D-Day: Commonwealth Sectors

15. Grand Chateau de Varavill

Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandie

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The first Canadian Battalion only had a force of some 20 men when it reached the crossing of the River Divette on the eastern side of Varaville. Their problem was that they too had to take on a well-defended manor house here. The position was manned by a force of 96 troops armed with machine guns and heavy artillery that needed to be neutralized. Initially all went well as the Canadians entered the village unseen but it wasn't long before the Germans 75mm gun was trained upon them and they ended up taking cover in the gatehouse. The battle at the chateau lasted until 1000hrs in the morning and the stalemate was eventually broken when the garrison came under attack from a mortar, it was only then the remaining soldiers surrendered.