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It then proceeded on towards Crepon, and joined up with the rest of the
Battalion.
The first objectives had now all been taken, but not without losses.
In addition to those already mentioned, the Battalion suffered a severe blow
when Major R. J. L. Jackson, one of the mainstays of the Battalion, was
severely wounded as he stepped off his landing craft as Unit Landing Officer.
By mid-day the Battalion was pushing on fast towards Crepon with some
of the 7th Green Howards in front. Little resistance had been anticipated
inland of the coastal defences, but at Crepon the Green Howards had their
first experience of really determined resistance in close country. Acting
by-passed, unless absolutely unavoidable, the Battalion
on instructions that any resistance encountered was to be/ignored some snipers
and a 75 am. gun in the outskirts of Crepon, and pushed on towards Villlers
Le Sec.
A further misfortune befell them in Crepon, when Capt. D. Jones, commanding
the carriers, was killed by a shell, when passing through the village.
Soon after three o'clock in the afternoon the Green Howards arrived
on the northern outskirts of Villers Le Sec. The 5th East Yorkshires were
engaged in heavy fighting in the village, and Lt.-Col. Hastings sent "B"
Company in to attack on the right side of the village and "D" Company on
the left. This move caused the enemy to withdraw, but not before "D" Company
had come under heavy mortar fire, and sustained some casualties, including
Lieuts. Fitzwilliam and Kirkpatrick.
The Battalion then moved on towards St. Gabriel. Reports were received
on considerable movement of energy armoured forces moving west from Caen, and,
at about 6 p.m., enemy tanks were reported to have reached Brecy. St. Gabriel
was being heavily shelled by the enemy, and at 7.30 pm. the Battalion was
ordered to halt its advance towards this village. Later, at about 9 p.m. , the
Battalion moved to a position to the west and slightly south of St. Gabriel,
where it passed a quiet night.
Although it was still some two miles short of its original planned
objective for June 6, in view of the fact that the weather had prevented the
maximum results from the naval and aerial bombardment, the Battalion could
be considered to have been lucky to have landed, and moved five miles inland,
with in this short time, however, with as few as eighty to ninety casaulties. Even on this short time, however,