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Introduction

In 1944, during the Battle of Normandy one of the key Allied objectives was the liberation of Caen on the eastern flank of the Allied bridgehead. After the liberation of most of Caen to the north and west of the River Orne, the Allies launched 'Operation Goodwood' to the east of Caen in an attempt to extend the bridgehead and liberate the southern suburbs of Caen on the right bank of the Orne. This was achieved to some extent, although it was a costly operation with the loss of about 6000 casualties and 400 tanks.

While I was in the Caen area during the 60th Anniversary commemorations of 'Operation Goodwood' in July 2004 I came across the story Cuverville, Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton. Cuverville was one of the villages liberated by the Allies on 18 July 1944 and the villagers were honouring two of the Allied soldiers who had given their lives as the price of freedom. This village is Cuverville, Calvados, a short distance to the east of Caen. The two soldiers, Private Martin Philbin and Sergeant Harold Luxton, served with the Middlesex Regiment. Their memory is honoured and their sacrifice remembered by the residents of Cuverville to this day who have adopted the two soldiers as 'sons of Cuverville'.

So far as I am aware, at the time of writing this article, little if anything has been written in English about how Private Philbin and Sergeant Luxton are remembered by the small French village they helped to free during the Battle of Normandy. This article has been written based on information I have obtained from various sources. This has included talking to people in Normandy, research about Operation Goodwood, a website about the Middlesex Regiment and relatives of Sergeant Luxton. I am pleased to acknowledge this assistance and would like to thank them for their help. However, for this article I have only briefly referred to details about the Middlesex Regiment and 'Operation Goodwood'.

The 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment build-up to 'Operation Goodwood'

This section is included to give a little of the background of the 7th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment before July 1944. Prior to World War Two, this Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was part of the Territorial Army. It was embodied on 2 September 1939, the day after the Germans had invaded Poland and the day before Britain and France declared war on Germany.

As part of the preparations for what would ultimately turn out to be the invasion of Normandy Landings, the Battalion was reorganised. It was formed into a Battalion Headquarters Company under Captain A.C. Burton, 'A Company' under Major I.F. Campbell, 'B Company' under Major A.J. Hughes, 'C Company' under Major M.F. Pearson and 'D Company' under Major V.A. Thomas. All these different companies of the regiment took part in exercises at Freckenham, Suffolk to practice their particular roles in the invasion.

In the middle of May 1944, the Battalion was split up and each company assigned to a particular Brigade. At the time they were killed, Private Martin Philbin and Sergeant Harold Luxton were part of 'B Company'. However, I have learnt from Sergeant Luxton’s family that he was transferred to ‘B Company’ about 27 June 1944. The family believe Harold was in ‘D Company’ (assigned to 152 Brigade) before 27 June. Unfortunately I do not have similar details about Private Philbin.

'B Company' was assigned to the 3rd Brigade (designated 154 Brigade) and formed part of the 51st Highland Division. So far as I can work out, most of the soldiers from 154 Brigade including 'B Company' landed in the Sword Beach area between 8 June and 10 June (D+2 to D+4). For the next few weeks they held the ground either side of the River Orne and Caen Canal near Basly, Ranville and what became known as 'Pegasus Bridge'. ‘D Company’ in 152 Brigade were involved in actions in the same area. As well as German shelling, the Allied troops stationed close to the Caen Canal during this period suffered the inconvenience of attacks from mosquito bites and wasp stings!

After 'Operation Charnwood' had led to the liberation of Caen up to the River Orne by 8 / 9 July 1944 the next major Allied attempt to 'breakout' in the Caen area was 'Operation Goodwood', which began on 18 July. For several days before this, there was a build-up of Allied troops in the bridgehead east of the River Orne, including three Armoured Divisions.

The Allied attack east of the Orne on 18 July 1944

Early in the morning (before 05.00h) on Tuesday 18 July 1944 the Allies began the attack with an artillery barrage and a bombing raid by the Air Force. I have been told by several veterans of the Normandy campaign who witnessed this RAF raid on the German positions that this seemingly endless stream of aircraft flying over the Allied troops was a great morale booster to both the Armoured Divisions and infantry troops. Approximately 4500 Allied aircraft took part in this bombing during a period of about three hours.

The three Armoured Divisions then led the attack in what was a relatively narrow strip of land where the Germans now knew an attack was likely. I have also been told that despite the aerial bombing, the Germans managed to conceal well dug-in artillery guns, anti-tank guns, tanks and Panzerfausts. Hence, the Allied advance was not as straightforward as expected.

During the afternoon 154 Brigade moved forward to consolidate the advance of the Armoured Divisions which had reached as far as Démouville and the outskirts of Sannerville to the south and south-east of Cuverville. It was during this advance, about 17.00h, that two soldiers attached to 'B Company' of 1/7 Battalion Middlesex Regiment were killed in the village of Cuverville.

