The second word above the columns and just to the left of the rider statue appears to be Francaise. I can't decipher the first word: is it Republique? Edit: Rouen town hall (Hotel de Ville)
I might have an unfair advantage in that, while I've visited Rouen years ago, I didn't instantly recognise the location but nevertheless had a hunch so a quick impulsive search of Dr Google and....hey presto.
I thought it might be Louvain (Louven) Belgium, but Rouen means the pic could be 5th Camerons (the photo is in the possession of the Grandson of a ex 5th Cameron) they passed through there on their way to St Valery late August 44. Once again many thanks.
Taken the same day , maybe ? Vehicles of 51st Highland Division enter Rouen on their way to St Valery, 2 September 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45. © IWM (BU 1519) IWM Non Commercial License Taken outside the Hotel de Ville Google Maps
While the possibility of date confusion can't be ruled out, could this be a case of what I call leap frogging - where part of the unit rushes ahead and, after a bit of consolidation and territory holding, another part of the unit passes through and takes the lead. That way it's always 'fresh' Troops up front. That was certainly a practice used in 11th Armoured Division so I guess could have applied to others?
Quite possibly, although 152 brigade were in the lead of 51st HD. War diary states that info received made 5th Cams decide to keep going. They were then in position to prevent enemy from escaping from the west, i.e. St Valery, Le Havre etc.
