The fighting among the hedgerows is at close quarters, casualties on both sides mount quickly. After an epic stand in the woods, against odds of four to one, the Infantry Platoon of B Company 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion) are finally overwhelmed...
The capture of the woods, although late in the day, allows the Germans to put flanking fire into the Infantry of A Company 8th Rifle Brigade. The weight of which forces them back over the bridge and back down the Ranville Road.
D+6 British
4 Infantry Platoons (A Company 8th Rifle Brigade)
1 Sherman tank (East Riding Yeomanry)
1 FOO (A Battery 'Chestnut Troop' RHA)
Germans
4 Infantry Platoons
1 Stug
1 88mm Gun
D+6 A strong column of British troops are pushing inland having found a weak link in the German defences, a small Jerry blocking force astride the road. A fast and vigorous assault will allow A Company 8th Rifle Brigade to break the enemy's front line...
As always the German response is swift and decisive. A strong right flanking counter attack comes in almost immediately their road block begins taking fire!
The Rifle Brigade launches an all out assault up the road, leaving a small rearguard to hold off the Jerry flanking attack.
The Rifles' attached RHA FOO once again proving decisive in pinning, then halting the German Infantry.
The German blocking force starts to take heavy casualties as their anti-tank gun takes a round of HE from the Yeomanry's Sherman... a short lived triumph as a Stug takes a swift revenge!
The smoke from the fires aboard the unfortunate Yeomanry Sherman provides a perfect cover, blocking the Stug from effectively engaging the fast moving Riflemen. A Company 8th Rifle Brigade break through the German blocking line and continue their swift advance up the road!
Seeing masses of German Infantry closing in on his rearguard, Major Harry Wilson takes his FOO and assumes personal command of the desperate stand.
Major Wilson paces the road behind his men as they pour fire into the enemy, holding them at bay till their ammunition is exhausted. The Major orders his FOO to wreck his radio and his men to lay down their weapons. Relieved German Infantry emerge from the hedgerows to take their surrender...
As night closes in on D+6 the exhausted Germans fail to keep an effective guard in their prisoners. Major Wilson* and his Riflemen, make a skilful escape and are able to move up the road and rejoin their comrades!
*For gallantry shown in leading both the rearguard, and their subsequent escape from captivity, the immediate award of the Military Cross is made to Major Harry Wilson O.C. A Company 8th Rifle Brigade.
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