by Griff Hosker
"Help yourself sir. The dead won't mind."
He had one of his men help us carry them to Bertha. When the private saw the German vehicle he said, "Are you certain you are British army sir?"
I nodded, "Oh yes Private."
I was about to leave when John said, "Look there sir, the 523."
I saw the familiar landing craft as Bill Leslie nudged her on to the beach. We wandered down to speak with him. I watched as ratings began to carry the boxes of ordnance down the gangplanks. Bill waited until the boat was secured and then, pipe in hand came to the beach to join us.
"What have you got here, Petty Officer?"
"Bren guns, Lee Enfields, Mills bombs and grenade launchers."
"Any chance one of the grenade launchers and grenades could get lost?"
"Are you trying to lose me my stripes, sir?"
"No Bill." I looked around and saw that the ratings were carrying the boxes up the beach to a waiting lorry. "How about this then. Private Beaumont and Hewitt will help your lads carry a box up the beach. Which ones would be the best for us to carry?"
He grinned and went to identify the boxes. "These two look a bit heavy for my lads sir. Thanks for the help." He turned, "Jenkins, the Army will give us a hand!"
Able Seaman Jenkins grinned, "About time they did their share."
As we neared the lorry Private Beaumont managed to fall. The box broke open and the contents spilled. There were eight grande launchers. "Clumsy! Here let me help you." I grabbed a launcher and hid it behind my back. "I'll go back to the truck." Walking backwards I slipped the launcher into the back of the truck and then climbed aboard. Hewitt and Private Beaumont joined me. I could not see the grenades.
The two of them climbed in the back. Hewitt closed the door and then they opened their battle dress and grenades clattered to the floor.
I shook my head, "You two have been around Corporal Fletcher far too much."
As we headed back to the house with our treasure trove Private Beaumont said, "Pity about the sniper rifles."
"We did well enough. I'll see what the Major can conjure up."
The next morning I had Emerson drive me to the airfield. I was keen to know how the offensive was going and it was a chance to see Dad. Since I had last visited it had been transformed. There were now fences and runways. There were aeroplanes and anti aircraft guns. And there was the reassuring presence of RAF troops guarding it. We were here to stay.
"Drive round to the place where all the cars are."
"Right sir. Is it okay if I do a bit of scrounging?"
"Whatever for?"
He pointed over to one side of the airfield where there looked to be burned out German vehicles. "Gold sir. Pure gold!"
"I'll come and get you when I am done." I saw an airman, "Excuse me where can I find Major Foster?"
"He is in the mess sir with Squadron Leader Betts."
He didn't need to tell me where that would be. I followed the smell of tobacco and stale alcohol. Surprisingly they were not drinking but were studying a map. Neither Lieutenant Ross nor my father were anywhere to be seen.
"Ah Tom, just in time. It seems that this time the first part of the operation has gone smoothly. It looks like the Canadians might just make their deadlines and the Americans' Operation Cobra has been successful. The net is closing around Jerry." Major Foster stood and pointed to Trun. "That ridge that runs along there will be like a dam when the Americans join up with the Canadians. You can see why your mission is so vital."
"Yes sir. Where is Dad?"
Squadron Leader Betts chuckled, "He is just like you. He and Lieutenant Ross have gone up to see the front for themselves. He asked where the bullet holes had come from and I told him."
I nodded, "We have got almost everything we need now. We still need explosives and a couple of sniper rifles."
"What do you need explosives for?"
"If you expect a section to hold a bridgehead then we need some firepower. We can make the road on the other side of the bridge impassable. There are some big trees there."
"Ah. I will get Lieutenant Ross to get you some."
Squadron Leader Betts went over to the telephone and dialled, " I think I can help you there Captain." Someone answered, "Jones, this is Squadron Leader Betts, there are a couple of rifles in my office. Be a good fellow and fetch 'em eh?"
"Rifles?"
"Sniper rifles actually. When Jerry attacked the other day they came here and tried to take back the field. The first of the Typhoons had just arrived and they shot them up. When we cleared the bodies we found these." At that moment Jones came in with two Mauser Kar 98K sniper rifles complete with 4x telescopes. "I know it is the wrong calibre for you chaps... I was going to take them home as a souvenir but if you can use 'em."
