40: Parachute Regiment
Badges of the
“C” Company, 1st Bn. The Royal Ulster Rifles
6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division
June 6-14, 1944
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Order of Battle
Company Headquarters
Company Commander: Major Bob Hynds (WIA July 7, 1944)
Second-in- Command: Captain Hugh Weldon
Company Sergeant Major: CSM C. S. McCutcheon (KIA March 24, 1945)
Company Quartermaster Sergeant: Color Sergeant Richard Boyce
Combat Platoons
No. 15 Platoon: (Platoon Commander Unknown)
No. 16 Platoon: (Platoon Commander Unknown)
No. 17 Platoon: (Platoon Commander Unknown)
No. 18 Platoon: Lt. M. Gann
Weapons Platoon (from Battalion Support Company)
Anti-Tank Platoon: Lt. Richard Quinn (KIA June 16, 1944)
Support Platoons
“C” Troop, 211th Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery: Captain Hugh Ward (KIA June 12, 1944)
Light Tank Troop, “A” Squadron, 6th Airborne Armored Reconnaissance Regiment
Operation Mallard
The 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Riflemen departed Brize Norton airfield at 1840 hours on June
6, 1944. The battalion landed on LZ-N, near Ranville, at 2100 hours. They were greeted by
German mortars and a degree of small-arms fire. These, however, did very little to hinder the
forming up of the Battalion and only one casualty was sustained. The battalion formed up in
less than an hour and moved to Le Bas de Ranville to await orders.
The Ulstermen were assigned the task of enlarging the southern sector of the Orne River
bridgehead by capturing the villages of Longueval and Sainte Honorine. “C” Company occupied
the high ground called ‘Ring Contour 30’ between Ranville and Sainte Honorine with the
mortars, anti-tank guns, and machineguns of the Support Company at 0200 hours on June 7th.
From this position the company could support the assault on Longueval and Sainte Honorine.
Longueval was occupied without incident, however the attempt to move on Sainte Honorine
“C” Company, 1st Bn. The Royal Ulster Rifles
6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division
June 6-14, 1944
Hugh Harvey Overlord 2008 Tournament Page 2
was dogged by communications difficulties and determined German resistance. The Ulstermen
were forced to retire to Longueval having suffered in excess of one hundred casualties. Major
Hynds and Captain Wheldon were awarded the Military Cross for gallantry while covering the
retreat.
The Ulstermen remained in this area for the following week and endured a great deal of
shelling and numerous harassing attacks throughout, although no truly serious attempt was
made to dislodge them. On the 13th June, with the 51st (Highland) Division arriving to assume
responsibility for the southern flank, the 6th Airlanding Brigade was moved northwards and the
1st Royal Ulster Rifles were ordered to relieve the beleaguered 12th Parachute Battalion in
Bréville.
Men of the 1st Battalion
The Royal Ulster Riflemen
move off from LZ ‘N’.
(IWM)
Sources:
Georges Bernage, Red Devils in Normandy: 6th Airborne Division,
5-6 June 1944, Heimdal: 2002.
Peter Harclerode, “Go To It”: The Illustrated History of the 6th Airborne
Division, Caxton: 1990.
G. G. Norton, The Red Devils: The Story of the British Airborne Forces,
Leo Cooper: 1971.
The Pegasus Archive Web Site (www.pegasusarchive.org)
Major Bob Hynds
“C” Company, 1st Bn. The Royal Ulster Rifles
6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division
June 6-14, 1944
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“C” Company, 1st Bn. The Royal Ulster Rifles
6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division
June 6-14, 1944
Hugh Harvey Overlord 2008 Tournament Page 4
British Airlanding Company
Company HQ with 1 PIAT team 85 pts
Airlanding Platoon (Full) 230 pts
Airlanding Platoon (Full) 230 pts
Airlanding Platoon (Full) 230 pts
Airlanding Platoon (Fulll) 230 pts
Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon (Full) 175 pts
Airlanding Battery, RA (Full) 140 pts
Airlanding Armored Reconnaissance Platoon (Full) 205 pts
(with OQF 3” Howitzer and 2 Littlejohn Adapter Options)
Priority Air Support (Typhoons) 220 pts
Total 1745 pts
Seize & Hold Mission Alternate List
Company HQ with 1 PIAT Team 85 pts
Airlanding Platoon (with Coup-de-main Option) 375 pts
Airlanding Platoon (with Coup-de-main Option) 375 pts
Airlanding Platoon (with Coup-de-main Option) 375 pts
Airlanding Platoon (with Coup-de-main Option) 375 pts
Airlanding Armored Reconnaissance Platoon (3 Tanks) 155 pts
(With OQF 3” Howitzer and 2 Littlejohn Adapter Options)
Total 1740 pts