A Lion in the Field

On June 28, as part of the battle in the Scottish Corridor, the 2nd Argylls of the 15th Scottish Division were ordered to cross the Ordon River. Since there were Germans to the front and rear, the battalion had to be stretched out over the entire area. The …

1944-06-29

AP114

On June 28, as part of the battle in the Scottish Corridor, the 2nd Argylls of the 15th Scottish Division were ordered to cross the Ordon River. Since there were Germans to the front and rear, the battalion had to be stretched out over the entire area. The commander's decision was to keep one company north of the river, two guarding the bridges, and one in the village of Gavrus. On the 29th, as part of the German effort to cut the Corridor, B Company's position in Gavrus was subjected to a sudden, fierce attack.

Gavrus, France

Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a British offensive in the Second World War between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective, in the early stages of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of north-west Europe. Preceded by Operation Martlet to secure the right flank of the advance, Operation Epsom began early on 26 June, with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Air cover was sporadic for much of the operation, because poor weather in England forced the last-minute cancellation of bomber support. Accompanied by the 3ist Tank Brigade, the 15th (Scottish) Division made steady progress and by the end of the first day had overrun much of the German outpost line, although some difficulties remained in securing the flanks. In mutually-costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing tactically valuable points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. By 30 June, after German counter-attacks, some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn and the captured ground consolidated, bringing the operation to a close.

German

British

Scenario Type = Standard