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GRAY-SUR-MER
When you leave the Centre Juno Beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer,
do not cross the bridge again on your left, but continue on the road through the dunes. After
the crossing, park your car after 50 yards near the beach exit.
Walk into the beach exit. Halfway you come across a big casemat which is tilted into the sand.
This is the so called ‘Cosy’s Pillbox’, named after Sergeant Cosy who was killed during the
fighting for this strongpoint. A text on a board reads: ‘Cosy and 15 men from the Royal
Winnipeg Rifles were given the task to neutralize this casemat. With machineguns and grenades
the casemat was taken, but Cosy was deadly wounded in the lungs. Some 150 Engineers reinforced
the attacking group and placed explosives. The explosion tilted the casemat and the Germans
surrendered'. But is this realy what happened?
'Cosy's Pillbox', the tilded H 612 casemat
I have some doubts with the story above. I located a picture of this casemat,
an H 612 with a 7,5cm gun, taken after the battle. On top are six men, probably from
the navy. In the back a anti-aircraft balloon is visible. When closely examining the picture
you may notice the similarities between that picture and the pictures taken today. If you look
at the blocks on the right protective concrete slab, yoy see the similarities. But, what is most
obvious, the casemat is not tilted, yet. This is probably caused by erosion of the dunes over the years.
'Cosy's Pillbox', Then and Now
Continue the road throug the dunes westwards. After
a hundred yards passed the big Lorraine Cross, stop near the AVRE-Churchill tank.
This is the last stretch of JUNO Beach. In this sector were 128 casualties on the
Canadian side. Behind the DD Tanks that landed here came the
AVRE tanks (See 'Hobart' page) at 07.55
hours. The mine sweeping tanks and bridge layers were hard at
work around the German strong points, you can still find the
damaged bunkers over here. At this 'Exit' was an anti-tank pit
dug and filled up with water. When an AVRE tank tried to put
in load of wood, the edge of the pit gave way and the tank
sank into it. The tank filled up with water and the crew
almost drowned. They clambered out and took shelter behind a
dune against the German fire. An mortar dropped between the
men and four were killed. The two wounded were brought to
England that afternoon. The tank had completely disappeared in
the pit. The hole was later filled with debris and wood so
tanks could run over her and leave the beach. The tank stayed
there until 1976 when they salvaged her. Now it stands as a
monument at the beach exit.
AVRE-Churchill MK VIII (Armoured Vehicle Royal
Engineers) near Gray-sur-Mer
SECTOR GOLD BEACH
CONTINUE ON THE D 514 TO THE WEST:
Near the traffic lights of the crossroad in Ver-sur-Mer stands a Sexton. This Canadian version
(recognisable through the 'Dry Pin' tracks)of the self-propelled howitzer is placed by
Dr Matthew Kiln as a memorial to his father and the British troops that landed here.
The Sexton
of Ver-sur-Mer
Just as you leave the village of Ver-sur-Mer you see on the right side
the Sector 'KING' (part of Gold Beach). During the landing the
weather was terrible. Because of that, the DD-tanks were
directly de-barked at the beach. In this sector of the landing
beaches the Funnies of Hobart were of extreme good use.
After Ver-sur-Mer (La Rivière) turn left for the D 112 inland and head for Crépon.
Just half a mile inland was the Battery of Fleury with 150
mm guns (you can still find them with some difficulty because
they are almost disappeared in the modern built up). At this
point the only Victoria Cross was won on D-Day by CSM Hollis.
Stanley Hollis, a veteran who fought with the 8th Army in
North-Africa and Sicily, was full of hate against the Germans.
During the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940, he found in a street
in Lille a lot of killed civilians, murdered by Germans. Until
the 6th of June he had 90 notches on his weapon, one for every
killed German. During the march to the Battery of Fleury they
past unnoticed a couple of bunkers that suddenly opened fire.
THE
BATTERY OF FLEURY
In stead of taking cover, CSM Hollis stormed all the way
shooting towards the bunker. He threw a hand grenade inside,
emptied his stengun and killing three Germans in the process.
He then unarmed the rest of them and took them prisoner. His
next move was towards some trenches and 'cleared' these from
Germans. With this action he saved many British lives.
