Battle Zone Normandy: Gold Beach

On D-Day, British XXX Corps was ordered to break open the German defenses on Gold Beach and advance to capture Bayeux. Its commander, Lieutenant-General G.C. Bucknall, chose the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, a veteran formation blooded in North Africa, to spearhead the landing, supported by 47 Royal Marine Commando. Despite poor weather conditions hampering the planned armored support, the assaulting infantry overcame stiff resistance and heavy casualties to storm the beach. By noon Gold Beach was in full use as a reception and dispersal site, with all four brigades of 50th Division ashore and pressing inland. Although Bayeux was not taken, the defenses towards Arromanches were quickly cleared, securing the site of the first artificial harbors so vital to the Normandy campaign. The arrival of 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats), also North Africa veterans, in the days following D-Day consolidated the beachhead in the face of mounting German resistance, setting the scene for further penetration inland.