The story
On the night to the 13th of January, Kapelse Veer was attacked with support from armour and artillery on the mainland.
No 5 Troop was now attached to No 47 Royal Marine Commando.
A Polish company were to secure the bridgehead, while a main force of 5 troops of the Royal Marine Commandos attacked on the left flank.
No 5 Troop and one troop from No 47 provided a diversionary attack on the right flank. The attack was unsuccessful, and the attackers had to withdraw after 8-10 hours of bitter fighting. Lieutenant Smith, Petter Hopen, Olav Bjørndalen and Bernt Myrvåg from No 5 Troop were killed during the operation.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.