The story of this place
Gold Beach, the central of the five landing sectors, was assaulted on 6 June 1944 by the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. Specialised armour—Hobart's 'Funnies', including flail tanks that cleared mines—helped troops break through the seawall and coastal villages such as Le Hamel and Asnelles. By day's end the British had pushed six miles inland, nearly reaching Bayeux, and linked toward the Canadians on Juno. Here Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis performed the only actions of D-Day to earn the Victoria Cross. Just offshore at Arromanches, engineers would soon assemble the giant Mulberry 'B' artificial harbour to supply the invasion.