On the 3rd Division front, the Royal Engineer's objective was to clear four landing zones. The Royal Canadian Engineer units consisted of the 5th Field Company of 1st Army Troops, the 6th, 16th and 18th Field Companies and the 3rd Field Park Company. The 5th Field Company and one section of the 18th had the vital role of clearing underwater and other landing obstacles while the other units were to help the Division get ahead once it landed. The Royal Navy cleared obstacles in more than three feet of water while the Royal Engineers gathered or destroyed obstacles in shallow water.
Due to the late landings and a higher than expected tide, clearing the beach obstacles was badly disrupted and was mostly delayed until the receding tide uncovered the obstacles. The 5th and 18th landed with armoured bulldozers at 0745 hours on Mike Red and at 0815 hours on Mike Green sectors. Working in over four feet of water, they managed to clear a 50 foot gap in the obstacles in 30 minutes. The 5th Field Company landed later at Nan Red and Nan White beaches. They suffered heavy casualties as they laboured to remove charges from the beach obstacles while under fire from 50mm anti-tank guns in the Bernières strongpoint.
Parties of the 6th and 16th Field Company landed between H+5 and H+90 depending on their assignment. The fire from machine-guns and mortars continued to vary in intensity from place to place but it was reduced as the infantry overran the positions. The 6th Field Company R.C.E who landed with the Winnipeg Rifles had 26 casualties during the day. As the tide turned the receding water revealed a dense pattern of steel shapes with mines attached ranging from Teller-mines to 75mm shells with igniters. Organized clearance of beach obstacles between the high and low water marks continued throughout the day as the tide turned. By evening the engineers had cleared a 40-yard gap on Mike sector and a 1600-yard gap on Nan sector.
The AVREs and bulldozers of the assault engineers (the 5th Assault Regiment Royal Engineers) and "Crab" flail tanks of the 22nd Dragoons had the responsibility of clearing the beach exits. There was difficulty in opening exits on the 7th Brigade front due to low sand-dunes and flooded areas. On "Mike Red" beach, one exit was opened across the dunes just west of Courseulles. A bridge was laid and a rough causeway built across the flooded area behind. Some tanks got across about 9:15, then the causeway failed and traffic had to be stopped. The exit was not working until noon or later. A second exit on "Mike Green" beach gave less trouble and was working fairly well by about 9:30. The assault infantry had made good progress inland, but very few tanks or other vehicles were available to get through and support them.
AVRE 1D, 80 Aslt Sqn RE on D Day at Bernières-sur-Mer Nan White.
There was less difficulty on "Nan Green" Beach. The Crabs dealt with the mines, an anti-tank ditch was filled with fascines dropped by the AVRE's, and armoured bulldozers improved the lanes. Two exits leading into the East Courseulles strongpoint were working by about 9:00 a.m. The Centaurs of the Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment had little to do on the 7th Brigade's beaches. Some of the Centaurs were lost at sea, and others landed late. They received few calls for fire although one troop, answered a request received from the 13th Field Regiment observation party, and silenced a beach position which was harassing the Reginas.
Churchill AVRE SGB bridge layer on Juno Beach, afternoon 6 June 1944
On the 8th Brigade front at Bernières tides caused most of the
engineers craft to land east of their planned positions. The high sea-wall
combined with enemy fire caused trouble but the 5th Assault Regiment Royal
Engineers eventually cleared four exits by either breaking down the wall,
clearing obstructed ramps or by laying assault bridges over the wall.
On the beach east of Bernières the Crabs flailed paths through
mine fields in the sand dunes and two exits were opened. One troop of
Centaurs from the Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment engaged against
targets in St. Aubin and then gave assistance to No. 48 Commando in clearing
Langrune-sur-Mer.
Spr. G. Tennant and Spr. D. Fulton, Royal Canadian Engineers, clearing mines in Normandy, on June 22nd, 1944. (LAC PA-131409)
