Bény-sur-Mer
Bény-sur-Mer (, literally "Bény on Sea") is a commune in the Calvados department (14) in the Normandy region, la Basse-Normandie, in northwestern France, 4.7 km from Bernières-sur-Mer and 5.2 km from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Bény-sur-Mer was liberated on D-Day by "Le Régiment de la Chaudière", a French Canadian unit. There was a gun battery located near the town at the time. The locals were surprised to have been liberated by fellow francophones, expecting only English-speaking troops. D-Day: Le Matin. Beny-sur-Mer, garrisoned during the Occupation, was  not the object of a significant tactical engagement on D-Day. The village was impacted by three notable actions during the day, to the northeast at Château-de-Tailleville (WN 23) a long fight took place before Beny-sur-Mer would be safe, to its immediate west a short engagement at WN 28a later in the day and much earlier in the morning two units of 716 Infantry Division came to realize their day would be different, being hit by Naval Gunfire. Late in the Occupation, Beny-sur-Mer garrisoned a German a [Hauptkolonnen (Main) or Saunderkolonnen (Special) 160] supply  transportation unit assigned from LXXXIV Armeekorps (Stab: St. Lô), to KVA H1 Caen. Located centrally to the work and units of Infantry-Division 716, a sub-unit of Kw.Trsp.Kp. 4./ Kw.Trsp.Abt. 564., it was noted to be in Beny-sur-Mer on D-Day. The supply and transport services of Occupation Static Divisions (Coastal Defense) were organized on the design that artillery batteries were not moved; as such artillery ammunition and the troop supply trains were not well resourced. From 1941, the priority for motorized and horse-drawn transport was for Divisions fighting in Russia; with  almost no additional vehicles available for Divisions on occupation duty, in France. While a ‘standard’ Division Supply Column (Trains) should see up to eight motor transport columns, when mobilized in 1941, Inf.Div. 716., was allocated no supply commander, and only one motor transport column. D-Day: vers Midi. Widerstandnesten WN 23 was located at North 49.308275 Degrees / West 00.409888 Degrees and in June 1944, for targeting purposes, at: LZ1 vT MR Grid 003823 (Ref. GSGS 4250 1:50K: Creully Sheet 7E/5). The (WN) - Resistance Nest at the Château-de-Tailleville (de la colonie) was a unique ‘platoon-sized’ position , incorporating standard concrete (Verstärkt Feltmessig: Vf Type 2) gun casemates, with well-sited observation and crewed fighting positions. Located to dominate the roads entering the town, the position did dispose of an integrated network of trenches and tunnels, partially surrounded by a stone wall, permitting unobserved movement under cover. Hauptmann Deptolla, Kommandeur Bataillon II./ 736., defending with only his Stabs-züg (Lt Heinz Rix, Karl Rub), and the Stabs-kompanie, perhaps undermanned, would cause problems all day for the Canadians. Planning to fight with his west flank secured by Kompanie 8.(schwere)/ II 736., at Les Ruines Saint-Ursin, off to  the west, his right flank by Kompanie 12.(schwere)/ Bataillon III./736., to the east, in front of Douvres (WN 23a), and drawing ‘artillery’ support from Kompanie 3.(Flak)/Pz.Jg.-Abt.716., to his immediate west, he found himself alone. Having been located and well targeted, in 3rd Canadian Infantry Division planning, the fight for WN 23 was first impacted by Naval Counter Battery Gun Fire from the destroyer HMS Kempenfelt (R03) (at 06h19m), she shelling Kompanie 3 (Flak)./Pz.Jg.