Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

4th Special Service Brigade (Commandos)

— National D-Day Memorial —

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

1. 4th Special Service Brigade (Commandos) Marker

Inscription.

4th Special Service Brigade (Commandos). . Formed in March 1944 around a nucleus of well-trained units drawn from the Royal Marines (RM), the 4th Special Service Brigade (SSB) would land at Normandy on 6 June 1944 and later take part in the Battle of the Scheldt and the Walcheren Islands assault. Comprised of 41 RM Commando, 46 RM Commando, 41 RM Commando, and 48 RM Commando, the 4th SSB was tasked on D-Day with securing the flanks of the British invasion., On D-Day, 41 RM Commando assaulted Sword Beach under fire and landed at Hermanville-sur-Mer. Despite experiencing losses of key people, the commandos pushed west towards Lion-sur-Mer until an enemy strongpoint forced them to dig in for the night. A dawn artillery attack on D+1 left adjutant Capt. John A. Taplin in command, but with help from 3rd Infantry Division's Lincolnshire Regiment, the commandos neutralized the strongpoint and made for Luc-sur-Mer to prepare for the planned link-up. , , As 48 RM Commando landed at Juno Beach, hidden obstacles sank two landing craft. Withering enemy fire on the beach cut the survivors down until only half remained to continue their mission: eliminating the strongpoint at Langrune-sur-Mer. Assisted by two Centaur tanks from the 1st Royal Marine Support Regiment, 48 RM Commando continued the advance until stalled by a German Panzer counterattack. Fortunately, the Sixth Airlanding Brigade's gliders landed nearby, however, and the German commander withdrew his forces toward Caen to avoid being outflanked. The following day, 48 RM Commando reached Langrune, now accompanied by two Canadian tank destroyers and a Royal Marines Armored Support Group Sherman tank. After the Sherman blasted through the stronghold's wall, the commandos secured it and eliminated the last resistance around Langrune. , , At Gold Beach, 47 RM Commando landed east of Le Hamel under heavy fire. Their mission was to move west ten miles and secure Port en Bessin, a protected harbor and critical link in the Allied fuel-supply chain. Despite dogged enemy resistance that produced staggering losses of officers and men, 47 RM Commando executed the daunting mission, and before D+ 3 ended, Allied fuel was flowing. In both collective and individual terms, valor, fidelity, and sacrifice hallmarked the 4th SSB's performance. , , In homage to the numerous contributions of the Royal Marines to the Allied successes at Normandy and beyond. Given by Maj. Gen. (Ret) Charles Tilden Hagan, Jr., USMCR, who served with the 4th Marine Division at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and IWork Jima.

Formed in March 1944 around a nucleus of well-trained units drawn from the Royal Marines (RM), the 4th Special Service Brigade (SSB) would land at Normandy on 6 June 1944 and later take part in the Battle of the Scheldt and the Walcheren Islands assault. Comprised of 41 RM Commando, 46 RM Commando, 41 RM Commando, and 48 RM Commando, the 4th SSB was tasked on D-Day with securing the flanks of the British invasion.

On D-Day, 41 RM Commando assaulted Sword Beach under fire and landed at Hermanville-sur-Mer. Despite experiencing losses of key people, the commandos pushed west towards Lion-sur-Mer until an enemy strongpoint forced them to dig in for the night. A dawn artillery attack on D+1 left adjutant Capt. John A. Taplin in command, but with help from 3rd Infantry Division's Lincolnshire Regiment, the commandos neutralized the strongpoint and made for Luc-sur-Mer to prepare for the planned link-up.

As 48 RM Commando landed at Juno Beach, hidden obstacles sank two landing craft. Withering enemy fire on the beach cut the survivors down until only half remained to continue their mission: eliminating the strongpoint at Langrune-sur-Mer. Assisted by two Centaur tanks from the 1st Royal Marine Support Regiment, 48 RM Commando continued the advance until stalled by a German Panzer counterattack. Fortunately, the Sixth

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Airlanding Brigade's gliders landed nearby, however, and the German commander withdrew his forces toward Caen to avoid being outflanked. The following day, 48 RM Commando reached Langrune, now accompanied by two Canadian tank destroyers and a Royal Marines Armored Support Group Sherman tank. After the Sherman blasted through the stronghold's wall, the commandos secured it and eliminated the last resistance around Langrune.

At Gold Beach, 47 RM Commando landed east of Le Hamel under heavy fire. Their mission was to move west ten miles and secure Port en Bessin, a protected harbor and critical link in the Allied fuel-supply chain. Despite dogged enemy resistance that produced staggering losses of officers and men, 47 RM Commando executed the daunting mission, and before D+ 3 ended, Allied fuel was flowing. In both collective and individual terms, valor, fidelity, and sacrifice hallmarked the 4th SSB's performance.

In homage to the numerous contributions of the Royal Marines to the Allied successes at Normandy and beyond. Given by Maj. Gen. (Ret) Charles Tilden Hagan, Jr., USMCR, who served with the 4th Marine Division at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and IWork Jima.

Erected by National D-Day Memorial.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II

4th Special Service Brigade (Commandos) Marker (left center) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

2. 4th Special Service Brigade (Commandos) Marker (left center)

. In addition, it is included in the U.S. National D-Day Memorial series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.

Location. 37° 19.854′ N, 79° 32.152′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. Memorial can be reached from Overlord Circle near Burks Hill Road. The Marker is located on the grounds of the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1st Special Brigade (Commandos) (here, next to this marker); Third Infantry Division (British) (here, next to this marker); Six Airborne Division (British) (here, next to this marker); Third Canadian Infantry Division (here, next to this marker); 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (here, next to this marker); French Forces of the Interior (FFI) (here, next to this marker); General of the Army George C. Marshall (1880-1959) (here, next to this marker); The United States Marines in the European Theater (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . .
1. Combined Operations. (Submitted on February 18, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. National D-Day Memorial. (Submitted on February 18, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Royal Marine Commandos of Headquarters, 4th Special Service Brigade image. Click for full size.

Handford (Lt), No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Public Domain

3. Royal Marine Commandos of Headquarters, 4th Special Service Brigade

making their way from onto the ‘Nan Red’ sector of Juno Beach at St Aubin-sur-Mer, on the morning of 6 June 1944. B5218.jpg

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 18, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.