Waterproofing and Wild Driving

Eric Brewer on the left with Corporal Polwin (photo and diary entries courtesy of Derek Brewer and family who have copyright).

17^th May 1944 – the diary of Eric Brewer, of ‘B’ Squadron’s Assault Troop begins with the entry:

“Water proofing armoured car.”

This crucial activity, preparing the vehicle for landing on the Normandy beaches, continued for a few days according to the diary. 

 

Sandy Handley gives a little more information:

“Soon the vehicles were to be waterproofed. A Dunlop compound* was pressed into the joints of the engine and an extension fixed on the exhaust for the sea water landing.  The vehicles were chocked up and wheels off for this water proofing.

I asked Don Polden, the corporal of our car (which hadn’t been waterproofed yet) if I could have a go at the driving a little.  I got in the driver’s seat quite low down and was peering through the visor (slit).  I started the engine into gear, pressed the accelerator and drove around like a madman.  The ground was quite uneven and my vehicle clouted one of the cars being waterproofed, one that was chocked up and no wheels. My vehicle knocked it off the jacks – was my face red!  I thought I’m in for a right telling off, but all I got was the troop officer, Lt R K Williams, telling me not to worry about that.  I was relieved but still anxious about my driving** – I was hopeless.”  (From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’)

*the British devised vehicle waterproofing compound was made from grease, lime and asbestos fibres (from ‘Overlord’ by Max Hastings, Macmillan 2016 edition)

**all the crew in an armoured car were meant to be able to cover each other's roles in case someone was injured or lost.

Lt. Joseph Meredith's MBE was partially earned by his role as Technical Adjutant for HQ Squadron, preparing the vehicles for D Day.

 

17th May - Merrill's Marauders in northern Burma capture Myitkina airfield and are joined by Chinese forces but the Japanese ward off attacks against the town and strategically important river port until 3rd August.

18^th May 1944 – the success of the Admiralty Islands campaign (Operation Brewer), north east of New Guinea, completes the isolation of the strategic Japanese base at Rabaul - as planned in Operation Cartwheel, a major Allied offensive in the South West Pacific Area.