by Griff Hosker
"So far so good, so far so good!"
We entered the Stygian darkness of the forest. If the Germans had had enough tanks left then this would have been a good place for an ambush. They did not. We had to turn north east at Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. It was a tiny hamlet. The Germans had not been there recently for the villagers came out to wave and cheer us when they saw our uniforms. I began to think that we would make Paris in the next twelve hours. As I looked at the map I saw some potential trouble spots. After we passed Méré things might become difficult.
Fletcher shouted, as we approached the village, "Sir, they want Lieutenant Lemay."
He took the microphone. I was staring at the road. The trees had thinned considerably. Méré was much bigger than Léger-en-Yvelines. One or two of the houses looked to be substantial.
Lieutenant Lemay said, "I am sorry sir but the General thinks we go too fast. The tanks are spread out over a large distance and he worries about air attacks. He asks that we make camp."
I nodded and shouted, "Fletcher, tell the Colonel that we will camp here at Méré."
"Right sir."
It looked a good place to stop. We parked at the northern end of the village and the Lieutenant and I went to speak with the men of the village. There were no young men. All looked to be my father's age or older. I let the Lieutenant ask the questions. This was his country and I was a foreigner. Their news disturbed me. We spoke with eight of them just to confirm that what they said was right. When we heard the 22nd Infantry Regiment arrive, we walked back to speak with the Colonel.
He looked pleased with himself. "We should be in Paris by dawn!"
I shook my head, "We have just received intelligence, sir, that Germans troops have been building defences north of us. We will have to fight our way through them."
"Damn! How certain are you of the information?"
"The farmers have been watching Germans disappearing into the land north of here. They report anti tank guns and Panzerfausts as wells as tanks."
He looked at the Lieutenant, "Does the General know?"
"No sir, we only just found out."
"Perhaps it is a good thing that we have to bivouac here then. We might be able to plan something."
By the time we reached the half track my resourceful team had managed to barter some food from the farmers and we had a stew with a couple of scrawny chickens as well as fresh bread. Lieutenant Lemay tutted and shook his head when he saw the fare. He and Beaumont disappeared. An hour later they returned. They had wine and they had some fresh goat's cheese.
"I can live with poor stew but at least let us have some decent wine and a fine cheese to leave a pleasant taste in our mouths."
It was dark when we finished. A sergeant came to fetch us, "Gentlemen, the General wishes a word. If you would follow me."
I saw that the Colonel had joined him and they were around a table lit by oil lamps. There was a map on the table. "Thank you for coming so promptly. Your news has been confirmed. The Germans are trying to sop us reaching Paris. Here at St Cyr they have fortified the military school!" The General sounded outraged. "And here, at Neauphle-le-Château they have a few tanks with a mined road and anti tank guns. We will be delayed by at least two days!"
Everyone went silent and I wondered why we were there. Was it to share their misery?
The Colonel said, quietly, "We have a plan but it involves you and your half track, Captain." I nodded. "The air force will bomb the mined road tomorrow at dawn. We will then use the French tanks to smash through their defences but we need a diversion. We want you and my B Company to go across country and attack their flank. We need you to make them think that it is a division attacking them. Then they will move the tanks to counter your attack."
"As soon as we are through then the General intends to send a flying column under the command of Captain Dronne. They will be the first to reach Paris and we will follow."
I nodded, "It should work but why not use two companies? That would be even more believable."
The Colonel glanced at the General and I guessed that had already been suggested by the Colonel and dismissed by the General. The General said, "We must ensure that we break through to allow Captain Dronne to reach Paris. That, Captain Harsker, is imperative."
"Then we need rocket launchers and as many grenade launchers as we can get. Who is the officer commanding Company B?"
"Lieutenant Cooper. His captain was wounded in the last attack. I am going to make him a brevet captain but we want you to command."
This was not an honour. If it went wrong then it would be me who would shoulder the blame. "Very well sir. I take it we will be attacking at dawn?"
