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Friday,
April 22
The drive today took the group through beautiful countryside,
peaceful, and so serene that it looks as if nothing bad could
ever happen here. The small towns with their narrow streets
and stone buildings were a special treat.
Some places where we stopped were reality checks for us. We
visited the Black Watch monument on a hill overlooking a pleasant
valley and a peaceful town. The Black Watch suffered a terrible
defeat in their planned attack, having 307 casualties.
In
the midst of a green grainfield we came to the memorial to the
Worthington Force who, during phase 2 of Operation Totalize,
the British Columbia Regiment and the Algonquin Regiment were
given the job of securing the high ground on Hill 195 overlooking
Falaise. They got lost, ran into fierce opposition from enemy
troops and suffered terrible losses. We drove to hill 195 where
the Argyle's Memorial had recently been established and the
SARs honoured it with a wreath.
Following Operation Totalize the SARs took part in Tractable
when C Squadron was sent to St. Lambert sur Dives. At St. Lambert
they laid a wreath at the monument dedicated by the SAR to Major
David V. Currie VC. Major Currie received his Victoria Cross
for his brave stand here amidst the thousands of fleeing enemy
whose number one thought was to get out of there. Huge piles
of dead animals, and wrecked machinery made their exit even
more difficult. The airforce succeeded in destroying 197 tanks
in this battle.
There was a large reception waiting at the monument. I was privileged
to meet the lady who gave the land on the corner for this monument.
After laying the wreath, the party then moved to the Town Hall
for an excellent lunch and laughter, and a taste of Jacques
Des Digueres' Calvados. After lunch the party went to Chambois
and Mt. Ormel where the buses climbed the hill to Mt. Ormel
and saw the layout of the Falaise Pocket in the valley below.
Upon returning to St. Lambert they walked up through the misting
rain to the viewing site for the Battle of St. Lambert. Afterwards
they travelled to Trun to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph to honour
the 4th Armoured Division.
After leaving the area of the Falaise Gap in Normandy the 4th
Armoured Division with SAR leading were ordered to clear the
channel ports to Ostend, seize Brugge and cross the Brugge Ghent
canal. The tour group would be soon visiting these areas in
the days ahead. |
