Char Churchill

by , KilroyTrip

On the morning of D-Day,on the beach at Juno Beach,sector Mike,a British tank of the "Churchill" AVRE Petard type leaves the beach.The tank, which belongs to the 26th Assault Squadron, is wearing a fascine.Behind the line of dunes some 4 to 5 meters high is a strip of land 200 to 400 meters wide and flooded. Beyond this is a road, then a minefield, before arriving at the road that runs from Ver-sur-Mer to Courseulles. The "Sherman" tanks, flailing against the mines, enter the minefield and begin their work. After 40 meters of progress, a mine explodes under the tracks of the first "Sherman", which is brutally immobilized, so that the second "Sherman" following it collides with it, disabling its flail.The 2 tanks are therefore out of action, and remain as fire support for the infantry as they begin to move inland from the beach.
Meanwhile, the "Churchill" AVRE Petard advances along the road and arrives in front of a crater blocking the road. The "Churchill" moves forward to swing its fascine into the hole, but caught in its momentum, it slides into the hole and sinks into the water, leaving only its load of fascines visible.The 6 crewmen managed to escape, but a few minutes later,heavy German mortar fire killed 3 of them(Lance-Sergeant Ashton,tank commander and the Sappers Manley and Battson-they will be buried a few meters away on the side of the road-they rest today in the Bayeux British Military Cemetery) and seriously wounded the other 3 (they will be evacuated in the afternoon).
Photo credit Julie Grasset

On the morning of D-Day,on the beach at Juno Beach,sector Mike,a British tank of the Churchill AVRE Petard type leaves the beach.The tank, which belongs to the 26th Assault Squadron, is wearing a fascine.Behind the line of dunes some 4 to 5 meters high is a strip of land 200 to 400 meters wide and flooded. Beyond this is a road, then a minefield, before arriving at the road that runs from Ver-sur-Mer to Courseulles. The Sherman tanks, flailing against the mines, enter the minefield and begin their work. After 40 meters of progress, a mine explodes under the tracks of the first Sherman, which is brutally immobilized, so that the second Sherman following it collides with it, disabling its flail.The 2 tanks are therefore out of action, and remain as fire support for the infantry as they begin to move inland from the beach.Meanwhile, the Churchill AVRE Petard advances along the road and arrives in front of a crater blocking the road. The Churchill moves forward to swing its fascine into the hole, but caught in its momentum, it slides into the hole and sinks into the water, leaving only its load of fascines visible.The 6 crewmen managed to escape, but a few minutes later,heavy German mortar fire killed 3 of them(Lance-Sergeant Ashton,tank commander and the Sappers Manley and Battson-they will be buried a few meters away on the side of the road-they rest today in the Bayeux British Military Cemetery) and seriously wounded the other 3 (they will be evacuated in the afternoon). Photo credit Julie Grasset