"That is right."
"Then I will go and organise my men. If you send this Lieutenant Cooper and his sergeants to our half track we can work out the details."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that Colonel. You are right it has to be done and my team are, probably, expendable. It must be a French unit which liberates Paris, we all know that. We will get the job done."
Lieutenant Cooper was older than I expected. He had the hint of grey about his temples. He and his men arrived with four M2 half tracks, four M3 half tracks and two jeeps. "Sergeant, have the men set up camp here and then you and the other non-coms come and join us." He grinned and saluted, "Lieutenant Cooper, sir. I hear we are going to be a diversion eh?"
"That's right. We are going to make Jerry think that a division is attacking his flank. Did Colonel Lanham send the grenade launchers?"
"Yes sir but I am curious why?"
"What have you noticed about the land around here, Lieutenant Cooper?"
"It's Coop, sir." I nodded. "Roads I wouldn't drive my Oldsmobile down if it was at home. Lots of little woods and damned hedges all over the place."
"And we use them to our advantage. They allow us to get close without observation. Oh by the way this is Lieutenant Lemay. This is his country!" The American sergeants arrived. None of mine were present. They knew what we were doing and they were preparing for the attack. I just had Lieutenant Lemay.
I took out the map I had sketched and placed it on the ground.
I used my dagger to point out the features as I mentioned them. "Jerry is ten miles to the north east of us. They have fortified St. Cyr, here." I pointed on the map to the old Military School. "That will be a hard nut to crack. It is stone and defensible. The other strong point is astride the main road to Paris and protected by these woods to the left. We will drive to within a mile of their left flank. I will lead twenty of your men with a mixture of rocket launchers and grenade launchers. We will attack before dawn. There are stone walls with hedges on both sides of the road. The field in front of their defences is no more than a hundred yards or so. Our weapons will have the range."
The Lieutenant said, "But the air attack will be in daylight!"
I nodded, "Exactly which is why they will think that we are the main attack. Your half tracks can be driven in low gear can't they?"
"Yes sir."
"Then you will approach the battle in low gear. Make them think we are tanks. I saw how you use your rocket launchers. In the dark they can have the same effect as a tank. All we need to do is to draw the armour and anti tank guns from the road so that General Leclerc and his tanks can punch through."
"Sir, what about the tanks which are dug in?"
I shrugged, "Your General, Lieutenant Lemay, will have to deal with them himself. There is a limit to what a company can do." I turned to the Americans. "The men who are coming with me need to be here in ten minutes. We leave in thirty."
One of the sergeants asked, "I thought you Limeys stopped for tea."
I kept a straight face as I said, "That is why we are leaving in thirty minutes and not twenty. We need to let it brew."
They looked at me with surprised expressions until the Lieutenant laughed, "He is pulling your leg, Sergeant Lee. Go and sort out the men." As they went he said, "Sorry about that sir. Thi
s is the first time we have worked alongside you guys."
"Don't worry, Lieutenant, I came up through the ranks. I know how it works. How come there are no other officers?"
"We have been at the sharp end since Omaha. We take it as a compliment but we are the smallest company in the regiment. These are good guys."
"You don't need to convince me. Let's see if we can keep most of them alive eh?"
The twenty men arrived with their weapons. They were led by Sergeant Lee. I had my sergeants with me. "There are less than thirty of us but we are going to make the Germans think we are a regiment. I hope you can move quietly because I intend to get to within fifty yards of their lines. We will find cover and, on my command, we will used the grenade launchers on their defences."
"Sir how can we get that close? Surely their sentries will see us?"
