by Griff Hosker
"There must be more to it than that, sir!"
"There is. Look, the French Second Armoured Division is racing towards Paris. They will be the ones to capture it. It is seen as symbolic but we need eyes on the ground. Because you went in with the French Commandos your name is respected as are you. You need not fight but you will be attached to the French when they advance on Paris. The Americans are sending their Fourth Infantry Division to show that it is the allies who are liberating France. You will be the British representative.
"We are spies on our allies."
He sat back and looked down at the desk and map. "Crudely put but yes. Your radio man Private Fletcher will report in the progress and it will help us to gauge what decisions should be made. When it is over, Tom, you and your chaps will be sent home. You deserve a leave."
"This does not sit well, sir."
"I know but it comes from the top." I nodded. I knew when I was beaten. "Good man! You need to get to Lisieux as soon as you can. The American Fourth Division is there. They have been in action and are refitting. We have petrol and ammunition for you as well as supplies. You will have to motor." I nodded. "Report to Major Connor. He is expecting you."
"What does he think our purpose is?"
"You are Commandos who can go behind the enemy lines."
"So we will be fighting?"
He shrugged, "I doubt it but...."
"Right sir. I had better get started. The supplies?"
"Lieutenant Ross."
"I'll show you sir." Once outside the tent he said, "Sir, this isn't the Major's doing. Field Marshal Montgomery himself gave the order. When Monty found out the Americans were going he wanted to send a whole division too. You are a compromise. The Major was not happy."
"Would you like to spy on the men you fight alongside?"
"Captain, I couldn't even begin to think about doing one tenth of what you and the lads do so I am the wrong person to ask."
"Sorry, John. That was unfair. Where are these supplies?"
"Over here." We had parked next to a lorry and I saw that we had chosen the perfect location.
"Sergeant Poulson, the supplies in that lorry are for us. Private Emerson there are cans of fuel in there too. They are your department."
They nodded and got on with it. Fletcher said, "Where we off to this time sir?"
I smiled, "You will soon discover that young Fletcher!"
It took some time to unload the lorry and then pack everything in our half track. We distributed the ammunition. I saw that they had even provided us with new uniforms. We had to look good. It was late afternoon when we had finished. Lieutenant Ross gave me a manila envelope with my orders and papers to show Major Connor.
"When your mission is completed, sir, then you can head for Caen. Transport will be waiting to take you back to England."
The section heard that and cheered. "That's great sir. Where to then? Let's get this over and then get home. I have a Nazi dagger or two to sell!"
"Get on board and I will tell you." I shook hands with Lieutenant Ross. "See you around John. Sorry for my bad temper."
"Don't worry about it, sir. In your position I would be even worse." He turned and headed for the command tent.
"Where to, sir?"
"First we head to Lisieux, Private Emerson, and then Paris. We are going to liberate the French capital."
It took a great deal to silence my men but my words succeeded. We drove slowly as we headed north not because we wanted to but because the roads were choked with vehicles and men going in opposite directions. We did not reach Lisieux until the early hours of the morning. Then we discovered that the Fourth Infantry Division was not there. They were further south on the Argentan road. We had wasted a whole night and we were further away from our allies than when we had started! All that we found were a handful of Canadian and British troops who had pursued the fleeing Germans. There was little evidence of armour. This was the front line!
"That's it then, sir. We can't do what we have to do. It looks like we are stuck here now."
"So what do you suggest, Sergeant Barker? We sit on our backsides here and do nothing? Sergeant Poulson get a camp set up. We all need some sleep and Fletcher get on to Major Foster and tell him about the SNAFU."
Scouse grinned, "Right sir!"
Chapter 17
While Fletcher was on the radio I studied the maps. The roads we had just passed were too crowded with traffic for us to reach the Americans or indeed the French. We would be playing catch up on roads which would be choked with traffic. Dreux looked to be somewhere we could intercept them.
"Sir, I have Major Foster on the radio."
