Operation Epsom was a Second World War British offensive that took place between 26–30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German occupied city of Caen, which was a major Allied objective in the early stages of the invasion of northwest Europe. Epsom was launched early on the 26 June, with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Additional bomber support had been expected, but poor weather led to this being cancelled; air cover would be sporadic for much of the operation. Supported by the tanks of the 31st Tank Brigade, the 15th Scottish made steady progress, and by the end of the first day had largely overrun the German outpost line. In heavy fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon, and efforts were made to expand this by capturing strategic points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. However, in response to powerful German counterattacks, by 30 June some of the British positions across the river were withdrawn, bringing the operation to a close. Although the Germans had managed to contain the offensive, to do so they had been obliged to commit all their available strength, including two panzer divisions newly arrived in Normandy and earmarked for a planned offensive against British and American positions around Bayeux.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Epsom

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1758:

Seven Years' War: Austria defeated Prussia at the Battle of Domstadtl, forcing Frederick the Great to leave Moravia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Domstadtl

1860:

Seven months after the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, several prominent British scientists and philosophers participated in an evolution debate at the Oxford University Museum in Oxford, England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Oxford_evolution_debate

1894:

London's Tower Bridge , a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames, opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

1905:

The scientific journal Annalen der Physik published Albert Einstein's article "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies", the third of his Annus Mirabilis Papers, introducing the theory of special relativity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annus_Mirabilis_Papers

1934:

Adolf Hitler violently purged members of the Sturmabteilung, its leader Ernst Röhm, and other political rivals on the Night of the Long Knives, executing at least eighty-five people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

aiglet (n): A tip, originally of metal and often decorative, on a ribbon or cord that makes lacing two parts of a garment or garments together easier http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aiglet

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Life is a jest, and all things show it,

I thought so once, and now I know it. --John Gay http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Gay