According to an article I read in Normandy, Major A.J. Hughes and Lieutenant P.F. Edwards had informed Mrs Joyce Luxton, wife of Sergeant Harold Luxton, that the casualties were the result of fragments from a German shell. They were just two of thousands of Allied troops who died during 'Operation Goodwood', a costly operation in both lives and material. However, as explained in a little more detail below people have remembered the personal cost ever since.

The sacrifice of Martin Philbin, Harold Luxton and the thousands of other Allied troops during 'Goodwood' did manage to keep the largest part of the German Panzer Divisions occupied in the Caen area. It also played a part in allowing the Allied 'breakout' further west. 'Goodwood' also directly led to a number of villages, including Cuverville, and the whole of Caen being liberated from the Germans on 18 and 19 July 1944.

By Thursday 20 July the 7th Armoured Division had reached Bourgébus (nicknamed 'Bugger Bus' by the English-speaking Allied soldiers!) making a total modest gain for 'Goodwood' of about 7 miles or 11 kilometres. After two fine days of weather, on 20 July the weather broke with heavy thunderstorms. This made attacking even more arduous. So, after Bourgébus General Montgomery ordered the end of 'Operation Goodwood'.

Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France

The two soldiers of the 1/7 Middlesex Regiment who died at Cuverville were eventually laid to rest in adjacent graves in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Ranville, Calvados. The cemetery is north of Cuverville and to the south-east of 'Pegasus Bridge'. Martin Philbin was 25 years old when he died and he was laid to rest in Grave No VIII.F.11. His comrade Harold Luxton was 34 years old when he died and he was laid to rest in Grave No VIII.F.10. After entering Ranville Cemetery, these two graves can be found in the plot just to the left of the 'Stone of Remembrance' in the last row.

These are the graves of just two of over 2000 soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy who are buried in Ranville Cemetery. The graves of 330 German soldiers can also be found in Ranville Cemetery, tended by the same keepers who look after the Commonwealth graves.

In the 'Book of Remembrance' at the cemetery, there are a few details about each casualty so that they can be remembered. The same information can also be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. The CWGC citations for Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton are given below:

1. Martin Philbin:

“In Memory of
Private MARTIN PHILBIN

3191700, 1/7th Bn., Middlesex Regiment
who died age 25
on 18 July 1944
Son of Thomas and Mary Philbin; husband of Elizabeth Eleanor Philbin, of Scremerston, Northumberland.
Remembered with honour
RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission”

2. Harold Luxton:

“In Memory of
Serjeant HAROLD WILLIAM STEPHEN LUXTON

6208159, 1/7th Bn., Middlesex Regiment
who died age 34
on 18 July 1944
Son of John and Louise Luxton; husband of Phyllis Joyce Luxton, of North Perth, Western Australia.
Remembered with honour
RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission”
(NB - the CWGC uses the spelling 'serjeant')

60th Anniversary of 'Operation Goodwood'

This section explains how I came to write this article. A few days after the 60th Anniversary of the liberation of Cuverville I was visiting Normandy when I first learnt of a new Civic Hall in Cuverville that had been named after the two Allied soldiers from the Middlesex Regiment who had died while liberating the village. This wonderful gesture of remembrance should be widely known. On Sunday 18 July 2004 the municipality of Cuverville honoured Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton by unveiling a plaque naming the Civic Hall after them. Every day when the Hall is in use villagers will remember the sacrifice of these two Middlesex Regiment soldiers that led to the freedom and life they have experienced the great day of liberation.

As a 'Thank You' for this freedom the Civic Hall was named 'Salle Philbin-Luxton'. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the unveiling ceremony. However, I heard about this wonderful story and a learnt a little about Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton. For the 60th Anniversary ceremony, the municipality invited a delegation from the Middlesex Regiment including Mr Tony White, a former World War Two comrade of both Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton. It was Tony White who was invited to unveil the plaque honouring his two comrades.

During the ceremony, a spokesperson for the mayor of Cuverville read out a very moving and poignant letter from Mrs Joyce Luxton, then aged 95 years old and the widow of Sergeant Harold Luxton. Unfortunately the municipality had been unable to trace any relatives or information about Private Martin Philbin. Those who were present at the ceremony sang hymns in both French and English while processing to the Middlesex Regiment Memorial Monument in the village where wreaths were laid in remembrance of those who died. Captain Anglin of the successor regiment to the 7th Middlesex Regiment laid a wreath at the Memorial Monument.

Martin Philbin, an adopted son of Cuverville

After learning of this fine gesture of remembrance and of the sacrifice of Martin and Harold I researched their story a little further, both in Normandy and after I returned to the UK. Unfortunately, as with the villagers of Cuverville, so far I have been unable to find out any further details about Martin Philbin. According to the Commonwealth War Graves citation, Martin was the son of Thomas and Mary Philbin and married to Mrs Elizabeth Eleanor Philbin. Mrs Philbin's home village is given as Scremerston, Northumberland, in the North East of England.

