大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Jonathan Mitchell on behalf of Keith R Thresher and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

Taken from: 鈥淔 for Fox鈥�
Mouen, July 16-17th 1944

Dusk Bombing Raids
On July 16th the enemy began a series of dusk bombing raids and we spent an electrifying evening shooting at the skies. The planes came over quite low and by the light of our flares we were able to make them feel very uncomfortable. Eddie Goode fired throughout in just shorts, a vest and a steel helmet to boot. He seemed to be quite happy to do battle this way.

The next night we had orders not to fire after 22:00 hrs and the Jerry planes came again, punctiliously as ever, at 22:45. The 25 pdrs were firing at the last of our salvos and we watched the planes without much concern assured that they would go over. They did not. They came in low with their engines groaning like beasts in agony and started to bomb the field guns, the guns we had to protect. Our orders were not to fire but we wanted to do the job that was ours to do.

It was too late; the bombs were falling so thickly that no gunner could keep his target in sight. With no opposition the aircraft came in and bombed at will. We could hear the bombs as they came down and could feel the earth shudder as they landed. We sought the protection of our pit and hoped that it would be adequate. The flares were so bright that we felt naked, exposed and quite unprotected. Each moment that passed we were expecting to be our last.

Most of us prayed that night as most men do when death comes close. As the bombers passed overhead we lay down flat against mother earth and shivered.

Captain Andrews
When we did look up we saw that 131 battalion had been badly hit. Their tractors were blazing and ammunition was exploding everywhere. A new danger now emerged. 25 pdr shells were whistling all around and falling dangerously close. When it had at last died down, we noticed Captain Andrews walking about asking if everyone was alright. We had one casualty: Driver Waters who was so badly shell shocked that he had to be sent back to England.

Captain Andrews sat himself down in the gun pit amongst some very badly shaken men. He lifted their spirits up by producing a cigarette case, opening it and passing them around. He lit one himself and remarked in an impeccably posh accent, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Command can object to me smoking in the gun pit on this occasion鈥�.

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