THE ASSAULT LANDINGS AT NORMANDY: BRITISH SECOND ARMY
Richard A Rinaldi
This lists all forces landing on Gold, Juno and Sword beaches and with 6th Airborne Division on 6 June
1944.
GOLD BEACH
50TH (NORTHUMBRIAN) INFANTRY DIVISION
[Gold was divided from right to left into Item, Jig and King beaches, with assault brigades landing over Jig
and King]
50th Division Troops: Maj-Gen D. A. H. Graham
HQ 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
RAC
two squadrons 61st Recce Regt RAC
RA1
90th Field Regt RA [SP]: in support of 231st Inf Bde
102nd AT Regt RA [99th and 288th AT Btys RA only]
82nd LAA Bty RA of 25th LAA Regt RA
Infantry
2nd Bn Cheshire Regt (MG)
RE
233rd, 295th, 505th Field Coys RE
235th Field Park Coy RE
RSignals
50th Divisional Signals
RAMC
149th, 186th and 200th Field Ambulances
22nd Field Hygiene Section
Provost
50th Division Provost Coy
231st Infantry Brigade: Brig Sir A. G. B. Stanier, Bart. assault brigade, Jig Beach
2nd Bn Devonshire Regt reserve battalion
1st Bn Hampshire Regt assault battalion (right)
1st Bn Dorset Regt assault battalion (left)
battery 1st RM Armd Spt Regt Centaur tanks (from RM Armd Spt Gp)
sqn 6th Assault Regt RE AVRE's (from 1st Asslt Bde RE)
sqn Westminster Dragoons flail tanks (from 30th Armd Bde)
No. 47 (RM) Cdo (from 4th S.S. Bde) landed Jig Beach behind 2nd Devons and moved west
69th Infantry Brigade: Brig F. Y. C. Knox assault brigade King Beach
5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt assault battalion (left)
6th Bn Green Howards assault battalion (right)
7th Bn Green Howards reserve battalion
battery 1st RM Armd Spt Regt Centaur tanks (from RM Armd Spt Gp)
sqn 6th Assault Regt RE AVRE's (from 1st Asslt Bde RE)
sqn Westminster Dragoons flail tanks (from 30th Armd Bde)
1 The other two field regiments of the division did not land on D-Day; this was also true of the other two batteries of 102nd AT Regt
RA and the bulk of 25th LAA Regt RA.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 2
[Gold Beach]
151st Infantry Brigade: Brig R. H. Senior follow-up behind 69th Infantry Brigade
6th Bn Durham Light Infantry
8th Bn Durham Light Infantry
9th Bn Durham Light Infantry
56th Infantry Brigade: Brig E. C. Pepper follow-up behind 231st Infantry Brigade
2nd Bn South Wales Borderers
2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt
2nd Bn Essex Regt
8th Armoured Brigade:2 Brig H. F. S. Cracroft
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards DD tanks: in support of 69th Infantry Brigade
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry DD tanks: in support of 231st Infantry Brigade
Units under command 50th Division
RAC
Westminster Dragoons: two sqns in support of assault brigades
two troops 141st Regt RAC [flamethrower tanks]
RHQ 1st RM Armoured Support Regt
RA
86th Field Regt RA [SP]: in support of 69th Infantry Brigade
147th Field Regt RA [SP]: in support of 231st Infantry Brigade
198th and 234th AT Btys of 73rd AT Regt RA
320th LAA Bty RA of 93rd LAA Regt RA
120th LAA Regt RA (RHQ and 394th and 395th LAA Btys only)
RHQ 113th HAA Regt RA (152nd AA Operations Room and one troop 356th SL Bty RA)
one flight 662nd AOP Squadron [ground staff only; aircraft arrived D+2]
RE
HQ 6th Assault Regt RE
81st, 82nd Assault Sqns RE
73rd, 280th Field Coys RE
RAMC
203rd Field Ambulance
168th Light Field Ambulance
104th Beach Sub-Area
9th Beach Group responsible for King Beach
