Belgian Gates

Many will have seen the above in various small museums in Normandy. Known colloquially as 'Belgium Gates' they were used prior to D Day as beach obstacles along the Normandy coastline. However the original purpose of these large metal structures was as part an anti-tank defence line erected by the Belgians in 1940 to cover an area called the Gembloux Gap. It supposedly covered a gap between a number of water lines south of Wavre towards Namur on the Meuse.

The photo above purports to show a completed line of Cointet Gates (the correct name) south of Wavre. they were to form a continuous line and once in position riveted together and could not be moved by armoured vehicles. In the original plan there were to be up to 75,000 of these gates together with 'rail fields'. All to be covered with fire from anti-tank weapons and bunkered machine gun positions, with interlocking fields of fire. Unfortunately by May 1940 the construction had not been completed and there were many gaps in the line. Suffice to say German armour drove through the gaps!!

Above a drawing of a Cointet Gate with dimensions

German Engineers removing Gates across a road in southern Belgium. Some of the Gates would later be transported to the beaches of Normandy

Ranger Memorial - Pointe Du Hoc - Normandy

GBG Member Bob Hilton has just returned from a tour of Normandy and reports: It came as pleasant surprise to realise you can now get right up to the bunker with the Ranger Memorial on it. Even better you can walk around the front of the bunker and get a fantastic view along both sides of the Pointe.

I cannot recall ever being able to access the Pointe myself in over 20 years of guiding in Normandy. This has become possible due to a hugh investment by the American Battle Monuments Commission in stablising the cliff face on which the Memorial stands.

Cassel 26 - 27 May 1940

The withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) saw a number of rearguard actions fought by British units which contributed enormously to the success of the evacuation of BEF and French troops from the beaches adjacent to Dunkirk and up to Nieuport in Belgium. One of the most significant actions was the defence of the hilltop town of Cassel. Set high above the Flanders plain within sight of Dunkirk, the town was occupied by 2nd Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment ( 2nd Glosters) 4th Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (4th Ox and Bucks) with supporting units. It was a brave defence which held back German armour albeit for a brief period, but sufficiently long enough to allow many of the units within the BEF to withdraw to the beaches in relatively good order. Both battalions suffered heavy casualties and very few managed to escape capture.

On a recent visit to Cassel with GBG member Terry Webb we spent some time in the area looking for the location of various battle sites as detailed on the sketch map below. This was drawn by a Gloster officer Captain E Jones whilst in a German POW camp. It is drawn from his memory of the defence of the town. There was little information about the battle at the time as very few Gloster officers survived capture and therefore were unable to write up the normal post action reports. However, there is sufficient information on the sketch map to be able to locate some of the positions on the ground today.




This is the town square in Cassel around which the Glosters sited their defence. To the right across the square and just off picture was the Gendarmerie(Map No 4) used as the HQ for the 4th Ox and Bucks. The square is the middle square in the town being higher than the Grand Place but lower than the Chateau Square at the highest point of Cassel. The Chateau was also the HQ of 145 Brigade



Then and now a bank Credit Du Nord. This building was the HQ for the 2nd Glosters (Map No 3)



This farm was occupied by 10 Platoon B Company 2nd Glosters as part of the perimeter defence and was on the NW edge of the defence (Map No 6)Looking uphill towards Cassell main town as seen from the German perspective.



The view from the farm yard looking towards the NW and covering the road to Calais



The Chateau which was HQ for D Company 2 Glosters still stands but is now a Conference Centre with modern additions (Map No 7)






The view from the Chateau grounds looking out towards the SW and the road to St Omer

Valkenswaard CWGC - Netherlands

Seen in Valkenswaard CWGC. Can there have been a more direct epitaph!! A soldier of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers KIA 27th September 1944. Has anyone seen anything similar and as simple?

Lines of Torres Vedras

Jean-Michel Veranneman de Watervliet
GBG Member

Here are some pictures I took last Weekend on a hike along part of the Lines of Torres Vedras. It was the second of these walks along the Lines. They are being regularly organised by the British Embassy in Lisbon. About 100 hikers walk for about two hours, with guides, visiting to the forts and then retiring to a local tasca (restaurant) for a hearty meal.

Part of the Lines and some of the forts have been quite well restored and preserved. There are visitor's centers, very well made pamphlets and explanatory boards in Portuguese and English and it is within an hour and a half drive from Lisbon.

A perfect Saturday outing!

Poperinge

Duncan Barnes
GBG Member and Badged Guide, No 43

The dislocation of the centre of Poperinge continues and has been delayed by the needs for archaeological work on the remains of medieval buildings during drainage work. Amongst these buildings is said to be a cloth hall, similar to that in Ieper (but presumably smaller) and medieval burials.

When work is finished the square will be resurfaced but with a new road alignment that will reduce parking but increase the outdoor space for the cafes and shops on the right of the present road.

The current works will eventually extend to include some of the roads leading into or away from the square.

The completion date is unclear.

Somme Footballers Memorial

GBG Member Phil Stant has been instrumental in having a new memorial raised to the 17th and 20th Middlesex, the Footballers Battalions. Phil who works with the Football League raised the monies for this impressive monument by 'bucket'collections at Football League matches.