-Abt.716., sited in an open field emplacement, at Tailleville-la-Tomblette. This followed later in the morning by RAF Medium (Day) Bombers at 07h55 (BST ). WN 23 was overcome by the efforts of 'C' Company, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment (O.C. Major Daughney), landing at Saint Aubin-sur-Mer at 09h45. When able to bypass the fight for WN 27, intending to make a quick run to Tailleville, ‘C’ Company, The North Shore Regiment, was attached a tank troop from 'C' Squadron, The Fort Garry Horse. First reporting contact around noon, moving South, at MR Grid 004823, enemy mortars slowed the advance, the ‘C’ Sqn tanks moved-up, giving the necessary fire and moral support to get the North Shores up to the Chateau . Getting into the position at 13h52, a Sherman tank penetrated the walls, fronting the Chateau grounds, and shot up the trenches and their defenders with high explosive shells, at point blank range. After six hours of fighting, the remnants of the garrison surrendering, ‘C’ Company ‘secured’ Tailleville, at 17h30. 'D' Company was moved up to Tailleville on the east flank, as 'A' Company had previously sealed off the southern side of the position. Having consolidated on the position, ‘C’ Company captured 4 Officers and 57 other prisoners, this reported at 20h10. It continued to root in the underground workings of  the Château; around 23h00 producing more prisoners, including two wounded monocled officers. At 23h30 all of 'C' Squadron, The Fort Garry Horse, moved into position with the North Shores, the squadron laagered and passed an uncomfortable night constantly on the alert in expectation of a German counterattack. The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment lost 34 killed and 90 wounded in the fight for WN 23. German Crew Served Weapons at Châteaux de Tailleville. D-Day: au crépuscule. Le Regiment de la Chaudiere (8 CIB Reserve), at Berniers-sur-Mer, by 10h30, forming up with 'A' Squadron, The Fort Garry Horse  moved South towards Beny-sur-Mer, encountering significant resistance, in exiting the town. While its Company ‘A’ (OC Major H. Lapointe), dealt with two very capable 8.8 cm Pak 43/41, in an open field emplacement, of Kompanie 2.(StuG) /Pz.Jg-Abt 716., sited just southwest of Berniers (on Les Perrucques), its ‘B' Company remained focused on its run to Beny-sur-Mer and WN28a. Having moved up with little difficulty, Company ‘B' Le Regiment de la Chaudiere (OC J.F. L’Esperance), ‘captured’ WN 28a by mid-afternoon, taking 54 prisoners. At the end of the day, The Fort Garry Horse were  ordered back for rest and vehicle replenishment in Beny-sur-Mer, it was not until 01h00 07.06 that 'B' squadron made it back, while ‘C’ Squadron remained in Tailleville. The Fort Garry Horse suffered 13 killed and 12 wounded casualties on D-Day. Widerstandnesten WN 28a was located West of Beny-sur-Mer (Moulineaux), at North 49.293 Degrees / West 00.451 Degrees and in June 1944, for targeting purposes, at: French Lambert MR Grid LZ1 vT 972808 (Ref. GSGS 4250 1:50K: Creully Sheet 7E/5). The (WN) - Resistance Nest, its south approach protected by La Mue, was a doctrinally laid-out  four gun German ‘batterie-sized’ tactical position, with perimeter crewed weapon fighting positions, and ammunition storage points. The four 100mm le.F.H14/19(t) Czech guns, with an effective range of 9,970m range, were disposed in Type 1 ‘Open’ Field Gun Earth Fa Emplacements (Geschutzestellungen), incorporating only one Type Heer 669 ‘Gun’ (Verstärkt Feltmessig: Vf Type 2) concrete casement. Located to support the landing defences at Courseulles-sur-Mer, Berniers-sur-Mer, and St Aubin-sur-Mer, the position did dispose of light crew-served weapons, in supporting trenches on its South flank. While effectively manned by Batterie 7. (Resi ). / Bataillon II. / 1716 AR, commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Franke, his contribution to the fights on the JUNO beaches did not go as planned. Its intended effect, on the five Mike and Nan beaches was effectively neutralized by Naval Counter Battery Gun Fire, specifically from the cruiser HMS Diadem (84) at 05h52, and then furthered bombed by RAF Medium / Fighter Bombers at 08h15. There was not much fight left when, approaching from the northeast, it was overcome Le Regiment de la Chaudiere. In Beny-sur-Mer there remains two reminders of D-Day and June 1944.