RIP All Who Died in Action, D-Day June 6th 1944 (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, June 06, 2014, 15:57 (3827 days ago) @ jospp

Hi Jo,
thanks for updating this thread and so clarifying my post of 2011, we're all gratefull for your hard work researching Fred's precise story. Only yesterday I was thinking I'm long overdue contacting you, I can only apologise for my delay and will email soon.
I'm pleased to hear you're visiting the Cemetery in August, I hope you have a good visit and the sun shines. If it does, and your itinery permits, may I recommend you take the scenic D514 coastal road westward to Arromanches les Bains, overlooking Gold & Juno Beaches and the remains of the Mulberry harbours. Further along is the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, the preserved strongpoints high above the cliffs graphically illustrate why that beach became known as "Bloody Omaha".

See general map here, please open in a separate new window to display in full http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/sub4/Peg-map.gif

Just eastward of the landing beaches and the Caen Canal is Fred's intended target, the Houlgate battery near Cabourg, one of several gun positions defending the bay (far righthand side of map). I've not visited it but thanks to your research I plan to do so one day. The links below describe it's history and show what's left of it. Despite Commando raids, regular bombing and devastating bombardment by British battleships the Battery continued firing onto the British & Canadian landing beaches for some weeks.

http://bunkersite.com/locations/france/basnormandie/villers32.php

This site shows the position and strength of the various Batteries along the bay
http://www.war44.com/hitlers-atlantic-wall/303-german-coastal-artillery-batteries-range...
http://www.war44.com/longues-sur-mer/13-longues-sur-mer-battery.html

Regular viewers of "Who Do You Think You Are" and the like will be familiar with this view of the Imperial War Museum in London. http://images.daysoutguide.co.uk/7659-AttractionImage.jpg

The massive 100ton guns are typical of WW1-WW2 British naval battleships, designed to engage the enemy fleet at ranges upto 15 miles away !. The far R/H gun is actually from HMS Roberts which engaged the Houlgate Battery during the invasion, firing 15" diameter shells of 1900 lb weight at extreme close range.

Nearby to Houlgate is the more accessible Merville Battery, home to an excellent Museum dedicated to the Parachute Regiment, wellworth visiting.
http://www.batterie-merville.com/?lang=en

Not far away along the Canal towards Caen is another excellent Museum. It's centrepiece is the original "Pegasus" canal bridge, nolonger used since being replaced by the current larger bridge only yards away.
http://www.memorial-pegasus.org/mmp/musee_debarquement/index.php

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Altho' not within the Normandy area, anyone who prefers to stop off for a little sightseeing prior to catching their ferry or shuttle from Calais might enjoy visiting this interesting museum. Typical of so many in France, this understated yet impressive private collection is inexpensive to visit and is often very quiet being off the beaten track. The collection is housed within one of the huge Atlantic Wall bunkers built by the Todt Organisation. It should be remembered that all these massive concrete structures were built by the herculean efforts of forced if not slave labourers, including prisoners of war and over one million young men from across occupied Holland, Belgium and France. Many photos here
http://www.euro-t-guide.com/See_Coun/France/F_NW/F_See_Battery_Todt_Atlantic_Wall_1-1.htm
The Todt Battery Atlantic Wall Museum is at the Viking-named village of Audinghen, midway between Boulogne and Calais, on the coast near Cap Gris-Nez.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todt_Battery

Thankyou again Jo for your work helping to remember all these brave people.