 Green Howards having difficulty in adv. Two coys pinned down.

2100 231 Bde adv. 2 Devons 7769. 1 Hamps 7571. Enemy reported infiltrating up line of river from 776691 to 70 Northing.
2153 6 Green Howards heavily involved North of CRISTOT.
2200 1 tp 102 A Tk Regt switched from 151 Bde to 231 Bde to meet threat of infiltration.

2300 8 Armd Bde reported heavily engaged.
69 Bde

WD Jun 44
50 N Div Int Summ No.1
App C 50 Div No.2

11 Jun

TILLY itself, however, continued to be obstinately defended by the enemy, who had tanks and infantry dispersed in the orchards and among the houses. The main difficulty is detecting the enemy in the thick country round TILLY, where dense hedges and numerous trees make observation a major problem. The enemy is exploiting this advantage to the full in his defensive fighting.
EAST of the SEULLES, the situation is confused, with enemy snipers still hidden behind our lines, and strong centres of resistance in the villages, particularly FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL where there are some tanks, several A Tk guns and a considerable force of infantry. The wood in square 8768 and the villages CRISTOT and LE MESNIL PATRY are also strongly held.
The general impression gained from the day fighting is that the enemy is trying to delay our penetration Southwards for as long as possible, in particular along the axis of the two roads leading from BAYEUX to VILLERS-BOCAGE. He is doing this by adopting offensive tactics and taking every opportunity to infiltrate forward with infantry and tanks.
Further WEST, the enemy has obviously not yet been able to bring up sufficient troops to fill in the gap held by the depleted elements of 352 Div and of 30 Schnelle Bde, between the River AURE and the main road BAYEUX - ST L0; elements of 17 SS Div identified in the area BALLEROY are so for in no great strength and have to- day been falling back steadily in front of the Americans.

WD Jun 44
11 Jun

2 Cheshire CO and L0 on way to Pt 103 visited two villages occupied by enemy - no incident.

127.