D-Day: Commonwealth Sectors

30. Hotel de la Breche

Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandie

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The 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division were amongst the first troops to wade ashore on Sword beach, landing directly opposite the welcoming Hotel de le Breche. Resistance from the Germans concealed along the foreshore was minimal and by mid-morning the landing had been classed as a success. As the men splashed ashore on Sword beach, making their way through the narrow exit clogged with tanks and lorries, they were greeted by the strained battle tunes of Piper Bill Millin. He played "Highland Laddie" and "Road to the Isles"on his bagpipes throughout the day, as the troops landed. In later years when asked about Lord Lovat's request for him to play he replied "I said Okay and just got on with it". After the war Germans who had manned the guns on the day said they didn't shoot him as they thought he as crazy.