SHERWOOD RANGERS MEMORIAL, BAYEUX

The Sherwood Rangers (Notts Yeomanry) were a tank unit equipped with M4 Shermans and Sherman Fireflies. They landed on Gold Beach on D Day, with orders to support 231st Brigade and advance on Bayeux. They reached the outskirts of the city, now in supprt of 55th Brigade, on the evening of 6th June 1944, being the first British unit to do so. Mines blocked the way, and as no specialist Sherman Flails were available to clear the way, the united decided to withdraw to a safe position, and attack with 2nd Essex the next morning. In the early hours of 7th June, British troops finally entered Bayeux, with the Sherwood Rangers at the head of them.

From Bayeux the unit pushed inland, and was heavily involved in the fighting for Tilly-sur-Seulles. It was here that one of the unit was killed, war poet Keith Douglas, who is buried in Tilly War Cemetery.

The memorial was unveiled in September 1993; this was the first one in the grounds of the Bayeux Museum and permission was granted because the unit had been the liberators of Bayeux in 1944.

Detail of the Sherwood Rangers Memorial

©Paul Reed 2002-2006