Can anyone identify this church? I have seen the tower identified as a position occupied by Canadian Flash Spotters, which might put it somewhere between Caen and Falaise.
A date would be a help. It obviously was the subject of a prepared bombardment or heavy bombing. What does the original caption say?
.... would "after 6th June 1944" help? Of course it might be collateral damage from an attack on a V1 site? Unusual bell tower, with presumably the small corner turret being staircase exit on the roof, and tall openings in the belfry section. A nave and a side chapel by the bell tower, so as the church usually runs east-west, I'm guessing the roofless building in the foreground is a farm barn (no ground floor windows) or similar. That may help someone identify the Church and thus the location. The mention of Canadian flash spotters may narrow the front.
That Church does not look like it could be saved. A good number were rebuilt from scratch so driving around on Google Street view may be futile. I once attempted to list and illustrate every Normandy church and had to give up because there were that many of the buggers it just was not practical. A date would be the biggest clue.I had a quick look through my Canadian official photos but no match.
So many look so similar ? Saint-Manvieu Church of Saint-Manvieu-Norrey it was destroyed in 1944 the ruin still stands? Église Saint-Manvieu de Saint-Manvieu-Norrey — Wikipédia viewed from the right Norrey en Bessin Canadian War Diaries http://lmharchive.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/27th-Armoured-Regiment-Sherbrooke-Fusiliers.pdf Theres an entry that the Church was used by Germans and the Canadians blew the top of the bell tower down? (Even if its another Church the diaries maybe of interest ?) Kyle
Thanks chaps. St Margaret Ducy and St Manvieu both look possibilities as one end of a 2nd Canadian Corps flash spotting base.
Sheldrake, as you already probably know, it was standard practice to destroy bell towers being used as OP's by the Germans. Bofor's of Dad's Battery were very effective for this purpose. Two to suffer this fate in late April 1945 in Holland. I wanted to find photos of the damage. I was lucky enough to visit them both and meet church elders in 2015. I was able to tell them who did it and put some money in their collection box in reparation. If you find the place you are looking for, maybe you can do something similar. Before, After and now of one of them. Entry from the war diary. The clock face left as permanent reminder, five minutes after the order was given. A roof tile I was given as a gift. And in 2015. We left as friends with no hard feelings and the church looks amazing inside and out.
May be the wrong St Manieu- Norrey church the one I posted did not survive the one above has ? So similar as I said but it was only a suggestion? For consideration Kyle
Thinking about the Church I visited in Holland, which his Regiment badly damaged, Dad's profession was as a Slater & Tiler before and after WW2. In conversation before he passed away, I recalled that he was rather proud to work on a tall church spire in the '60's. Rather ironic I think.