OTD #DBP70 There are recriminations over planning & execution of failed attempt to retake H1. de Castries is blamed for ordering the attempt, Bigeard for failing to take into account problems with timing of troop moves (friction), and Liesenfelt for losing control of battle.

OTD #DBP70 Loss of H1 & failure to recapture means GONO less than half area than at start on 13 March (now c.520 acres). Opera, flank guard for H1 & feeder for ops, is abandoned. Units are also reduced & today 2 BEP is amalgamated with 1 BEP becoming BMEP (will garrison H4 & H5).

OTD #DBP70 A dramatic day. Loss of H1 marks key turning point. Of note is most effective air intervention of entire campaign, with multiple sorties & effective bomb runs. Some Vietnamese commentators thought so good must have been US pilots, of which more in Paris tomorrow.

OTD #DBP70 To cover 7 & 8 Coys retreat - many sheltering in craters on exposed airstrip - 4x B-26 bomb H1 & arty support. Dash back under fire. 8 Coy CO Lt Jean Garin hit in legs then shoots himself to save those coming to save him. 2 BEP Losses: 19 KIA, c.70 wounded, 6 Missing.

OTD #DBP70 Attack across runway is cut up by MG & VM arty, & that by 5Coy from H2 hit by 3 batteries. Coy CO wounded, replacement KIA. Reach VM trenches via comms trench & tanks fire on flank. H1 air bombing left outlying posts untouched & 5 Coy stalled. Bigeard calls off attack.

OTD #DBP70 Arty returns 1425hrs & 5&7 Coys jump off from Opera 1430hrs. Hit by flanking MG fire & in delay after first strike H1 reinforced & heavy fire halts advance. Liesenflet loses control of battle from HQ in H3 - cant see & radio issues. Bigheard arrives & takes control.

OTD #DBP70 Liesenfelt asks for delay in aerial attack. Langlais replies cant be delayed but arty can until inf in position. Air raid is very effective - 30 planes - H1 is mashed. Arty does not wait but opens up as soon as bombs dropped. By time its halted 50% of ammo ration used.

OTD #DBP70 Moving 2BEP means 14 Coys need redeploying. Maze of 'Metro' trenches causes delays. Activity spotted by VM & intensify arty fire. Expecting counter-attack so reinforce H1, trenches to north & reserve. VM arty now has central fire support HQ so more effective than ever.

OTD #DBP70 Plan is to hit H1 with aerial attack (bombing H1, H6, H7 & D1) at 1345hrs, followed by arty bombard (1200 shells) covering infantry assault at 1400hrs. 2 Coys attack from Opera, 1 Coy from H2, w/ 2 tanks. 2 BEP is on Elianes on E. side river & moving will slow things.

OTD #DBP70 Langlais & Bigeard not keen on H1 counter-attack. Would be fronted by 2 BEP which is strongest reserve Battalion (but down to 350) & likely to be mangled. Also unlikely to hold it even if retaken. But bow to de Castries. Bigeard insists Major Liesenfelt 2 BEP CO leads.

OTD #DBP70 Loss of H1 is knock-out blow. Huge chunk out of GONO. Gives VM control of most of airstrip - which is major supply drop zone. GONO now too small in area to be resupplied from the air. Opera will also need to be abandoned. de Castries orders H1 to be recaptured now.

OTD #DBP70 'Creeping Siege' a major success. No huge losses in frontal attack. 31 4/1/13DBLE killed (incl. Chevalier) to reported 4 KIA, 21W attackers. 31 reinforcements jump in overnight but 98 French KIA yesterday & last night. That's bad, but loss of H1 is a real hammer blow.

OTD #DBP70 Escaping chaos, 2 H1 Legionnaires make it to H2. Report seeing Capt Chevalier & men fighting back to back on bunker roof. Commander of 36 Regt, Pham Hong Son, has executed a brilliant stealth assault. By around 0230hrs H3 can no longer raise H1 on radio. H1 has FALLEN

OTD #DBP70 Infiltration into H1 through 3 tunnels is almost surprising success. Gains better than expected so more men fed through - even those bailing water from tunnels. French try to seal tunnels with grenades but fighting on multiple fronts & can't bring firepower to bear.

OTD #DBP70 Div 308 been very busy around H1. At 0210hrs CO of H1, Capt Chevalier, reports VM 'getting through all over the place.' VM bursting out of tunnels in small groups inside wire. The plan is only to gain ground for gun positions inside perimeter, but opportunity knocks.

OTD #DBP70 Birthday boy Sgt Simon Kobiak last night leading supply column to H1. Starting at H3 picked up 1BEP escort at H2 but got lost in maze of trenches. Used sound of firing as a guide north. Got to 150m of H1 at 0210hrs but realised too late. H1 was fighting for its life.

Very enjoyable evening at National Army Museum giving a talk on Waterloo for Society for Army Historical Research. Very on topic was Brigade-Major Sir Thomas Harris’s Coatee. He was shot through arm at Waterloo. Ball went into his side. Found on field next day and had right arm amputated. He lived. Waterloo Uncovered

OTD #DBP70 25th Birthday of Sgt Simon Kubiak 10/III/13 DBLE who survived Beatrice. Also another Kubiak at DBP - Stefan, a Pole who deserted Polish army, joined Legion & switched to VM 1947. Capt in 312 Div 7 & in on taking of Beatrice. Adopted by Ho Chi Minh as Ho Chi Thuan.

There's not long left until DDay_Replayed, a wargaming event taking place in Stirling, Scotland from 7th-9th June, commemorating the D-Day landings in 28mm - and raising money for our veteran support programmes! Wargamers, get your tickets now: ddayreplayed.uk

OTD #DBP70 Grinding down of GONO takes many forms. Last night the last of 73 trucks, which have played a vital role in collecting daily dropped supplies of many tons, destroyed by VM shell fire. Only vehicles left running, aside from around 6 of 10 tanks, are a few jeeps.