Normandy: Gavrus Thanks the 8RS Veterans.

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by Joe Brown, Dec 3, 2014.

  1. Joe Brown

    Joe Brown WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Gavrus thanks the Surviving Veterans of the 8th Battalion The Royal Scots.

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    GAVRUS, 16 JULY 1944

    The 8th Royal Scots left for the forward assembly area at 9 o’clock on the night of Friday 14 July and after a seven-mile march in the darkness on dusty roads, crushed into the side by the never-ending string of maintenance vehicles that moved faster than the marching column, they halted south of Colleville.

    In the darkness of the next night they went down to the river, escaping by minutes a heavy artillery concentration around the bridge, and crossed the Odon to the forming-up point at Les Vilains. Their attack was to be made at five-thirty – ‘first tank light’, as the men of the Royal Armoured Corps called it: which was the earliest time tank gunners could see their sights.

    In the battle, the 153rd Regiment RAC was under the command of the Royal Scots and together they devised a plan for the capture of Gavrus. Artillery prepared the way, the tanks by-passed Gavrus on the slopes above attacking it from the south, and then the Royal Scots went in. Seventy prisoners were taken and by eight o’clock on the morning of the 16 July Gavrus was in their hands. ["The First of Foot", Augustus Muir, 1961, p.303-4.]

    Joe Brown.
     
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  2. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Joe, fantastic news to hear 8 Royal Scots are getting their due for the battle of Gavrus (and Bougy) as part of Operation Greenline.

    Very tricky battle and and defined by excellent infantry/tank co-operation in the face of heavy enemy armoured counter-attacks...
     
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Joe,
    Obviously a special award for the 70th anniversary but have there been other awards/events at Gavrus in previous years?
     

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