Operation Epsom

IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944. An ammunition lorry of 11th Armoured Division explodes after being hit by mortar fire during Operation 'Epsom'

A Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Tank Brigade, supporting infantry of 8th Royal Scots during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944.

Men of the 8th Royal Scots move forward past a Humber scout car of 31st Tank Brigade during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944.

A British casualty is brought back to a Universal Carrier being used to evacuate wounded, 49th (West Riding) Division, Operation 'Epsom', Normandy, 27 June 1944. A casualty is brought back to a universal carrier which is being used to evacuate wounded, 49th (West Riding) Division, Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944.

A Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Tank Brigade, supporting infantry of 8th Royal Scots during Operation 'Epsom', Normandy, 28 June 1944. A Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Tank Brigade, supporting infantry of 8th Royal Scots during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944.

Casualties on stretchers awaiting transport to a casualty clearing station during Operation 'Epsom'.

A soldier armed with a Sten gun takes cover beneath a jeep during Operation 'Epsom'.

British Tanks in Nw Europe 1944-45 Churchill tanks of 9th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), and infantry of 15th Divison, move forward during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 26 June 1944.

British Tanks in Nw Europe 1944-45 Churchill tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), move forward during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 25/26 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Churchill tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), supporting infantry during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Churchill tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), with infantry and anti-tank guns of 15th Division at the edge of a cornfield during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Infantry of 15th Division advance across open fields supported by Churchill tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Churchill tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade), move forward during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Infantry of 15th Division with a Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade) during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

British Tanks Nw Europe 1944-45 Infantry of 15th Division with a Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (31st Tank Brigade) during Operation Epsom, Normandy, 28 June 1944.

Tank and infantry officers confer on a Churchill tank of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, 31st Tank Brigade, during Operation 'Epsom'.

IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944. 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division wait at the start line for the signal to advance during Operation 'Epsom'.

A casualty is brought back to a universal carrier which is being used to evacuate wounded, 49th (West Riding) Division, Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944.

Avro Lancasters carpet bomb a road junction near Villers Bocage, Normandy, France through which the 2nd and 9th SS Panzer Divisions were expected to move to carry out an attack on the junction of the British and American armies. The daylight attack, by 266 aircraft of Nos. 3, 4 and 8 Groups, was carried out at 4,000 feet to ensure that the target indicators dropped by the Pathfinders were seen and 1,100 tons of bombs were dropped with great accuracy.

Infantry of 'B' Company, 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division, advance during Operation 'Epsom' in Normandy, 26 June 1944. Men of 'B' Company, 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division, advance during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

Infantry of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division in the village of St Mauvieu-Norrey in Normandy, during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944. Infantry of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division in the village of St Mauvieu-Norrey during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

Infantry of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division, advance behind a Churchill tank of 9th Royal Tank Regiment at the start of Operation 'Epsom' in Normandy, 26 June 1944. Infantry of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish Division), advance through waist-high corn behind a Churchill tank of 9th Royal Tank Regiment at the start of Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

Infantry of the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division, in action in a sunken lane during Operation 'Epsom', Normandy, 26 June 1944. Troops of 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th (Scottish) Division, fire from their positions in a sunken lane during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

Led by their piper, men of 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division advance during Operation 'Epsom' in Normandy, 26 June 1944. Led by their piper, men of 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division advance during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

A knocked-out German 75mm anti-tank gun and one of its gunners lying dead beside it. A disabled Panther tank and Marder IIIM is also visible in the background. Fontenay-le-Pesnel, 25 June 1944.

Men of 12 Platoon, 'B' Company, 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers advance into St Manvieu during Operation 'Epsom', Normandy, 26 June 1944. Men of 12 Platoon, 'B' Company, 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers advance into St Manvieu during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.