Courtesy of Arrse, a dozer from the Field Park Company of an Infantry Division: The caption is: Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière moving through the village, 6 June 1944. Battlezone Juno doesn't list a Fd Pk Coy under its 3 Cdn Div order of battle - perhaps someone else will know? That's a great photo, thanks.
With reference to the Armoured Bulldozers and in particular their use at Juno Beach - some of you may have seen some of the other threads I have been contributing to as a result of the scuba diving project I have been managing of the last couple of years. It started with a local wrecksite near Selsey Bill where 2 tanks and 2 bulldozers lay on the sea bed 20m beneath the surface. The tanks turned out to be Centaur CS IV and the Bulldozers are armoured D7 bulldozers. My research into the War Diaries for the RM Armoured Support Group (who used Centaurs) established that they were from 2nd RMASG Q troop (right section). The loading tables for this pair of Centaurs also confirmed that 2 D7 Bulldozers and a 4x4 car (both also found at the dive site) were loaded onto LCT(A) 2428 as part of J Force. I have attached a photo of the loading tables which includes details of the other troops etc which were also onblard (the first entry is LCT(A) 2428 LTIN 1008. LCT(A) 2428 was forced to turn back on the evening of 5th June with engine trouble and was later taken under tow by the Rescue Tug Jaunty. The tow failed and 2428 capsized spilling its tanks, bulldozers, vehicles, troops and crew into the sea. 2428 continued to float for some time until finally sunk by gunfirelooking at wrecks believed to be associated with Operation NEPTUNE. The good news is that English Heritage has recognised the historic importance of these wrecks and is investigating whether they should be protected. To my knowledge only one of these armoured D7 bulldozers remains today in the hands of a private collector. Caterpillar D7 bulldozers were modified with armour by Jack Olding Ltd of Hatfield who had a Caterpillar franchise at the time. I'd be pleased to hear any additional information on these bulldozers to include in my report and also any information on the Canadian troops /regiments also on board. More information can be found on our web site Southsea Sub-Aqua Club :: BSAC 009 Thanks for your time.
Does anybody know how to disinguish between the plattoons of the 860 Mechanical Equipment Company that went ashore at Sword and those that went ashore at Juno? My grandfather was an excavator operator BII and was with 23rd Mech Equip plattoon and I'm trying to establish his exacte landing.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/engineers/28501-assault-brigade-royal-engineers.html comprehensive list of assault brigade RE from this forum
Does anyone know which units were equipped with these in the British sector on D Day? I am guessing 79th Armoured, but did all the Assault Squadrons have them? Armoured bulldozers were not part of the Assault Squadrons RE proper. Some were under their command for the assault phase, and those came from 149 Assault Park Squadron (149 Aslt Pk Sqn), itself also part of 79 Armd Div. These dozers were primarily for gapping purposes (opening exits from the beach to first and second lateral roads through dunes etc.). Others (some unarmoured, landing after the assault phase) were part of the Beach Groups, and came from Mech Eqpt Sec RE (Mechanical Equipment Sections Royal Engineers). Others dozers (usually unarmoured), were part of the assaulting Infantry Division's own Engineer units (Field Companies RE or Field Park Company RE). Finally, there was one dozer, sometimes armoured, on each Rhino towed by LST. These came from Inland Water Transport Operating Companies. You can find them in the landing tables here: SWORD First Tide Landing Table - 3 British Infantry Division Group (First Tide) GOLD D-Day : Normandy 1944 - GOLD BEACH : British Troops D-Day : Normandy 1944 - GOLD BEACH : British Troops D-Day : Normandy 1944 - GOLD BEACH : British Troops D-Day : Normandy 1944 - GOLD BEACH : British Troops According to the above tables (which do not necessarily represently exactly what took place on D day, as many changes were made, especially with SWORD) we have: SWORD AREA Under command Assault Squadrons RE: 2x angledozer D7 (armd) - 15 Assault pk Tp (part of 149 Aslt Pk Sqn) 4x angledozer D7 (armd) - Assault pk Tp (probably also 15 Assault Pk Tp) (Part of 149 Aslt Pk Sqn) In the event, Armd Dozers u/c the Assault Squadron RE numbered 8 vehs, one for each of the 8 Breaching Teams. On 2 June 44 the one att 1 Tp 79 Aslt Sqn RE was replaced by another (supposed a D6, but more probably a D7) arranged after much difficulty by the Sqn Ldr through 2 Army HQ and collected by Lt Charlton, arriving just 1h30min before the Squadron moved to Stokes Bay for loading on LCT! Det 50 Mech Eqpt Sec RE, att Beach Groups, 101 Beach Sub Area: 3x angledozer cl III HD7 1x angledozer cl I HD14 2x angledozer cl II HD10 2x angledozer cl II HD10 armd 3 Br Inf Div: 1x angledozer D4 - 15 Fd Pk Coy RE 1x angledozer TD9 (unarmd) - 17 Fd Coy RE 2x angledozer D7 (armd) - 246 Fd Coy RE 1x angledozer D4 and 2x angledozer D7 (armd) - 253 Fd Coy RE As Rhino crews on LST(2) Serials 381-385 (one per LST): 5x angledozer cl I D8 - Det 940 IWT Op Coy Type 'C' GOLD AREA Under command Assault (Breaching) Squadrons RE: 4x D7 Armd Bulldozer - 149 Assault Pk Sqn RE Those four dozer were supplemented by the two D4 of 235 Fd Pk Coy (see below). 51 Mech Eqpt Sec RE, att Beach Groups, 104 Beach Sub Area: 16x D7 Armd Bulldozer 235 Fd Pk Coy RE, 50 Northumbrian Div 2x D4 Bulldozer (probably armoured, in Breaching Team LCT) 1x D6 5x D7 Armd Bulldozer 2x T D 9 Bulldozer As Rhino crews on LST(2) (one per LST) - 953 IWT Op Coy: 7x Bulldozer 8x D7 Armd Bulldozer Other: 1x Bulldozer - Lt Rec Sec 6 Rec Coy As for JUNO AREA, I have only partial data as follows: Under command Assault (Breaching) Squadrons RE: 8x D7 Armd Bulldozer - (probably 149 Assault Pk Sqn RE) (one per Breaching Team) HQ RCE 3Cdn Inf Div (Special Bulldozer Inc) ?x D 7 Bulldozer Armd P.S. You may know, this photo of a D7 Armd Dozer was not shot in Normandy but in Weskapelle on 1 Nov 44:
