Saint-Lambert, Calvados

From Free net encyclopedia

Saint-Lambert is a commune of the département of Calvados, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. Its full name is Saint Lambert-sur-Dives. Its postal code is 14570. The INSEE code is 14602.

History

More properly known by its full name of Saint Lambert-sur-Dives, which denotes the River Dives that runs along the south edge of the village, this was the location of the final battle of the Normandy campaign of 1944. While often referred to as the Battle of the Falaise Gap, Saint-Lambert was the last village in the narrowing gap between the Canadians and Polish forces advancing southwards from Falaise and Trun, and the American and Free French forces pushing northwards from Argentan and Chambois. The capture of Saint-Lambert would finally close the "Gap", and trap tens of thousands of German troops in the Falaise pocket.

On August 18, 1944 Major David Vivian Currie, commanding the Sherman tanks of C Squadron of the South Alberta Regiment, with attached infantry from the Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment (all of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division), was ordered to move from Trun to capture and hold the village, and to attempt to link up with the American forces understood to be advancing towards the village from Chambois. Events in and around St. Lambert over the next three days would eventually be recognized by the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Major Currie.

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