http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/jun41/f09jun41.htm
Vichy forces retreat in Syria
Tuesday, June 9, 1941 www.onwar.com
In Syria... The Allied advance continues to make good progress. Tyre, Marjayoun and El Quneitra are all taken in the advance from Palestine. In the drive from Transjordan Dera’a is taken. There is a naval battle off the Syrian coast between forces which eventually include four British and two Vichy destroyers. The French are forced to retire but inflict some damage. A commando raid fails to take an important bridge over the Litani River.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/09.htm
June 9th, 1941
SYRIA: The Allies capture Tyre.
On coastal axis an attempt by British commandos to land behind the Litani Bridge is defeated by bad weather. The French blow the bridge.
2/16 Aust Bn cross the river under fire and secure the far bank by the afternoon. By 0130 next morning engineers have built a pontoon bridge across the river. On the central axis, Australians capture Fort Khiam after a sharp bombardment, but can make no progress towards Merdjayoun. Gloster Gladiators of ‘X’ Flight RAF begin operations from Amman, flying patrols over Free French troops on the road to Damascus. General de Verdilhac (Vichy Dep C-in-C) orders II/6 Battalion French Foreign Legion and 6th Chasseurs d’Afrique (armoured) to assemble in Nahr el Awaj area for counter-attack.
There is a naval battle off the coast of Syria when the two French super-destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY are sighted by the British destroyers HMS JANUS and HMS JACKAL. In the ensuing engagement both of the British ships are damaged, HMS JANUS seriously. The French ships use their superior speed to withdraw when two more British destroyers HMS ISIS and HMS Hotspur appear. (Peter Beeston)
CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Canso is launched at North Vancouver.
Minesweeper HCMS Granby is launched at Levis Province of Quebec.
Corvette HMCS Saskatoon is commissioned.
Tug HMCS Patricia McQueen is assigned to Gaspe Province of Quebec.
RN Auxiliary Oiler Clam arrives St John’s and joined the NEF.
(Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: The plan for a joint U.S. Army-Marine Corps invasion of the Azores in the event that German invades Spain and Portugal is suspended when intelligence sources learn that Germany has no intentions to invade the Iberian Peninsula. (Jack McKillop)