From The Times, Tuesday, Jun 20, 1944 SAPPERS' TASK IN INVASION HOW THE PATH WAS CLEARED ASSAULT PARTIES From Our Special Correspondent 21st ARMY GROUP H.Q., JUNE 19 How the engineers of the allied armies did their appointed task of clearing the way for the assault troops on the Normandy coast on D Day and afterwards was told in stirring fashion here to-day by a British engineer staff officer. The task was begun by assault parties of sappers on the beaches, where they went ashore with the first waves of troops to deal with the terrible and ingenious array of obstacles the enemy had laid down. They were thoroughly equipped, having with them even tanks and bulldozers as well as explosives to deal with particular obstacles, of which it may be said they found none that they had not expected. They got to work at once, imperturbable and indifferent to what was going on around them, as though on just another exercise, like true successors of those dauntless sappers who blew in the Cashmere Gate at the siege of Dehli, and they achieved a tremendous success. They neutralized mines, broke down wire, overcame anti-tank obstacles; and near one beach, where the subsoil was believed to be likely to obstruct tanks, they brought ashore and put down paths of steel slats and coir matting. Once, when some infantry were held up by heavy automatic fire from behind a sloping concrete wall an R.E. commander made a quick decision and charged the slope with three tanks, achieving complete success through it meant a crashing drop of 4ft. on the enemy side. Another party of engineers was quick enough to seize an important installation from its German defenders before they could demolish it. Still another party drove a bulldozer across the front of an enemy emplacement, and threw up earth to cover the firing slits and blind the men behind them while our troops worked round the position. BEYOND THE BEACHES After these dare-devils of the actual assault came the formation engineers, the field companies of the British Army, and the American combat engineers' battalions, whose business lay forward beyond the beaches. They cleared the exits and patched up the damaged roads inland and brought up bridging material. Preparation was made, it seems, for more bridging than in fact became necessary, an indication that tactical surprise had been achieved as otherwise there would have been far more demolition of bridges by the enemy. Altogether the engineers built six bridges during the first few days after the attack, and the first Bailey bridge in France was completed on D Day plus 5. About the same time appeared the first American treadway pontoon bridge to be erected over a tidal river. Engineers of the airborne divisions also did their fine work, their chief responsibility being to remove explosive charges placed by the enemy under various bridges. They carried out, too, some demolitions of their own to help their airborne fighting comrades. HEAVY MATERIAL Later detachments of engineers cleared the beaches, removing obstacles through which only breaches had been made at first, and more behind them brought the heavy material for special causeways and jetties for the unloading of ships and craft. Airfield construction groups of engineers and pioneers were among the arrivals on the beaches on D Day itself, and at least two of these groups had a fight at once with some Germans in the woods, and found the value of the infantry training which every sapper, in common with every technical soldier, has to do in this war. These men laid down their first air strip on D plus three. Some branches of R.E. work, it was pointed out, called for quite a high degree of seamanship, and the experience acquired through the yacht club run by this corps has been of much value.
Couple of photos I found, one RE at Tilly (22 Jun 44), don't know about the dog handlers one though (10 Jul 44)...
Couple of photos I found, one RE at Tilly (22 Jun 44), don't know about the dog handlers one though (10 Jul 44)... we experimented using dogs to detect land mines when I did my national service in the Engineers. I thought it worked quite well, but the powers that be decided old school methods were more effective
When I first read the thread title "Sapper's task in invasion" I thought that I was going to read about our Sapper's, i.e Brian's, exploits. On reading the detail, however, I see that it is about the D-Day and onwards and the wonderful service of the Royal Engineers and others of that ilk who played such an important role during the whole of WW2. Perhaps Brian would like to add his comments ? Ron
When I first read the thread title "Sapper's task in invasion" I thought that I was going to read about our Sapper's, i.e Brian's, exploits. On reading the detail, however, I see that it is about the D-Day and onwards and the wonderful service of the Royal Engineers and others of that ilk who played such an important role during the whole of WW2. Perhaps Brian would like to add his comments ? Ron Ron, I am sure Brian will comment when he reads the thread. Always nice to read the Veterans posts Regards Tom
HI Yes I can fill in a few details. The first in were the DD tanks, then the Sappers, then the artillery, then the infantry. My Company 246 Field Co RE. supplied three assault, and mine clearing teams on Sword beach. Queen red beach, where the Lancs where to land. Queen white, where the Yorks were to land. They were 1 team Lt R A Field RE. Sgt Thomas and sappers 2 team Lt RAC Trench RE. Sgt Rees and sappers 3 team Lt MH Edwards RE. Sgt Davies and sappers Three highly trained teams to open a path off the beach to the road beyond, And to remove anything! or anyone" that stood in the way, That was done; just as planned. The task was of vital importance, for if it failed there would be an utter shambles and a possible failure. The first opening off the beach, was done by a commandeered bulldozer that didn't belong to us, but we used it to cut a path through to the road. Shortly after, the other paths were cleared. We moved inland to Morris and Hillman. Then later on down to Pegasus bridge, where we helped build the Tidal bridge. Under considerable fire. All the operations were carried out under heavy enemy defensive fire. All the D day tasks were completed successfully. Though we lost some vital officers and sappers. During the Pegasus operations 17 enemy planes were shot down in low level strafing.... Claimed by the sapper as the victims of small arms fire...Though I doubt it somehow.......Though Small arms fire can be devastating.. The story of the RE in first.. is quite a story, They even went over Pegasus bridge and removed Rommel's asparagus doe the Airborne to land then came back to help clear the beach mines and obstacles. A few men drowned removing the explosive charges but kept at their task even though it cost them their lives. Greater love hath no man I remember.... Oh yes... I remember what we did without any reward other than to make the whole thing a success. One day I will get round to telling the D Day story of the Sappers for it was wide ranging. But I am a lazy old buffer Cheers lads and lasses Sapper
The mine dog in the photo, if he is the same one, was a black Labrador dog; a strong fellow that pulled its handler onto a mine outside the white tape cleared area. Lost his foot...... The Dog? his name was "The Colonel" Hi Ron mate sapper
Brian, Your posts are always good and extremely interesting to read. This is a very sanitised version of "D" Day and I cannot even think what it must have been like. Dantes Inferno would, I believe, have been more like it. We that have never experienced such things as war, can only admire you and the other veterans, for your superb service. Regards Tom
Hi Tom..... what is, left of that once lively young fellow, is a white haired old man with all the aches and pains of old age, and the war disabilities...... Where Oh Where? is that suntanned crew that looked like bloody pirates of 1944. But we did it. and many other actions...Though now the very thought makes me shrivel Sapper
