Operation Greenline.2C 15.E2.80.9317 July Second Battle of the Odon

on left flank of 15th (scottish) division, crossroads @ le bon repos , higher ground overlooking esquay-notre-dame attacked 2nd glasgow highlanders of 227th (highland) infantry brigade (227th brigade), supported churchill tanks of 107th regiment royal armoured corps (107th rac) of 34th tank brigade , 141st regiment royal armoured corps (141st rac) of 79th armoured division, equipped churchill armoured vehicle royal engineers (avre) , churchill crocodile flame thrower tanks. scottish advanced north-east, south-west on northern slope of hill 112, towards defences of iii battalion, 21st ss-panzergrenadier regiment. infantry emerged dead ground met massed mortar fire, temporarily disorganised battalion, did smoke screen placed on hill 112, had merged fog , covered area. scottish still managed cross start line on time @ 9:30 p.m. , captured ss survivors of flame attack crocodiles on road running croix des filandriers le bon repos. advance continued downhill under monty s moonlight , covering fire 107th rac churchills on higher ground south of baron. esquay captured 11:00 p.m. not held, position below saucer of higher ground made shell-trap.

the 2 leading tank squadrons , 2 troops of crocodiles 141st rac engaged, while third squadron waited in reserve behind crest, under frequent mortar fire during evening , night. 4 tanks lost many of crews returned after dark. troops dug in on surrounding rises @ positions determined earlier using reconnaissance photographs. attack interpreted germans move on hill 112 , tiger tanks of 102nd schwere ss-panzer abteilung sent southern slope repulse attack never came. further west, rest of division had captured point 113 not Évrecy, left glasgow highlanders overlooked both flanks, although german counter-attacks infantry of 21st ss-panzergrenadier regiment , tanks of 10th ss-panzer regiment @ first concentrated on esquay, had been evacuated. germans counter-attack fell on positions around le bon repos, 2 panzer iv knocked out 6-pounder anti-tank guns. scottish pushed several times, medium artillery of xii corps bombard germans out. on 18 july, 107th rac had skirmish dug‑in tigers , 2 88 mm self-propelled guns , lost 4 tanks on ridge. highlanders maintained positions 2 days, before being relieved battalion of 53rd (welsh) division.

the 44th (lowland) brigade (44th brigade) attack south-west tourmauville take point 113, gavrus , bougy in odon valley, while 227th brigade captured esquay , attacked Évrecy. main 44th brigade attack begin, attack 6th king s own scottish borderers (kosb) on point 113 , attack 2nd gordon highlanders , 10th highland light infantry of 227th brigade on left flank @ 10:30 p.m., followed attack 8th royal scots 153rd regiment royal armoured corps (153rd rac) of 34th tank brigade on flank of hill @ 5:30 a.m. on 16 july, take gavrus , bougy; monty s moonlight deployed assist night advance. 6th kosb formed on start line behind german outpost line , advanced directly german defences under artificial moonlight. morning scottish dug in on hill, 1 company finding 1,000 yards (910 m) forward of objective, disrupted german preparations counter-attack, before retiring objective.

at 5:30 a.m. on 16 july, 8th royal scots (8th rs) , 153rd rac advanced towards gavrus, tanks attacking side of hill on left flank, protected germans in Évrecy ridge, behind village , menace german line of retreat, while infantry overran village. 7:45 a.m. 8th rs had taken village , 70 prisoners. similar attack made on bougy , 100 prisoners taken, after garrison routed. during day several counter-attacks made on scottish positions, repulsed artillery barrages, many german casualties. in afternoon, germans counter‑attacked twice tiger , panther tanks accompanied infantry. mortar fire on forward positions continuous throughout afternoon , evening no ground lost , many casualties inflicted on germans in mutually costly defensive action. tank crews fought or @ instant readiness thirty hours without relief, 0 hour until german counter-attacks ended. 6th royal scots fusiliers (6th rsf) moved forward gavrus , 8th rs formed @ bougy. on left flank, situation deteriorated after 227th brigade attack on Évrecy failed; touch 6th kosb became tenuous.

by dawn on 16 july 15th (scottish) division had captured bougy, gavrus , dug in around esquay , western end of point 113. on 17 july, front line became quieter 44th brigade exposed success of german defenders on flanks , subjected artillery bombardment. 6th kosb repulsed 2 attacks , germans defeated british attacks towards Évrecy. 2 officers of 8th rsf had led patrols towards Évrecy , found german positions still occupied. morning of 18 july german positions found have been partly evacuated , 6th kosb pushed forward bougy–Évrecy road. attack 59th (staffordshire) division of xxx corps, right (western) flank towards positions of 8th rs, made slow progress. 4 more german counter-attacks against 44th brigade defeated. during night brigade relieved 71st brigade, 53rd (welsh) division , returned le haut du bosq, suffering several casualties on way. 9th ss-panzer division brought reserve , end of day had restored front line, except @ hill 113.

the 158th brigade 53rd (welsh) division, under command of 15th division , 147th rac due attack on 16 july. attack postponed, because minefields around baron had not been cleared; several flail tanks , 2 churchill tanks had been disabled mine explosions. on next night attack cancelled due fog , operation began late on 17 july. attack Évrecy required long advance down forward slope village. attack poorly prepared , infantry battalion had been depleted casualties, composite company being formed 1 officer , fifty men , second company consisting of composite platoon. infantry tired keep tanks, had move when brought under 88mm fire village. 150 prisoners taken mortar fire forced infantry start line. 53rd (welsh) division captured cahier , defeated several big counter-attacks. more attacks xii corps gained no ground , during evening of 17 july, british force on point 113 withdrew, ending operation.