2nd Bn Hertfordshire Regt
10th Beach Group
6th Bn Border Regt responsible for Jig Beach
RE
69th, 89th, 90th, 183rd Field Coys RE
21st and 23rd Stores Sections
51st and 74th Mechanical Equipment Sections
1043rd Port Operating Coy RE
953rd and 961st IWT Operating Coys RE
RAMC
3rd and 10th Casualty Clearing Stations
3rd, 25th, 31st, 32nd, 35th Field Dressing Stations
Nos 41, 42, 47, 48 Field Surgical Units
Nos 24, 30 Field Transfusion Units
2 24th Lancers, the third regiment in 8th Armoured Brigade, did not land on D-Day. 8th Armoured Brigade in June 1944 had 193 cruiser
tanks (76 Sherman II DD, 95 Sherman III and 22 Sherman VC [Firefly]), 33 light tanks (Stuart III), and 20 Crusader AA tanks.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 3
[Gold Beach]
[104th Beach Sub-Area]
22nd and 23rd Port Detachments
Supply and Transport
305th, 536th, 705th General Transport Coys RASC
2nd and 5th Detail Issue Depots
244th Petrol Depot
RAOC
7th, 10th, 36th Ordnance Beach Detachments
REME
24th and 25th Beach Recovery Sections
30 Corps Workshops [included two composite workshops and a light recovery section]
Provost
240th and 243rd Provost Coys
Pioneer Corps
75th, 173rd, 209th, 280th (Pioneer) Coys Pioneer Corps
JUNO BEACH
3RD CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION
[Juno was divided right to left into Love, Mike and Nan Beaches, with assault brigades landing on Mike
and Nan]
3rd Canadian Division Troops: Maj-Gen R. F. L. Keller
HQ 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
RCA
12th Field Regt RCA [SP]: support of 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
13th Field Regt RCA [SP]: support of 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
14th Field Regt RCA [SP]: support of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
32nd LAA Bty RCA of 4th LAA Regt RCA
Infantry
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)
RCE
6th, 16th, 18th Field Coys RCE
RCSignals
3rd Canadian Divisional Signals
RCAMC
14th, 22nd, 23rd Canadian Field Ambulances
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade: Brig H. W. Foster assault brigade, Mike and Nan Beaches
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles assault battalion, Mike Beach
The Regina Rifle Regt assault battalion (right), Nan Beach
1st Bn Canadian Scottish Regt reserve battalion
battery 2nd RM Armd Spt Regt Centaur tanks (from RM Armd Spt Gp)
squadron 5th Assault Regt RE AVRE's (from 1st Asslt Bde RE)
detachment 22nd Dragoons flail tanks (from 30th Armd Bde)
8th Canadian Infantry Brigade: Brig K. G. Blackader assault brigade, Nan Beach
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada assault battalion (center) Nan Beach
Le Regiment de la Chaudiere reserve battalion
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regt assault battalion (left), Nan Beach
battery 2nd RM Armd Spt Regt Centaur tanks (from RM Armd Spt Gp)
squadron 5th Assault Regt RE AVRE's (from 1st Asslt Bde RE)
detachment 22nd Dragoons flail tanks (from 30th Armd Bde)
British Assault Landings at Normandy 4
[Juno Beach]
9th Canadian Infantry Brigade: Brig D. G. Cunningham reserve brigade (landed behind 8th at Nan
Beach)
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
2nd Canadian Armored Brigade:3 Brig R. A. Wyman
6th Canadian Armored Regt (1st Hussars) support of 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
