Memorial Battle of Bois des Monts and of Château St. Côme Bréville-les-Monts

The monument was erected in memory of the Battle of the Bois des Monts and the Battle of the Castle of St. Côme (7 to 13 June 1944).

The text on the monument:
During the night of 7th June 1944 the 9th Parachute Battalion, reduced to 85 men after Merville and Amfreville/Le Plein, occupied les Bois de Mont and the Chateau St. Come with orders to hold it all costs as it overlooked the Ranville plain and the Orne bridges.
In the next few days men rejoining from scattered drops increased the battalion strength to 270. It was reinforced by 5th Battalion 'The Black Watch' and elements of the Royal Armored Corps, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and other Airborne troops.
Between 7-13 June the enemy attacked with increasing strength, finally using three infantry battalions, artillery and a squadron, outnumbering the defenders by about four to one.
Despite severe hand-to-hand fighting the enemy did not penetrate the perimeter and suffered very heavy casualties.
On 13 June the 9th Parachute Battalion was relieved by 52nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and moved to another front line position with only 150 men.

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Source

• Text: Jente de Roust
• Photos: Jente de Roust