"They are perfect sir. We have plenty of German ammo and these are a good rifle." We heard the distinctive sound of a Lysander. "Mind if I go and watch the old boy land?"
"Be my guest. Jones put the guns in the back of the captain's vehicle please."
You mean the German half track, sir?"
The Squadron Leader laughed, "Why am I not surprised?"
I saw the Lysander as it made its approach to the field. I admired the way my dad flew. He did it instinctively. I could fly but he seemed to be at one with the aeroplane. He had told me that he had learned while being an air gunner. His old comrades said that they did not know how he did what he did with a Sopwith Camel. I watched as he brought the Lysander in effortlessly. He managed to stop it ten yards shorter than I had and he landed closer to the main building. I smiled as I saw an animated Lieutenant Ross walking across from the Lysander.
"Your dad took us right over the battle, Captain! It was splendid."
I shook my head and said, "What would Mum say?"
He laughed as he shook my hand, "I'll tell you what, son, you don't tell your mum about this morning and I won't tell Mum and Susan about the bullet holes in the Lysander."
"Deal! Is the offensive going well?"
"It is but those big tanks are hard to stop. They are hiding in the woods We will have to get the big boys to bomb them."
"Remember what happened in Caen."
"I know. That was a disaster. So I hear you are off behind the lines again?"
"Not quite. We are with the spear head."
"And how is that different?"
"We don't have to spend too long cut off. With any luck the Canadians will get there almost as quickly as we do." I turned to Lieutenant Ross. "The Major wants you to get some explosives and detonators for us. Can you do it?"
He nodded, "Tomorrow soon enough?"
"We have a couple of days yet."
"Splendid then you can both stay for dinner." We had reached the main building. "How are you getting home?"
I pointed to the half track, "In that."
He laughed, "Then I can see that the conversation will be anything but dull!"
It was an enjoyable meal. Dad and I caught up with events and then Major Foster saved the best news for coffee. "I forgot to tell you. There was an attempt on Adolf Hitler's life on the twentieth of last month. Lucky bugger survived but it was his generals who made the attempt!"
"Is that good news or bad?"
I looked at my dad, "What do you mean?"
"He survived and that means he may be like a cornered rat. We know he ordered the Sixth Army to fight on at Stalingrad well beyond what was reasonable. The Russians lost thousands. What if he does the same here?"
"I hadn't thought of that."
"One piece of good news is that he is culling his generals. And the ones being shot or sacked are his better generals."
I didn't ask him how he got his information. One thing about Major Foster his news was just that, news, it was not gossip.
Chapter 11
We joined the Canadians on the afternoon of the thirteenth of August. Our exploits during the German attack meant that we were not entirely unknown. Major Hamilton was our liaison offi
cer. Three of his Shermans each had the seventeen pounder gun which was capable of penetrating the German armour. The bad news was that it had to be at a closer range than they would have liked. The other tanks had the standard 75. They were accompanied by some infantry in their Kangaroos.
"So you guys have been here before?"
"Yes sir. We blew up a dump here."
"Well we are not the main thrust. That will be to our right. The Colonel will be heading for Falaise. We have the Poles to our left. With any luck we will surprise the Heinies and catch them with their pants down."
"What time is the kick off, sir?"
"Kick off?"
"Sorry sir, when is zero hour?"
"Twelve noon. You guys are sending bombers over to soften them up and then we will attack on a wide front. The Americans will drive from the south and their nuts will be in our crackers!"
He sounded confident but I was not sure. Plans often went awry. The planners were used to the sterile world of the war game room. Accidents did not happen there and men behaved predictably. We and the Airborne had not done as expected at Bréville and we had won. We bivouacked with the crews of the Shermans but slept in the half track. After breakfast we were ready for the off. We heard the bombers as they droned overhead and, not long after they had passed, the artillery started.
