After flying 25 hours from Melbourne we arrived in Paris, somedays later we stayed in a chateau outside Bayeux. On the 9th August 2010 I travelled the route that the 4th CLY part of the 22nd Arm Bgde of the 7th Arm Div along with the 1st Rifle Bgde took to Villers Bocage via Tilly sur Seulles. it was fascinating to see both towns 56 years after the battle which Michael Wittman distinguished himself by destroying some 30 British tanks plus a number of other vehicles. Much of the bocage/hedgerow country has been destroyed but it is still possible to see some hedgerows and get a feel of what the country was like in 1944. We walked along the main street of Villers Bocage and stopped at the tourist Info office, they gave me a lot of info papers about the battle, we then went to the Townhall where there is a model about 3m x 2m depicting the battle on the 13th June, red buttons for M Wittmans tank and green buttons for the British tanks. We then drove up to hill 213 where I obtained a view of the town where M Wittman started his attack from. It was amazing to see both towns so well re built but to still see where this momenteous action took place,also to visit the CWGC at Tilly sur Seulles to see the names of so many young men that fought and died in the battles around Villers Bocage, it bought a tear to my eyes. It was a visit that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Cheers from a Aussie Brit
hello Aussie Brit sounds like a busy schedule post any photos you have forum members will be very interested
Michael Wittman distinguished himself by destroying some 30 British tanks plus a number of other vehicles. Are you sure it was that many tanks?
I was there a while back with two veterans, one had been in the column that got knocked out and the other in a tank in the village. The area had changed so much they were unable to really identify where events happened. Jim
Owen, I think it was about 30 vehicles, including tanks. Many soft-skinned. Driver-op, parts of the High Street are virtually unchanged since '44 but the village centre was totally destroyed in the later bombing and has been redesigned. I know the village very well, used to have a cottage near there. I also have some 'then and nows' from ATB Panzers in Normandy, I will look them up, scan and post. AussieBrit, Tilly is indeed remarkable as well. Never did get inside the Tilly Musem, did you manage it? Mike
I have a shoulder patch given to me by the daughter of Lt. Bill Cotton, who won a citation for the battle at Villers Bocage. It's one of the 'Desert Rats' badges, and I'll treasure it as long as I live. Villers Bocage is on my list of visits next week. One of the great things about living where I do!
As promised some scans from ATBs 'Panzers in Normandy then and now'. These are the easiest locations to identify in the existing town, there are several more in the book which are more difficult to find now due to diversion (and re-numbering) of the old N175 to Caen. If anyone would like a full size copy of the scans PM me your email address. Also some interesting shots in the book showing the area around Tilly. Chant, might be useful before your visit! Mike
G'day Mike When we visited Tilly sur Seulles the Museum in the chapel was closed but just across the road was a placque commemorating the Essex Regt and its part it played in battles for this town. Cheers Aussiebrit
Talking of ATB, 'Villers Bocage Through The Lens' is also well worth a look for anyone interested in trying to untangle what went on there.....
Talking of ATB, 'Villers Bocage Through The Lens' is also well worth a look for anyone interested in trying to untangle what went on there..... It certainly is, and contains pictures of Bill Cotton, as well as his citation. Mike, I'd love a copy. Expect a PM. Cheers.
Great pics m kenny, thanks. Think I have a pic at home taken during the bombing, will post later. Seeing the 'after' pictures it is amazing that so much of the original high street survived.
Thought I would just have a look on Amazon to see how much 'Villers Bocage through the lens' is going for and noticed the excellent 'Battle zone Normandy - Villers Bocage' is selling for £49 (new) and £34.87 (used)!!!!! I paid £14.99 for my copy at Duxford a few years ago. It really is a great book for anyone visiting the area - it covers Tilly well too - and the maps are very up to date. I haven't tried any of the suggested walks/routes but they seem well researched. The description of the battle(s) in V-B is very clearly set out although perhaps not in quite as much detail as some other books. That seems to help in following the progress of events.
Are you sure it was that many tanks? In Gordon Williams book The Waffen SS Handbook 1933 -1945. Wittmann is credited with 30 enemy tanks and 28 artillery pieces. He was in a good tank at the right time and place to inflict maximum damage on the enemy. Shooting the first and last in line provides a target rich environment and not one to be on the receiving end. I dare say that a Firefly in a similar situation would have done the same amount of damage. Regards Tom
Shooting the first and last in line provides a target rich environment and not one to be on the receiving end. Often said but think about it. If they were all jammed in and had no place to turn then how did the Tiger motor alongside them down the same road? The road was the motorway of its day and as such was wide enough for any passing traffic.
The snag is that there weren't 30 tanks on the field to destroy: 19 tanks in A Sqn 4 CLY (4 Fireflies, 15 Cromwells) assuming it was at full strength 2 Stuarts (Recce 4 CLY) 4 Cromwells (RHQ 4 CLY) 1 Sherman AOP (K Bty 5 RHA) 2 Cromwell AOP (K Bty 5 RHA) -- 28 (I don't think I missed any...) Of these, at least 1 Firefly and 2 Cromwells were captured intact, and perhaps a troopsworth of Cromwells were torched by their crews. There were plenty of halftracks and carriers shot up, so safer to credit him with 30 AFVs, rather than tanks. Really not sure how one 6pr becomes '28 artillery pieces', though.
Gordon Williams often seems a little biased in his views, IMPO. It was the only book I had with any figures without using the internet. Just checked out this website report. panzerace.net | villers bocage Regards Tom
Just looked up an account by Ian Baxter who stated that there was 25 tanks, 14 Halftracks and 14 (Bren Gun) Universal carriers destroyed. Seems a lot of muddy water amongst the historians. Regards Tom
