IWM Pictures of the visit of PM, Winston Churchill to Caen, Normandy, 22 JULY 1944

I was looking at this series of colour pictures on the IWM site:

THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944

THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944 (TR 2044)

"The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, with men of 50th (Northumbrian) Division who took part in the D-Day landings. Behind the Prime Minister is General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Normandy, 22 July 1944."

With the zoom:
THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944

And: THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944 (TR 2043)

With the zoom:
THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944

Not sure if anyone is aware of any efforts to identify the soldiers and their regiments from their cap badges etc.?

The description says "with men of 50th (Northumbrian) Division" and there is such a mix there that they seem to be hand picked as representatives of the various units of 50th (Northumbrian) Division perhaps?

Not sure if there would have been some 8th Armoured in there too for the visit of Churchill etc.?

 

Strange to have 50 Div men near Caen. Must have bussed them in or it isn't Caen.

Anyway, it's a mix of 50 Div and other units. In the first zoom photo, the man on the left looks like Durham Light Infantry (50 Div). Looks like there are a couple of 'Jocks' or Canadian 'Jocks' in there too.

There are a few men in the photos with black caps (not including Monty), so RAC?!?

 

Just as a note -

The 24th Lancers War Diary has this for that period:

La Senaudiere 17/7/44 The Regiment moved to area La Senaudiere with the roles of Supporting any Brigade of 50 (N) Div and, should the opportunity arise to strike South in a pursuit East of Caumont. During the period 17 – 22 July, Sqns of the Regiment supported 231 Bde, and 69 Bde in small advances following up the slight enemy withdrawal in this sector. There is nothing of consequence to report during this period. The Regiment was directly under command 50 Div and in that Div reserve.

24/7/44 At 1745 hours the Commanding Officer, Lt.Col.W.A.C.Anderson, DSO, informed the Regiment that the 24th Lancers were to be disbanded.

While the SRY WD has:

20th July 1944 A quiet day. The country is very pleasant here and the farms practically undamaged. It is hard to believe, even in the area of B Sqn which is forward, that the German line is so close. 12 K.R.R.C. are sending out night patrols and Essex Yeo have occasional shoots at enemy S.P. Guns and mortar posns. The whole Regt is at half hour notice.

21st July 1944 Another quiet day with domestic troubles caused by heavy day and night rain – our chief worries. The holes in which we are sleeping in account of very spasmodic shellfire are mostly half full of water. C.O. C Sqn Ldr and a C Trp Ldr attended a morning conference with 3 Pn, 210 Fd Coy R.E. at Bde, regarding possible move in which C Sqn will be giving protection to R.E. mine lifters. In the afternoon Offrs and men of K.R.R.’s and R.E’s met C Sqn Comds + Operators at R.H.Q. The method and orders of adv were thoroughly discussed and then practiced on foot on the ground.

22nd July 1944 At 0545 hrs six shells landed in our B3 area which is about 4 - 5 miles behind the front line. Shells probably 105mm. Though everyone sleeps in slit trenches at this particular time, many were getting ready to prepare breakfast and we had twon men wounded. The day remained quiet with the fwd Sqns. The weather is still foul.

23rd July 1944 No change. We are continuing our present role longer than we had expected and the quiet combined with the fact that the countryside shows little or no damage as signs of the War, is in sharp contrast to the area East of TILLY, where we have spent so much of our time.

24th July 1944 Another very quiet day. 15(Lowlands) Division is moving in on our right.

 

50th division defence company ?

Kyle

 

From the 5AGRA War Diary Normandy1944

 

50th Division is marked here... South West of Tilly-sur-Seules...

[July 22, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map.

Although in error as "30" Division for around these dates in July, although this is soon corrected in the later situation maps..

 

THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL TO CAEN, NORMANDY, 22 JULY 1944

IWM TR2049



The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, standing in a staff car and talking to British and Canadian troops at the 'Winston' bridge over the River Orne, 22 July 1944. With the Prime Minister is the commander of British Second Army, Lieutenant General Sir Miles Dempsey.

Orne river bridge 1944 hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy

PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL VISITS CAEN, FRANCE, IN JULY 1944


Sapper Gallantry on the Orne River | Canadian Military Engineers

Has...

"As the days went on, heavier bridges were built and more routes were cleared. On the afternoon of 22 July, several cars crossed a Class 40 bridge built by the 31st Field Company and returned crossing the 5th Field Company’s triple-double bridge downstream. From the cars stepped both Winston Churchill and General Montgomery. Montgomery christened the bridges “Winston” and “Churchill”. "

---- x ---- x ----

THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944

Object description
A Sherman tank crosses 'Winston Bridge', a Bailey bridge built over the River Orne for the 'Goodwood' offensive, 24 July 1944