Links Rauray in 1944 – Calvados – Battle of Normandy - D-Day Overlord Photos de Rauray pendant la bataille de Normandie dans le département du Calvados - D-Day Overlord Via Google books : rauray - Google Search IWM - rauray site:www.iwm.org.uk - Google Search -- x -- http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/19526750/&q=Rauray&o=relevance
Events May 1944 June 1944 27d6m1944 OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 1) [Allocated Title] OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 2) [Allocated Title] OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 3) [Allocated Title] Nb. Not currently available online at the above, but it is nevertheless here... OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 3) [Allocated Title] Full description Three soldiers on a motorcycle, an 8th Armoured Brigade Humber scout car and Universal and Loyd Carriers belonging to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry make their way from the front line back to Fontenay-le-Pesnel. At a regimental aid post set up in a farmyard in the village, those wounded in 70th Brigade's assault on Rauray are brought in for treatment while nearby the dead are buried. A section of infantrymen from the 10th DLI is seen dug in near the Cheux-Vendes/Fontenay-Rauray crossroads. Nearby lies a wrecked Hitlerjugend Panther tank; in the background is the smouldering wreck of an M10 Achilles from the 55th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery. The infantrymen enjoy a meal in their trench. Troops who had gone over to investigate the M10 run for cover as it threatens to explode. Five men from the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry's 'A' Squadron ride on a battered Tiger tank they captured from the 501st SS Heavy Tank Battalion. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6020 : German remote-controlled tracked vehicle used to deliver a demolition charge, captured by 51st Highland Division troops at Benouville, 27 June 1944. BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6041 : Original wartime caption: A casualty is evacuated on the back of a motorcycle. Tenil-Bretteville in the background is being shelled. BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6042 : Original wartime caption: Coming out of the line. Men of the 49 Division DLI returning through Fontenay le Pesnel. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6043 : A motorcycle despatch rider passes a knocked-out Sherman tank and behind, a German Panther at Fontenay-le-Pesnel, 27 June 1944. BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6044 : Original wartime caption: Men of the 49 Division, DLI, eating hasty meal in a trench. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6045 : A Loyd carrier and 6-pdr anti-tank gun of the Durham Light Infantry, 49th (West Riding) Division parked alongside a knocked-out German Panther tank during Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6046 : A 6-pdr anti-tank gun crew of the Durham Light Infantry, 49th (West Riding) Division inspect a knocked-out German Panther tank during Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944. (Nb the above description differs from the caption card below) THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944 B6048 : A casualty is brought back to a universal carrier which is being used to evacuate wounded, 49th (West Riding) Division, Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6049 : Men of the Durham Light Infantry, 49th (West Riding) Division 'advance' past a knocked-out German Panther tank during Operation 'Epsom', 27 June 1944. BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6050 : Original wartime caption: A Bren carrier evacuating wounded passes a knocked out Tiger tank on the outskirts of Tenil Bretteville. BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6051 : Original wartime caption: A knocked out Tiger* tank is examined by tank experts at Bretteville l'Orgeuilleuse. (* Panther) BRITISH ATTACK IN FRANCE B6052 : Original wartime caption: Examing the damage to the turret of the Panther tank. 28d6m1944 OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 4) [Allocated Title] OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 5) [Allocated Title] OPERATION EPSOM - 49th DIVISION AT THE VILLAGE OF FONTENAY- LE-PESNEL (PART 4) [Allocated Title] THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6130 : A Sherman tank of the 4/7th Dragoon Guards, 8th Armoured Brigade, moves along a road near Rauray, 28 June 1944. TANKS AND INFANTRY GO INTO ACTION B6131 : Original wartime caption: Sherman tanks followed by despatch riders pass infantry who were holding positions on the roadside between Tilly and Caen. TANKS AND INFANTRY GO INTO ACTION B6132 : Original wartime caption: British infantry passing a knocked out German tank as they move up to consolidate the position between Tilly and Caen. