From Normandy to Holland by Bren Carrier (Part 2)

Caen
I got used to the men and found them capable and well trained. However, my new section was due for more than training exercises in a weeks time. The time came when I was sent to 'B' Company for orders and was given instructions and map references of the place I was to recce. I always put my section fully in the picture every time we were attached to a company, letting them know all the facts. Once again we travelled into unknown areas, this time to the Caen area and on our route we came under machine gun fire. My driver, taken by surprise veered down a slight embankment thus getting the carrier stuck. I dived down the side of the carrier, and I shouted up to my gunner to pass the bren gun down, also a few magazines already loaded. I focused the gun in the enemy direction and had the firepower to give the 3 carriers cover to reverse back to safety; I managed to scramble aboard my carrier. I then planned a route to combat the machine gun. Leaving the carriers in harbour with their drivers we went a good distance on foot, using the ground as trained. When we reached the area we came across a German half-track. It looked as if the occupants had withdrawn leaving the half-track immobilised, perhaps it was a rear guard action to delay us. We moved on towards the city of Caen and dug in and positioned our slit trenches in safe positions. As the night drew close we had a rough time. Enemy bombers came over and really bombed us, we expected our slits to be hit. About thirty yards to our right company HQ received a direct hit killing the company commander and second in command. This bombardment went on through the night, but as daylight came the bombers left us alone. It was a sad night as Major Haigh was the officer in charge who was killed (27th July 44).
Next morning we were moving out and joined a formation of vehicles, in fact it looked like a Brigade movement. We were spaced out and travelled for about four miles when my carrier was hit by a stray shell, which exploded and put it out of action. The heavy shrapnel hit the side of the carrier, the track was smashed in three places and a bogey wheel was broken. In fact the shrapnel was stuck into the side of the carrier and it shook the driver, gunner and myself up. We were left behind to make repairs however our carrier remained less efficient. This probably saved my life, because later when we returned to battle stations a sergeant from the ‘West Yorks’ came to take over my section and made my carrier section up to full strength. We were ordered to go on patrol about a mile forward, but lucky for me Sgt Kelly from HQ stated that my carrier was not serviceable enough to go on patrol. A crew from another section replaced us. Within a few hours a message came back saying my carrier section had been ambushed and all the section wiped out. We sent a patrol out and one of the men involved was found badly wounded in the undergrowth. He told us the Sgt. had been wounded and taken prisoner, which left 8 killed, 1 prisoner and 1 badly wounded. I was upset about this as I had done lots of recce's and my methods had always come off, I didn't feel I would have been caught out in an ambush.
Shortly afterwards we received a new carrier, although still not up to full strength, we did have a carrier commander, machine gunner and a driver to each carrier, but we were once again without a sergeant. We advanced attached to ‘B’ Company. On one front where ‘B’ Company had dug in, I was given a reference point to take my section on a standby patrol. This patrol were in for an experience. I left three drivers to look after their respective carriers, and set off on patrol. It was dark, and as we reached the reference point we were taken by surprise by a German soldier standing in the hedgerow. He stepped out and challenged us. As if in unison, we all turned around and ran. The German fired and luckily missed. We ran for around 500 yards, and found good positions in a ditch on the side of the track. We then moved along the road and took positions at the side with good hedgerow for cover. Whilst laid there we heard quite a commotion, and saw a group of Germans coming towards us. I passed word along the line to keep very quiet. The Germans seemed to be getting their equipment together and appeared to be digging down a good stretch of the road I realised that they were laying mines.
At times they were so close we could have touched them. I hoped and prayed that the section would not panic, and would keep quiet. It was a night of tension, I could not give the order to fire as the Germans were well stretched out and our weapons were not sufficient enough to overpower the amount of Germans in front of us. I hoped that when daylight came the Germans would leave the road and return to their units. Luck was with us and they did just that.
I was very pleased with the discipline showed by the section that night, how they did it I do not know as the slightest move sounded so loud. We returned to ‘B’ Company and reported the mine laying to a Platoon Commander. He radioed through to HQ, and within minutes an armoured vehicle arrived with a reconnaissance officer and two other men. I personally showed them the area and the two men indeed found mines. They were able to tape out a route for transport vehicles to take when they made their moves. The officer was very pleased and said we had probably saved a vehicle or two from total disaster.
We were then attached to another company with orders to reconnoitre to its’ left. While on manoeuvre we came across a small village, which appeared deserted apart from half a dozen Germans who just gave themselves up to us. We continued on with the same company and our orders with ‘O’ group were to see if certain places were clear of the enemy and report back by radio.
'C' Company was having trouble from their front. Sgt Aired, Sgt Kelly and myself were sent for with our crews. We had orders to form a carrier mortar group, which was very strong with plenty of firepower. I knew it was a dangerous mission as we joined up with our flame thrower and set off in order of flame thrower with Sgt Gray, my carrier, mortar carrier with Sgt. Aired and Sgt. Kelly's' carrier following up behind with rear support. We travelled about two miles into no-mans land when there was a terrific explosion in front of me. The flame-thrower had run over a mine and was practically blown to bits. Sgt. Gray and Pte. Maunton got the full blast (21st August 44). I carried on about 50 yards and a machine gun opened up on us. My gunner returned the fire and luckily had a direct hit on the German post. The three Germans surrendered, so I dismounted with my gunner and went to the German post. He was badly wounded but as I bent down to help one of the Germans he spat in my face. I lifted my rifle to smash in his face but my gunner restrained me. We had no room to take them back with us so left them to about four Germans who approached carrying a red-cross flag, who treated them.