(DD tanks)
10th Canadian Armored Regt (Fort Gary Horse) support of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
(DD tanks)
27th Canadian Armored Regt (Sherbrooke Fusiliers)
Units under command 3rd Canadian Division
RAC
"C" Sqn Inns of Court Regt [armoured cars]
RHQ 2nd RM Armoured Support Regt
Infantry
HQ 4th Special Service Brigade: Brig B. W. Leicester4
No. 48 (RM) Commando landed Nan Beach and moved east
RA/RCA
19th Field Regt RCA [SP]: support of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
62nd Anti-Tank Regt RA (RHQ, 245th and 248th AT Btys RA only)
Tactical HQ 80th AA Brigade
114th LAA Regt RA (RHQ, 372nd and 375th LAA Btys RA only)
321st LAA Bty RA of 93rd LAA Regt RA (under command of 114th)
218th and 220th LAA Btys RA of 73rd LAA Regt RA
two troops 474th Searchlight Bty RA
155th AA Operations Room
160th AA Operations Room
"A" Flight, 652nd Air OP Squadron [ground staff only]
RE/RCE
26th Assault Sqn RE
80th Assault Sqn RE
5th Field Coy RCE
262nd Field Coy RE
102nd Beach Sub-Area
7th Beach Group
8th Bn King's Regt responsible for Mike Beach
8th Beach Group
5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt responsible for Nan Beach
RE
HQ 7th GHQ Troops RE
72nd, 85th, 184th, 240th Field Coys RE
19th and 10th Stores Sections
59th Mechanical Equipment Section
11th and 1034th Port Operating Coys
3 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade in June 1944 had 193 cruiser tanks (76 Sherman V DD, 95 Sherman III and 22 Sherman VC
[Firefly]), 33 light tanks (Stuart V) and 20 Crusader AA tanks.
4 The 4th Special Service Brigade did not land as a unit at Normandy. Its No. 47 (RM) Commando was with 30 Corps' 50th
(Northumbrian) Infantry Division on the far right of the British landings. No. 48 (RM) Commando landed at Juno under 3rd Canadian
Infantry Division, moving east towards Sword Beach. No. 41 (RM) Commando landed at Sword under 3rd Infantry Division, and
moved west towards No. 48. The last unit in the brigade, No. 46 (RM) Commando landed after D-Day.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 5
[Juno Beach]
[102nd Beach Sub-Area]
966th IWT Operating Coy
RAMC
32nd Casualty Clearing Section
1st , 2nd, 33rd, 34th Field Dressing Stations
Nos 33, 34, 45, 46, 56 Field Surgical Units
Nos 13, 14, 36 Field Transfusion Units
3rd and 4th Sanitary Sections
21st Port Detachment
Supply and Transport
HQ 30th Transport Column RASC
199th and 282nd General Transport Coys RASC
139th and 104th Detail Issue Depots
240th and 242nd Petrol Depots
RAOC
15th Ordnance Beach Detachment
45th Ordnance Ammunition Coy
REME
22nd and 23rd Beach Recovery Sections
Provost
242nd and 244th Provost Coys
Pioneer Corps
58th, 115th, 144th, 170th, 190th, 225th, 243rd, 293rd (Pioneer) Coys Pioneer Corps
SWORD BEACH
3RD INFANTRY DIVISION
[Sword Beach divided right to left into Oboe, Peter, Queen and Roger Beaches, with the assault at Queen
Beach]
3rd Division Troops: Maj-Gen G. T. Rennie
HQ 3rd Infantry Division
Artillery
7th Field Regt RA [SP]
33rd Field Regt RA [SP]: support of 8th Infantry Brigade
76th Field Regt RA [SP]: support of 8th Infantry Brigade
20th Anti-Tank Regt RA
Infantry
2nd Bn Middlesex Regt (MG)
RE
17th, 246th, 253rd Field Coys RE
RSignals
3rd Divisional Signals
RAMC
8th, 9th, 223rd Field Ambulances
Provost
3rd Division Provost Company
British Assault Landings at Normandy 6
[Sword Beach]
