Battle of Les Bois Des Monts and The Chateau St.Come Plaque

During the night of 7th June 1944 9th Parachute Battalion, reduced to 85 men after Merville
and Amfreville/Le Plein, occupied les Bois de Mont Chateau St.Come position with orders
to hold at all costs as it overlooked Ranville plain and the Orne bridges.
In the next few days men rejoining from scattered drops increased the battalion strength to
270. It was reinforced by 5th Battalion The Black Watch and elements of the Royal
Armoured Corps, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and other Airborne troops. Between 7-13 June the enemy attacked with increasing strength, finally using three infantry battalions, artillery and a squadron, outnumbering the defenders by about four to one.
Despite severe hand-to-hand fighting the enemy did not penetrate the perimeter and suffered
very heavy casualties.

On 13 June 9th Parachute Battalion was relieved by 82nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and moved to another front line position with only 150 men.