"No Sergeant. I will take four of my men and we will kill their sentries. That will be the key to our success. When the grenades start to fall they will think we are using either artillery or tanks. The sound of your M3 and M2 half tracks rumbling in low gear towards them will make them think that it is a major tank attack. By the time our aeroplanes are bombing the minefield they should be committed to attacking us. They will see the half tracks and try to destroy them. We will be hidden less than fifty yards from them. If we have cleared the sentries then you will have time to camouflage your weapons in the hedges. The Germans won't even see them. That is when you men with the rocket launchers can do the damage. You can stop even a Tiger at fifty yards with a PIAT."
One of the corporals said, "That is close range sir."
I nodded, "And they will not be looking that closely." I tapped the map. "This is where we will be. There is a road and hedgerow here just fifty yards from the woods where they have their sentries. The half tracks will be a mile away here." I smiled, "So any questions?"
Sergeant Lee shook his head wryly and asked, "Just one sir. What the hell do you guys put in your tea? Pennsylvanian steel?"
Sergeant Poulson said, "Two sugars and a drop of milk. But the secret is to make it so strong that you can stand a teaspoon in it!"
"Right, let's go." I found Coop. He had the maps and the coordinates. "We do this by timing. You will lead the vehicles in to the attack at 0430. A few minutes early will not hurt but if you hear firing then you know they are aware of us. We will begin our barrage with the grenades at 0445. You will halt at the hedge line and wait until they begin to attack."
"And you guys?"
"We will pull out as soon as the air attack has destroyed the minefield. The General plans on attacking at 0900."
Chapter 20
I was counting on the thick woods to help us. We reached our drop off point unseen. To the west, some half a mile distant, was the Château de Ponchartrain, Vilan. I was just grateful that the Germans had not fortified it. I had begun to realise that the German military had taken over the fine homes of France as luxurious quarters for their senior officers. That, I believe, saved them from becoming strong points. I left Shepherd and Fletcher in the half track. Emerson was reluctant to leave Bertha but I needed my men to be fit and the two I left still nursed wounds.
I led the Americans the mile from the drop off point to the first road and the hedgerow. The woods could be seen to the north of us but they were a dark mass only. We left our rifles, grenade launchers and machine guns with Lieutenant Lemay and the Americans. Sergeant Lee had been amused to see us black up. We headed through the gate into the field. I could see the woods a little clearer now. We had eighty yards until the next hedge and after that we would be within sight of their sentries. I had my silenced Colt ready. We crawled across the field. When we reached the next hedge I peered through the broken gate. The road appeared clear and I waved my men through. The wall alongside the road gave us some protection and I lifted my head to peer through the hedge. I could see the woods just fifty yards from us. The glow of a cigarette butt identified at least one sentry. I also heard the murmur of conversation.
I waved Sergeant Poulson and his team to the east while I took my men to the west. I found a broken section of the wall and we slipped over. I crawled towards the tree line. I used my hands to feel the ground. I prayed that they had not mined it although the proximity of their sentries suggested they had not. My men spread out on either side of me. We crawled across the fifty yards. We had time and, so long as we made no sound, it was unlikely the Germans sentries would see our subtle movements.
I saw two shadows which appeared to be moving and I headed towards them. I heard the two Germans talking. I could not make out their words. They were obviously avoiding the wrath of a superior officer by whispering. I worked out that they were less than ten yards from me. I slowly raised my Colt and, kneeling, held it in two hands. I fired twice. The two men fell. I heard a grunt from further down the field. I stood and hurried to the trees. I scanned the interior of this forest. The trees were more open than I had expected. They had done some clearance. The lumber had been used to make the defences stronger. You could drive a tank between the remaining trees. Glancing down I saw that the two men were dead. I saw, fifty yards further in, the faint glow of a fire. It was the camp of the men who would man the machine guns and anti tank guns which lay to the left and right of us.
