ROBEHOMME Calvados - 12 km south of Cabourg
The Canadians drowned in the Dives marshes 
In the night of 5 to 6 June 1944, the Canadians of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped on the Drop Zone V near Varaville. The parachutists were scattered, a few were dropped more than fifteen kilometers from the DZ. The zone was marked out by the pathfinders but many men of B company fell into the flooded area of the river Dives, a few drowned overloaded with equipment. A group under Lieutenant Toseland moved at once towards the bridge of Robehomme. The paras reached their objective at 3 a. m., but the engineers did not rally. A single British engineer collected the paras individual explosives but the bridge was just damaged. At 6 a. m., the coming of other engineers made it possible to blow up the bridge of Robehomme. The paras retreated, Robehomme would be liberated on 17 August with the Operation Paddle by the 1st Special Service Brigade.
   
 
 
  1st Canadian Parachute Battalion plaque
Plaque remembering that Canadian parachutists of the 1st battalion, 3rd Brigade of the 6th Airborne Division, dropped in Normandy in the night of 5 to 6 June 1944. The veterans of the 1st Battalion honor norman population for helping during the battle, and their contribution to the success of their mission.
Situation : in the town, on a wall to the left in front of the church
   
  3rd Parachute squadron /1st Canadian parachute battalion plaque
Plaque remembering that engineers of the 3rd Parachute Squadron, and of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion blew up this bridge on 6 June 1944.
Situation : on D224 road east of the town, on the Bailey bridge
 
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Personal web site about Combined Operations Special Troops
http://www.combinedops.com/Combined_Ops_index.htm
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/
Reenactment association web site about the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
http://1canpara-hq.org/html/history.html
Personal web site about D-day and Normandy battle
http://www.dday-overlord.com/index.htm
 
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