I am conducting research on a non-divisional FA battalion in which my father served. His official recored shows that he arrived on Utah Beach at D+16, but I have photographs which he dated indicating that he was in England between July 5th and 12th, with an arrival at Barnesville, France on July 16th. What I need to know is if the allies redeployed troops to England (possibly to relieve congestion) and redeploy them via a deep-water port at a later date. I would appreciate any information in this area. Thanks
He may have been whats know today as 'rear guard'. When a unit deploys overseas some staff stay behind (Niormally members of the QM's Dept.) to handle any admin matters and join their unit at a later date. The selection of personal do perform this role can be varied from a specialist role to illness or being down graded. I would assume the same or similiar applied then as it does today. Hope that helps Andy
Les, I would have thought that your father would have been brought to England first and been stationed in one of the many US Army depots in southern England in line with the policy of building up and maintaining manpower for the breakout from Normandy.From his depot in England his unit would be kitted out and conveyed to France from one of the English ports designated for embarkation to Normandy as replacements and the like within the overall plan for the invasion. It would be interesting to ascertain where he was initially based in England prior to his embarkation for Normandy. I wonder if the "Barnesville" is in fact, Barneville sur Mer on the west coast of the Cherbourg peninsula which was captured by the US 9th Division on 18 June 1944 and effectly sealed the fate of the German garrison at Cherbourg, isolating the port and preventing any possibility of relief from the land side.
Harry, He was initially based in Ludlow, England. His records reflect that he landed on Utah Beach on D+16. Photographs he dated reflect that he was at Swanage, England between July 5-12. The next picture chronologically is Barneville Sur Mer dated July 16 and show his route to be Perier, Avaranches, St James, Angers, and Lemans. He arrived in the Metz area in September and spent the winter at Villing, about a mile way from the German border. He took the pictures, and I have the negatives. As far as dates go, he may have been a day off on one or two, but the route follows the Allied advance through France, arriving at most cities and villages within less than a week of their liberation. Had he been in a divisional unit, his unit history would have been easier to track. Before I saw the pictures of Swanage and then Barneville, I assumed that he remained on the peninsula. I have never read of troops leaving and returning to the peninsula at a more advantageous time and place. Still, between military records, my father's recollections, and photographs, it appears that this may have happened.
Les: The answer to your question may be in the US National Archives where the original records for most US Army units reside - to include, I think - non-divisional field artillery units. It has been while since I worked with those records, but there could be something there. Maybe someone else on the forum has more recent knowledge. Cheers, Marc
Ludlow is in the English west midlands in the county of Shropshire.D Day +16 would be 22 June when he arrived at the Allied bridgehead.Prior to that date, your father may have been transferred to a depot near the port of embarkation in readiness for transit to Normandy. From Barnevill sur Mer US forces divided,one group, the 9 US Division, headed north to Cherbourg and elements of the US 79 Division drove south to La Hay du Puits, continuing down the Cherbourg peninsula and by 24 July 1944 occupied a line, on the west side of the peninsula from Lessay on the coast through Periers, St Lo, Caumont (south west by west of Caen) to join up with British forces which had taken Caen. (Incidentally there are a few US Army memorials on the west coast of the Cherbourg peninsula commemorating the splitting of the peninsula) Avranches was the scene on 25 July 1944 where US forces (Patton's 3rd Army) split,one group heading via St James on to the Brittany peninsula and the other through the Mortain Gap counter attack on 8 August with its southern flank (US 15 Division) almost reaching Le Mans on the same day. The southern flank thrust continued to Orleans/Chartres on to Lorraine (Metz being the principal city) bypassing Paris and on to the German border. As you say Villing (about 35 kms north east of Metz on the D954 to Germany) is very close to the German border with the principal German town of Saarlouis (the Saarland) the same distance inside the German border.This path appears to follow Patton's advance at this stage of the campaign. There must be a reason why your father found himself back in England for the period of 5 -12 July.I cannot see it would be on account of wounds as the period is too short for a withdrawal to England.He might have been accompanying others back to England for an ad hoc reason.The other point is that is that the US forces had a policy of withdrawing troops for rest from front line duties for one week in four where it was possible to do this.But this appears to be too early in the campaign to see this happening. Does your father's personal record show the depot he was attached to while in England?.Sometimes this information is included.
Harry, I wish I had the depot information. As for help from his unit, I have more information than they do. My thought for going back to England is that the battalion was reassigned from VII Corps, which entered at Utah Beach, to Patton's 3rd Army. The route you described for the southern attack matches his perfectly.
