James Holland

And Martlet, the idea is to get beyond Fontenay to this Roray Ridge, which again is barely a ridge at all.

But that is both to deny that ridge to the enemy and gain it for themselves as an artillery observation point.

So that's the aim of Martlet, as a precursor.

It's like a warm-up act.

The amuse-bouche, the appetiser for Epsom.

And it's split so that...

The 49th Polar Bear Division is split on a two-prong attack, and you've got Sherwood Rangers on the left on the eastern side, and you've got the 4th 7th Dragoon Guards and the 24th Lancers on the right supporting the other brigades of the 49th Polar Bear Division.

And the first day sees B Squadron

in action this is sunday the 25th of june and it's very attritional they don't get as far as they've they're intended to martin's supposed to be a one-day operation to get the ridge they don't get to the ridge but they do get into fontanella peznal

It's a bit of a nightmare, to be perfectly honest.

And B Squadron is battling hard with the infantry in Fontenay on the first day.

And by the end of that evening, Stan Perry, old friend of the show, he's in his tank in B Squadron.

He actually knocks out the spire at Fontenay de Pesnel.

It extends on to the next day because they're in the middle of the battle now.

So you've got to see it through to its fulfillment and you've got to get onto that ridge at Roray.

And by this time, it is the role of C Squadron and A Squadron to take on the mantle and it is C Squadron first.

Yeah, absolutely dreadful.

And actually, Sea Squadron, early on that day, they've had the nest of Spandau.

So just to the eastern end of Fontenay, just off the road on the northern side of the main road going to Caen, there is this little triangle of trees.

And that's where the nest of Spandau is.