Operation Spring

Lore & Background

The districts of Caen north of the Orne were captured during Operation Charnwood (8–9 July 1944) and those south of the Orne were not fully captured until July 20 during Operation Atlantic by the II Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds) at a cost of 1,349 casualties, with Verrières Ridge remaining in German hands. About 8 km south of Caen, Verrières Ridge blocked a direct advance by Allied forces on Falaise. Attempts to take the ridge during Goodwood had been thwarted by the I SS Panzer Corps (General Sepp Dietrich). The attack was to take place in four stages; the 2nd Canadian Division would attack on the east side of the Caen–Falaise road with the 4th and 5th Canadian Infantry brigades after the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade had cleared the start line by retaking the Beauvoir and Troteval farms and capturing Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay. The 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, on the right flank, would then capture May-sur-Orne and Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay. The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, on the left flank, would take Verrières village, with Rocquincourt reserved for later phases. The 3rd Canadian Division, on the west side of the road, was to capture Tilly-la-Campagne with the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade followed by Garcelles-Secqueville. The infantry brigades would have the support of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. Phase I of the plan required the 2nd and 3rd Canadian divisions to capture May-sur-Orne, Verrières and Tilly-la-Campagne. Phase II, to begin at H+2½ hours, required the divisions to press on and capture Fontenay-le-Marmion, Rocquancourt and Garcelles-Secqueville. In phase III, the 7th Armoured Division was to capture Point 122 and exploit towards Cintheaux and in phase IV the Guards Armoured Division was required to capture woods to the east of Garcelles-Secqueville as the 3rd Canadian Division occupied La Hogue. Artillery support was to be provided by the divisional artilleries of the participating divisions, the 2nd Canadian Army Group Royal Artillery, the 8th Army Group Royal Artillery (8th AGRA) and 83 Group RAF.

Reader's Guide

The battle unfolded in four phases. Phase I saw the North Nova Scotia Highlanders capture Tilly-la-Campagne and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry secure Verrières village. Phase II involved the Calgary Highlanders attacking May-sur-Orne and Bourguébus Ridge, with heavy casualties. Phase III was a costly failure for the Essex Scottish Regiment, South Saskatchewan Regiment, and Black Watch, the latter losing all but 15 of its attacking soldiers. Phase IV was not executed due to the failure of earlier phases. German counter-attacks over subsequent days forced Canadian withdrawals from May-sur-Orne and Tilly-la-Campagne, but Verrières village was held by the RHLI.

Did You Know?

• The Black Watch lost all but 15 of its attacking soldiers during the assault on Verrières Ridge, making it the bloodiest day for Canadian forces since Dieppe.
• Operation Spring was taken by the Germans to be the main Allied effort for about two days, delaying their response to Operation Cobra.
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry held Verrières village against dozens of German counter-attacks, suffering over 200 casualties.
• Artillery support for the operation included 488 guns from field, medium, heavy, and anti-aircraft regiments.