 
CSM
Stanley Elton Hollis VC and a monument in Crépon for the 7th Brigade
Sometime later Hollis tried to put a machinegun post out of
action with a PIAT. He was hit by a sniper in his cheek. The
house were he took shelter was completely destroyed by cannon
fire. Hollis and his men escaped just in time, but two men
were stuck in the rubble. A few men returned to free the stuck
men. Meanwile Hollis, standing tall in the open, was giving
covering fire with a Bren machinegun to distract the Germans.
At the end of the day his 'tally' stood at 102 !
Hollis died early in the seventies and his VC was sold
for £30.000.
A casemat of the battery of La Marefontaine
Continue on this road (D 112) to Crépon. Soon after you leave Ver-sur-Mer, you see on the left a small road, Rue Marefontaine. This leads to the battery of Marefontaine. Pass the hotel and go straight ahead and follow the country road. After a couple of hundred yards you see the four massive casemats. Thes contained 100mm guns with a range of 9 km.
Three of
the four H669 casemats from the battery of La Marefontaine
This battery was controlled from a observation post at Widerstandnest 35b.
Wn 35b was hidden in the woods of Maromme on the high ground of Meuvaines. During D-Day some 250
grenades were dropped in two hours of time. With the help of flamethrower tanks of Troop 13,
141st RAC the Germans surrendered.
Go back to the D 112 and continue south to the D 65 and Creully. Cross the
D 12 and continue on the D 22. Just before
crossing the River Seulles you'll see over your right shoulder
Castle Creullet.
The
little castle, Château Creullet
Near the castle, Château Creullet, Generaal Montgomery
parked his caravan on 9 June and installed here his
headquarters. Some of the guests who came here were Winston
Churchill on 12 June and King George IV on 16 June. Saucy
detail: Montgomery discovered his caravan was lacking a
toilet, so he borrowed a piss-pot from the castle, nicely
decorated with pink flowers! Follow the road and cross the
river and take the hill, turn left at the First World War
monument. This is the castle (the town-hall) from were the BBC
put out their broadcasts about the proceeding on the Normandy
campaign. During office hours you may visit the small tower
and the studio.
Creully Château,
from were the BBC had their broadcast.
TO ARROMANCHES,
THE 'MULBERRY' HARBOUR, PORT WINSTON
Return to the coastal road D 514 and turn left towards Arromanches. When you enter Asnelles,
take the first road to the right. Drive up to the boulevard and park your car near the casemat
from Wn 37. This casemat, an H 677, had an 8,8cm gun that was responsible for eliminating six
British tanks that landed here. The Sexton under command of Sergeant R.E. Palmer finally put
it out of action from a distance of 300 yards.
The H 677 casemat with the 8,8cm gun
that put six tanks out of action
This casemat had her gun pointed at the beach, and not as you would expect to sea.
The Germans reckoned that the invasion would take place during high tide, so the landing
craft could float over the obstacles. The gun was therefore pointed towards a small
section of beach that was left during high tide (See also ’the bunker page’). Fortunately
for the first landing party, it was low tide and the rotation of the gun over the
beach was only a few degrees, otherwise more casualties had fallen to this gun.
The Vf600v casemat
for the 5cm KwK on the boulevard of Asnelles
(in the background the Mulberry habour)
At the end of the boulevard, a few hundered meters towards Arromanches, you find
an interesting little casemat (from Wn 38). This is a Bauform Vf600v which ones
had a 5cm KwK 39L/42. Also was this gun protected from shells coming the sea and could
only give fire over the beach.
Unlike the Americans, the British made good use at the beaches with the 'Hobart Funny's'. Because of heavy
defence fire from the Germans at Le Hamel three CRABS (mine-sweeper tanks) were
destroyed. But one managed to sweep a clean path for the soldiers.
From this point, a splendid view (especially at low tide) at the 'Phoenix'
elements from the Mulberry harbour of Arromanches can be seen
up close (see below). This is the most far point to the right of the Mulberry harbour.
From
this casemat at St.Côme-de-Fresné there is a great view over the beaches
Return once again to the D 514 and head for Arromanches. When the road is climbing to the top of the
cliff where the village of St.Côme-de-Fresné has been built, take the second road to the left
(just before you reach the top of the cliff). Via de Rue de Fontaine make a circle. Halfway
you’ll see on the left a large casemat which had a gun pointed towards the beach of Le Hamel and Asnelles.
From this point, the former Wn 39, you have a great panoramic view towards Asnelles.
Return to the D 514 to continue your trip to Arromanches some kilometers to the west. On your right
you pass the parking lot for the Arromanches 360 theater. In this theater a movie is shown around the
public and takes the viewer back to June 6, 1944. I like to recommend this movie to every visitor.
