Luc sur Mer – D Day and the Commandos – Simon Horsington

A mission to secure the memory of 46th Royal Marine Commando on D-Day and the part played by his father.

Monument to 46^th Royal Commando, Luc sur Mer, Normandy

The Mayor of Luc sur Mer, M. Philippe Chanu, June 2019

Three years before D-Day, a discrete landing took place at Luc-sur-Mer, named “Operation Chopper”, on the night of 28 September 1941 by 5^th Troop No.1 Commando led by Lieutenant Tom Gordon-Hemming, in order to survey the Normandy coastline and beaches in preparation for a future allied landing. In this early foray into Occupied Normandy two British  soldiers were lost and are buried in the local cemetery.

2¾ years later, on the morning of Tuesday 6^th June 1944 the Allied Landings along the Normandy coast began, and Luc-sur-Mer on “Sword Beach” was liberated by 4^th Special Service Brigade Royal Marine Commando as part of the 3rd Infantry Division with 1^st South Lancashire Regiment 8^th  and 3^rd Infantry supported by Sherman beach clearing “flail” tanks of the 22nd Dragoons.

 

Sherman mine & obstacle clearling “Flail Tank”

 

At 8pm that same night elements of the German 21^st Panzer Division supported by 716^th  Infantry Division counter-attacked the British positions and it was not until the following morning when the last remnants of German resistance at Le Petit-Enfer (Little Hell) was overcome by 46 with support from *RM Armoured Support Group, that Luc sur Mer was finally back in Allied hands.

From BBC Peoples War, Jack Farrell who was with the Dragoons comments: “The beach was littered with various tanks and other vehicles, burning or broken down and there was obviously still a lot of shelling and there was an aircraft bombing. This Luc-sur-Mer was just like a small village really……anyway, it was all arranged that we all ‘harboured-up’ with the tanks in this field as soon as we got ourselves organised.  So our crew commander, a lieutenant, got off the tank he got a piece of shrapnel in his face or something and straight away he fell down. I forget his name now, but that was the last we saw of him. A little while later, our (replacement) crew commander a chap called Tom Horne, he also got wounded with a similar shrapnel injury. So, we lost two wounded in a short space of time”.

 

Today, alongside the beach in the peaceful Normandy resort of Luc sur Mer stands a British and French flag beside a monument to that fateful time in June 1944 when the Allied landings took place.

Simon Horsington’s father was a member of Special Services, 46 Commando Royal Marines (46) who were to take part in the initial landing operations codenamed “Deer” for the Houlgate Coastal Defence Battery or “Frog” for the Benerville C.D. Battery on the night of D Day or D Day +1. The final decision for the operation was to be made on D Day itself and, although under British Second Army command, the decision to be made by Naval Commander Eastern Task Force and the army Commander.

On the fateful day “46” were waiting at “Sword” anchorage at Ouistreheim, when the order came postponing both operations and was described after the War by a Royal Navy Officer as ‘The Suicide Mission’, which it would have been. Postponement was made because the German gun batteries were not harassing our shipping and subsequently “46” was ordered to land as soon as possible in the British/Canadian sector of “Juno Nan White” at Berniéres.

They immediately proceeded to the HQ of 4^th Special Service Brigade at St Aubin sur Mer (41, 46,47,48 ) and ordered to capture the strong point at Petit Enfer to secure the coast from Langrune sur Mer, Luc sur Mer and beyond.

 

46 Royal Marine Commando, Normandy June 1944

 

The attack began 13.30h and all resistance ceased 18.00h. 65 prisoners (716 Infantrie-Division) were taken plus a considerable quantity of weapons and equipment. “46” suffered no casualties (although eventual fighting through to September towards the Dunkirk area lost 48% of its original complement of 360, dead wounded or taken prisoners of war).

 

Frederick Horsington banner at Luc sur Mer – 2019

 

Each year Simon has made a special point of supporting this liberation commemoration alongside the people of Luc sur Mer with “46” veterans, families and friends. For the 75^th anniversary in 2019 a large gathering took place and Simon made an impassioned speech (in French) before the Mayor and townsfolk at their annual commemoration. The Town had placed large photograph images of some of the men who took part in the liberation. One of the images was Simon’s father.

 

 A Royal Marines Close Support Centaur Mark IV tank, named “La Vidette”*, which supported the landing at Luc sur Mer is still on display at the Pegasus Bridge Museum at Bénouville. T185102 was unveiled by one of its crew, Patrick Churchill, at the Pegasus Bridge Museum on the 70^th anniversary in June 2014.

https://musee.memorial-pegasus.com/en/

 

Source: ‘The Story of 46 COMMANDO Royal Marines’ by Captain P K W Johnson, Gale & Polden Ltd, The Wellington Press, Aldershot 1946

 

 Simon Horsington by the Memorial to the landings at Luc sur Mer, June 2019.

 

 

C/Sgt FWG Horsington 46 Commando Royal Marines (“S” Troop – Heavy Weapons) front left. Da Panne, Belgium – 16 September 1944.