The official unveiling will be on the 21st October 2010 at Longueval village close by the civil cemetery.

Well done Phil!!

Lions Led By Donkeys?

This young man from a school in Scotland was seen at Hooge Crater Museum. He and his fellow students were wearing these around the Ypres Salient. I have my own views on this, do you? Let me know bobdarby@btinternet.com

The Peckel Bockhouse - Improved Access

Mike Peters
Guiding Member of the
Guild of Battlefield Guides,
Badge Number 19


The 'Cresswell blockhouse' is located north of Cassel on the D916 road toward Dunkirk. Set back from the Peckel cross roads it was for all but the most determined groups a drive by stand. It is a good follow on stand after a study of the defence of Cassel by 'Somer Force' in May 1940. I was at the site two weeks ago and noticed that there is now an approach road and a hardened track around the block house. This work is recent and not quite complete, there was evidence of a collapsed drain on the approach road - not passable for large coaches. However, you can now turn left at the cross roads (coming from Cassel) and park a coach safely to disembark passengers.

There is, as you can see on the photographs now a circuit around the block house. This stand now has far more potential and the actions of Lieutenant Cresswell MC and 1 Platoon, A Company of the Glosters can be recounted in some detail. The block house is large enough to also be a useful backdrop for a discussion on the merits of static defences during the 1940 campaign. Certainly worthy of consideration for your next Dunkirk tour.

On a Health and Safety note - There are holes in the walls and individuals can enter the block house easily.

Ost Wall Poland

Received from GBG Member Norman Sibbald:

I recently toured Poland and visited a section of the Ost Wall between the Warta and Oder rivers along the pre-war German/Polish border. Originally built in the late 1930's as a defence against Poland they were put to use against the Red Army Advance west in 1945. The various fortifications are linked underground to a labyrinth of tunnels. Its make for a fascinating visit. However, the Polish authorities are closing up the entrances to many of the bunkers to prevent injuries and possible fatalities whilst turning some into tourist sites.

The bunkers are accessible from the Frankfurt (Oder)to Poznan highway and the road from Kostrzyn to Poznan also bisects the defence line. I went to see two sites open to the public at Miedzyrzecz and Boryszyn. I was given a conducted tour in Polish of which I did not understand a word!! but it was worth it just to see the underground sites. However, I have to say it was much more exciting and interesting going 'off track' and exploring those sites not yet 'locked up' I was with a man who knew what he was doing and was aware of the dangers that could trap the unwary.

The position in the foreground has been described to me as a vent? for a mortar. Beyond it about 100m away can be seen a flamethrower bunker

'Dragon's Teeth'in the middle of a forest. Note the anti-tank ditch in front of themA section of the ventilation ductwork


This bunker was blown up by the Russians in 1945. The 'chimney' in the centre of upper block was a defensive flamethrower vent

If anyone is interested in a trip I would be happy to facilitate it having travelled to Poznan on many occasions

On a different note the remains of the 'Great Escapees' are buried in the military cemetery in Poznan, Poland which is 200 kms north east of the camp location. For some reason there are only 48 graves (no headstones for N Fuglesand or D O Street) and I have been unable to find out why. It is well known that the 50 were all cremated and their ashes interred.



One of the most chilling lines from the whole episode is the scenario where the senior British officer is summoned to the Camp Commandant's office after the murders. 'How many were shot?' ' Forty-one' ' How many were wounded?''I think no one was wounded' 'Do you mean to tell me forty-one can be shot in those circumstances and that they were all killed and no one was wounded?'

Great War Trenches at RAF Halton

Just a quick e-mail to let you know about the trenches that have been escavated at RAF Halton. The trenches were discovered last year. They are located on the camp between the new workshops and the old rubbish tip. The trainees have reconstructed a small portion of them using the manuals of the day and they consist of a short communication trench and revetted front line trench with fire step and wired to the front. They are perhaps the best trenches I have seen, no concrete sandbags are in evidence, the RAF appear to have used genuine materials and methods to reconstruct them. They are well worth a visit if you are passing some time.

Kevin Adamson
Guild of Battlefield Guides

Help For Heroes - Big Battlefield Bike Ride 13 - 19 September 2010

Mike Peters relating the story of Waterloo at the Butte De Lion


Once again Guild Members provided the Historians for this year's Help For Heroes 'A Bridge Too Far' Big Bike Ride.

Guild members led by John Greenacre included Bob Darby, Mike Peters and Jo Hook. Although billed 'A Bridge Too Far' the ride itself started in Brussels with a visit to the Waterloo battlefield. It then touched on Operation Market Garden 1944 at Joe's Bridge and Son but then meandered its way across eastern Holland before coming back on track via Nijmegan and eventually arriving at Oosterbeek near Arnhem to see a parachute descent on to one of the original Drop Zones.

During the course of 6 days the cyclists completed over 350 miles and raised over £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity. A very commendable effort by all involved.

