29th June 1944 – 43rd (Wessex) Division defend the east side of the Operation Epsom Corridor while the 15th Scottish Division defend the western side assisted by a Royal Navy bombardment from offshore.
The Allies advance is then withdrawn on intelligence that the German II SS Armoured Corps is about to launch a major counter-attack and the Allies pull back from Hill 112. Operation Epsom is closed down. VIII Corps has lost 4,020 men and Caen remains in enemy hands.
Allied aircraft cause considerable destruction to the II SS Armoured Corps tanks and vehicles assembled around Noyers-Bocage (south-west of Grainville-sur-Odon) so they only succeed in securing a forward position between Rauray and Grainville-sur-Odon. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012; ‘Overlord’ by Max Hastings, Macmillan 2016 edition and 'The Drive on Caen, Northern France 7th June -9th July 1944’, a 60th Anniversary booklet.)
Eric Brewer, now back at base, learns that according to the Officer in Charge 25 of their men have been killed and 12 injured. He writes that, since they landed in France, about one eighth of 61st Recce’s ‘B’ Squadron have now been killed and another eighth injured. They have lost Sergeants Wallace (died 19th June) and Whitehouse (died 10th October 1944), seven corporals and the rest troopers. (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family and 61st Reconnaissance Roll of Honour.)
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