Operation Martlet
Encyclopedia
Operation Martlet was the name given to the diversionary operation
undertaken on 25 June 1944 by the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, of XXX Corps, to support Operation Epsom
; the assault by the VIII Corps
into the Odon Valley
. The Division's role was to provide flank security for the advancing VIII Corps and to ward off any counter-attacks. It was its first combat operation of the war.
The operation failed to achieve its objectives by the end of 25 June, resulting in further heavy fighting over the following days as the 49th Division continued pushing southwards. This fighting can be seen to form part of Operation Epsom. The battle finally drew to a close on 1 July, when the division saw off a strong attack by elements of 2nd SS Panzer Division
.
, Tessel-Bretteville, Juvigny
) would have to be taken in order to ensure that the flank of this division was not endangered in the attack. 49th Division was assigned the task of clearing the spur.
The division was to advance on a two-brigade front, its first objective being Fontenay-le-Pesnel , the last being Rauray. The 146th Infantry Brigade
and the 147th Infantry Brigade
were the two leading brigades, with the 70th Infantry Brigade in reserve. It was also to have the support of tanks from the 8th Armoured Brigade.
Opposing the British were the 3rd Battalion, 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment and elements from the 12th SS Panzer Regiment of 12th SS Panzer Division, stationed on and around the spur. Both had seen heavy fighting in the preceding weeks and were well dug-in.
At 0415 hours on the morning of 25 June, Operation Martlet commenced with a heavy artillery bombardment just ahead of the start line of the 49th Division. At 0500 this bombardment lifted and started to creep forward and the men began to follow it. By now, a thick ground mist had developed, severely hindering the visibility of the advancing troops. The battalions became lost. The Hallamshire Battalion of 146th Infantry Brigade found itself on the Fontenay-Tessel Bretteville road, from where it came under fire from elements of the Panzer-Lehr-Division. It eventually found its way back to Fontenay. Meanwhile, the 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers
of 147th Infantry Brigade eventually pushed forward through the mist and began attacking Fontenay-le-Pesnel. The village was strongly defended by the 3rd/26th SS Regiment and heavy inconclusive fighting raged throughout the morning. The British were eventually forced to withdraw to the northern outskirts of the village and await reinforcements. Confused fighting raged along the Rauray spur.
By the afternoon, the position was beginning to coagulate. The 146th Brigade had successfully reached its objective line at the woods near Vendes but when the 1st/4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry attempted to push beyond to the Tessel-Bretteville wood, they came under withering machine gun fire and were forced to dig in. On the right, it was almost nightfall before reinforcements came to the 11th Royal Scots in Fontenay, in the shape of 7th Duke of Wellington's Regiment
. This battalion managed to clear most of the village by midnight
As fighting drew to a close at 0000 hours, 26 June, the 49th Division established a line roughly south of Fontenay-le-Pesnel. Rauray and around half of the spur remained in enemy hands. Despite not securing the flank of VIII Corps in time for Epsom, the division prepared to continue its offensive on the following day.
and the 12th (Motorised) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps
penetrated Tessel-Bretteville but were withdrawn by the afternoon as the troops on their right had failed to advance much beyond their start lines. The front stabilised once again. During the night, two companies from the 2nd Battalion, 192nd Panzer-Grenadier Regiment of 21st Panzer Division came up to bolster the defences of Panzer-Lehr-Division near Vendes, which remained in German hands for the duration of the operation. The latter panzer division had been briefly engaged against elements of 146th Brigade but in the main was still concentrated against 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on the 49th Division's right flank.
The following day, 27 June, the 49th Division continued to attack. 146th Brigade captured the Tessel-Bretteville wood but could not push beyond it. The 70th Infantry Brigade/8th Armoured Brigade taskforce was more successful, driving rapidly southwards and infiltrating Rauray. Heavy fighting raged in the village throughout the day but by nightfall it was in British hands. The 70th Brigade prepared to continue advancing south the following day
On the morning of 28 June, 1st Tyneside Scottish
of 70th Brigade began infiltrating into Brettevillette, south of Rauray. By the afternoon though, German pressure on this exposed position increased, as elements of Kampfgruppe Weidinger
of 2nd SS Panzer Division were hastily thrown into the Odon front to gain time for the imminent arrival of the II SS Panzer Corps
The British were ejected from Brettevillete and formed a new defensive line around Rauray. The spur was in British hands and 49th Division prepared to defend it.
Between 29–30 June, the 49th Division remained in this defensive line around Rauray, being sporadically shelled and fired at by KG Weidinger. The main attack by II SS Panzer Corps took place further south, so the division's front was largely 'quiet', except for continued German and British reconnaissances.
On 1 July, KG Weidinger began an assault at 0600 hours against Rauray. Supported by armour, it drove straight on the village, isolating the 1st Tyneside Scottish to the south. Sharp fighting ensued around Rauray as the 11th Durham Light Infantry
and the 1st Tyneside Scottish struggled to repel the Germans. At around 1000 hours the Germans began to withdraw and preparations were made to follow up this withdrawal but at 1100 hours a renewed assault was launched against the village by KG Weidinger but again failed to breach the British line. A final attack, launched around midday by the 9th SS Panzer Division
to the south again made little progress, in spite of four hours of fighting. By 1800 hours the Germans withdrew for the last time. The 70th Brigade had been hit heavily, 1st Tyneside Scottish in particular losing 132 men alone on this day. However, the line had been held, and Odon Bridgehead was now largely secure.
. On 30 July, the division was transferred from XXX Corps to I Corps and took post in the bridgehead east of the River Orne
, from where it eventually began a successful drive to the Seine
.
The 12th SS Division, severely battered by the Epsom battles, continued fighting against further British offensives at Carpiquet Airfield (Operation Windsor
), Caen (Operation Charnwood
) and Operation Goodwood
. It settled in a position south-east of Caen in mid-July, from where it was gradually forced back by continued Anglo-Canadian offensives. The 9th SS Division remained in the Odon Valley, holding Hill 112
against the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division during Operation Jupiter
. It too was eventually pushed back into the Falaise Pocket
.
Feint
Feint is a French term that entered English from the discipline of fencing. Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or even none, will...
undertaken on 25 June 1944 by the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, of XXX Corps, to support Operation Epsom
Operation Epsom
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a Second World War British offensive that took place between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy...
; the assault by the VIII Corps
VIII Corps
List of military corps — List of military corps by numberA number of countries have Eighth, or VIII, Corps:* VIII Corps * VIII Corps * U.S. VIII Corps involvement in the American Civil War...
into the Odon Valley
Odon River
The Odon is a river in the Calvados department, in Normandy, northwestern France. It is 47 km long and is a left tributary of the Orne. The river passes through Jurques, Aunay-sur-Odon, Baron-sur-Odon, Bretteville-sur-Odon, Épinay-sur-Odon, Grainville-sur-Odon, Parfouru-sur-Odon, Tournay-sur-Odon...
. The Division's role was to provide flank security for the advancing VIII Corps and to ward off any counter-attacks. It was its first combat operation of the war.
The operation failed to achieve its objectives by the end of 25 June, resulting in further heavy fighting over the following days as the 49th Division continued pushing southwards. This fighting can be seen to form part of Operation Epsom. The battle finally drew to a close on 1 July, when the division saw off a strong attack by elements of 2nd SS Panzer Division
2nd SS Division Das Reich
The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich was a Waffen-SS division during World War II. It is considered to be an elite formation amongst the thirty-eight divisions fielded by the Waffen-SS....
.
Planning
During Epsom, VIII Corps would be endangered on its right flank from the Rauray Spur, a ridge that overlooked the line of advance of 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. The spur, and the villages on and near it (Rauray, Fontenay-le-PesnelFontenay-le-Pesnel
-References:*...
, Tessel-Bretteville, Juvigny
Juvigny-sur-Seulles
-References:*...
) would have to be taken in order to ensure that the flank of this division was not endangered in the attack. 49th Division was assigned the task of clearing the spur.
The division was to advance on a two-brigade front, its first objective being Fontenay-le-Pesnel , the last being Rauray. The 146th Infantry Brigade
146th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 146th Infantry Brigade was a formation active during the First World War, the Second World War, and with the Territorial Army during the early part of the Cold War.-Second World War :...
and the 147th Infantry Brigade
147th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
- History Second World War :During the Second World War, the Brigade part of the 49th Infantry Division, was stationed in Iceland, and adopted as its insignia the polar bear on an ice floe. In 1942 it was transferred back to the United Kingdom until June 1944, when it moved to Normandy...
were the two leading brigades, with the 70th Infantry Brigade in reserve. It was also to have the support of tanks from the 8th Armoured Brigade.
Opposing the British were the 3rd Battalion, 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment and elements from the 12th SS Panzer Regiment of 12th SS Panzer Division, stationed on and around the spur. Both had seen heavy fighting in the preceding weeks and were well dug-in.
Martlet - 25 June 1944
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
of 147th Infantry Brigade eventually pushed forward through the mist and began attacking Fontenay-le-Pesnel. The village was strongly defended by the 3rd/26th SS Regiment and heavy inconclusive fighting raged throughout the morning. The British were eventually forced to withdraw to the northern outskirts of the village and await reinforcements. Confused fighting raged along the Rauray spur.
By the afternoon, the position was beginning to coagulate. The 146th Brigade had successfully reached its objective line at the woods near Vendes but when the 1st/4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry attempted to push beyond to the Tessel-Bretteville wood, they came under withering machine gun fire and were forced to dig in. On the right, it was almost nightfall before reinforcements came to the 11th Royal Scots in Fontenay, in the shape of 7th Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
. This battalion managed to clear most of the village by midnight
As fighting drew to a close at 0000 hours, 26 June, the 49th Division established a line roughly south of Fontenay-le-Pesnel. Rauray and around half of the spur remained in enemy hands. Despite not securing the flank of VIII Corps in time for Epsom, the division prepared to continue its offensive on the following day.
The Battle Continues
At 0530 hours on 26 June, the 70th Infantry and 8th Armoured Brigades led the 49th Division's renewed offensive. A battlegroup consisting of the 24th Lancers24th Lancers
The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1940 to 1944.- Origins :The regiment was raised in December 1940 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers, and was assigned to 29th Armoured Brigade of 11th Armoured Division...
and the 12th (Motorised) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
penetrated Tessel-Bretteville but were withdrawn by the afternoon as the troops on their right had failed to advance much beyond their start lines. The front stabilised once again. During the night, two companies from the 2nd Battalion, 192nd Panzer-Grenadier Regiment of 21st Panzer Division came up to bolster the defences of Panzer-Lehr-Division near Vendes, which remained in German hands for the duration of the operation. The latter panzer division had been briefly engaged against elements of 146th Brigade but in the main was still concentrated against 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on the 49th Division's right flank.
The following day, 27 June, the 49th Division continued to attack. 146th Brigade captured the Tessel-Bretteville wood but could not push beyond it. The 70th Infantry Brigade/8th Armoured Brigade taskforce was more successful, driving rapidly southwards and infiltrating Rauray. Heavy fighting raged in the village throughout the day but by nightfall it was in British hands. The 70th Brigade prepared to continue advancing south the following day
On the morning of 28 June, 1st Tyneside Scottish
Tyneside Scottish
Tyneside Scottish is an honour title which has been held by a variety of British Army units since 1914. The Regiments which have held the title are the Northumberland Fusiliers, Durham Light Infantry, Black Watch and Royal Artillery....
of 70th Brigade began infiltrating into Brettevillette, south of Rauray. By the afternoon though, German pressure on this exposed position increased, as elements of Kampfgruppe Weidinger
Kampfgruppe Weidinger
Kampfgruppe Weidinger was a formation from the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" that was formed to support the attack of II SS Panzer Corps at the tail end of Operation Epsom in the Normandy Campaign...
of 2nd SS Panzer Division were hastily thrown into the Odon front to gain time for the imminent arrival of the II SS Panzer Corps
II SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
The British were ejected from Brettevillete and formed a new defensive line around Rauray. The spur was in British hands and 49th Division prepared to defend it.
Between 29–30 June, the 49th Division remained in this defensive line around Rauray, being sporadically shelled and fired at by KG Weidinger. The main attack by II SS Panzer Corps took place further south, so the division's front was largely 'quiet', except for continued German and British reconnaissances.
On 1 July, KG Weidinger began an assault at 0600 hours against Rauray. Supported by armour, it drove straight on the village, isolating the 1st Tyneside Scottish to the south. Sharp fighting ensued around Rauray as the 11th Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
and the 1st Tyneside Scottish struggled to repel the Germans. At around 1000 hours the Germans began to withdraw and preparations were made to follow up this withdrawal but at 1100 hours a renewed assault was launched against the village by KG Weidinger but again failed to breach the British line. A final attack, launched around midday by the 9th SS Panzer Division
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
The 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
to the south again made little progress, in spite of four hours of fighting. By 1800 hours the Germans withdrew for the last time. The 70th Brigade had been hit heavily, 1st Tyneside Scottish in particular losing 132 men alone on this day. However, the line had been held, and Odon Bridgehead was now largely secure.
Aftermath
The 49th Division remained in its line around Rauray for almost a month, partaking in a largely defensive operation, with the exception of a diversionary action around Juvigny during the Second Battle of the OdonSecond Battle of the Odon
The Second Battle of the Odon was a series of operations fought by the British Army in mid-July 1944 against the German Heer as part of the Battle of Normandy...
. On 30 July, the division was transferred from XXX Corps to I Corps and took post in the bridgehead east of the River Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
, from where it eventually began a successful drive to the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
.
The 12th SS Division, severely battered by the Epsom battles, continued fighting against further British offensives at Carpiquet Airfield (Operation Windsor
Operation Windsor
Operation Windsor was a Canadian offensive launched as part of the Battle of Normandy during the Second World War. Taking place on 4–5 July 1944, the attack was undertaken by the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division in an attempt to capture the Norman town of Carpiquet and the adjacent airfield from...
), Caen (Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood was a Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8–9 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was intended to at least partially capture the German-occupied French city of Caen , which was an important Allied objective during the opening stages...
) and Operation Goodwood
Operation Goodwood
Operation Goodwood was an attack launched on 18 July 1944, during the Second World War, by the British army to the east of the city of Caen...
. It settled in a position south-east of Caen in mid-July, from where it was gradually forced back by continued Anglo-Canadian offensives. The 9th SS Division remained in the Odon Valley, holding Hill 112
Hill 112
Operation Jupiter was an attack launched by the British Second Army's VIII Corps on 10 July 1944. The objective of the attack was to capture the villages of Baron-sur-Odon, Fontaine-Étoupefour, Chateau de Fontaine and recapture Hill 112. Following the capture of these objectives the Corps would...
against the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division during Operation Jupiter
Operation Jupiter
Operation Jupiter may refer to:* in 1942, a failed Soviet offensive against the Rzhev salient* in 1944, Operation Jupiter was an attack launched by the Second British Army...
. It too was eventually pushed back into the Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
.