Hi I am a newbie to this site and was going to start a new thread about my Father, but found this one about the Armoured Bulldozers I hope this is ok My Father was a British Royal engineer "Sapper Albert Norman Turner" ( (866 Mechanical Equipment)(59 Mechanical Equipment Platoon) & also one of the Armoured Bulldozer drivers(D7A) that landed on Mike Red Juno Beach on D Day He received the Military medal for his actions on D Day for pulling injured soldiers from a burning "Rhino Ferry" that had been hit by A.P Bombs whilst attempting to beach He was "Sapper Albert Norman Turner" (Tom)Army no:14254534 (866 Mechanical equipment Coy Royal Engineers/ 59 Mechanical Equipment Platoon). I do have some photographs that I will post over the coming days Regards
You guys maybe interested in the book my good friend Richard wrote on the 1st Assault Brigade RE: http://www.amazon.com/Richard-C.-Anderson/e/B0028OLR1C/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 All the best Andreas
The book Andreas is referring to is very good but focuses mostly on the AVREs. If you have a general interest in the RE vehicles it's worth the price IMHO. In addition to the Armoured Bulldozers there were deep wading bulldozers used by the Beach Recovery Sections. The blade was not usually fitted and was carried in a Loyd carrier with other tools. The vehicles purpose was to use it's winch to keep the beach exit clear. When relieved by a wheeled recovery truck it headed down to the sea and helped the BARV recover drowned and broken vehicles to a holding area at the top of the beach. I don't know what blade was fitted as I've yet to find a deep wader actually fitted with one. I have only a couple of references to them from operators I've talked to in the past. Hope this is of interest to somebody.
Hello Spyder, Welcome to this forum! It's always great news when the offspring of a veteran joins the forum and brings to light new information. Your photos will be most welcome. Do you happen to know which LCT (or LST?) your father landed from on D Day? Or any other info that may point to it, such as other units or vehicles present in his craft, or the precise Beach he was planned to land at? Cheers, Michel
SleeperService The Beach Recovery Waders were not buldozers but plain tractors fitted with a powerfull winch but without any fittings to attach a dozer blade. Unarmoured D8 tractors were used for tank recovery for a great part of the war. Noel
Hi Guys Thank you for your replies. Before I add any pictures I have added the attached file that recently appeared on the Internet from the National Archive. Think the document tells all one needs to know. My Father, "Sapper Albert Norman Turner (Tom)was awarded the Military medal for his actions on D Day As you can see from the attached document my Father was blown up by a Tellamine. Not mentioned on this recommendation, 3 days later he took another hit from another mine, only this time a lot larger He then spent several weeks in Douvres field Hospital recovering from his injuries Regards Alan
This unseen pictures below. One is is written back of photo Germany 1945. The Location & date is not given but from the leaves on the trees possibly taken Post Bergen Belsen. You can see his Dozer on the back of the Hauler in the first picture
Another unseen picture to the right. This one is undated. The Bulldozer in this picture is an American "Allis -Chalmers HD-10" My Father is centre row/second in from right
Not sure about the dozers but the transporters are Albion CX24. Albion CX24 15ton GS. The Albion CX24 was designed as a 20ton tank transporter but was found inadequate for the task. A considerable number had been ordered and built so they were available for use by the RASC for moving heavy and awkward loads. Derated to 15 tons they carried heavy cable drums, piling material, crane jibs etc. ...and apparently dozers. Mike
John, So you shall Cinders. I am about to start posting information about Juno Beach any minute now. The crossing and naval Force J first, then the assault, then the offshore organisation of the beaches and finally the operation of the beaches and dumps. May take a few months. Mike For non UK readers Cinders refers to the pantomime 'Cinderella' in which the eponymous heroine has her wishes granted by her fairy godmother.
It has been a long time since I have been back on this site, but I wanted to share these two rare photos with you. I understand that very few photos of "D7 Armoured Dozers" exist. These two crumpled pictures depict one of the D7A`s that he operated on Juno Beach on D-Day 1944. The interesting thing is the number on the rear of this dozer is N952. In the Tim Saunders paperback "Juno Beach" there is a photo of another D7A "N950" working on Juno just two numbers apart. There are other markings on this D7, but all are unclear due to poor quality of these pictures. If anyone could give me more information I would be very grateful. My Dad was a British Royal Engineer with 866 Mechanical Coy (59 Mechanical Equipment Platoon) & attached to the 3rd Canadian
