17th June 1944 – Free French forces, supported by the British and Americans, land on Elba, an Italian island off the coast of Tuscany. After fierce fighting the Germans evacuate their troops on 19th/20th June.
17th/18th June 1944 – the US 1st Army (V Corps with 82nd Airborne) reaches the coast north and south of Barneville cutting off the Cotentin peninsula and all supply routes to the 40,000 German troops defending the Cherbourg area. Barneville is liberated on 18th June. The Germans abandon Valognes to focus on the defence of Cherbourg. V Corps enter the ruined city on 20th June.
Eric Brewer was still at Point 103:
June 17th : "Still in same position. Gerry put in tank attack on our S.D. knocking them out like flies - saw 2 of our tanks get knocked out. Stayed in position all night; only small arms fire and a few mortars but not too bad." (From Eric Brewer’s diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and family.)
After St Paul-du-Vernay 61st Reconnaissance Regiment HQ moved to a 'House with 4 Girls' and then near to the Jerusalem crossroads (Regimental HQ location list on re-union dinner menu 1946). 61st Recce were pulled back to rest on 18th June - possibly this movement to 'Recce Jerusalem'.
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