50th British Infantry Division on D-Day
The British 50th Infantry Division
was given the task of assaulting Gold Beach on the morning of 6 June
1944. Main components of the division included the Devonshire,
Hampshire, Dorsetshire and East Yorkshire regiments. The 50th Division
had already seen action in North Africa, taking part in the battles of
Gazala nad El Alamein.
Primary objectives of the unit for
D-Day were to cut the Caen-Bayeux highway, capture the small port of
Arromanches, link-up with the Americans from Omaha Beach to the west
and hook-up with the Canadians to the east as they pushed inland from
Juno Beach. Another extremely important objective was the seizure of
the coastal battery at Longues.
On D-Day morning, initial waves of
the 50th Division touched down at approximately 0725, the appointed
H-Hour for Gold Beach. The tide had already covered many of the outer
beach obstacles and several of the initial landing craft struck mines
that were attached to them. Hostile fire hampered demolition personnel
as they worked to clear the barriers, but the landings continued in
force. Fortunately, pre-invasion bombardment on Gold Beach had wrought
great damage on many of the German strong points and the troops were
able to gain a quick foot-hold.
Savage fighting ensued near the
villages of La Riviere and Le Hamel, but, by mid-afternoon, the British
were pushing toward the south and gaining ground toward Bayeux. The
155mm guns of the Longues battery had been put out of action in a
fierce duel with the cruiser HMS Ajax, while British troops eliminated
resistance in that sector.
By nightfall on June 6,
approximately 25,000 troops had landed on Gold Beach. The 50th Division
had made impressive gains and forged a beachhead nearly 6 miles deep.
The unit had also made contact with the Canadians from Juno Beach and
found itself poised to take Bayeux. British casualties on Gold were
approximately 400 by the end of the day.
For more information about the 50th British Infantry Division:
50th Division and Gold Beach - Contains considerable information about the 50th Division on Gold Beach during D-Day.
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