Dear Bundi look see? I could quote the above and have even found you with ease following Haldav's advise and clicking the tiny arrow. Thank you both soo very much I now feel much more at home on the grid. I can even find the Teams - simply by clicking on things.

It is all coming back now, I'm learning to navigate again, This is somewhat different from UD and it is true I have been away too long but it's OK now.

Thank you to you two gentlemen again.

It is a bit like playing hide and seek.

Thursday, 22nd June 1944

Many years later, I read (in Alexander McKee's book, "CAEN anvil of victory") that even I (Intelligence) group did not know the plans for our first battle; presumably, only O (Orders) group knew that the other divisions and independent brigades that would be involved were not yet in Normandy.

Ain't the internet marvellous! Chrissie snds me a message at 1.16 a.m. and I get it at 3.18 p.m. the previous day after it has travelled nearly half way round the world! That's two minutes minus 10 hours of earthly rotation, which is still marvellous - if we could tell it to our grandparents (or even our parents in some cases) they would think we were either lying or crazy!

grrr

Sunday, 25th June 1944

We didn't know where we we’re going or where we were when we arrived. I still do not know. I tried to find the place many years later and failed.

We were in a wheat field with a small stream meandering on the south side and a road on the west side with woods beyond. Another soldier (Atkins, I think, the one who "borrowed" my kit during the landing), and I, took this first opportunity to have a bath in the brook. Afterwards, Driver Dorfman and I, together with other Jewish members of the Brigade, were invited to the 6th Royal Scots' encampment in the woods for an eve of battle service, conducted by their M.O., Capt. Myer Makin* of Liverpool, one of whose relatives was married to my Aunt Betsy*.

* Real names. I have disguised thhe names of living persons.

Wikipaedia states:
A preliminary attack, Operation Martlet, was launched on June 25 by the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division of XXX Corps, to secure ground on the flank of the intended advance. The attack gained some ground but the weather was still foul and the attackers were hampered by muddy ground and lack of air support. Some dominating terrain on the right flank of the intended attack by VIII Corps was still in German hands.
Nevertheless, to be certain of anticipating any German attack the main attack was launched on June 26 . Although held up on parts of the front by infantry of 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division and the 31st Armoured Brigade gained four miles on their left flank. Further to their left the 43rd (Wessex Infantry Division also gained ground.

Tuesday, 27th June 1944, Day two of Operation Epsom

We were off at dawn to St. Mauvieux cross-roads, the whole company in one small convoy. Every little junction along the way had a Calvary and some of the roads still had evidence of having been tree lined, but the trees were bare - partly because the infantry had been firing into those that still had leaves, to get rid of snipers. Our vehicles now had saw-toothed rods welded vertically to their bonnets. It seemed the enemy had been stringing wires across the roads at neck level to decapitate our M.P.s and Don R’s. As at Bretteville and Norrey-en-Bessin, most of what we do this rainy day at the cross roads would (mercifully) be forgotten. There is, however, a vague memory of Capt. Kilpack trying out his double penthouse. This was strung between two three tonners carefully parked the right distance apart with a sunken work area by each truck - one for the C.C.P. and the other (I think) to keep the cookhouse dry.

It was here too, that the burial squad decide not to dig too deeply as someone would need to dig up all the bodies again for reburial in consecrated ground. Having been a Trooper, I was called on to assist the burial squad by helping design a Star of David for the temporary grave of Trooper Benjamin*, of Leeds. Years later, I found the permanent grave, just around the corner, in a War Graves Commission cemetery on the Vire road. *real name


– afternoon of day 2 of Operation Epsom

after packing up, we started travelling in company convoy, a few yards down the country lane to the Vire road, turned right and left again past open fields full of dead cows. The stench was even worse than that of burnt cordite alone, but the countryside showed signs of beauty. We were now part of an endless convoy of mixed infantry, artillery, engineers and ordnance (which we now call "logistics").

This was one-way, fortunately, as the few returning vehicles had to give right of way at times. Even so, we frequently snarled up, especially at the half-ruined village of Cheux, where the axes of at least two divisions crossed, under a hail of enemy fire.

At the T-junction, a redcap was directing traffic by standing in the middle of the cross roads, ignoring the shells falling around him. We learnt later that he was one of a series of army cops at that junction, including at least three casualties. We learnt, too, that tracked vehicles exacerbated the situation by using the junction, rather than crossing the fields, which might still have mines.

The M.P. directed us to the left, out of the village and we set up in a field. The shelling continued while we erected the penthouse, which I illuminated with Tilly storm lamps and hurricane lamps, as the hazy sun was now setting. We worked on through the night . . .

Meanwhile, says Wikipaedia, after repulsing small armoured counter-attacks, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division gained more ground and captured a bridge over the River Odon. The 11th Armoured Division passed through to capture Hill 112, a mile to the southeast. This deep penetration alarmed the German command and Hausser was ordered to commit his units to contain and eliminate the Allied salient. The German command was in some disarray, as General Dollmann, commanding the German Seventh Army died of a heart attack immediately after ordering Hausser to mount the counter-attack and Field Marshals Rommel and von Rundstedt were en route to a conference with Adolf Hitler and out of touch with their headquarters.