Regina Rifles Regiment

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

The Reginas landed on D-Day astride the river at Courseulles-sur-Mer, against heavy opposition. They suffered heavy casualties in gaining a foothold on the beach due to the fact that the prior bombardments had not taken out many of the concrete gun emplacements sited to cover the beach in enfilade.

Once the beach area was taken, they were able to advance inland a few miles comparatively easily during that day, there to dig in and regroup astride the road and railway between Caen and Bayeux.

The next heavy action they saw was a few days later (11 June) as they took positions around Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse and Norrey-en-Bessin (slightly northwest of Caen) and fought off a vicious German armoured counterattack. Later in the month they were part of the supporting effort to take Carpiquet Airport; it wasn't until the end of the month that the buildup was sufficient to complete that task, and it was at the beginning of July that the Reginas were thrown back into the fray in Monty's effort to capture Caen.

Your uncle was killed in this action. 7 Brigade was moved east to attack and take Carpiquet village against fierce resistance on 4 July; on 8 July, the main effort against Caen began, and as 9 Brigade (Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders, North Nova Scotia Regiment and Highland Light Infantry of Canada) took Buron and Authie, 7 Brigade moved through them to take the villages of Cussy and Ardenne, further east.

It is most likely here where your uncle fell, but the War Diaries will be able to confirm.

Geoff