We were up early for our Canadian Battlefield tour this morning. Allan picked us up at 9:15 and we were off for the day.
One of the anti-tank bunkers is well-preserved here.
A little further west, at Bernieres sur Mer, is Canada House. Still standing today.
The exit at Bernieres sur Mer. Keller would commit his entire 9th brigade reserve landing at this point, causing a terrible traffic jam that hindered the Canadian breakout.
The 9th brigade's Quebec regiment at the exit...just before running into German lines.
Just up from St Aubin was the headquarters of the German 716th static division. The grounds of the HQ was surrounded with a wall. Here's an MG firing port in that wall.
And an 88mm firing position.
The Canadians, advancing up from St Aubin, had to cross this open field to get to the HQ. The only cover was waist-high wheat.
Near Courseulles sur Mer is the Charlie1 memorial Churchill AVRE spigot mortar tank. A fascine roller is on the back as well.
Just inland is Beny sur Mer and the Canadian cemetery.
This was a really beautiful and peaceful place.
A disturbing gravestone.
Here is the monument to the Queens Own Rifles, and their first day objective...achieved.
A break from the rain clouds.
The monument at Abbey des Ardennes.
We moved on through the battlegrounds of Rots-Bretteville-Norrey, and had a look at the monument to the "charge of the light brigade," where the losses of the Hussars and the Queens Own Rifles are memorialized in the ill-advised attack on June 11th.
After this, we spent a little time down at Gold Beach to see the 122mm bunkered gun emplacements there, and the VC charge of Hollis in this heavily defended area.
After saying goodbye to Allan, we went back to Bernieres and had a walk along the beach up to St Aubin. We then went back to La Pergola for pizza. Good stuff there!
Before turning in, we went back down to the beach at Ver sur Mer, where we were staying.
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