Sword Beach to Bremen., A Veterans tale. Sapper

Hi Brian, what do you mean by no interest, canceled? I think most of us are always on the lookout for this subforum because this is where the most interesting stories come from.

 

I have a map here of Vire Vire Map - Normandy - AngloINFO Normandy (France)

According to the 3LAA history, on the night of Aug 7/8, 1944, my Dad's Battery marked out with Bofors fire the lanes and objectives for Operation Totalize, the book says the guns were surveyed in norht of Verrieres and gun pits dug. The next day the 3LAA Regiment got hit by friendly bombs with 8 members killed and a number injured.

On the map it looks so far, yet I expect it wasn't in terms of real miles. I just did Mapquest, Caen was only 50 minutes away, 64 km...

 

Oh ! that the Gods would allow us to briefly go back once more..To meet old friends, Just for a while to be young again, in the company of long departed friends..

The young men that never came home. All those bright and vital young men...... Just for a while...Just for a little while..... But sadly, they are dreams of yearning, never to be fulfilled.

For they are now but dust. The young men of long ago. I still hear their lost voices. Rest in Peace dear friends, for the world is a far better place for all that you gave. May your God look kindly and gently upon your faces.
Sapper

 

Keep Posting! I just finished a book about a British Dispatch rider who was with 41 Commando. It is nice to see from the British point of view.

 

Hope your well Brian i only pop in when i can and i always look for your posts.

Bob

 

Brian

Beeing up in the frontline in Normandy, did you get any hot meals from time to time?

 

Meals? Only back at our base. We always tried to set up a base just behind the front line. Where we could get into action quickly, but at the same time, get a rest on the odd occasion. Then it was usually soup, with crumpled biscuits, boiled up together... If we found fresh meat the cook would throw a wobbler.

Horrible.. but a bloody sight better.... than the German rations we had to live on, when we were cut off. That was during the Market Garden (Arnhem) offensive.
Cheers.

 

Ok, I have no idea what a wobbler is?
Thanks! And thanks again for sharing!

 

Scott...Oh dear! I should have thought about that. It is a colloquial term for someone who has a fit of anger, or a tantrum.. An outburst...I have been known to throw a wobbler in my time Sapper

PS British service talk...

 

Brian

There was a discussion going on in another thread about the use of derogatory words such as the "F" word during ww2 and whether it was in use, how often and by who.

Could you shed any light on this subject? Did your officers ever swear, or perhaps your captured Germans? Or did the British keep to the commonly known 'Blimey' or "strewth" as used in Hollywood?

 

It is true to say, that any language was used, certainly the one you described. But not usually when in connection with the enemy. I Have heard them described as "square headed bastards" But there is always a certain humour about all of it.
Did our officers swear? I never heard one do that..EVER.

Oddly enough when we captured German prisoners, they were treated correctly. I have never witnessed malice, or ill treatment out of action... As long as the prisoner behaved properly, and did not have a "Lot off" to his captors. Some of the SS could not resist talking too much, even to boasting how they would take their revenge on us later. Some of our infantry NCOs never took that lightly.

There was always, (it seemed to me) a mutual respect for these two warrior nations.

Though that never stopped them from slaughtering each other

bad language was not the norm in everyday talk amongst ourselves.
Sapper

 

Brian,

I find the language comment interesting. Not only did my Dad fight with the 2nd Div in WWII, but he was also in the RCAF from 46 to 60, but he rarely if ever used foul language and later working in construction in the 70s in Ft. McMurray, asked some women in the next office to please watch their language as they were offending him! As he tended to be live and let live, it must have been truly colourful.

Mum and Dad living in Germany in the 50s didn't have a problem with them, and while my Mother's emotions woud rise watching a war movie set in the PTO regarding the Japanese - probably because her cousin was a victim of the Sandkakan POW death march in Borneo. However, when it was the ETO both said the average soldier was doing their duty, it was the extremists, Nazis, for whom they had contempt.

I think you and my Dad would have had much to discuss....

 

Came across this forum by chance, was always interested from an early age about the British army during the war, so glad I clicked on this thread. Just like to say thank you Brian, a deeply moving story that reminds people of the absolute horror of war and the fact it is from a British point of view, for me, even more meaningful. I've always thought all soldiers that took part in these conflicts should be classed as extraordinary, I know that you class yourself as just an ordinary person Brian, but no sir, you're far more than that, God bless you mate.

Tom

 

Thats nice Tom....
But if you came to my home, you would find a bent 85 year old. unable to stand with out help. But there is one thing that I do have. A fine memory and the ability to talk about it on the Puter. For that is all that taks place on my postings...Chatter between men..Oh Yes" and women, bless them.
Cheers. Take care.
Brian

 

I understand what you're saying Brian, coping with age is one thing but being disabled increases the burden a hundred fold, I'm sure the soldier in you and you're strength of character is what makes you who you are. You come across as a very intelligent fellow, you're memories are evidence of that, its been a privilege to share those memories, thanks again.

 

You may find this interesting? I have some war time tapes. One inside of one the bombers that bombed Caen, Another of D Day and the invasion, one more of the battles inland, and even better when we got to our first objective Hermanville sur mer, our officer asked the local padre to sound the church bells The padre told him they are shell damaged... The officer said "Ring them anyway"
So I have a recording of the First joyous church bells of freedom in Europe, that rang out across the countryside of Normandy. I also have a recording as they are today.
And for Pure nostalgia, a French war time tape of "J Attendrai" "Not sure if it was the little sparrow?"
They are all a little worse for wear, but absolutely genuine. There are other bits and pieces That I would have to listen to once more to identify.
Sapper

 

Wow! I'm not technologically up to assisting, but it would be remarkable to hear. I love the idea of hearing the church bells ringing about freedom.

 

Thanks for the postings and your service. I was stationed in Hamlin (Hameln) Germany, south of Bremen.

 

Very interesting. Please go on.

 

Thanks, Sapper. Cheers.