Operation Martlet - The Battle Continues

The Battle Continues

At 0530 hours on 26 June, the 70th Infantry and 8th Armoured Brigades led the 49th Division's renewed offensive. A battlegroup consisting of the 24th Lancers and the 12th (Motorised) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps penetrated Tessel-Bretteville but were withdrawn by the afternoon as the troops on their right had failed to advance much beyond their start lines. The front stabilised once again. During the night, two companies from the 2nd Battalion, 192nd Panzer-Grenadier Regiment of 21st Panzer Division came up to bolster the defences of Panzer-Lehr-Division near Vendes, which remained in German hands for the duration of the operation. The latter panzer division had been briefly engaged against elements of 146th Brigade but in the main was still concentrated against 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on the 49th Division's right flank.

The following day, 27 June, the 49th Division continued to attack. 146th Brigade captured the Tessel-Bretteville wood but could not push beyond it. The 70th Infantry Brigade/8th Armoured Brigade taskforce was more successful, driving rapidly southwards and infiltrating Rauray. Heavy fighting raged in the village throughout the day but by nightfall it was in British hands. The 70th Brigade prepared to continue advancing south the following day

On the morning of 28 June, 1st Tyneside Scottish of 70th Brigade began infiltrating into Brettevillette, south of Rauray. By the afternoon though, German pressure on this exposed position increased, as elements of Kampfgruppe Weidinger of 2nd SS Panzer Division were hastily thrown into the Odon front to gain time for the imminent arrival of the II SS Panzer Corps The British were ejected from Brettevillete and formed a new defensive line around Rauray. The spur was in British hands and 49th Division prepared to defend it.

Between 29–30 June, the 49th Division remained in this defensive line around Rauray, being sporadically shelled and fired at by KG Weidinger. The main attack by II SS Panzer Corps took place further south, so the division's front was largely 'quiet', except for continued German and British reconnaissances.

On 1 July, KG Weidinger began an assault at 0600 hours against Rauray. Supported by armour, it drove straight on the village, isolating the 1st Tyneside Scottish to the south. Sharp fighting ensued around Rauray as the 11th Durham Light Infantry and the 1st Tyneside Scottish struggled to repel the Germans. At around 1000 hours the Germans began to withdraw and preparations were made to follow up this withdrawal but at 1100 hours a renewed assault was launched against the village by KG Weidinger but again failed to breach the British line. A final attack, launched around midday by the 9th SS Panzer Division to the south again made little progress, in spite of four hours of fighting. By 1800 hours the Germans withdrew for the last time. The 70th Brigade had been hit heavily, 1st Tyneside Scottish in particular losing 132 men alone on this day. However, the line had been held, and Odon Bridgehead was now largely secure.