Rouen / Le Havre
My next destination was to make my way towards Rouen. We crossed the river by the bridge that had had a rough time. Our orders were to go to Le Havre, in support of 'B' Company. We had to follow leading tanks, in fact the area was heavily mined and the route was too dangerous for us to keep the course we were taking. I halted my carrier and directed down a lane towards the east side of Le Havre. I joined my section and realised my route was going down a steep narrow road which was treacherous. We got more enemy fire on us, as we were virtually open targets. We managed to withdraw to the side of the road, dismounted and I ordered my men to lay on the safe side of the carrier. Most of us got partly under the carriers but our chances of survival were looking pretty hopeless. Our officer, Captain Armitage had a narrow escape. As he reached us he was hit by the barrage, but was only hit by shrapnel on the side of his tin hat, and received a small flesh wound to the head. Lucky for us all firing ceased and word was sent that an ultimatum was in progress (ultimatum ceasefire 3rd / 4th Sep 7pm-6am), which gave us all chance to get in safer positions. The ultimatum lasted longer and gave us time to evacuate wounded to positions of treatment, I had just two wounded who were company men so we got off very lightly, the positions under the carrier proving very successful.
When my section was leaving the Le Havre area we were getting shelled quite heavily and Sgt. Kelly was following behind me. He approached me and asked me to listen a moment, and I could hear a woman screaming and a baby crying. He asked me to run across and bring her to safety but I said can’t you find someone else as I felt I had had enough. Sgt Kelly said no more, took off his coat and set off himself. I felt a little ashamed about it and so caught him up and went with him. We approached a farm house where the scream came from and went in. A woman with a baby in her arms was terrified and in another room was an old lady. Kelly held the baby in his arm and grabbed the young woman and made his way out towards the open ground. I got the old lady and followed him. We crossed the area being shelled and reached safety. I realised that Len Kelly was a brave and excellent soldier and my respect for him increased greatly.
Le Havre was eventually bombed into submission. We had been unable to progress further forward, as mines were thick in all areas in front of us. We then had a weeks rest in place called Nicolas de la Taille (until 19 Sep).
A new sergeant had been posted to my section around this time. I had been acting sergeant. We were sent on patrol towards the French-Belgium border and attended 'O' Group. After studying the map I had a disagreement with Sgt. MacMeakin with regard to the best strategy. In my opinion, right on the border there was a short clearing which was ideal for a mine position. Sgt. MacMeakin wanted to go through the clearing, then go on foot, I pleaded with him to go through the clearing on foot, then carefully go through the built up area but I couldn't change his mind. Sgt. MacMeakin confidently led the way on what looked a treacherous route. As we closed on the open area my views unfortunately came correct when his carrier ran over a mine, thus blowing the front end into the air. The carrier landed upside down with the crew inside, we presumed them dead but couldn't get inside. My crew had got in safe positions with the two other carrier crews and I informed the company of all the details so they could take care of the circumstances. I then withdrew back to Company H.Q. and waited for further orders, which were to progress towards a village just over the border. We were instructed to advance into the village by radio as a Company was going towards this village from the north side. We were surrounded by excited Belgium civillians as we approached, I managed to quieten them down, but a couple of Belgiums were in a vulnerable position with respect to a German section positioned ahead. I sent two carriers around to the right to give supporting fire whilst I swung to towards the left of the village and moved into a favourable position, taking the Germans by surprise. With the two carriers coming in from the north side we quickly got top-side of the Germans who withdrew. We received congratulations from the Company Commander, and were now well and truly established in Belgium and ready to advance further.

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