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destroyed one and crippled another, which managed to keep moving but was later also destroyed when it reached A Company. A systematic search of the Chateau grounds was the next step and during this a mysterious figure was observed walking from the Chateau itself towards one of the many outbuildings. A trap was laid and the figure walked right into it and was halted for interrogation. It was hard to see whether it was a man or woman but it was certainly wearing trousers. It turned out to be Mme Vian who was the matron of the maternity home which had its being in the Chateau. Atkinson, who spoke fluent French, asked her for information and she gave him the location of every German quartered in the grounds and added that there were two German doctors sheltering in the cellar of the Chateau whom she had found to be particularly unpleasant types. Mme Vian had actually started the interrogation herself by asking who, and what, the soldiers were, which under the circumstances was a very reasonable question. She expressed great surprise and pleasure when she was told that they were L'Armee de Liberation but more surprise and less pleasure when she learned that their strength was one officer and nine other ranks. When the interview was over she asked if there was any objection to her going back to bed whereupon she disappeared and presumably retired for the remainder of the night.

The outpost soon established contact with various parties of Germans and by reason of their position undoubtedly helped. to disorganise the attacks being staged against the battalion from the Caen direction. Their position also helped considerably to relieve some of the pressure on A Company from the same direction. Just before the hour fixed for the start of the seaborne effort they heard a number of tanks forming up with the apparent intention of attacking the battalion but when the tank commanders came forward on foot to receive their orders and get a view of their objective they were able to inflict a heavy toll on them. Such an attack by tanks would have had very serious consequences as A Company, who would have not it first, was in no condition to hold it for long and neither they nor the rest of the battalion had the weapons to stop it completely. However the noise of the seaborne effort became very apparent before the Germans had recovered from the shock of being shot up while on their feet; the survivors rushed back to their tanks and the whole lot swung off towards the beaches.