D-Day: Commonwealth Sectors

2. The Commonwealth Sector

Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandie

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During the initial phase Commonwealth forces consisted of the British and Canadian troops with a contingent of Free French. They operated on the left flank between the estuary at Ouistreham and meeting the American forces on the beaches at Port-en-Bessin. The three beaches that the Commonwealth troops landed on were codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword. The task of protecting the eastern flank fell to General R. Gale and the 6th British Airborne Division. Their job was to capture the two bridges over the Caen Canal and the River Orne at Ranville, then destroy the gun battery at Merville and five bridges over the River Dives.