British troops from the 3rd Division, 27th Armoured Brigade and elements of 79th Armoured Division and 1st Special Service Brigade landed on Sword Beach which ran from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Compared to the other D-Day beaches it was lightly defended and by noon the attackers had succeeded in linking up with nearby airborne troops who had seized bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal.

12-25 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q7Wrwg

12-11 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q5TTBX

12-08 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q4yvFJ

12-06 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q4hlbY

12-05 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q4PDLS

11-22 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Q2NRGr

09-22 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 25: English novelist Louis de Bernieres attends a photocall at Edinburgh International Book Festival at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 25, 2016 in ... http://dlvr.it/Ppn53c