First published here 2018 In the summer of 1943, a middle aged Frenchman in blue overalls pushed a wheelbarrow past German sentries into a construction site at Bonnetot, between Dieppe and Rouen in Normandy. The man, Michel Hollard, did not look extraordinary but he was. Audacious and brave, Michel’s actions that day
Tag: ww2
A tiny duchess, happy hermits & Old Hickory bravery at Hill 314, in Mortain
First published October 11, 2014 A rich little girl of 8 paid for the first recorded chapel on top of Mortain’s tiny mountain, Montjoie. There have been rumours of religious constructions here since the pagans worshipped Jupiter, but for firm dates this one, 24 July 1613, can be relied upon. Other big
Bravery, betrayal and the SAS; Château de Montfort, Remilly-sur-Lozon
First published February 2015 Ever wanted some peace and quiet? Remilly-sur-Lozon in the Manche has a wiki entry that simply states ‘Remilly-sur-Lozon is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.’ No paragraphs of history reaching back to William the Conqueror, no D-Day memories. Just a note to say ‘yes it exists’. Can anywhere in Normandy really be that
Brilliant but bonkers; the pottery at Bavent
WW2 photo match – bombing the Andaines forest in 1944
This is a photograph of a A-20G bomber of the 645th Bombardment Squadron, 410th Bombardment Group, 97th Combat Bombardment Wing, IX Bomber Command releasing its bomb load over the Andaines forest, in the Orne. During WW2 the forest hid fuel and ammunition stores for the German 7th Army. Allies bombed the