Memories of D-Day : Countdown on the Beaches

GOLD Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: 50th (Northumbrian) Division, led by 69th and 231st Brigades, 8th Armoured Brigade.

Sand and clay beach, fronted by small villages.

Objectives: The troops aimed to capture Bayeux and the Caen-Bayeux road (enabling the Allies to use the east-west road communications), and to join up with the American troops at OMAHA Beach.

07.25 – The first units of 231st and 69th Brigades touch down. DD (swimming) tanks and beach clearance groups, delayed by bad weather, are landed directly on to the beach.

07.45 – Troops make slow progress against raking fire, but three beach exits are cleared within the hour.

08.20 – Follow-up battalions and No. 47 Royal Marine Commando land.

09.30 – Les Roquettes is captured.

09.50 – Stiff resistance at Le Hamel. Commandos head for Port-en-Besin to link with American forces. CSM Stan Hollis, 6th Green Howards, wins the Victoria Cross for his bravery at Crépon.

10.50 – Reserve brigades begin to land; seven beach exits have been secured.

16.00 – Le Hamel is finally captured. 231st Brigade moves on to Arromanches. 69th Brigade encounters resistance in Villers le Sec/Bazenville area.

20.30 – 56th and 151st Brigades reach the outskirts of Bayeux and the Caen-Bayeux road.

21.00 – Arromanches is captured.

24.00 – A large bridgehead has been established, six miles wide and deep, linking up with Canadians at JUNO Beach. No. 47 Royal Marine Commando are ready to take Port-en-Bessin on following day.

By midnight, 25,000 troops had been landed on GOLD, with fewer than 1,000 casualties.