D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches by Tonie & Valmai Holt

Author:Tonie & Valmai Holt [Holt, Valmai & Tonie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783461493
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Published: 2013-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

At 1500 hours Meyer launched a counter-attack on Buron, hoping to drive to the sea in conjunction with 21st Panzer Division. Late in the afternoon the Canadians lost Buron and fell back to Villons-les-Buissons where they had begun the day. It had been a bloody struggle. The Highlanders had some 250 casualties and the Sherbrookes lost 21 cruiser tanks.

The battle for the high ground of Carpiquet was to be a long and hard one against fanatical troops of the 12th SS Panzer Division. The bulk of the soldiers were youngsters under 18 years old straight out of military fitness camps and full of Nazi ideology. In all, the division, which was initially commanded by Brigadeführer Fritz Witt, had about 20,000 men and 150 tanks.

On 8 July once again the 9th Brigade advanced on Buron. The Highland Light Infantry of Canada and the Sherbrookes led off at 0730 hours and by 0830 hours were in the village. The 12th SS Panzer Division, now commanded by Kurt Meyer following Fritz Witt’s death on 14 June, held on until early the following morning. The Highland Light Infantry lost half of its attacking force in what had been its first real battle and it was to prove its bloodiest of the campaign with 262 casualties.

Here are Memorials to the Highland Light Infantry and to the Sherbrooke Fusiliers. Continue on the D220 over the D22 crossroads and head north towards Villons-les-Buissons. At the first road junction left, just short of the village, stop.

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