Memorial South Wales Borderers

The South Wales Borderers came ashore on Gold Beach.

Plaque text in Welsh, English and French:
2nd Battalion The South Wales Borderers Landed at Asnelles on June 6th 1944
Unveiled on 5th June 1994 by Brigadier Sir Nicholas Summerville, C.B.E.

Background:
56th Infantry Brigade (comprising 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderes, 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment and 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment), which was attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, departing from England for the coast of France. From the ships the 2nd SWB steps on June 6, 1944 between 09.30 and 11.30 am (2nd wave of attack) to an LCI of the US Navy that lands them at GOLD beach. The 2nd South Wales Borderers (SWB) are supposed to land on JIG GREEN but due to the current they land on ITEM RED near Le Hamel (Asnelles). Only the coastline is occupied by 1st Regiment Dorset, who are still fighting to take out certain WN (wiederstandnest).

The 2nd SWB move through the fields between Asnelles and St. Come de Fresne to Forrêt de Mauvines, west of Ryes, the RV area 2nd SWB (Rendez-Vous or assembly area). The main objective for the 2nd SWB was to eliminate the bridge and road at Vaux-sur Aure and the German RDF (Radio Direction Finder) near Pouligny. At Vaux-sur Aure contact would be made with the Americans who moved inland from Omaha beach.
From the RV 2nd SWB supporting the front troops, 2nd Devons in the vicinity of Ryes and 1st Dorsets at Buhot. Buhot was at 5.35 pm and Ryes was in British hands at 7.30 pm. The B-company 2nd SWB moves via Magny-en-Bessin in the direction of Vaux-sur Aure with 2nd Essex on their left flank (final goal: St Sulpice) and on the right flank A-company SWB, which goes to La Rosiere. 2nd Glosters became the brigade reserve together with brigade HQ and move towards Magny-en-Bessin after 7.40 pm.
On June 6 at 11:50 pm the 2nd SWB reported that they had captured the bridge. Here the positions were taken and the night was spent in patrol walks and small fights with lost groups of Germans. 12 Germans were taken prisoner. The CP of SWB is located in the town hall of Vaux-sur-Aure.

On D-Day, the 2nd South Wales Borderers captured more enemy territory than any other unit involved in the June 6 invasion of France.

Total losses on June 6 were; 20 injured and 4 dead.
Deadly victims;
Sergeant Reynolds Cementry Bayeux
Private Price Cementry Bayeux
Private Massey Cementry Bayeux
Private Parr Mangy and Bessin

The battle was not over yet. 11 months of hard fighting followed (including Tilly-sur-Seulles, Le Havre, crossing the Seine, South Netherlands) and ended in Germany. In May 1945 the war ends for the 2nd SWB in Hamburg. Until 1948 the 2nd South Wales Borderers remained in Germany as Allied occupation force.

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Source

• Text: Randy Brandt & Cornelis Reijntjes
• Photos: Randy Brandt
• William Henry (Bill) Evans (via Cornelis Reijntjes)