He handed me the microphone and headphones. It was not a good signal. "Sorry, Tom. Eisenhower decided to send the Fourth with the Second. We weren't told. Monty is not a happy man. You will have to come south and join them."
"That is not on, sir. The roads are a nightmare. It would take us all day, at least, to reach them. I am going to head for Dreux."
"That would be madness! We have yet to liberate that area. If is filled with Germans heading back to the Seine."
"And we are a German half track, sir. It is the quickest route. The only way we can make the Argentan road is if they wait for us."
"That is impossible, Tom. Paris has risen. De Gaulle is insisting that we go to the aid of his city before the Germans destroy it. Hitler has promised to leave it a wasteland. It will be another Stalingrad or Warsaw."
"Then the only way we can be part of it is to do as I have suggested."
The silence on the other end made me wonder if we had lost the signal. Then a weary voice came in my ears. "Very well. Put Fletcher back on and I will get Lieutenant Ross to give him the passwords you will need. Good luck, Tom. I think you will need it."
Sergeant Poulson had done as I had ordered. I gathered my four NCOs around me. Laying the map on the ground I showed them my plan. "We will head for Dreux. We have yet to capture this so technically it will be enemy territory. The shortest route will be here through Thiberville, Bernay, Ajou and Damville. As near as I reckon that will be just sixty nine miles."
"Through enemy territory, sir?"
"Pretty much Sergeant Barker. The armoured column and the mechanized infantry will, I think, be slower. Jerry will know they are coming and will try to slow them up. That is why I intend to leave after dark. We will sneak though their lines. I want us in the German greatcoats."
"Sir, we only have four left. We just kept them for blankets!"
"Then Emerson and I will have two. Beaumont's German is good he can have one and Bill, you are better at German than the other two, you have the fourth. If we meet any Germans then the rest just play dead in the back. We tool up with German weapons. I took some papers from the dead Germans from Trun. It should work."
They nodded, "Well sir, it's a plan and that is a start. I'll get some food on the go. You had better get your head down. I will tell Freddie to get some kip too!"
I lay down and closed my eyes. I had sounded confident to my men but I knew the risks we took. We had to travel at night to avoid the Allied aeroplanes. Soldiers we met would be more nervous at night and more likely to fire first and ask questions later. I knew why I was doing this. It was nothing to do with my ego but all to do with duty. My orders were to join the Americans. I would do all in my power to obey those orders even if that meant not doing them the way I had been advised. The safety of my men came first. A sudden dash at night might succeed where a longer, slower trek through congested roads might end in disaster. I had cast the die. Now I would live with the consequences.
Bill Hay shook me awake. "Not far off dark sir. We have made a brew. Shepherd cooked something hot for you."
"Thanks Lance Sergeant. Did everyone get their heads down for an hour?"
He shook his head, "Polly and Gordy reckoned they could sleep when we were driving. I think Gordy is a bit miffed about your comments sir." He smiled, "He thinks he speaks German like a native."<
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I laughed, "Aye, a native of Grimsby perhaps!"
"For what it is worth sir I think the plan is a good one. There is so much confusion and travelling in the direction we are we have the best chance of avoiding anybody!"
The sentries were surprised to see us heading east. The Sergeant on duty said, "Sir, there's nothing but Germans out there. I know they are heading east but even so..."
"Don't worry, Sergeant, we will be careful. Off you go Emerson and remember they drive on the right over here!"
Thiberville was not far down the road. As I had expected it was deserted. The people had their doors and shutters closed and we passed through what felt like a ghost town. We began to head south east. The further down the road we travelled the more likely we would be to find Germans. Beaumont stood on the MG 42 with my binoculars scanning the darkness ahead. We did not expect to see Germans but if they were careless enough to light a cigarette or a fire then we would see evidence of them. Tanks would not be a problem. The ones which had escaped Falaise had had a whole two days to reach the Seine. They would be there and perhaps beyond. If the Fuhrer had had an attempt on his life then he would want his beloved S.S. as close to him as he could.
