Lt Col Terence Otway, C.O. 9th Batallion, the Parachute Regiment, led the group that attacked the Merville Battery at dawn on D-Day. The battery overlooked the landing beaches and had to be put out of action. 750 men set off and parachuted into the area. Only 150 reached the rendezvous. Many had landed in the flooded areas and drowned. They had none of their special equipment or heavy weapons but they fought their way through the barbed wire and across a minefield to attack the batteries. There were 50% casualties amongst those that made the attack. The German guns survived the attack but not enough of the crews survived to man them on D-Day.