8th Infantry Brigade: Brig E. E. E. Cass assault brigade, Queen Beach
1st Bn Suffolk Regt reserve battalion
2nd Bn East Yorkshire Regt assault battalion (left) Queen Beach
1st Bn South Lancashire Regt assault battalion (right), Queen Beach
5th (Indep) Armd Support Bty RM Centaur tanks (from RM Armd Spt Gp)
two sqns 5th Assault Regt RE AVRE's (from 1st Asslt Bde RE)
sqn 22nd Dragoons flails (from 30th Armd Bde)
185th Infantry Brigade: Brig K. P. Smith first follow-up brigade
2nd Bn R Warwickshire Regt
1st Bn Norfolk Regt
2nd Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
9th Infantry Brigade: Brig J. C. Cunningham second follow-up brigade
2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regt
1st Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers
2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles
27th Armoured Brigade:5 Brig G. E. Prior-Palmer
13th/18th Hussars support of 8th Infantry Brigade (DD tanks)
East Riding Yeomanry
Staffordshire Yeomanry
1st Special Service Brigade: Brig the Lord Lovat landed Queen Beach, to left of 8th Infantry Brigade
No. 3 Commando
No. 4 Commando
No. 6 Commando
No. 45 (RM) Commando
two troops No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
one troop RM Engineer Commando
Units under command 3rd Division
RAC
22nd Dragoons
Infantry
No. 41 (RM) Commando (from 4th S.S. Bde) landed on right of Queen Beach nd
moved west
RA
HQ 53rd Medium Regt RA
RHQ and 218th LAA Bty RA of 73rd LAA Regt RA; also controlling one troop 318th
LAA Bty RA of 92nd LAA Regt RA, 322nd LAA Bty RA of 93rd LAA Regt RA,
and bty of 9th Survey Regt RA
"B" Flight, No. 652 AOP Squadron
RE
HQ 5th Assault Regt RE
77th and 79th Assault Sqns RE
71st and 263rd Field Coys RE
629th Field Sqn RE
Supply and Transport
106th Bridge Coy RASC
90th Armoured Brigade Coy RASC
5 27th Armoured Brigade in June 1944 had 193 cruiser tanks (38 Sherman V DD, 126 Sherman III and 29 Sherman VC [Firefly]), 33
light tanks (Stuart III), and 20 Crusader AA tanks.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 7
[Sword Beach]
153rd Infantry Brigade: Brig H. Murray6
5th Bn Black Watch
1st Bn Gordon Highlanders
5th/7th Bn Gordon Highlanders
101st Beach Sub-Area
5th Beach Group initial beach group, Queen Beach
5th Bn King's Regt
6th Beach Group follow-up beach group, Queen Beach
1st Bucks Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
RE
HQ 18th GHQ Troops RE
84th and 91st Field Coys RE
8th and 9th Stores Sections
50th Mechanical Equipment Section
HQ 9th Port Operating Group
999th and 1028th Port Operating Coys RE
940th IWT Operating Coy RE
RAMC
16th Casualty Clearing Section
9th, 12th, 20th, 21st, 30th Field Dressing Stations
Nos 37, 38, 39, 40, 55 Field Surgical Units
Nos 21, 22, 29 Field Transfusion Units
1st and 2nd Field Sanitary Sections
20th Port Detachment
Supply and Transport
HQ 21st Transport Column RASC
39th, 101st, 299th, 633rd General Transport Coys RASC7
96th and 138th Detail Issue Depots
237th and 238th Petrol Depots
RAOC
11th and 12th Ordnance Beach Detachments
44th Ordnance Ammunition Coy
REME
20th and 21st Beach Recovery Sections
Provost
241st and 245th Provost Coys
Pioneer Corps
53rd, 85th, 102nd, 129th, 149th, 267th, 292nd, 303rd (Pioneer) Coys Pioneer Corps
6 This brigade, from 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, landed the evening of 6 Jun 1944 under the command of 3rd Infantry Division.
