B Squadron - Assault & Actions

Due to sea mist the landing all teams were landed some 400 yards off to the east. Lanes 2 & 3 became reversed

Lane 1; Lct was hit several times and the leading AVRE trying to disembark was drowned in the rising swell, the LCT could only float on the tide till mid-day before vehicles could disembark.

Lane 2; 2 x flails moved up beach but 1 became bogged, Lt T. Green took over the other tank this then became bogged and hit with 75mm shell fire.

Lane 3; 1 Flail hit a mine and the other flail, flailed through to Lateral Road and turned west towards Le Hamel, alone in the village to clear a mine field but then knocked out.

Lane 4; 1 flail became bogged below minefield, other flail, flailed through to Lateral Road but became bogged in the marshy ground on the mainland.

Lane 5; Both flails made a path through the mine field to the Lateral Road turned right and went to the crossroads at Les Roquettes, a crater blocked their path and a Facine was called up and they then turned left and flailed a gap for the infantry. The final (3rd) flail was hit by mortar or gun on the petrol tank (Capt Stanyon Comd Tank)

Lane 6; 2 flails successfully flailed through the minefield up to the lateral road, the leading flail was ordered to rally with 231 Inf Bde res. The other flail was used to develop lane 5 team but was bogged in the marshy ground and hit by anti-tank fire.

One of the strangest sights was whilst the assault started to move inland, the Sqdn leader was overseeing a second tasking of gapping a large minefield on the landward side under Mortar and snipping fire, during a heavy salvo the Sqdn leader whilst taking cover noticed with a shock the Colonel strolling unperturbably along the beach dressed in a white overalls.

Lt-Col Blair-Oliphant had landed an hour after H-Hour (aboard C Sqn's ARV, because his command tank was not due to arrive until later).