Normandy 1944: The Fight for Point 103, Tilly-sur-Seulles and Vilers Bocage

by Tim Saunders

Overview

"Ariel photographs and maps take you through the advances and retreats of those involved, and even provide drawings of defensive positions encountered by Allied forces, resulting in a well rounded and enjoyable read with text broken up by well chosen and located images." — Armorama

This is the story of the fighting in Normandy by the veteran desert formations brought back by Montgomery from the Mediterranean in order to spearhead the invasion; 50th Infantry and 7th Armoured divisions, plus 4th Armoured Brigade. Heavily reinforced by individuals and fresh units, their task beyond the beaches was to push south to Villers Bocage with armour on the evening of D Day in order to disrupt German counter-attacks on the beachhead.

Difficulties on 50th Division’s beaches and lost opportunities allowed time for the 12th Hitlerjugend SS Panzer Division and the equally elite 130th Panzer Lehr Division to arrive in Normandy, despite delays of their own caused by allied fighter bombers. The result was 4th Armoured Brigade’s thrust south encountered opposition from the start and was firmly blocked just south of Point 103 after an advance of less than 5 miles.

A major counter-attack by Panzer Lehr failed, as did a renewed British attempt, this time by the vaunted 7th Armoured Division, which was halted at Tilly sur Seulles. From here the fighting became a progressively attritional struggle in the hedgerows of the Bocage country south of Bayeux. More and more units were drawn into the fighting, which steadily extended west. Finally, an opportunity, via the Caumont Gap, to outflank the German defences was taken and 7th Armoured Division reached Villers Bocage. Here the County of London Yeomanry encountered the newly arrived Tigers of Michael Wittmann, with disastrous results. The Desert Rats were forced to withdraw having lost much of their reputation.

There then followed what the battalions of 50th Division describe as their ‘most unpleasant period of the war’, in bitter fighting, at often very close quarters, for the ‘next hedgerow’.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526784230
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	08/26/2021
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	1,048,424
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Tim Saunders served as an infantry officer with the British Army for thirty years, during which time he took the opportunity to visit campaigns far and wide, from ancient to modern. Since leaving the Army he has become a full time military historian, with this being his sixteenth book, has made nearly fifty full documentary films with Battlefield History and Pen & Sword. He is an active guide and Accredited Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Introduction vii

Timeline x

Glossary of Terms xii

1 Planning and Preparations 1

2 D-Day: 6 June 1944 23

3 D+1: 7 June 1944 43

4 The Advance Begins 55

5 Advance to Point 103 and Saint-Pierre 71

6 Attack and Counter-Attack 91

7 'Tiger Hill': 11 June 1944 119

8 Tilly-sur-Seulles and Essex Wood 141

9 La Belle Épine and Bernières-Bocage 161

10 A Change of Tack: 12 June 1944 177

11 Operation PERCH: Villers-Bocage 195

12 The Island Position 225

13 50th Division's Operations: 13-14 June 239

14 Hiatus 277

15 Tilly-sur-Seulles: 16-18 June 289

16 The Western Flank: 16-19 June 303

Appendices

I Order of Battle, 8-19 June 1944 331

II 8 Armoured Brigade Operation Order 335

III 101st Schwere Panzer Battalion and Tiger Reliability 339

IV 7th Armoured Division's Situation Report 343

V German and British Ranks 345

Notes 347

Index 355

Editorial Reviews

It's another marvelous tactical-level look at a series of desperate battles around significant geographic areas. Nicely done again. Makes me want to search out more Saunders titles.

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

"Ariel photographs and maps take you through the advances and retreats of those involved, and even provide drawings of defensive positions encountered by Allied forces, resulting in a well rounded and enjoyable read with text broken up by well chosen and located images."

Armorama