Fontenay-le-Pesnel

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Ramiles, Apr 6, 2016.

  1. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Rauray area.

    Reference map:
    Rauray_ref.jpg
    1947:
    Rauray_1947.jpg
    1972:
    Rauray_1972.jpg
    2001:
    Rauray_2001.jpg
    2012:
    Rauray_2012.jpg
    2016:
    Rauray_2016.jpg
     
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  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I recently saw here: http://www.helion.co.uk/new-and-for...1944-based-on-their-original-war-diaries.html

    WAFFEN-SS ARMOUR IN NORMANDY. THE COMBAT HISTORY OF SS PANZER REGIMENT 12 AND SS PANZERJÄGER ABTEILUNG 12, NORMANDY 1944, BASED ON THEIR ORIGINAL WAR DIARIES
    Be the first to review this product

    Not yet published. Pre-order now - we will not charge your credit card until the day your book ships!
    Helion & Company Ltd 15th February 2018 Paperback 234mm x 156mm 304 pages 61 photographs, 21 documents, 5 b/w & 8 colour maps, 23 tables.”


    That this paperback book is also due out soon-ish – with 15th February 2018 listed there.

    But there is also this: Waffen-SS Armour in Normandy

    Waffen-SS Armour In Normandy: The Combat History of SS Panzer Regiment 12 and SS Panzerjäger Abteilung 12, Normandy 1944Hardcover – Illustrated, 15 Feb 2012
    With a very similar title – for Kindle and in Hardback - published 15th February 2012.

    There’s a mention of the “24th Lancers”:

    Waffen-SS Armour in Normandy

    The book is based on the War Diaries of German units and doesn’t focus on the Allied perspective. i.e. the 24th Lancer ref. note says “The tanks knocked out were presumably duplex drive amphibious DD Shermans, and probably belonged to the 24th Lancers of the British 8th Armoured Brigade.”

    So perhaps these were SRY DD’s or possibly even some of the 24th Lancer's Shermans if they ever received DD Shermans to replace some of their prior regular or wading Sherman losses up to this point. Then again the Sherman tanks knocked out nr. Fontenay may not have been DD’s at all, just as the German War Diaries were not clear as to which Allied regiment they belonged. And also with the note in these German Wardiaries “the Sherman tanks are often referred to as “Chermans”.

    There are also some mentions of “Boislonde”, “Tessel”, “Rauray” etc. in there.

    "About the Author
    Dr. Norbert Számvéber is a Hungarian archivist and military historian. He was born in 1975 in Budapest. He finished studies in 1999 in Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Arts, History. Since 1997 he has worked in the Hungarian Ministry of Defense Institute of Military History and Museum in Budapest, and since 2005 has been the Chief of Hungarian Military Archives. His research skills are in the field of armoured warfare during World War II and the military history of the Waffen-SS, especially from 1944 to 1945 in Hungary. In 2003, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis on the subject "Konrad 3 - A Tank Battle for Budapest in 1945" at the University of National Defence "Zrínyi Miklós" in Budapest. He is author and co-author of 15 books and many articles. He is married and lives in Budapest."
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2018
  3. m kenny

    m kenny Senior Member

    The author makes much of his footnotes that 'confirm' Allied losses but in the main he simply uses Reynolds and his default 'go to' source in order to validate every German claim. Reynolds is a poor choice and thus all the references to Allied anything are suspect.
     
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  4. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    Hello,
    Here is the cover of my future book which will be released by April 2019.
    The Editor is Maranes Editions in Bayeux, Normandie.
    I am a 31 years old historian, I grew up in this area and I work in one of the largest WW2 museum in Normandy.
    Please have a look on the Book's Facebook page : The Bear and Fox, Ready for the Fray.
    My last book is Hold the Oak Line about the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade in June 1944 in Normandy (2000 photographs, maps, items and portraits along with 150 veterans accounts)
    My aim is to publish the same about the battles for Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Tessel, Vendes, Rauray.
    Best Regards


    [​IMG]
     
    Albowie, Nineteen44, canuck and 4 others like this.
  5. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Hello Fred glad to see you have found your way here !
     
  6. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    Hello, thank you.
    I learn a lot on this forum actually.
    I am heading to England next month to work in museums archives in various places, many photographs, maps, portraits to dig up and I'll meet some veterans as well.
     
  7. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    And you'll be meeting me !!
     
  8. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    What do you mean?
     
  9. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    Found last Sunday in Rauray.
    7th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment.
    [​IMG]
     
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  10. norton 407545

    norton 407545 Well-Known Member

    That's a great find Frederick Are you allowed to dig and or use metal detectors in Normandy? I would imagine it comes with great risk
     
  11. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    It becomes more difficult nowadays but if you do it properly and with the owner authorization it's alright.
     
  12. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Have you seen Ernie Wills 1944 graffiti around the back of Tessel church?
     
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  13. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    No I didn't find it.
     
  14. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Round the back of the church on the left hand side pillar to the left of a door(?) at about shoulder height. Hopefully it's still there although you need to know where to look because of its age. The last time it was 'renovated' was, to my knowledge :)-;) in 2014. Ernie died quite a few years ago but asked that his graffiti 'live on if possible': personally I think it should be protected because of when and why it was written.

    I have some photos stored away somewhere if you are interested.
     
    Little Black Devil likes this.
  15. desertfox44

    desertfox44 Member

    Frederick,

    excellent news! I loved your Oak Line Book. Looking forward to your next installment.

    cheers

    Helge
     
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  16. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    The boys from Winnipeg would be very pleased with your name choice!
     
  17. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    Hello Canuck, yes indeed. I am their official representative for France. I wrote many articles and a full dedicated to them (actually the whole 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade in June 1944 in Normandy) called Hold the Oak Line (check on Facebook, you might like it)
     
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  18. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Frederick

    Will you be visiting Tessel Church soon?..I'm thinking about Ernie's graffiti!
    Are you aware of the small Memorial Plaque next to the door?
    Are you aware of the Memorial Scroll inside the Church?

    Steve Pannell
     
  19. Little Black Devil

    Little Black Devil Active Member

    Yes SDP, I'll go to Tessel on Monday of Tuesday. I saw the Memorial plaque last week ;)
     
  20. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Have another look for Ernie's graffiti. Difficult to see it until you know where it is but easy after that.

    Steve
     
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