Publisher's Synopsis
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Second Battalion of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry (2/KSLI), advanced the furthest of any Allied ground unit (British, Canadian or American). They seized the key tactical ground of Périers ridge and liberated the villages of Beuville and Bieville-sur-Orne. They successfully established a lodgement on the northern outskirts of the city of Caen that was to secure the Allied beachhead against the only German massed armoured counter-attack of that day. They achieved all this on foot in about six hours, despite their supporting tanks being delayed and the allocated brigade reserves being redeployed away from the main axis of advance. Z company of the 2/KSLI, unsupported, was tasked to attack and destroy a fortified German gun battery that was threatening the advance of the 2/KSLI. This was achieved in an action that was recognised by the award of three gallantry medals to soldiers of this single company.