The Guild members involvement was to position themselves at various stands en route and tell the story of a particular action. However, it was difficult to get sufficient time to tell the story. 5 minutes on the banks of the Waal could not do justice to Julian Cook's assault river crossing by men of the 504th Parachute Infantry 82nd US Airborne Division.


The War Cemetery at Lommel in Belgium. The largest Second War German Cemetery in Europe


The end of a long ride for the cyclists at the John Frost Bridge Arnhem


Two of the 'Bravest of the Brave'. Glider Pilots Arthur Shackleton (above) and Mike Dauncey (below). Dauncey had been recommended for the Victoria Cross. Seen at the Airborne Memorial opposite the Hartenstein Hotel Oosterbeek



Bob Darby
Badge No 29

The Face of the Battle of Britain

Much has been talked about lately with the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. What did it mean to us in human cost and to us as a nation?

I have received the following article from Norman Sibbald written by an unknown American. It is not the complete article but a synopsis of the relevant points. If you wish to read the whole article I can email it to you.

The face above and facing you is the face of Brian John Edward Lane. This is the face of the Battle of Britain. Lane was not the highest scoring 'ace' with a final score of 'only' 6. The man to his left, our right is George Unwin who downed twice as many as Lane and survived the war. Lane on the other hand met his fate in combat over the North Sea in December 1942.

Lane didn't have a low score because of a lack of ability. He had leadership thrust upon him at a young age and carried his torch well. This is the face of newly promoted Squadron Leader Lane who is 23 in this picture, This is the face of battle. Very weary, very young but very determined.

The victory over southern England could not have been accomplished without the assistance of young men from many nations. Poles, Czechs, South Africans, New Zealanders, Australian, Canadians and those from Belgium, France and the USA. We were not alone.

It was another two years after the picture was taken did we enter the war, and almost two years before sending our Army Air Force to England to carry out the bombing campaign against occupied France and Germany. We talk about American victories and military might, but without Britain it never would have happened.

Contributed by Norman Sibbald

Bruneval Raid Op Biting Feb 1942

GBG Member Paul Oldfield recently visited the site of the raid on the coast of Northern France. It is often described as being the first Combined Operations action involving all three services

Paul writes:

Many will know about the raid in February 1942 the objective being to capture a Wurzburg radar set (code named HENRY) However,not many Guild members will have visited the site. Those who do probably drove to the beach and viewed the site from the memorial looking north


Picture 1
The more adventurous will struggle up the cliff path seen between the centre and right flagpoles,to look over the radar site and the foundations of the Villa (LONE HOUSE) that stood just out of sight over the clifftop. Those who do so in reasonable weather and in daylight as I did, will wonder how the raiders managed to get down this very steep path in ammo boots at night pushing/pulling overloaded weapon trolleys with their captured radar parts together with their wounded over ground covered in slippery snow.....and oh yes! they were under fire too!

I guess few venture on to the evacuation beach itself


Picture 2
Clearly this depends upon the tide and it isn't advisable to try and climb the cliffs, but a short walk is rewarding. Picture 2 illustrates the harsh beach conditions that the landing craft had to face in reaching the shore. The sea wall is post war. The memorial is visible half way up the opposite cliff.

I would also advocate driving round to look at the cliff top site from the northern end close to Cap d'Antifer lighthouse. Park on the last right bend before the lighthouse. Ignore the first set of bunkers (they weren't there in 1942) and walk south along the cliff top, but not too close to the edge as it is very crumbly and its a long way down to the sea! Very shortly a concrete Freya radar base comes into view.

Picture 3
The foundations of the Villa which was the radar control station(code name LONE HOUSE)and close to the Wurzburg radar array, are on the horizon just to the left of the Freya radar base with a distant mast beyond it. This illustrates just how close the two radars were to each other. On the left is the edge of the wooded farm complex(RECTANGLE)from where the main German opposition developed. The Freya radar was not a target of this raid. The Wurzburg array was, as its performance was unknown to the British. This view is looking south towards the objective.The Freya radars are marked on the map.


Picture 4
Another short diversion takes you to the RV just off the Drop Zone. From it (Picture 4) and looking west there is a fairly good view of the LONE HOUSE position left of centre on the horizon and the route the attackers took to get it. RECTANGLE is on the left. Also visible in the centre just below the skyline is the bank mentioned in some accounts where the RE dismantling party and Flight Sgt Cox sheltered while the opposition was being cleared. The photo is taken from Drop Zone RV and marked as 'Forming Up Point' on the map

Picture 5
The remains of the LONE HOUSE. Burnt out in the raid and demolished by the Germans after the raid so it could not act as a ground/air marker. A new Wurzburg site was set up within the Freya site near the lighthouse.

Picture 6
LONE HOUSE as seen from a photo recce sortie which picked up the existence of the radar in front of the Villa


Picture 7
Looking towards the Freya site which can be seen in front of the lighthouse at Cap D'Antifer. The photo is taken from the site of LONE HOUSE

A visit to Bruneval repays the effort handsomely and is a wonderful early example of a successful combined operation. Members should read John Frost's account of the action in his book 'A Drop Too Many'