AUBERVILLE/HOULGATE/SAINT-VAAST-EN-AUGE
Calvados - 4 km east of Houlgate
The Belgians liberated the "côte fleurie"
It was an historic day for the Belgian Brigade soldiers : on 7 August 1944, they set foot in Normandy at Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Belgians were integrated into the 6th Airborne Division under General Gale. Colonel Piron's headquarter was set up in Le Hauger town hall. In the first days, they were assigned intensive patrolling tasks, under sporadic german artillery fire. On 17 August, the Paddle Operation is launched, the Belgian Brigade fought in a sharp engagement to enter Merville-Franceville. On 18, advance was slowed down by mines, churned up ground and German's resistance. The Brigade's Armoured squadron was sent to reinforce 6th RECCE Armoured Regiment. Cabourg was liberated on 21 August, but bridges over the river Dives were blowed up by the Germans. The 1st Motorized unit crossed the river with help of the Engineer company. Houlgate was entered without any opposition, resistance stiffered in approach of Auberville. With reinforcement of the 3rd Motorized unit and artillery support, the Belgians compelled the Germans to withdraw in the night of 21-22 August. Auberville was left cleared in the morning hours. Saint Vaast-en-Auge was crossed on 22 by the 6th Airlanding Brigade troops - 12th Battalion Devonshire, and 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry - backed up by several light armoured belgian vehicles.		  
   
 
 
   

Piron Brigade stele Auberville
This stele is in memory of Belgian and Luxembourg soldiers of the 1st Belgian Brigade, under colonel Piron. They fought in August 1944 to liberate the cities of the "côte fleurie", from Sallenelles to Honfleur.
Situation : on the crossroads, face to the town hall

  
Grand duchess Charlotte stele
Auberville
This stele is dedica-ted to HRH Grand duchess Charlotte of Belgium, sent to a concentration camp in Germany with her father King Léopold, on 7 June 1944.
Situation : on the crossroads, face to the town hall (near the Piron Brigade stele)
 
 
Brigade Piron stele
Houlgate
This stele is in memory of five soldiers of the 1st Belgian Brigade, killed on 21 August 1944 in the fightings to liberate Houlgate.
Situation : on the crossroads, face to the town hall, left of the war memorial
  British parachutists plaque
Saint Vaast-en-Auge
This plaque is in memory of twelve parachutists of the 6th British Airborne Division, killed in this area during the first days of the Landing. Five of them died in the crash of their Horsa glider, in Saint Vaast-en-Auge wood.
Situation : on the outside church wall
   
  6th Airborne Division parachutists memorial
Saint Vaast-en-Auge
This small memorial, originated in the passion of a Norman, is dedicated to the twelve parachutists of the 6th British Airborne Division, buried in the church cemetery.
Situation : one kilometer north of the town
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/
Personal web site about Combined Operations Special Troops
http://www.combinedops.com/Combined_Ops_index.htm
Personal web site about D-day
http://www.6juin1944.com/
Personal web site about the 12 paras of the 6th Airborne Division killed near Saint-Vaast-en-Auge
http://paras1.chez-alice.fr/Presentationsite.htm
Personal web site about the 6th Airborne Division
http://6th-airborne.org
 
All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved