Operation Epsom
WR2000: The Battle for Normandy 1944
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Epsom Day - Friday April 9th
Today we will be examining the first attempts at solving the Caen problem. With the city remaining stubbornly outside Allied control, Twenty First Army Group CinC, General Bernard Montgomery, and British Second Army CinC, Lt General Miles Dempsey, had to devise a method of making the German position in Caen untenable. A direct assault on Caen was ruled out as being too costly and difficult. Thus, the decision was made to inject some movement into the frontline by trying to outflank the city to the west, possibly to combine with a parachute drop of British 1st Airborne. Thus, Operation Perch was born. General Erskine's 7th Armoured Division, famed for their exploits in the desert and Italy, arrived at Caumont on June 12th and detecting a possible opening, elements of the division (4th County of London Yeomanry - Sharpshooters) struck on towards Villers-Bocage, reaching the small town on the morning of June 13th. 'A' Squadron of the regiment advanced to Point 213, some two miles along the road to Caen, while other units halted in and around the town itself. It was at Villers-Bocage that the Sharpshooters encountered German tank ace Michael Wittman, newly arrived in Normandy, and suffered heavy casualties.
We will walk part of the course of the action and then you can move about the town for a time placing the 'Then and Now' photographs in their present day context. Note the appalling damage inflicted on the town, especially when the British withdrew and called in the RAF to pummel the German units which had recaptured the town. The reverse at Villers-Bocage severely dented 7th Armoured's confidence from which arguably it never really recovered.
The Battle of Villers-Bocage, June 13th 1944
There have been many conflicting accounts published about SS-Obersturmfuehrer Michael Wittman’s almost single-handed battle at Villers-Bocage which successfully stopped a British armoured advance by the 22nd Armoured Brigade, part of the 7th Armoured Division. The following is perhaps the most likely sequence of events, which emphasises German tactical superiority, whilst not elevating the role played by Wittman to ludicrous heights
Phase One began when the 22nd Armoured Brigade, with 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) in the lead, were ordered to capture the important road junction of Villers-Bocage and the high ground beyond (Point 213) on the morning of June 13th. Lt-Colonel Arthur, the Viscount Cranleigh, the commanding officer, had requested time to carry out a proper reconnaissance of the area as German armoured cars had been spotted observing the advance south from Tilly-sur-Seulles. Orders were, however, to push on regardless (which, apart from the immediate aim, accorded with the Allies’ overall strategy of keeping the German armour away from the American front). Leaving the regimental HQ tanks at the top of the main street in Villers, ‘A’ Squadron was ordered forward to secure Point 213 about two km north-east up N175. On reaching Point 213, ‘A’ Squadron halted and the commanders, Cranleigh included, decided upon a staff discussion and briefing. Some British troops even began to brew up, thinking the area was safe. Indeed, XXX Corps intelligence had no idea of the real opposition in the area.
In fact, all was not well, for the British had advanced out of Villers to Point 213, past a force of heavy Tiger tanks commanded by veteran tank killer Michael Wittman. He had six Tigers at his disposal, plus assorted other troops and vehicles, positioned some 200 metres to the south of the N175. The British were completely unaware of the Germans’ presence.
Wittman launched his attack catching the British completely off guard. The Tigers of his force engaged ‘A’ Squadron and the motorised ‘A’ infantry company. There was little they could do, and the Cromwells and Fireflies were soon in trouble.
Meanwhile, Wittman set off in a Tiger and cut in behind ‘A’ Squadron and began an assault in the British forces in Villers itself. He engaged infantry forces, light reconnaissance Stuart tanks, unarmed artillery observation tanks and eventually the regimental HQ Cromwells, under the temporary command of Major Carr. Carr attempted to engage Wittman’s tank but the 75mm shells bounced off and Carr’s tank was destroyed. The other Cromwells were also despatched, except for Captain Pat Dyas’s vehicle. He backed off the road and Wittman did not spot him as he drove past though the town. German infantry had also started to filter into the eastern end of the town in support of Witmman’s attack. Wittman continued his advance engaging the scattered remnants of the RHQ group. Dyas pursued him down the street, hoping to shoot the Tiger in the rear.
Retreating British elements informed ‘B’ Squadron of the situation and Wittman soon found himself in a duel with a Firefly commanded by Sergeant Lockwood at the western end of the town. Witmman then began to withdraw, engaging the luckless Dyas en route. Dyas also obtained a hit on the Tiger, but to no avail and Dyas’s Cromwell was soon knocked out. As Wittman moved back through the town his Tiger was immobilised by a 6-pdr anti-tank gun at very close range and Wittman and his crew escaped on foot.
Nevertheless, the situation was grim for the British. The RHQ had been neutralised and ‘A’ Squadron was under heavy attack on Point 213. Soon after the German attack had commenced, shortly after 0900, ‘A’ Squadron was left with nine tanks, two of which were Fireflies, and Cranleigh’s scout car. News had now filtered through to Cranleigh’s command group of the German attack on the east end Villers Bocage, which had effectively cut the regiment in two. It was reported that 1/7th Queens Battalion was going to attempt to fight through the town to relieve them. The Germans too around Point 213 were in a state of some confusion. They now only had four properly operating Tigers, and although infantry units were filtering through to aid them, Wittman was conspicuous by his absence. He was in fact reporting to his HQ to assess the situation.
At the western end of Villers, 1/7th Queens and ‘B’ Squadron prepared to act. Major Aird, now temporary CinC of the 4th CLY Sharpshooters, decided to infiltrate the town with infantry and then bring up ‘B’ Squadron. This is was hoped would provide the opportunity to rescue ‘A’ Squadron. However, ‘A’ Squadron’s situation deteriorated as the morning went on, and after mid-day further German tank activity was noted by Cranleigh and his troops. In fact, the Germans were concentrating some considerable force, particularly an ad hoc battle group from elements of Panzer Lehr. At 1235 Cranleigh requested smoke to cover a run for the town, but this failed and soon afterwards, Point 213 was recaptured by the Germans and Cranleigh and the survivors were taken prisoner.
By the early afternoon, tanks from ‘B’ Sqaudron (No.4 Troop, led by Sergeant Bill Cotton) had driven through the southern part of the town and having failed to cross the railway embankment, had positioned themselves in the main town square by the Mairie. 1/7th Queens were also positioned throughout Villers.
German forces began attempting to enter Villers, initially Panzer IVs of Panzer Lehr, but they lacked infantry support and the assault had stalled. However, Haupsturmfuhrer Ralf Mobius (1st Kompanie, 101 Heavy Tank Battalion and Wittman’s superior) led a force of Tigers into the town with limited infantry support. A group of four Tigers pressed down the main street but were ambushed by No.4 troop and a six pounder anti-tank gun from 1/7th Queens. Elsewhere, a force of three Tigers attempted to infiltrate the town from the east but were disabled by PIATs and 6-pdr a-t guns at very close range.
However, as the afternoon wore on more and more pressure was brought to bear by the Germans as they fed troops into Villers and 1/7th Queens were driven back Between 1700 and 2030 hours, the British withdrew from Villers-Bocage and set up a defensive ‘Brigade Box’ to the north-west of the town, but the position was deteriorating for the British in the sector and Operation Perch came to an end. Villers-Bocage was to suffer heavily as the own was pummelled by the RAF 2TAF (2nd Tactical Air Force).
1944 Town Map - Villers-Bocage
Conclusion
The Battle of Villers Bocage demonstrated the growing strength of the Germans around the lodgement area and that an Allied breakthrough would have to be won with some difficulty. The more ambitious parts of Operation Perch (codenamed Operation Wild Oats) which were to include an attempted sweep through the area to the east of Caen and an airborne drop of British 1st Airborne were abandoned.
Saddle up and go on to Hill 112