"Right Fred, get Bertha ready. She needs to start first time." It was some time since I had worn a tin lid and it felt uncomfortable as I put it on. I knew, however, that it might save my life.
At ten the Major was summoned to Headquarters. I thought that was unusual. "Corporal Fletcher get on to Lieutenant Ross at the airfield. Ask him if there is anything we should know. I'll go and see if their chaps know anything."
I wandered to the lead Sherman. A sergeant was smoking a cigar oblivious to the danger inherent in a tank renowned for fires. "What's going on sergeant?"
"Don't know, sir, but the Major took off like a jack rabbit. I guess something has hit the fan."
I nodded, "You are probably right."
When I reached the half track Corporal Fletcher had just turned it off. "A bit of a cock up sir. One of the Canadians is missing and he had a copy of the plans on him. The Lieutenant says that Jerry is blocking our line of attack. There are a line of tanks and anti-tank guns backed up by grenadiers and they are along the Dives."
Sergeant Poulson said, "That puts the kibosh on our little trip then sir. Do we scrub?"
"We wait and see." The Sergeant was right. This was never foreseen by planners and why an officer was carrying plans around was beyond me. We had not even started and disaster had struck.
The Major returned at eleven and I was summoned to a meeting by his tank. "It seems that they will be waiting for us. We still go in but the Kangaroos will have to come in behind us. Your part of the operation is in doubt, Captain. I was told to say it is up to you if you come with us. There is no way that you can sneak past Tiger and Panther tanks."
There was a heartbeat when I thought about it. Mum and Susan would say no but the soldier in me made me answer, "Of course we will still come. If I might suggest we act as a scout? Travel ahead of you? The Germans might hesitate, seeing a half track, or, more likely than not, they will not waste a shell on us. Your Shermans are a much more tempting target. We have a radio and we can let you know where the enemy are."
"Sounds good to me. You had better get in position then."
I went to the half track. "Corporal Fletcher keep the radio on. We are going in ahead of the rest. We might surprise them."
Gordy said, "And whose bright idea was that sir?"
I smiled, "Actually, sergeant, it was mine!" The others laughed at his discomfort. "Right Freddie, take us to the front of this line. We have five miles an hour over their top speed. Let's use it."
"Actually sir it is a little more than that. Private Beaumont and I worked on the engine and the carburettor."
"Good! Bill I want you and Shepherd to keep that German gun firing. Gordy you take charge of the grenade launcher." Alan Crowe was our expert with that piece of equipment but he was still in Blighty recovering from D-Day wounds.
The Poles would have to cross the Dives but we would be using the road which ran alongside it. It meant we knew which side the tanks were likely to be. As soon as it was twelve we set off. We had seen the bombers returning. They had done their job. We headed towards the crossroads of Saint-Sylvain. The roads around there were narrow but the fields were undulating. It was to the north where the ridge rose. That was the objective of the Poles. We had the windscreen down and we wore the goggles we had found in the half track when we had acquired it. My Thompson lay across my knee and there were grenades on my webbing.
I was reassured by the flights of Typhoons which crisscrossed above us. There was also a squadron of Hurricanes. Although past their best as fighters, they all carried bombs. We saw a flight of three of them suddenly peel off to attack something on the road ahead. "Watch out lads!"
I heard weapons being cocked. The Canadians behind us could not be seen because of the twists in the road. I heard the sound of machine guns and then an explosion. A column of smoke rose. It became apparent that the Hurricanes had hit something in Saint-Sylvain. The road passed through some houses and then took a sharp right. As Emerson took the corner I heard Hay's machine gun open up. Ahead of us was a burning Rad Sd.Kfz. 231 armoured car. We had met them before. Hay finished off the soldiers racing towards it. I saw two surprised machine gunners almost next to me and I sprayed them with my Thompson. As we passed, Sergeant Poulson threw a grenade. We were thirty yards away when it exploded. I heard the shrapnel ping off our armoured sides. There might have been survivors but they would pose no threat to the Shermans. This had been their outpost to warn them of our advance.