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6133 : Sherman tanks of the 4/7th Dragoon Guards, 8th Armoured Brigade, waiting to go into action near Rauray, 28 June 1944. TANKS AND INFANTRY GO INTO ACTION B6134 : Original wartime caption: Infantry moving along the side of a French road in the advance near Caen. TANKS AND INFANTRY GO INTO ACTION B6135 : Original wartime caption: Infantry running past an exposed spot on the road between Tilly and Caen, when they moved up to consolidate positions taken the previous day. Snipers were active in this area and the infantry had to move cautiously. THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE IN FRANCE B6136 : Original wartime caption: A sniper being brought in by men of the Middlesex Regiment. Snipers, some of whom are only boys of 16, having given us a great deal of trouble, being very difficult to spot in the trees in which they hide. THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE IN FRANCE B6137 : Original wartime caption: Bren carrier passing a knocked out German tank in Rauray. 2 Battalion Kensingtons. NORMANDY: THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE B6138 : Carrier passing a German roadside sign 'Achtung Feindinsicht' - 'Look out! The enemy can see you.' THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) B6139 : Men of the 2nd Kensington Regiment, 49th (West Riding) Division, attempt to spot a sniper in Rauray during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/20522054157 B6140 : Men of the Durham Light Infantry, 49th (West Riding) Division inspect a knocked-out German Tiger tank during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944. THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE IN FRANCE B6141 : Original wartime caption: A British tommy passes the dead body of a German sniper (boy) who had caused a great deal of trouble before he was accounted for. (B6142 - B6152 : Shifts to 23rd Hussars moving up through Secqueville en Bassin etc. Sgt. Midgley) THE OFFENSIVE NEAR TILLY SUR SEULLES B6153 : Original wartime caption: German dead lying alongside the roadway in the Tilly sur Seulles area. 10th D.L.I., 70th Brigade, 49th Division, at Rauray. Tanks of Notts. Yeomanry in support. THE OFFENSIVE NEAR TILLY SUR SEULLES B6154 : Original wartime caption: One of our infantrymen takes up a position near a knocked out German tank. The feet of a dead German can be seen in the foreground. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6155 : A soldier of 10th Durham Light Infantry digs in close to a knocked-out German Tiger tank at Rauray, 28 June 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944 B6156 : Sherman tanks of the 1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), 8th Armoured Brigade, advance past a knocked-out Tiger tank at Rauray, near Tilly-sur-Seulles, during Operation 'Epsom', 28 June 1944. Photo taken by Lieutenant Handford. THE OFFENSIVE NEAR TILLY SUR SEULLES B6157 : Original wartime caption: A German sniper operating from the cover of a knocked out German tank is brought in by two British soldiers. THE OFFENSIVE NEAR TILLY SUR SEULLES B6158 : Original wartime caption: Bren carriers of 49 Division and a tank halt near a farm during the offensive in the Tilly sur Seulles area. 29d6m1944 THE 1ST BATTALION SUFFOLK REGIMENT OCCUPIES THE CHÂTEAU DE LA LONDE [Allocated Title] ON THE TILLY - CAEN FRONT B6217 : Original wartime caption: Infantrymen in a concealed position are ready for any enemy elements should they appear. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944 B6218 : Sherman tanks of 1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Brigade in an orchard near Rauray, 30 June 1944. (Nb the above description differs from the caption card below) THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6219 : Original wartime caption: Senior officers consult their maps before the attack. Centre wearing denims - Lieut.-Colonel Anderson; right, wearing black overalls - Lieut.Colonel Christopherson, Notts Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), and in the background, Brigadier Crawcroft 8 Armoured Brigade. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6220 : Original wartime caption: Seated on the remains of a burnt out German car, Private W. Burnett of 38 High Street, Linlithgow, W.Lothian, Scotland, writes a letter home. 49 Division. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6221 : Original wartime caption: The grave of a German soldier in an orchard near Rauray. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944 B6222 : The crew of a Sherman tank named 'Akilla' of 1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Brigade, after having destroyed five German tanks in a day, Rauray, 30 June 1944. Left to right: Sgt J Dring; Tpr Hodkin, Tpr A Denton; Tpr E Bennett; L/Cpl S Gould. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6223 : Original wartime caption: Tpr. G. M. Davis of 36 Portchester Street, South Shields, cooks an egg for his tea. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6224 : Original wartime caption: Passing a wrecked farm cart near Rauray, infantrymen are seen on the march. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6225 : Infantry of 49th Division digging in beside Sherman tanks near Rauray, 30 June 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944 B6226 : A Sherman tank of 24th Lancers, 8th Armoured Brigade, passing a knocked-out German PzKpfw V Panther tank near Rauray, 30 June 1944. Photo taken by Sergeant Christie. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 B6227 : Original wartime caption: Private L. Shaw of 82 Shaftesbury Road, Swinton, Manchester, DLI, a sniper, looking for the enemy. July 1944 August 1944
Re. War Graves... Search Results | CWGC E.g. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2060622/frederick-brigham-anderson/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2060624/william-anderson/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2955256/william-anderson/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2955283/alexander-kellas-asher/ Etc. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2341680/donald-charles-wallace/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2062104/arthur-lionel-warr/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2062114/walter-banks-watson/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2628776/thomas-williamson/ https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2062204/joseph-thomas-young/
THE OFFENSIVE NEAR TILLY SUR SEULLES B6158 : Original wartime caption: Bren carriers of 49 Division and a tank halt near a farm during the offensive in the Tilly sur Seulles area. (The caption card, itself, also mentions Rauray). Photo taken by Sergeant Handford. 28d6m1944.
Re. B6221 : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 D-Day https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=Obergrenadier_Zurborg&birth=1925&death=1944 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/120239324/person/342315596883/facts
The "tank" here is an M10 with the 3" gun and thus not a tank. I suppose some of the Corps regiments has these and not the M10 with 17 pounder. 49th division did not have M10s...
OPERATION EPSOM - CAPTURE OF RAURAY SPUR (PART 5) [Allocated Title] 55th Anti-Tank Regiment, presumably There's an M10 at 1m, but it's only shown from the rear in the above film. It also does get referenced in "Breaking the Panzers" - as having been taken looking along a side lane in Rauray... Breaking the Panzers
Re. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) B6366 is described as - A German grave near Rauray The photograph was apparently taken - 4d7m1944. Photographed by Sergeant Laing. Under a caption titled - MISC. PIX FROM NORMNADY. EXCLUSIVE. As another of the German graves in "the Rauray area" - There is a reference to a Karl Gothardt - kia - 9d6m1944 - here... Karl Gotthardt (unknown-1944) - Find a Grave... And - albeit with Gotthardt rather than Gotthard... https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/7505364/karl-gotthardt/ One of the 12th SS references - also shows a "Karl Gotthard" - albeit he is recorded here as kia 17d6m1944. ----- x ----- Another of the German's referenced as being first buried in the Rauray area was - Obergrenadier Gerhard Zurborg - kia 17 Jun 1944 (aged 19) Obergrenadier Gerhard Zurborg (1925-1944) - Find a...
I think we can be a little more specific. From WD for 73 Anti tank Regiment, the 30 Corps Anti-tank regiment 0600 on 27th June H & I troops were in support of 70 Brigade N of Rauray. 17.00 H&I troops claimed three enemy AFV fo the loss of one M10- One Mk VI, One Mk IV and one unidentified. One M10 Knocked out. Six guns in Rauray N of Crossroads. 234 Bty casualties one Sgt dead, one sgt, one bdr wounded.
Re. Map ref 888666 - This seems to be the current location of the FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL WAR CEMETERY, TESSEL https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-...34201/fontenay-le-pesnel-war-cemetery-tessel/ Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery contains the graves of men who died in the fighting to the west and south-west of Caen in June-July 1944. There are particularly large numbers of graves of the South Staffordshire, East Lancashire, Royal Warwickshire Regiments, and the Durham Light Infantry. The cemetery contains 460 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There are also 59 German graves.
Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 28 June 1944 - "Bauray has not yet been identified" ---- x ---- Aberdeen Press and Journal - Thursday 29 June 1944