Scremerston is a small village close to the Scottish border, about three miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is a former coal mining and farming community. However, I do not know what occupation Martin Philbin had before World War Two.

Normally, a Territorial Army Regiment like the 7th Middlesex would be formed from personnel in its usual recruiting area. So, before the war, one would not have expected someone from North Northumberland to be in a Middlesex Regiment. However, during World War Two I know many of the Territorial Regiments were brought up to full strength by bringing in fellows who did not necessarily originated from its usual recruitment area. This probably explains why Martin Philbin from the North of England came to be serving in a Home Counties Regiment such as the 7th Middlesex Regiment.

If anyone who served with Martin Philbin, or has any further information, it would be interesting to hear from them. The municipality of Cuverville would also be delighted to receive further details so they can honour one of their ‘adopted sons’ from the Middlesex Regiment.

Harold Luxton, an adopted son of Cuverville

I was eventually able to get in touch with one of the sons of Harold Luxton (also known as Harold). Harold has kindly sent me photographs and additional information about his father. I have included a little of this information below, with permission. However, this is only a brief resume of the wonderful story of Sergeant Harold Luxton and his family.

Sergeant Harold W.S. Luxton was born on 12 October 1909. While growing up, Harold was a choirboy, a violinist, a scout and an athlete, including being a High Jumper. Between 1921 and 1926 Harold attended what was then known as Enfield Central School. In fact, after World War Two, the school had a ‘Roll of Honour’ Memorial and various photographs of ‘old boys’ of the school who had died during the war. When Enfield Central School closed in 1967, the Memorial and photographs were transferred to the newly created Kingsmead School, Enfield. When Kingsmead closed in 1986 the Memorial was transferred to Forty Hall, Enfield for safekeeping.

After leaving school, Harold became a banker with the Midland Bank (now HSBC). Harold married Phyllis Joyce Kent in July 1936 and they went on to have four children. Unfortunately, Patricia Ann died in infancy and Harold (Junior) was born after the death of his father, in November 1944. The other two children are called Mary and John.

Harold Luxton signed up to his local Territorial Regiment at the end of August 1939, just before the war was declared against Germany. This meant Harold was called up as a ‘Territorial’ a few days later even though he had not yet had the opportunity to train with the regiment! Over the next couple of years, Harold progressed through the ranks eventually becoming a Sergeant. I would suggest this progression is indicative how highly Harold was held by the officers and men of the regiment.

As outlined above, Harold’s unit landed in Normandy on 8 June 1944, being based in the Caen Canal / River Orne bridgehead area for the next few weeks. Of course, it was on 18 July 1944 Sergeant Harold Luxton and Private Martin Philbin were sadly killed by German shellfire. However, during his time in Normandy Harold was able to write letters home. According to Harold (Junior):

“The second last letter he wrote home just 5 days before he was killed comments on Mistletoe growing on the Apple Trees and Pretty Climbing Sweet Peas in bloom. He says how busy they have all been. How wonderful that in amongst such a busy time fighting a battle one can still take time to observe the mistletoe and sweet peas.”

Honorary Citizenship of Cuverville

After the war, in March 1948, Mrs Luxton and her children emigrated to Australia, settling in the Perth area (Western Australia). This is why the Commonwealth War Graves information gives Mrs Luxton’s address as North Perth, Australia. In fact, I only recently learnt from her son Harold (Junior) that the municipality of Cuverville had first contacted the Luxton family requesting information about Harold prior to the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Normandy. According to Harold (Junior):

“We all visited Cuverville in June 1994 and were special guests of the Mayor of Cuverville at that time. We were treated extremely generously and made very welcome. My mother was made an Honorary Citizen of Cuverville. We have kept contact with people in Cuverville.”

In making Mrs Luxton an Honorary Citizen of Cuverville, the municipality presented a certificate making this declaration. This was a fine tribute of gratitude and a wonderful gesture by the good citizens of Cuverville. The sacrifice of both Sergeant Harold Luxton and his family has been recognised by Cuverville. Mrs Luxton and her family were unable to attend the 60th Anniversary ceremony. The family still lives in Australia but are well thought of in Cuverville.

Conclusion

It has been a privilege to submit this article to the ����ý “People’s War” website. I would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Martin Philbin and Harold Luxton. It has only been possible to write about them thanks to the good citizens of Cuverville and the family of Sergeant Harold Luxton for sharing some of their memories with me. Perhaps further information about Martin Philbin will come to light in time.

In many ways, what I have written is a tragic story. It is a sad thing that Martin and Harold died in liberating Europe. However, there are also many positive things that have happened as a direct result of the sacrifice they made in July 1944.

This includes the liberation of Cuverville, the adoption of two ‘sons of Cuverville’ by the villagers, the granting of ‘Honorary Citizenship’ to Mrs Luxton, the friendship that has developed over the years and across both international boundaries and linguistic differences, and the naming of the Civic Hall. All these things have arisen as a consequence of World War Two and are worthy of remembrance.

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