We met little on the road until we reached the narrow bridge at Ajou. Sharp eyed Beaumont spotted it as we turned out of the woods on the Bernay road and paralleled the Risle river. "Sir! There is a road block at the bridge. It looks like German field police, Feldgendarmerie."
Feldgendarmerie were nasty! They were just failed Gestapo recruits.
"Right, silenced Colts. Stick your German field caps on. We will try to talk our way through it but if not then we shoot our way through. What is the road block made of?"
"Just a couple of poles sir. They look like they are lifting it to let men through. There seems to be about twenty Germans waiting to cross."
"Emerson, take it steady. Rest your arm on the window and smoke one of those German cigarettes we liberated."
"Do I have to sir? They are horrible."
"Just look natural eh? When I say go then floor it." He did as I asked and the cab was filled with the foul smelling tobacco.
We pulled up behind the last of the German soldiers waiting to cross. One of them, a corporal, shouted up, "Give us a lift, friend. We have walked from Trun!"
"We are full. We have wounded we have picked up. If you can walk then you are better off than they are."
He nodded, "You are right." He saw Emerson's cigarette. "Have you got a smoke? I am gasping."
I took a packet from my greatcoat pocket. "Here, we can't give you a lift but we can give you these."
"You are a life saver. Where are you from?"
"Lisieux."
He lowered his voice, "Soon we will have peace eh? The S.S. were slaughtered at Trun."
I held my finger to my lips, "Do not say that too loudly, my friend. You never know who is listening. These are Kettenhunde." That was the derogatory name for the field police.
"You are right there."
"Next!" The German field police waved the corporal and his four companions forward. Emerson followed with the half track so that we were close enough to hear their conversation. I slid my Colt out from under my greatcoat and held it beneath the door.
"Where are you from?"
"Trun, Lieutenant. The 353rd Engineers."
"And where are your orders. Who gave you permission to retreat?"
The Corporal flourished a paper, "Here Lieutenant. We are ordered to the Seine." I realised that we had missed a trick. If we had offered them a lift then when they were allowed through we would have had our passage guaranteed.
"Very well. Move along!" The corporal waved and he and his men trudged across the narrow bridge. It looked just wide enough for our half track. A tank would not fit. "Next!"
I waved Emerson forward and he nudged it closer to the Lieutenant and the four policemen. They were well armed and well dressed. These had not fought in the battle for Normandy.
"Papers!"
I handed him the bloodstained papers I had taken from the corpse. They gave me the rank of captain. The lieutenant stiffened when he saw them. It was as close to a salute as I would get.
"These have blood on them."
I pointed to my bandaged face, "War."
He nodded, "And where are your orders to retreat?"
I growled, "Where are my orders to retreat, Captain?"
"You are right, sir. Sorry. Where are your orders to retreat, Captain?"
I smiled, "It is funny, when we followed the S.S. out of the trap at Trun, no one thought to give us any. We were all too busy avoiding death."
"And where are the S.S. who fled with you, sir?"
"They would have crushed this bridge. They took the road north of Thiberville."
He nodded and kept hold of my papers. "I am afraid I cannot let you pass. This vehicle could be used to defend the bridge from the enemies of the Reich."
"I have wounded men on board." I saw that three of his men, including his sergeant were behind him. The fourth was on the other side, close to Emerson.
"Then they can fight and die for the Fatherland."
I smiled, "You first!"
I pulled up my Colt and shot him in the head at point blank range. The sergeant next to him looked in shock and disbelief as blood, brains and bone showered him. I shot him. Fletcher and Beaumont shot the others.
"Go!"
Emerson hurled his German cigarette into the river as he jammed his foot down on the accelerator. The bridge was empty as we hurtled across. The silenced bullets had not attracted any attention but the sound of our engine made the Corporal and his companions turn. They got off the road and waved. As we passed them Emerson said, "The soldiers behind us saw what happened. I hope they haven't got a radio."