Next to the parking is the terrain where once a radar post was located under command of the Kriegsmarine
(Stützpunkt 42). A last artifact from that period is the concrete foot that had once carried the Seeriese
FuMo 214 Würzburg radar.
To protect the radar station against air raids, three 2cm Flak 28 Oerlikon guns were placed around the complex.
The Seeriese FuMo
214 near Arromanches was destroyed in June 1944.
Only the concrete base is preserved
(below)
From this spot you have a nice view on Arromanches and the last relics of the Mulberry Harbour.
Maybe a tip;… if you decide to walk from this point to Arromanches be aware of the steep path down,
be prepared that the climb back a though one is. By the way, in the summer parking space in Arromanches is difficult.
ARROMANCHES
Arromanches was liberated in the afternoon of June 6th 1944 by the 1st Battalion
Royal Hampshire Regiment that came ashore at GOLD Beach. Despite of the heavy barrage
of navy fire, just 6 civilians lost their life.
Arromanches, Then and Now
You may start your introduction with Arromanches at the Museé Du Débarqement at the boulevard.
There is a parking lot, but is small and often full (be early, especially in the summer). Personally
I’m not that charmed of the museum, I think there are nicer ones in Normandy, but they have a great
moveable model of a Mulberry habour, and gives a nice inside view how the system worked. To the right
of the museum is a slope that leads towards the beach. On the slope is a segment of the moveable road
(near Vierville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, you pass later, there is a longer stretch consisting of multiple
segments).
Mulberry harbour
Because there was a shortage of harbours in the landing area, the decision was made to built two
artificial harbours, one at OMAHA Beach and one in front of Arromanches. From 1943 some 37.000 men
were working in the south of England on these harbours. Other beaches that were to be used for
offloading goods were UTAH, JUNO and SWORD. To protect these beaches from the strong waves, these
beaches got a protective wave breaker. This 'screen' was made up from 60 old ships, with the code
name 'Gooseberry's. The first of these ships was sunk on 7 June. The artificial harbour 'A'
(OMAHA Beach) and harbour 'B' (ARROMANCHES) had a basis of 146
Caissons ('Phoenix') that made the shape of the harbour and the offloading docks.
Some 'Phoenix' segments are still
standing despite the heavy seas and storms
Sixty of these 'Phoenix' elements had a water transfer of 6000 tonnes. The first to arrive
was on 9 June. On June 18th some 115 'Phoenix's' were already sunk and the harbours were ready
for use. On that first day some 24.412 tons ammunitions was brought to shore. To bring the
unloaded material to shore from the docks they used a long metal road that was placed on pontoons,
the so called 'Whales'. The unloading docks were floating and had a slide system of
poles that were placed in the sandy bottom so it could move on the tide.
The tidalsystem is clearly
shown on this picture.
The complete Mulberry harbour consisted of 500 towed parts with a weight of 1½ million tonnes.
19 June, after its first operational day, a severe three day storm hit Normandy and destroyed the
harbour at OMAHA Beach. 22 'Wales' that were on there way, were lost in the high waves. Usable parts
of OMAHA were brought over to Arromanches. This harbour, Port Winston, handled over 39.000 vehicles
and 220.000 men.
Next to the museum at Arromanches a single road
segment can be found.
The one pictured and of more segments can be found at
Vierville-sur-Mer
On the beach at Arromanches you may still find some 'Whale' elements, a short distance from these
elements is a unloading dock beached. The screen of 'Phoenix' elements gives a good impression of the
size of this artificial harbour.
Above a floating causeway
in business
When you have descended from the theater 'Arromanches 360' into Arromanches, then you came
across the M4A2 Sherman tank. If not, a short walk towards it is worth the climb. The Sherman
is placed atop of a casemat, a H 612, which belonged to Wn 43. In June, 1944 a 10,5cm gun GebH 332
(f) was placed in this casemat. Nowadays a steel door is placed in the slit for the barrel of the gun.
The M4A2 Sherman as
a monument atop of the H 612 casemat
For the next tour
CLICK HERE, OR ON THE M4A2 BELOW
This page brings you to Bayeux and the north vicinity. You will visit the 'Battle of Normandy Museum'
here and you pay a visit to a museum near Port-en-Bessin where many heavy items are displayed that were
salvaged from the sea. And then further on, to the Battery of Longues.
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