7 These companies manned DUKWs, and only landed two platoons each.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 8
AIRBORNE LANDING
6TH AIRBORNE DIVISION
6th Airborne Division Troops: Maj-Gen R. N. Gale
HQ 6th Airborne Division
RAC
6th Airborne Recce Regt RAC
Infantry
22nd Indep Parachute Coy [pathfinder unit]
Army Air Corps
Nos 1 and 2 Wings, Glider Pilot Regt
RA
211th Bty RA of 53rd Airlanding Light Regt RA
3rd Airlanding Anti-Tank Regt RA
4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Regt RA8
RE
3rd and 591st Parachute Sqns RE
249th (Airborne) Field Coy RE [brought in by sea]
RSignals
6th Airborne Divisional Signals
Supply and Transport
716th Light Composite Coy RASC
398th Composite Coy RASC [brought in by sea]
RAMC
224th and 225th Parachute Field Ambulances
195th Airlanding Field Ambulance
REME
detachment 6th Airborne Division Workshop
3rd Parachute Brigade: Brig S. J. L. Hill drop zones "K" and "V"
8th Bn Parachute Regt
9th Bn Parachute Regt
1st Canadian Parachute Bn
5th Parachute Brigade: Brig J. H. N. Poett drop zone "N"
7th Bn Parachute Regt
12th Bn Parachute Regt
13th Bn Parachute Regt
6th Airlanding Brigade: Brig Hon. H. K. M. Kindersley landing zone "W"
2nd Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry9
1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles
"A" Coy 12th Bn Devonshire Regt10
8 Brought in by sea.
9 "D" Coy and two platoons "B" Coy from the 2nd OBLI and 30 men from 249th (Airborne) Field Coy RE were formed into a force to
seize bridges at Benouville and Ranville.
10 The remainder of the battalion landed by sea on D+1.
British Assault Landings at Normandy 9
ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL MARINES
The Royal Navy formed eight Naval Beach Commandos (each 84 personnel plus a signals unit of 30) to
assist with operations on the beaches. Beach Commandos 'J', 'Q' and 'T' served on Jig and King Beaches
(Gold), 'L', 'P' and 'S' on Mike and Nan Beaches (Juno), and 'F' and 'R' on Queen and Roger Beaches
(Sword).
The Royal Marines also provided crews for landing craft: 'E' Squadron (605, 606, 607, 609, 654 and 698
Flotillas) with LCM, 'B" Squadron (805, 806, 807, 808 and 809 Flotillas) with LCVP, and the independent
700, 706 and 557 Flotillas with LCP(L). They also provided Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Landing Craft
Obstacle Clearances Units drawn from RM Engineer Commando.
SOURCES
The assault landing in Normandy is one of two snapshot orbats contained in Lt-Col H. F. Joslen, Orders of
Battle, Second World War, 1939-1945 [History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military
Series] (reprinted in one volume by The London Stamp Exchange, Ltd, 1990; originally published by
HMSO in two volumes in 1960).
A few details have been added from other sources. In particular, details on landings by beach are from Maj.
L. F. Ellis, Victory in the West, Volume I: The Battle of Normandy [History of the Second World War,
United Kingdom Military Series] (reprinted; Nashville: Battery Press, Inc, 1993; originally published by
HMSO in 1962).
Easier to find in print are two volumes by Christopher Chant: Order of Battle, Operation Overlord: Gold &
Juno Beaches, 6 June 1944 and Order of Battle, Operation Overlord: Sword Beac & The British 6th
Airborne Division, 6 June 1944 (both published by Ravelin Ltd [Braceborough, Lincs.] 1994). Chant’s
details on units is clearly taken from Joslen (it would be hard to do anything else, really) but he does
contain other information as well.
Details on the armoured brigade tank strengths are from Peter Brown, "21st Army Group Tanks: British
Tanks in Europe 1944-45." November 1996 [based on "Half Yearly Reports on the Progress of the Royal
Armoured Corps" for June and December 1944 and June 1945]; located in 1999 at
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8418/21agtext.htm]