I hadn't seen one but it didn't matter. The narrow bridge at Ajou was our last bottleneck. We now had options of side roads. The engine strained as we climbed up the steep sides of the valley. This would have been a good place to hold off our pursuit. The size of the German tanks had worked against them. Once we reached the top we were plunged into the darkness of a forest on both sides of us. As we drove I used the torch to check out the route ahead. Our next problem might be Conches-en-Ouche. When I looked at map I saw that it was roughly the same size as Ajou but there was no bridge. We were making good time. I would turn off the road at Damville and take the smaller D45 road. Nonancourt was on the main road. It was big and there was a river with a bridge. We were now getting close to Paris and the Seine. The closer we got the more chance we had of running into Germans. I turned off the torch. "Emerson we go through the next place as though we have every right to do so."
"Right sir. Just so long as I don't have to smoke another German fag!"
I took the opportunity of reloading. I knew my men would do the same.
"That town is coming up sir. The roads look a bit narrow."
"See anything Beaumont?"
"Quiet as sir. It is the middle of the night." We rumbled through and the inhabitants of Conches-en-Ouche stayed hidden. The rumble of tracks meant danger.
As we turned left after Damville I saw dawn breaking in the east. "Go slowly Emerson. I don't want to miss the turn off. It is not a big road."
"Right sir."
"Fletcher get on the radio and see if you can pick anything up."
"Sir."
Suddenly I spied the gap. It was just a lighter shade of black. "There it is. Take the turn off, Emerson."
We entered a dark tunnel through a forest as we headed south and east. Any sign of dawn was now hidden from us.
"All I am getting sir is German chatter. I can understand a bit of it but not enough. No American voices that is for sure."
When the forest finished we were bathed in early morning sunlight from our left. There were fields stretching out on both sides. "Beaumont, scan the horizon."
After a few minutes he said, "All clear sir."
I was aware that if he could
see nothing then it meant that we were early and the column had not reached Dreux yet. I took out the map again. There looked to be a farm at La Bremien. It was just five miles from Dreux but the road passed through a forest. We would wait out the arrival of the American and French column there. As we passed the farm we saw our first Frenchman. The farmer came out and stood looking at us. We still wore our German greatcoats and hats but he did not seem put out by it. I waved to him. He ignored the wave.
We were almost at Muzy before we found a track which would take us into the forest. According to the map we were just three miles from the outskirts of Dreux and on the eastern side. "There, Emerson, take the track to the south. We will be well hidden from the road there."
As soon as we found a clearing we stopped.
"Fletcher, radio to find out what is happening and tell them where we are. Shepherd, get some food sorted out. Emerson, refill the tank." I turned to Sergeant Poulson. "I will leave you in charge. I am going to take Beaumont and Hay to scout out Dreux. " He looked ready to object. "Three words, Sergeant, French and German." He nodded. "It is only three miles or so. Let's say three hours. See if Fletcher can find out where the column is and we will scout of the lie of the land."
I took my Luger and left the Colt in the half track. Beaumont and Lance Sergeant Hay took the two MG 34s. Our greatcoats would cover our brown battledress. We reached the edge of the forest and ran across the road. We took to the fields passing the village of Muzy to our right. The fields dropped to the river. It was only waist deep and we jumped in. I wanted to be out of sight for as long as we could be. We crossed more fields and passed Flonville. It was then we saw the Germans. There were an eclectic mix of tanks and Germans who were digging in. There was neither river nor bridge at Dreux. The Germans would slow down the allied advance.
We took cover behind a stand of trees. While Beaumont and Hay kept watch I used my binoculars. It was a rag tag army before us. The S.S. and paratroopers were mercifully missing but there were anti tank guns, Mark IV tanks as well as self propelled artillery pieces. Even as we watched I saw them piling sand bags around mortars and machine guns. On the other side of Dreux I saw aeroplanes landing. There was an airfield. They were FW 190s. I had to see more and so I began to climb the tree. My wounded arm made it difficult although not impossible. When I was thirty feet up I leaned against a solid looking branch and peered across the town. I could see more tanks and grey uniforms by the airfield. I did not have a good view in the town but I guessed that they would have the main roads blocked too.