Plaque Brigade Princess Irene
- 13
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In Memory of the Soldiers of the 51st (Highland) Division.
On June 10, 1944 the Highland Division launched its first attack from Bois des Monts towards Bréville. During this and the attack on Château St Côme, which they were defending with the 9th Parachute Battalion, 110 men fell in two days. Outnumbered and facing fierce counter-attacks, the Highlanders helped hold the Orne bridgehead through their unwavering dedication and courageous sacrifice.
The battle of Bois des Monts and Château Saint Côme from June 7 to 13, 1944
During the night of June 7, 1944 the 9th Parachute Battalion, reduced to 85 men after Merville and Amfréville / Le Plein, held the area around Bois des Monts and Château St Côme with orders to hold this position, which dominated the Ranville plain and the bridges over the Orne, at all costs.
In the days that followed, the arrival of soldiers scattered during their parachute descent ... boosting the battalion's strength to 270, it received reinforcements from the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch from units of the Royal Armoured Corps, the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Parachutists and other parachute units.
Between June 7 and 13, the enemy, outnumbered 4 to 1, attacked with increasing relentlessness with the help of 3 infantry battalions, artillery pieces and a squadron?
Despite the deadly hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy was unable to penetrate the front line ? heavy losses.
On June 13 the 9th Battalionwas relieved by the 52nd Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantryand moved to another front with just 150 men
