Sunday
9 July 1944
Start Location:
LEBISEY
War Office map with kind permission of Normandy War Guide
End Location:
CAEN
The attack on CAEN.
The plan:
The Canadians were to attack from the West.
The RUR's in the centre from the North.
1 KOSB from the EAST.
The Bn moved off at about 0930 hrs over ring contour "60", which was under shell fire, to FUP on the Eastern outskirts of CAEN. The ghostlike houses slowly came to life as civilians began to realize we were entering the town. They came rushing out with glasses and bottles of wine.
As the Bn was forming up on the start line and trying to re-establish wireless contact with companies and Bde, four Boche were seen to withdraw towards the centre of the town. Soon afterwards our HQ was mortared leaving 1 killed and 1 wounded.
The Bn then proceeded to clear the town. Little opposition was met. Progress was slowed down by snipers and an occasional MG.
Much assistance and information was offered by eager civilians. Debris and cratered streets also made progress extremely difficult.
We eventually reached the RV in the Old Town and established contact with the RUR and pushed forward patrols to the river. Patrols met quite heavy fire from across the river and a number of casualties were sustained.
D-Day+
33
9 July 1944
Caen - 9th July - By Sergeant Christie No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph 4700-29 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. B 6727)Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8420398
Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts)
The attack on Caen was code-named Operation Charnwood. you can find a detailed account of the operation here
"Then daylight came and the order to advance into Caen, a route which took us past the Abbey Aux Dames to the fish market near the quay (where Don Mould and other KOSBS were photographed) and where the real battle started up along the quay to the rue Gilbert and along to the church of St John where 18 Platoon suffered badly. I have retraced the route many times".
1st KOSB Veteran, Jeff Henderson
"Caen was 80% destroyed by bombing. 1st KOSB led advances over mountainous rubble including cavernous hollows from 15" Naval guns. The enemy rearguards were active."
Major Alistair Renny, CO of D Company - from Monty's Ironsides. P70.
Died on this day =
7
Sunday
9 July 1944
Private | NORMAN | CLARK | 14000067 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 19 | BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY | ||
Private | ERNEST | CRAMPTON | 3189417 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 30 | LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES | ||
Private | ROBERT DOCHERTY | CRAWFORD | 3193884 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 28 | BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY | ||
Private | JAMES | DAVIDSON | 14668876 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 18 | LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES | ||
Private | JOHN COPELAND | FALCONER | 3194031 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 28 | HERMANVILLE WAR CEMETERY | ||
Private | JAMES | HARVEY | 14283197 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 20 | LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES | ||
Private | JOHN | McGINNESS | 3192794 | Sunday, 09 July 1944 | 27 | BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY |
14
Wounded on this day =
Pte. R Davies | 4279231 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte J. Scott | 3186161 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte J. C. Falconer | 3194031 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen. Died of his wounds. | |
Pte. J.C. Brown | 1547555 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte P. Phillips | 2764234 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte. J.A. Rankin | 3186650 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte William Green | 14000041 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte A.A. Wright | 3194987 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte. J Buchanan | 14405402 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte William.
Chisholm | 3195524 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
L/Cpl J.H. Webb | 2933439 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte David Henderson | 14000095 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
L/Cpl H. F. Booth | 3193403 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen | |
Pte. J. Dempsey | 3186208 | Possibly wounded by enemy fire whilst attacking/on patrol in Caen |