Casualties

SOURCE WD Jun 44

2 DEVONS - D DAY

0810 A and B Coys landed well to the West of LE HAMEL. (n.b. This is the wrong beach, i.e. ITEM RED. 1 HAMPS and 2 DEVONS were briefed to land on JIG GREEN. Did the HAMPS also land on the wrong beach?) The landing was very difficult owing to the sea and the beach obstacles.

0820 Bn HQ and C and D Coys land. 1 HAMPS had not cleared the immediate area of the beach and the bn was held up by mortar shell and MG fire.

0915 C and D Coys start moving towards LE HAMEL.

0955 A and B Coys start moving inland. Communications were bad. The assembly area ASNELLES- SUR-MER was still in enemy hands. A new plan was made to bypass ASNELLES and push straight on to RYES.
Before this plan could be passed to the coys, C coy became engaged in LE HAMEL and could not be withdrawn because of snipers and mgs.

The rest of the bn advanced along the GRONDE R towards RYES but again were held up by snipers and mgs concealed in the very close country.

It was only by skirting this enemy posn that RYES was occupied at 1625.

Owing to the breakdown of comns, no sp fire was available during this battle.

Bn reorganised on the high ground NW of RYES and stayed the night 6/7 Jun there.

C Coy were sent to occupy MASSE-DE-CRADALLE 810847 but could get no further than LA ROSIERE.

SOURCE WD Jun 44

HQ 56 INF BDE - D DAY

1215 HQ lands.
Location night 6/7 - MAGNY.

SOURCE WD Jun 44

2 SWB - D DAY

1200 Bn landed. (nb. Diary says landing took place one mile East of LE HAMEL, which would make the beach JIG GREEN. This is not so. 2 SWB landed next to 2 Essex, both bns being put in on JIG RED because JIG GREEN was under hy mortar fire. Message 44 HQ 50 (N) Div Message log Jun ha 2 Glos also of 56 Inf Bde give their

108.