OPERATION BLUECOAT - OVER THE BATTLEFIELD: Breakout from Normandy

662 Pages·2010·74.93 MB·English

by  Ian Daglish

First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Pen & Sword Military
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS
Copyright © Ian Daglish, 2009
ISBN 9781848840492
eISBN 9781783034499
The right of Ian Daglish, to be identified as Author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library All
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This book is dedicated to the memory of the late Major John Kenneth Officer
Commanding 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 28 to 31 July, 1944
He led the battalion during what was, in his own words:
‘Perhaps the most successful op. of all’
C
ONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NOTES ON CONTENT AND TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
PART ONE: BREAKING IN
Chapter 1 LATE JULY: CAUMONT
Chapter 2 SUNDAY 30 JULY: JOCKS AND CHURCHILLS
Chapter 3 SUNDAY 30 JULY: BAFFING UP THE CHARLIE LOVE
Chapter 4 SUNDAY 30 JULY: REACTIONS
PART TWO: ACROSS THE SOULEUVRE
Chapter 5 MONDAY 31 JULY: DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT
Chapter 6 MONDAY 31 JULY: DICKIE’S BRIDGE
Chapter 7 MONDAY 31 JULY: AN ENEMY DIVIDED
Chapter 8 TUESDAY 1 AUGUST: LE BÉNY-BOCAGE
Chapter 9 MONDAY 31 JULY – TUESDAY 1 AUGUST: GUARDS GO
SOUTH
PART THREE: BREAKING THROUGH
Chapter 10 WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST: HORNS OF THE BLACK BULL
Chapter 11 WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST: GUARDS ACROSS THE
SOULEUVRE
Chapter 12 WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST: ARRIVALS
PART FOUR: BITE AND HOLD
Chapter 13 THURSDAY 3 AUGUST: EBB AND FLOW
Chapter 14 FRIDAY 4 AUGUST – SUNDAY 6 AUGUST: ON PERRIER
RIDGE
PART FIVE: THE HINGE OF NORMANDY
Chapter 15 SATURDAY 5 AUGUST – SUNDAY 13 AUGUST: ESTRY
Chapter 16 SATURDAY 5 AUGUST – SUNDAY 13 AUGUST: VIRE &
GROUSE
Chapter 17 MORTAIN TO FALAISE
APPENDIX I: BRITISH ARMY MAPS AND MAP REFERENCES
APPENDIX II: GERMAN COMBAT TACTICS IN NORMANDY
APPENDIX III: ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE IN NORMANDY
APPENDIX IV: RESTRUCTURING THE BRITISH ARMOURED DIVISIONS
APPENDIX V: MONTGOMERY, BLUECOAT, AND THE QUESTION OF VIRE
BIBLIOGRAPHY & A BRIEF NOTE ON SOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The inspiration for this ‘Over the Battlefield’ series derives in part from the
author’s long relationship with The Aerial Reconnaissance Archives. Over the
years, this invaluable national resource has seen changes. From a windy garret
over the geography building at Keele University, the collection was first re-
housed into a secure, climate-controlled vault under the university library. Next,
questions over the future of the archive were resolved by the untiring work of
TARA’s Operations Manager who oversaw the move of the archive to a new
home, under the auspices of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and
Historical Monuments of Scotland. The author extends both his gratitude and
encouragement to Allan Williams and his staff at the RCAHMS.
Others deserving of the author’s thanks include David Fletcher, Historian at
The Tank Museum, Bovington, who supplements the valuable archive in his care
with a vast store of knowledge freely shared. The National Archives at Kew
continues to provide outstanding service in facilitating access to its wealth of
information.
Very special thanks go to friends who have assisted this project. Kevin
Baverstock, cartographer and Normandy historian, has continued to offer both
encouragement and his remarkable image-processing expertise. Simon Trew of
the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been generous with information and
hospitality. Charles Markuss contributed his comprehensive knowledge of the
German Army and advised on technical aspects of armoured warfare; both he
and Friedrich Tichy assisted the author on matters of German nomenclature.
The author thanks several Normandy friends. Professor Jean-Claude
Perrigault of Caen continues graciously to offer documents and advice. Michel
Leteinturier, MBE, of Maisoncelles has shared his unparalleled local knowledge,
including rare photographs of the post-BLUECOAT battlefield. Annick Bittle of
Gavrus typifies a generation for whose parents the war brought untold suffering,
yet who now offer friendship and hospitality to visiting veteran and historian
alike. Jean-Marc Lesueur of Bretteville is likewise welcoming to visiting
veterans, while keeping up a family tradition of tending the graves of British
soldiers and maintaining links with the liberators and their descendants.
New sources of information emerging over the five years since publication
of the author’s earlier work on BLUECOAT have added both detail and accuracy
to this account. Also, comments received from former participants in the battle
have contributed still further details as well as (gratifyingly few) corrections, for
which the author is deeply appreciative.
Permission for use of 1944 aerial photography by United States forces was
granted by the FOIA Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington DC.
Images © Crown Copyright 1944/MOD are reproduced with the permission of
the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Other images are used by
courtesy of The Tank Museum, Robert Boscawen, Tony Brady, Michel
Leteinturier, Andrew Oglesby and Hilary Thornburn.