2nd Essex - Normandy June 1944

My Grandfather fought here and I remember very well him telling me about it. I shall try and put it all down here.

My grandfather was Private Frederick Roberts, a rifleman (later Bren gunner) in the 2nd Bat Essex regiment. he was sent to advance on Verriers wood without much of a brief. They were simple to advance across open ground and through the wood itself until contact was made. This was all he knew I think.

He didn't tell me much about the advance across the fields but did mention that they made contact in the woods and were position in a small gully. The German fire grew intense and they returned fire as best they could, losing a few of the lads purely due to the amount of metal in the air. After a short while, the volume of fire on the German side fell to almost nothing and then came the shouts of 'Kommerade, Kommerade'. All along the line my grandfather said the shouts went out for nobdy to stand up. He said a significant number of the lads did purely because they knew no better and the German Spandaus cut them down.

Following this, the company decided to try suppress the Germans by using automatic weapon fire and the Company sniper (Cpl Butcher) who had gotten himself into a good fire position. He also mentioned the German use of flamethrowers against the Essex but didn't tell me whether they were against his section or elsewhere.

I cannot remember how long it took to clear the wood, but he did tell me that over a week later, after the Brigade had advanced further inland, my gradfather was sent back to the beach for some rest. He went through Essex wood on his way back and was sickened to see that the battlefield clearnace boys had simply stacked the bodies of the dead Essex men into one enormous pile and they had been left there to rot in the sunshine. He said not much made him sick, but that did.

God, I miss him.

 

Were those Shermans from 4/7 Dgns, not 5 R Tks?


Hi Idler,

The 3 destroyed 's shermans belong to "B" Squadron 4/7 RDG but only on the 14th June's attack (on Lingèvres).



Amazing document of B Squadron 4/7 RDG shermans destroyed, we can see a koed Panther too:

 

Combover,

Thank a lot for your very interesting post, your grandfather's story is so precious, if i am understand correctly,
he (and his section) walked until the wood and weren't engage before this one (no shooting on the field ?)

Once again, TY for your poignant story.

 

No, I think they were fired at. One of his mates had the tip of his nose shot off before they reached the wood, so I can only assume that the Germans were throwing bullets at them BEFORE they got there.

 

Combover - wanted to thank you as well for sharing that tale, a bit of history that few get to hear.

Prelude44 - do you have any photos taken from Verrieres looking towards Bernieres Bocage, showing the German view of the Essex advance? Unfortunately, I did not get that angle when I was there.

 

No, I think they were fired at. One of his mates had the tip of his nose shot off before they reached the wood, so I can only assume that the Germans were throwing bullets at them BEFORE they got there.

Thank you for your precision.

Prelude44 - do you have any photos taken from Verrieres looking towards Bernieres Bocage, showing the German view of the Essex advance? Unfortunately, I did not get that angle when I was there.

I will do it tomorrow if the weather is down with me

 

For you David

 

Aged 30. Bloody hell.

RIP Mr. Hollands. Your sacrifice was not in vain.

 

For you David


Hello Prelude44

Thank you very much for the photograph of Alf's grave - it's a really good photo and greatly appreciated.

Have you been to Bayeux today - especially to take this photograph? I am my family are appreciative of this kind gesture

Best wishes
David

 

do you have any photos taken from Verrieres looking towards Bernieres Bocage, showing the German view of the Essex advance? Unfortunately

Hi Idler,

I think the german view to see Essex rgt advance is the one I posted earlier (Photo 5).

As you say on your map, Essex rgt came from the NW, they probably attack the wood and the german on their NW/N side.

I summarize with map & pics:



Photo 1



Photo 2



Photo 3



Photo 4



Photo 5

 

In Photo 4, you can see Lingèvres church in the middle !

Other pics of the photo 3 sector, so a quiet and emotive place to smoke a cigarette and take picture...

 

Bloody good photos. And you remember where you took them from! Thank you.

(And yes, I noticed the church)

 

Oh my goodness, I am amazed and chocked by all the information you all have. My grandad was also in 2nd Battalion and I feel soo very proud of him. He came home and I was able to grow up knowing him. God Bess everyone that died in the war xx

 

David,

We can see this in Lingèvres Church:

 

David,

We can see this in Lingèvres Church:


Thank you very much for the photograph of the Roll of Honour scroll with my great-uncle's name recorded. It a super additional document for my research file.

Regards
David

 

Hi Idler,

Amazing document of B Squadron 4/7 RDG shermans destroyed, we can see a koed Panther too:




I am not sure at all about localization of this photo...

 

Some pictures taken from when I was in Normandy.

 

Hi I've stumbled across this website to find David643 could possibly be a relation of mine. My grandfather was Alfred Hollands killed in action on June 11 1944. I see that the thread of posts are from 2009 until 2011 so I'm hoping that David will see this or read my email, as I have photos of Alfred & my father has his medals. Does anyone know David or have contact with him? I've been blown away to see pictures of my grandfathers grave stone in Bayeux and the memorial at Essex Woods that my father and several others made happen in 2004.

If anyone can help in contacting David that would be great. Thanks Al (nee Hollands)

 

Great thanks Owen, really appreciate your help. I did email him direct through here but not sure if he'd receive notification on his own email that a message had been sent.

Thanks again, Al