We had two miles to Soignolles. I had a feeling that the Germans were putting their own scouts out as early warning. The air cover had briefly disappeared. "Slow down Fred." I turned and said to the others, in the back, "I think there will be a half track or an armoured car in the next village. We hit it hard and we hit it fast. Gordy be ready with that grenade launcher. Corporal Fletcher, tell the column what to expect. There is no armour as yet." I saw the village ahead. This one was even smaller. "Right Emerson, floor it!"
We leapt ahead. By the standards of an ordinary car it was not very fast but for an armoured vehicle it was spectacular. I put the Thompson over the folded down windscreen. As Bill Hay opened fire I caught a glimpse of grey and felt the machine gun bullets strike the door. I sprayed blindly. Emerson was right; we were fast and the men were finished off by Poulson. One advantage of the men in the back was that they had height. They could see further ahead than we could and I heard the sound of the grenade launcher being fired. A moment later it fired again. Ahead of us there were two explosions. It was a German half track and it was facing us. The two grenades sent shrapnel towards them and allowed Bill and the men in the back to pour bullets into the cab and gun position. The grenades had made their own machine gunner take cover from the deadly shrapnel. I had run out of bullets and needed to reload. I took a grenade and, when we were thirty feet away, lobbed it high in the air. We were travelling fast and I had to judge the throw perfectly. "Grenade!" I watched it head for the open back of the German half track.
The men in the back ducked and Emerson swung the wheel to the left so that any metal would hit the sides. The grenade had fallen into the back of the half track so that the explosion was contained. I knew that the back would be like a charnel house.
"Stop!" I jumped out of the cab and pulled my Colt. A German sergeant was staggering from the cab of the half track. I fired at point blank range and his head disappeared. I jumped in the back but they were all dead.
I turned back, "Any injuries?"
Scouse shook his head, "No sir but it is a good job I am wearing brown trousers! Emerson drives like a loony sir!"
"Let's go. Corporal Fletcher tell them there is a half track they will have to shift out of t
he way. It is half blocking the road."
We had to take a sharp left to reach our next way point. Once we were at the river, Le Laizon, we would be within touching distance of the German front lines. As we passed through the first village, which consisted of just three houses, I began to wonder about this village and river we were approaching. Lieutenant Ross had said they knew we were coming. The rivers were a perfect place to stop us.
"Corporal Fletcher, where is the main column?"
A moment or two later he said, "Five miles back, sir."
"Right Emerson, go as fast as you can but stop two hundred yards before the village. Private Beaumont you and Davis with me when we stop. Davis bring our sniper rifles."
Private Emerson stopped just eighty yards from where the river road to our right joined us. "Sergeant Poulson, take charge." I chucked my helmet on to the seat and grabbed the Mauser. I had taken a few practice shots with it. I was confident. You could always tell a good gun from the first few shots. The dead sniper had looked after his weapon well and I would reap the benefit. The two privates followed me as I crossed the second road and headed down to the river. We used the cover from the river to move east. We had gone barely thirty yards when I saw the Panther's barrel across the river. Once I knew where it was I was able to spot the hidden panzer grenadiers and the anti tank gun. Looking to my left and the north bank I saw more panzer grenadiers armed with Panzerfausts. I saw explosives beneath the bridge.
I said quietly, "Private Beaumont go back and tell Fletcher to warn the column that there is an anti tank ambush waiting for them at the river. They plan on a flank attack from across the river. We will get closer and distract them with the rifles."
"Sir."
"Right Davis. I hope you aren't rusty."
"Me too sir."
We crept along the bank. Sometimes we waded, where it was shallow, and at other times we kept to the bushes. We stopped just a hundred and fifty yards from the northern ambush and two hundred or so from the tank and the panzer grenadiers. The river hid us from view but we were between the two sets of Germans. I reached down into the river and picked up a handful of mud. I smeared it on my face and the backs of my hands. Davis did the same. He took off his helmet. We lay down and readied our guns. I pointed to the Germans with the Panzerfausts and Davis nodded. I took a bead on the S.S. officer who was half out of the turret of the tank scanning the road behind us through binoculars. If he had lowered them he might have seen us.