The 153rd Brigade was the first of the 51st brigades to land in France. It landed on D-Day and was intended to be used as a "fire brigade" for I Corps. With the firce attack of 21st Panzer, reeinforcement for the attacking formations was given priority. 153rd Brig. (temporary) under Lt.Col. 'Chick' Thompson deployed the three battalions of the brigade (1st and 5/7th Gordons and the 5th BW) in 'close proximity to eachother' in the woods and went to the HQ of a brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. They required no help, so the brigade was not comitted on D-Day.

On the morning of D+1 the situation had changed. Divisional commander Bullen-Smith came with orders from HQ I Corps that a radar station at Douvres la Delivande was to be taken. A small garison was said to be there. Thompson took the 5th BW and two AVRE of the Royal engeneers to do the job. The 5th BW was soon in action in the woods on the road to Douvres, but it was a group of Canadians. (Thompson was told that the Canadians were south of the wood) The matter was sorted out before any casualties happened. When the BW left the wood they found a large open space before the mission objective. The small garrison was not so small after all and both AVRE's were knocked out by AT guns. Thompson received orders to leave the matter to the royal navy and move towards Pegasus Bridge. There the Brigade was brought under temporary command of 6th Airborne Div.

The Brigade was assigned to a number of tasks, but in battalion size. Fighting in platoon, company, battalion and brigade level, but not as a division ensued till the end of July. This scrappy fighting was not welcomed by the Highlanders. 5th BW was to march on Breville, 5/7th Gordons at Touffreville and 1st Gordons in an area dubbed 'the triangle'. (east of the road running from Herouville to Troan.

The march on Breville was a nightmare. A Company was all but annihilated when concealed MGs opened up from ditches. Every man in the front platoon was killed and, 'every man in that platoon died with his face to the enemy'.

The CO ordered his men to occupy the Breville chateau some 800 yards south of the village. The germans were not willing ot let the Highlanders occupy the chateau and bombarded the chateau and grounds surrounding it before making a frontal attack. This time it was the germans who were slaughtered. 'the attackers were killed literally by the hundred'. The germans retreated, having taken a few highlanders from one of the flanks as prisoners. Instead of taking them to a prison camp they were put against a wall and shot. One soldier feigned death and returned to the battalion. The Highlanders were shocked at this news, as they were used by chivalry and respect from the germans they fought against in the desert. The men of the 5th BW did not return the favour on their german prisoners, but honored the tradition of giving them a cigarette.

Sources:
NA Kew WO171/678, 673, 680, 1263, 678, 1266, 1299. war diary 153 BW and Gordon bde 1944.

None the Bolder, Richard Doherty

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'We march. The enemy is retreating in transport. We follow on foot.' Lt.Neil McCallum 5/7 Gordons 19th November 1942