MERVILLE-FRANCEVILLE/LE HOME
Calvados - 5 km west of Cabourg 
Impossible mission for the British parachutists
The 9th Parachutist Battalion dropped in Normandy on 6 June 1944 under the cover of darkness. Lieutenant-colonel Otway trained his troops for months to take the Merville battery. The parachutists knew every detail of the German defences. On D-day the operation began in a tragic way : many parachutists drowned in the marshes, the wind scattered the men on a wide area and the main part of the heavy equipment was lost. However the Red Devils launched the attack, they conquered the blockhouses of the battery one after the other. At 5:00 am all was finished, the parachutists took a layback position in Le Plain and Le Hauger. In this area the 6th Airborne Division renewed with the Operation Paddle on 17 August. The Belgian Brigade under Colonel Piron captured the strongpoint of le Moulin du Buisson and reached Merville and Franceville, cleared of enemy. In the evening the Belgian stopped in front of Le Hôme still occupied by the German troops. Le Hôme is liberated the next day on 18 August.
   
       
 
 
 
 
       
 
Battery Museum
Merville-Franceville
The museum is located in the casemate N° 1 of the battery. It recalls the fighting and the attack by the British parachutists. It shows an important collection of weapons, equipments, uniforms and documents linked to the battle.
 

British heavy gun
Merville-Franceville
This 5,5 inches gun was one of the best gun in service in the British army; it had a 16 kilometers range, and a team of 16 gunners.
Situation : near the Battery museum
   
 
 
Piron Brigade stele
Le Hôme
Stele commemorating the liberation of the town by the Belgian Piron Brigade commanded by Colonel Piron. The unit belonged to the 6th British Airborne Division under General Gale.
Situation : facing the town hall
 
  Piron Brigade stele
Merville-Franceville
Stele dedicated to the Belgian Brigade Piron soldiers, killed on 18 August 1944 to liberate Merville-Franceville.
 Situation : in the center of the town, facing the Post office
Colonel Otway bust
Merville-Franceville
Bust representing Lieutenant-colonel Terence Otway, Commander of the 9th Parachute Battalion, who led the assault of the battery.
Situation : near the Battery Museum

9th Parachute battalion
Merville-Franceville
This stele is in memory of the 9th Parachutist battalion, of the Royal Navy and RAF who enabled to capture this battery at 5 o'clock in the morning on 6 June 1944.
Situation : near the Battery museum

 
  Allied and population victims stele
Merville-Franceville
This stele is in memory of the Allied soldiers and the people of Merville Franceville killed in June, July and August 1944 during the fightings for the liberation of the town.
Situation : in the center of the town, facing the Post office
   
  45th Royal Marine Commando stele
Merville-Franceville
Stele in memory of the 35 soldiers of the 45th Royal Marine Commando fallen in Merville-Franceville from 6 to 8 June 1944.
 Situation : in the center of the town, facing the Post office 
   
 
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Merville-Franceville city web site – page about the Merville battery
http://www.mairie-mervillefranceville.fr/web/carteAccueil.do
Association web site about the Piron Brigade
http://users.skynet.be/brigade-piron
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/
Personal web site about the 6th Airborne Division
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/passion.histoire/paragb.htm
Personal web site about Combined Operations Special Troops
http://www.combinedops.com/Combined_Ops_index.htm
 
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