Operation Epsom (Battle Zone Normandy)

Operation Epsom, launched on June 29th, was General Bernard Montgomery's third attempt to take the city of Caen, which had been a key D-Day objective. The basic aim of Epsom was to sweep round to the west and south of Caen and reach the main Caen-Falaise road. This would almost encircle the German defenders around Caen, particularly those at the Carpiquet aerodrome who were preventing any further progress on Monty's left flank. The attack deployed VIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor and consisting of 11th and Guards Armoured Divisions, 15th (Scottish) Division and 6th Independent Armoured Brigade, to force crossings over the Odon and Orne rivers and capture the vital Hill 112. Despite Monty's claims after the war that his intention was to fix', or hold, the enemy armor in the east while the Americans swept round from the west, Epsom was clearly designed for the British to achieve the decisive breakthrough in Normandy. An advance of six miles was made and Hill 112 was briefly captured. A company of 2nd Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders rushed a stone bridge at Tourmeauville, capturing it intact. For much of Epsom this bridge was the only crossing point over the Odon, and thus a considerable bottleneck. The threat of counter-attacks from the newly-arrived II SS Panzer Corps persuaded the British to withdraw from the east bank of the Odon. Hill 112 and Caen remained in German hands.