D-Day-stuck on the beach by Zen Karp (excerpt from H.L.I. and WWII)
Stuck on the Beach
Lt. Col. Smokey Griffiths, who managed to get off of his stranded LCI, was uncomfortable about the building mass of troops occupying such a small area. It was his ingrained training to spread out all men, vehicles and heavy weapons whenever possible to avoid enemy aircraft and artillery from inflicting heavy casualties.
In addition, they had been briefed before the invasion that they must break out from the beach with speed and violence, but at the moment the leading tanks and infantry couldn't get out of the village of Bernieres sur Mer. In the meantime, Griffiths had the battalion spread off the road while they waited for the tanks to blast through the sparse enemy positions.
The tanks of the Chaudiers were being relied on for the moment to hit the few but deadly field guns and machinegun nest. Some of these Quebecois tankers Griffiths saw celebrating in the streets with the French local girls, receiving kisses and drinking the cider they offered. But it didn't seem time to celebrate to him.
He met the officers of the heavily battered QORs, who, after receiving a baptism of fire on the beach, had regrouped and spread out amongst the buildings to make a defensive perimeter.
On Nan Red beach, it was up to the tanks of the Chaudieres to lead the infantry inland. They did indeed push forward, but a concealed 88 mm gun managed to knock out three of their self propelled guns as they emerged from the cover of Bernieres into the open fields. German defenses up and down the Altantic wall included this infamous gun, easily capable of destroying any piece of armor the allies could send into battle.
French citizens greeted all of the allies warmly with offerings of wine and milk. At the same time, civilians were pillaging the recently vacated quarters of their occupiers, elements of 716th Infantry Division. The HLI of C War Diary recounts:
"Men struggled by with bags of flour, a wheelbarrow full of army boots, a hind leg of beef, chairs, clothes, boxes of black rye bread¼Women came by with chickens, butter, curtains, sheets, pillows, dishes, cutlery, bowls, etc. Even the parish priest was seen to carry off a set of dishes."
Later in the afternoon, the HLI occupied the area around a beautiful old chateau, but were on the move again after only a short stop. As-per the orders given, the assault force had to gather at Form Up Point Elder, at which time 9th Brigade would take up the advance to capture the main objective, Carpiquet airfield.
At around 1915 the battalion arrived at Elder, the village of Beny-sur-Mer. Sporadic mortar fire was landing in and around them as they arrived, and stayed with them for hours, but no one was injured. Above their heads a dogfight developed when Spitfires intercepted a flight of 5 JU-88 bombers; in absolute amazement the troops looked up from whatever cover they had to watch the Spits make short work of their enemy.
When the word came that they'd be staying the night, they organized their defensive positions and dug in. So far, everything was happening as in training. They had landed, they had advanced inland a certain distance, and finally they had dug in expectance of a counter attack.
Word was passed of enemy tank movement ahead of them, a counter attack could come in the cover of night. Not much sleep was had that evening.
Lt. Col. Smokey Griffiths, who managed to get off of his stranded LCI, was uncomfortable about the building mass of troops occupying such a small area. It was his ingrained training to spread out all men, vehicles and heavy weapons whenever possible to avoid enemy aircraft and artillery from inflicting heavy casualties.
In addition, they had been briefed before the invasion that they must break out from the beach with speed and violence, but at the moment the leading tanks and infantry couldn't get out of the village of Bernieres sur Mer. In the meantime, Griffiths had the battalion spread off the road while they waited for the tanks to blast through the sparse enemy positions.
The tanks of the Chaudiers were being relied on for the moment to hit the few but deadly field guns and machinegun nest. Some of these Quebecois tankers Griffiths saw celebrating in the streets with the French local girls, receiving kisses and drinking the cider they offered. But it didn't seem time to celebrate to him.
He met the officers of the heavily battered QORs, who, after receiving a baptism of fire on the beach, had regrouped and spread out amongst the buildings to make a defensive perimeter.
On Nan Red beach, it was up to the tanks of the Chaudieres to lead the infantry inland. They did indeed push forward, but a concealed 88 mm gun managed to knock out three of their self propelled guns as they emerged from the cover of Bernieres into the open fields. German defenses up and down the Altantic wall included this infamous gun, easily capable of destroying any piece of armor the allies could send into battle.
French citizens greeted all of the allies warmly with offerings of wine and milk. At the same time, civilians were pillaging the recently vacated quarters of their occupiers, elements of 716th Infantry Division. The HLI of C War Diary recounts:
"Men struggled by with bags of flour, a wheelbarrow full of army boots, a hind leg of beef, chairs, clothes, boxes of black rye bread¼Women came by with chickens, butter, curtains, sheets, pillows, dishes, cutlery, bowls, etc. Even the parish priest was seen to carry off a set of dishes."
Later in the afternoon, the HLI occupied the area around a beautiful old chateau, but were on the move again after only a short stop. As-per the orders given, the assault force had to gather at Form Up Point Elder, at which time 9th Brigade would take up the advance to capture the main objective, Carpiquet airfield.
At around 1915 the battalion arrived at Elder, the village of Beny-sur-Mer. Sporadic mortar fire was landing in and around them as they arrived, and stayed with them for hours, but no one was injured. Above their heads a dogfight developed when Spitfires intercepted a flight of 5 JU-88 bombers; in absolute amazement the troops looked up from whatever cover they had to watch the Spits make short work of their enemy.
When the word came that they'd be staying the night, they organized their defensive positions and dug in. So far, everything was happening as in training. They had landed, they had advanced inland a certain distance, and finally they had dug in expectance of a counter attack.
Word was passed of enemy tank movement ahead of them, a counter attack could come in the cover of night. Not much sleep was had that evening.
posted by scot at 12:06 PM
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