There was little chance for true Recce work on the enclosed battlefield of Normandy. What few opportunities existed were seized but the regiments carried out many other tasks. Recce units went into action alongside the heavy armour, and took similar heavy casualties during a campaign of attrition as harsh as the Western Front of 1915-18. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007)
“Gradually as resistance to the Bridgehead’s expansion stiffened, reconnaissance gave way to holding the line. It was several weeks before the line included some of the spots our troops had reached in the first fortnight.” (From ‘A Reconnaissance Regiment in the B.L.A.’ by Lieutenant-Colonel P.H.A.Brownrigg D.S.O.)
“I think this was one of the worst, most difficult parts of the war – getting from the beaches to Caen, which they originally thought was going to be taken in the first day or two and it took about 40 odd days. Every day we were up the front, living in slit trenches.” (Anthony Rampling’s WW2 account, personal communication.)
On 23rd June Trooper Eric Brewer was “still at Granville x roads. Hope to move tomorrow. Things rather quiet - only a few mortars, getting use to dodging them… hope they stay far enough away to cause no harm. This trench digging is just about getting me down. Think I’ll be a grave digger after this war as all I seem to be doing …” (From Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)
61st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on this day:
Sergeant Thomas Abbey (age 34 ) of Oldbury, Worcestershire.
Sergeant Abbey, who was Roy Howard’s Troop Sergeant (7 Able troop, ‘A’ Squadron), is laid to rest in the Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery (south of Bayeux, south-east of Tilly-sur-Seules).
(See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch .)
We will remember them.
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