THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

BATTLE OF MERVILLE GUN BATTERY

6 JUNE 1944

This action – part of Operation Tonga – during the Normandy landings aimed to neutralise a heavy-battery that could threaten the British landings at Sword Beach. 9th Para Battalion was given the job but only 150 with no heavy kit arrived at the assembly point. They attacked and captured the battery. Using what explosives they had, the surviving 75 men tried to disable the guns. When they withdrew, two of the guns were reactivated by the Germans. Another attack the next day by British Commandos failed to recapture the battery, which remained under German control until the Germans started to withdraw from the area in August.