SALLENELLES Calvados - 8 km west of Cabourg
Seventy days fighting on the front line
On 6 June 1944 the N°45 Royal Marine Commandos entered Salenelles. They had to fall back in front of Merville and they took a layback position first in Sallenelles, then in Le Plein. On 12 June the commandos of the N°48 Royal Marine patrolled in Sallenelles, cleared of the enemy. But they could not push ahead, they ran up against the strong position of Le Moulin du Buisson. Troops under Lieutenant colonel Moulton spent two months in their trenches harassed by mosquitos. On 17 August the Battle of Normandy was lost for the German army, and the Operation Paddle began. The 6th Airlanding Brigade must take the mouth of the river Dives, the Belgian Brigade commanded by Lieutenant colonel Piron was eager for this moment. The Daimler armoured vehicles started from Sallenelles, and liberated the whole town and a few irreducible Norman people who had not left their houses.
  
     
   
 
 

Brigade Piron stele
 Stele in memory of Belgian and Luxembourgian soldiers of the Brigade Piron who fought for the liberation of Sallenelles and Merville.
Situation : at the edge of the D514 road, at the noryhern gate of the town
 

Edouard Gerard plaque
Plaque dedicated to Edouard Gérard, soldier of the Belgian Brigade Piron killed on 16 August 1944, he was 20 years old.
Situation : at the edge of the D514 road, in the center of the town, on the wall of the house n°13 level

  
 
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 6th Airborne Division
http://6th-airborne.org : Tourisme en Normandie site officiel
Association web site about the Brigade Piron
http://users.skynet.be/brigade-piron
 
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