SAINT-CHARLES-DE-PERCY/LE BENY-BOCAGE MONTCHAMP Calvados - 12 km nord-est de Vire
The 11th Armoured division was at the spearhead
On 30 July 1944 in Normandy at the junction of the 2nd British Army and the 1st American Army General Montgomery launched the Operation Blue coat. He chose this sector near Caumont-l'Éventé for the strength ratio was in greater measure favorable to the British, but the landscape of wooded peaks lent to defense. The 11th Armoured Division of the VIIth Corps under General O' Connor progressed with two Brigades of mix infantry and tank units. On 31 July the 11th Armoured Division commanded by General Roberts seized an intact bridge on the river Souleuvre. On 1st August the German Commandment committed two Panzer Division in reinforcement in the sector. The tanks of the 23rd Hussars of the 29th Armoured Brigade entered Le Bény-Bocage, they destroyed a panzer on the main place and liberated the town. On 2 August at dawn the 2nd Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion Welsh Guards hit panzer of the Hohenstaufen in front of Saint-Charles-de-Percy. At nightfall the 3rd Battalion Irish Guards reached the town and formed hedgehog. Saint-Charles-de-Percy was liberated the next day on 3rd August. The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards entered Montchamp on 4 August.
   
 
 

British War cemetery
Saint-Charles-de-Percy
In this cemetery are buried British soldiers whose corpses are found through the passing years in Normandy ; 789 tombs are gathered there, including 786 British soldiers and 3 Canadians soldiers.
Situation : at the edge of D290 road (follow the road-sign)
  Guards Division plaque
Saint-Charles-de-Percy
Plaque commemorating the liberation of the town by the Guards Armoured Division .
Situation : on the War monument
  Guards Division monument
Saint-Charles-de-Percy
Monument in memory of the British soldiers of the Guards Armoured Division commanded by Major-General A. H. S. Adair.
Situation : 50 m of the town hall, on the road toward Presles
  
   
  11st Armoured Division plaque
Le Bény-Bocage
The 11st British Armoured Division captured this bridge intact on the river Souleuvre. The bridge was nicknamed the "Bull" bridge from the emblem of the division.
Situation : on the D56 road, 4 km west of the town
  
     
  60th anniversary stele/ Welsh Guards plaque
Montchamp
Stele commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy. Plaque in memory of the Welsh Guards 1st Battalion (subordinated to the 11st Armoured Division) who liberated the town on 4 August 1944.
Situation : stele near the town hall and plaque on the wall
  
     
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site
http://www.cwgc.org
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/

 
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