On the western end of Merville the Germans were waving and shouting maybe attempting to communicate a truce to remove casualties, this had been previously used as a ruse to distract attention away from an attack and so was ignored.
Within minutes and from the Eastern end of the village the enemy launched the third big attack of the day.
The German self propelled artillery moved down the main street knocking down houses and the Commando expecting to withdrawal as ordered back to the Brigade area in Le Pain that coming under cover of darkness began to counter this new assault.
Major Gray weighing up the strength of the enemy, his losses in an exhausted Commando along with the dwindling supplies of ammunition and the realised fear that they may not survive the remaining 5 hours of day light before they could conduct the planned withdrawal made a bold decision to extract immediately and in daylight.
So without delay and 'under the noses' of the German battery they withdrew through heavily wooded country, the Troops reorganising as they moved.
The attached FOB (Forward Observation Bombardment) Officer called in Naval Gunfire Support and 15 inch shell rained down on the village to cover the withdrawal and suppress any follow up.
On route Easy Troop led by Ian Beadle who were point Troop for the unit became pinned down by 4 machine gun posts. A quick appreciation was made and with mine fields to the right and the Merville battery to the left they could not be avoided entirely.
With Easy Troop keeping them busy Major Gray led the rest of the Commando to the left and quietly down a hedgerow between the German positions.
It was during this maneuver that two of Easy Troops men Sergeant John Brown and Marine Norman Green took on the enemy together.
John Brown mustered as many type 68 grenades as he could from his section, and from an exposed position and drawing enemy fire lobbed them using a discharger cup mounted on his rife targeting the machine gun posts, knocking out two.
Meanwhile leaving the relative safety of a ditch Norman Green set himself up with his Bren gun in an open field, also drawing the attention of the two remaining machine gun posts he began to come under fire.
At one point the magazine on his Bren was hit and caught fire, he removed it and threw it to one side, ignoring the immediate danger from the possible cook off of the magazine or the the enemy fire he reloaded as charged magazines were tossed to him and over came both remaining positions.
For their actions both men were awarded the Military Medal.
Easy troop captured one prisoner, an 81 mm Mortar and 2 Spandau's and Ian Beadle the Troop Commander returned to the HQ on a captured German motor bike.
The Commando was now able to continue on the units original line of advance and after another 2 miles and picking up German POWs on the way reached 4 Commando Lines in the Brigade perimeter.
Here they rested in a sunken lane and were met by the CO of 3 Commando Peter Young, there was a battle on going, and 45's actions had helped split he enemy force.
Lovat instructed them to rest in the church in the center of the village, a guard was provided and un-disturbed by the battle outside between 3,4 and 6 Commando against the same determined enemy they had fought earlier they slept.
Marine Norman Green was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service while operating with the Army during the successful landings in Normandy.
Recommendation
"On the 8 June 44 during the withdrawal from Merville to Le Plein, 'E' Troop No. 45 RM Cdo came under heavy fire. Mne Green being in charge of an LMG was ordered to take up a posn on the right hand side of a hedge and to engage the enemy. This he found he was unable to do owing to low branches and long grass. Mne Green therefore abandoned all cover and running into the open under intensive and accurate fire, during which time a bullet lodged in the magazine of his gun, opened fire with such effect into the enemy posn that it was silenced. This man's calm and coolness under intense fire was an inspiration to all and enabled the withdrawal to continue successfully." [Recommended by Major Gray RM]
45 (Royal Marines) Commando War Diary
7th June 1944
In the morning on instructions from Bde the Cdo withdrew from MERVILLE and dug in SOUTH of SALLENELLES. Casualties to date were one other rank killed, Lt.Col. Ries and 16 other ranks wounded, and Lt. Nelson Sigs Offr, Lt Kennedy Int Offr, and Lt. Winston and 28 other ranks missing.
During the morning the Cdo came under fire from mortars in the area SPIT 135773. At 1300 hrs the Cdo was warned to move again to its objective FRANCEVILLE and when it moved at 1300 hrs came under heavy shell fire. A 6 pdr gun and 4 MMGs gave us covering fire while passing SALLENELLES. At 1705 hrs the attack on FRANCEVILLE commenced and two troops managed to get to the Northern end of the village.
The enemy counter attacked with Mortars and MMGs at 2100 and as the Cdo had lost its 3" Mortars through casualties and also its Bde set it was impossible to get any support so it was driven back to MERVILLE.
That night three men were sent back to Bde to report the situation. They returned in the morning with another Bde set and orders that MERVILLE must be held at all costs.
8th June 1944
During the morning the position became worse. Two heavy attacks had been driven off. The enemy had also brought up an anti-tank gun and was shelling and mortaring our positions.
At 1700 hrs orders came from Bde to withdraw through enemy lines and join up with Bde at AMFREVILLE.
By 2000 hrs the Cdo had successfully broken through silencing two MMG posts on the way and capturing one 81 mm mortar while suffering only two casualties. The Cdo rested in a church in AMFREVILLE for the night.
Related Royal Marines 'Dits'
References/ Further Reading
No. 45 (Royal Marines) Command War Diary [Pegasus Archive] https://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/war_45cdo.htm
Commando Men [Bryan Samain-Pen and Sword]
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