MEZIDON-CANON Calvados - 20 km south-west of Caen
The British troops spanned the river Dives
 On 16 August 1944 the 51st Highland Infantry Division captured Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives ruined by the bombings. In the meantime the Canadians entered Falaise. On the west flank of the Scots the 49th West Riding Infantry Division progressed towards Mézidon. The town was situated in a strategic position between the river Laizon and the river Dives. The 49th Reconnaissance Regiment reached Canon at the end of the morning despite a delaying German counter-attack. In the afternoon the 70th Infantry Brigade was driven to the front by trucks. The British started the attack of the river Dives bridges. In the evening of 16 August the exhausted British troops settled in the suburb of Mézidon. All the night German artillery harassed the 1st Tyneside Scottish soldiers from the nearby hill of Mirbel. The following day on 17 August, the staff of the 1st Tyneside Scottish settled its headquarter in Le Breuil castle at Mézidon. The Germans grenadiere of the 858th Infantry Regiment left their positions.
   
 
 
 
1st Scottish Regiment stele
Stele commemorating the liberation of the town on 17 August 1944 by the 1st Scottish Regiment.
 Situation : in the eastern side of the town, General de Gaulle place
 
   
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Personal web site about the Normandy battle
http://www.warchronicle.com/dday/contents.htm
 Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/

 
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