I took out the stick grenade I had brought with me and another from one of the dead Germans. I made a booby trap. As soon as they moved the machine gun then the grenades would explode. I covered them in a belt of ammunition. It was as I looked up that I saw the anti tank gun. It was tantalisingly close to me. As I approached the sandbagged emplacement, the German, who had been asleep inside the sandbags, sat up and stared at me from less than six feet. I fired two snap shots and he fell back. I did not need to check if he was dead. I could see the black patch in the sandbags opposite where his blood had spattered. This was a better target to booby trap and, after I had set the dead German's grenades, I spent a couple of minutes hiding my handiwork. Satisfied I gave a low whistle and moved back across the field. My team joined me. I saw shadows moving to our left and knew that Sergeant Poulson's team had done their job too. As we clambered back over the wall I could not help but feel guilty. The Germans we had killed were not the S.S. but there had been no way to neutralize them without killing them. That was war.
We headed back to the wall and hedgerow and watched. I sent my men back for Sergeant Lee and our equipment back with the half track. The danger was now that the sentries would be relieved and their deaths discovered. There was little we could do about that but it was now 0400. Even if they were discovered the attack would begin in thirty minutes. I spent the minutes they were away poking my Mauser through the hedge and adding branches and twigs to disguise it. I left enough space for the sight.
As my men returned Sergeant Poulson directed the Americans to their positions. My section would be on the extreme left of the line. With just one rocket launcher and one grenade rifle we had less hardware than the Americans but we had brought the MG 42 and that would not only bring confusion to the Germans but death too. At 0415 I heard the shout of alarm. The bodies had been found. There was a whistle and then much louder noises from inside the camp as they prepared for action.
"Be ready but don't fire until I give the word." Just then I heard the sound of the half tracks' engines. Lieutenant Cooper had kept to the timetable. I heard a German shout, "Panzer!"
Before I could order the men to fire there was an explosion as one of the booby traps was triggered. All of them went off in a rippling line as the crews went to man the guns. The largest explosion came from the anti tank gun for I had piled ammunition around it. I could see men racing through the trees, illuminated by the light of the explosions.
"Grenades! Fire!"
I peered through my telescopic sight. Although it was dark I could make out the lighter faces of the soldiers. I was tempted to fire but I did not want them to see my muzzle flash. We had eight grenade rifles. We had taken not only Company B's but the rifles from
another two companies. The Americans did not rate them. We had had to persuade them of their worth. They would now see it firsthand. The eight explosions were behind the front line, as we had planned. They caught men running to join those at the edge of the wood. We had loaders for them and the eight rifles kept up a barrage. We had not disabled all the guns and I saw the muzzle flash of an anti tank gun. I said, "Sergeant Lee, have your PIATs take out the anti tank gun."
It would give away our position but it could not be helped. I did not want the half tracks damaging, not, at least, until the tanks had arrived. Then our job would be done. I took a bead on the officer at the anti tank gun. I squeezed the trigger just a heartbeat before the rocket smashed into the side of the gun. It would not fire again. The rocket, however, had alerted the Germans to our position.
"Open fire!"
My men let rip with their machine guns as I shot at the vital men, the actual gunners and the officers. I heard shouts from my right as machine guns took out the PIAT crew. Then more grenades landed closed to the machine guns as our men shortened the range. The fire diminished. The half tracks were now behind the road at our rear. Men disgorged to join us. Lieutenant Lemay had been given Private Beaumont's Thompson and he was using it well. Despite his apparent youth he was using the short bursts of a veteran and moving between each burst.
The fifty calibre machine guns on the half tracks opened up. Their extra fire power shredded the front lines. The booby traps had destroyed the defences of the guns and the extra height allowed the half track gunners to fire down into the them. I heard a German officer shout, "Fall back! Fall back!"
I glanced at my watch. It was 0530 and dawn would break in a matter of moments. "Lieutenant, take over. Keep the grenades falling."
I ran across the road and jumped over the broken section of wall. I ran to the Lieutenant's M3. "We have them, Lieutenant. They are falling back. Get on the radio to the Colonel and find out when the air force is coming in."
"Yes sir. Have we been hurt?"