GRANGUES/GONNEVILLE-SUR-MER
Calvados - 7 km south-east of Cabourg
A deferment for the beleaguered German troops
On 19 August 1944 in Normandy, the 7th German Army was nearly trapped in the Falaise pocket. But north-east of Caen, the Allied Forces were blocked in front of Cabourg. The Brigadier Mills-Roberts, Commander of the 1st Special Service Brigade, carried on a bold manoeuvre to cross the river Dives. The Commando N°3 under Colonel Young was in spearhead. 1600 men had to cross by night a marshy area, in a long single file; then they had to mark out the way with white ribbon, for the following units. In the morning hours the Commandos emerged from the marshes, and captured by surprise a German headquarter of the 346th Infantry Division in Angoville manor house. Around 8 am the 45th Royal Marine Commando, the headquarter of the 1st Special Service Brigade, and the N°6 Commando had been all regrouped, the mission was completely successful. In the next days, Grangues and Gonneville-sur-Mer were liberated by the Commandos who moved on toward the river Seine.