295 Sqn beat the OX & Bucks to Normandy?
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Hampshire
Age: 68
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fayslag, I'm working away from home at the moment so I'm unable to check my book / document collection.
My father was with 1st Black Watch so my interest is somewhat slanted in that direction.
Have you tried the 51st HD website? 51 Highland Division Website : History
My father was with 1st Black Watch so my interest is somewhat slanted in that direction.
Have you tried the 51st HD website? 51 Highland Division Website : History
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,567
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
31 Posts
If you want an "eye-witness" type account of 51st HD during the campaign then "Monty's Highlanders" by Patrick Delaforce may well give some background for you.
Basically, the Germans counterattacked the flank of the Normandy bridgehead against the Paras at Breville on 10 Jun. This produced a salient that 3 battalions of 51 HD (153 Brigade) supported by the 6th Air Landing Brigade helped reduce and stabilise the front line again by 11 Jun.
Basically, the Germans counterattacked the flank of the Normandy bridgehead against the Paras at Breville on 10 Jun. This produced a salient that 3 battalions of 51 HD (153 Brigade) supported by the 6th Air Landing Brigade helped reduce and stabilise the front line again by 11 Jun.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,567
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
31 Posts
I did a Google search for Breville, and amongst the Toasters found a bit about the 51st HD. 5th Black Watch was placed under command of 6th Airborne division and given the task of capturing Breville; they walked straight into an ambush. A company was badly hit with the lead platoon being completely wiped out by MG fire. Some BW prisoners were executed. There are one or 2 blogs about the action if you care to look.
W
W
FX Guru
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Greenwich
Age: 67
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm new at this photo thingy, but am going to try and pop some photos on this thread that were taken a couple of weeks ago.
This is the grave of Bombardier Hall in Ranville Churchyard Cemetery.
Brotheridge's grave, also in the Churchayard, as opposed to the military cemetery.
The original Pegasus Bridge. The new one was built in Germany....
The pic of the 51HD plaque at Juno didn't upload from some reason, Will try again tomorrow.
This is the grave of Bombardier Hall in Ranville Churchyard Cemetery.
Brotheridge's grave, also in the Churchayard, as opposed to the military cemetery.
The original Pegasus Bridge. The new one was built in Germany....
The pic of the 51HD plaque at Juno didn't upload from some reason, Will try again tomorrow.
Last edited by angels; 23rd Mar 2009 at 13:37.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know this is well off topic but...
Can someone tell me which UK regiments were part of the 51st HD that landed on that beach. The reason is that I took my Dad over to Normandy several years ago and his recollection of where he landed (albeit skewed by decades of time spent and the coastline changing in that time) was was of the Candian beach whereas my history books said he should have been on Sword.
I know some units got dragged down the beach by the tide but I never saw a definitive list of which ones. I always assumed that his was one of the ones dragged down the coast but I could never be sure
Would be nice to know.
Can someone tell me which UK regiments were part of the 51st HD that landed on that beach. The reason is that I took my Dad over to Normandy several years ago and his recollection of where he landed (albeit skewed by decades of time spent and the coastline changing in that time) was was of the Candian beach whereas my history books said he should have been on Sword.
I know some units got dragged down the beach by the tide but I never saw a definitive list of which ones. I always assumed that his was one of the ones dragged down the coast but I could never be sure
Would be nice to know.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,567
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
31 Posts
Prom,
51HD was the follow up division for I CORPS landing at both Sword and Juno after the initial assaults had taken place (Gold was responsibility of XXX Corps). The consituents parts of 51 HD were
152 Brigade: 2nd Seaforths; 5th Seaforths; 5th Cameron Highlanders
153rd Brigade: 5 Black Watch; 1st Gordons; 5/7th Gordons
154th Brigade: 1 Black Watch; 7 Black Watch; 7 Argyll Sutherlands
Recce: 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
MG Batn: 1/7th Middlesex
Artillery: 126 FR; 127 FR; 128 FR; 61 AT Regt; 40 Light AA Regt
Engineers: 274, 275, 276 Field Coys; 239 Field Park Coy; 16 Bridging Pln.
Med: 174; 175; 176 Field Ambulances; 5th, 6th Fld Dressing Stns
RASC: 525, 526,527 Coys; 458 Div Coy.
Plus Divisional Signals; HQ Coy; Provost; Post Office; Brigade REME etc.
The Division stayed as a reserve and fought piecemeal for the early part of the campaign (hence the attachment to 6th Para for the assault on Breville on 11/12 Jun). There were also some bit parts in the Eastern bridgehead during Goodwood 18-19 Jul. The Division finally fought together for Op TOTALISE on 8 Aug 44. The division liberated St Valery in Aug 44 - a poignant moment as it was here that the first 51 HD surrendered (some say sacrificed) to the Germans in Jun 1940. The "second" 51 HD was formed by re-naming 9th Division back in the UK.
PS. If you are prepared to PM me with your correct e-mail address, I will send you my full Order of Battle for the Normandy campaign (a sad hobby of mine). I tried to paste some of it into here, but was deemed too big.
W
51HD was the follow up division for I CORPS landing at both Sword and Juno after the initial assaults had taken place (Gold was responsibility of XXX Corps). The consituents parts of 51 HD were
152 Brigade: 2nd Seaforths; 5th Seaforths; 5th Cameron Highlanders
153rd Brigade: 5 Black Watch; 1st Gordons; 5/7th Gordons
154th Brigade: 1 Black Watch; 7 Black Watch; 7 Argyll Sutherlands
Recce: 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
MG Batn: 1/7th Middlesex
Artillery: 126 FR; 127 FR; 128 FR; 61 AT Regt; 40 Light AA Regt
Engineers: 274, 275, 276 Field Coys; 239 Field Park Coy; 16 Bridging Pln.
Med: 174; 175; 176 Field Ambulances; 5th, 6th Fld Dressing Stns
RASC: 525, 526,527 Coys; 458 Div Coy.
Plus Divisional Signals; HQ Coy; Provost; Post Office; Brigade REME etc.
The Division stayed as a reserve and fought piecemeal for the early part of the campaign (hence the attachment to 6th Para for the assault on Breville on 11/12 Jun). There were also some bit parts in the Eastern bridgehead during Goodwood 18-19 Jul. The Division finally fought together for Op TOTALISE on 8 Aug 44. The division liberated St Valery in Aug 44 - a poignant moment as it was here that the first 51 HD surrendered (some say sacrificed) to the Germans in Jun 1940. The "second" 51 HD was formed by re-naming 9th Division back in the UK.
PS. If you are prepared to PM me with your correct e-mail address, I will send you my full Order of Battle for the Normandy campaign (a sad hobby of mine). I tried to paste some of it into here, but was deemed too big.
W
