Country: France

Locality: Calvados

Identified Casualties: 23

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Cemetery Location

Benouville is 10km north-east of Caen, and a few Km south of Ouistreham and the Car Ferry. From Pegaus Bridge go to roundabout and turn right; the church is further up on the right. There is a green CWGC sign at the gate, and there is parking opposite. Most of the graves are to the rear of the main burial area, with a few near the entrance.

Cemetery Information

The bridges over the Caen canal and River Orne were taken by elements of 6th (Airborne) Division on the night of 5th/6th June 1944. Benouville became the outer defences of 2nd Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Airborne) and 7th Parachute Regiment, while they awaited the arrival of 1st Special Service Brigade from the direction of Sword Beach. Counter-attacks by 21st (Panzer) Division resulted in numerous losses, some of whom were buried in the grounds of Benouville Churchyard. 

Most were from 7 Para or other units in 6th (Airborne) Division. 

WW2 Graves

The graves here are largely men from the 6th (Airborne) Division who fell in June 1944.

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