Bren Carrier
...I think it made a difference being a seasoned and trained soldier – certainly in the beginning as the new men found their way. I was treated as a Class 1 soldier, fit and highly trained.
I don’t remember the details now, but we re-grouped and had several bren carriers as we moved forward. Before long we were ahead of our lines and it was impossible to know where the boundaries were – what was ours and what was theirs. One of the carriers had a 2" mortar on board, another had a bren gun and another had a PIAT. We had plenty of grenades which we carried loose and more stored in the carriers. After heavy aerial bombardment we took Caen, although the city was in ruins by that time. After that we moved on to what became known as the Falaise Gap where the enemy became trapped between British and American advances, with their escape routes very restricted.
After about two months ashore we were sent back for 3 days rest. This was at an airfield into a designated 'rest area'. I remember we saw a Jimmy Gleason film and I relished the idea of having a bath!
Our rest period didn’t last long and we were soon back in the line and into combat. German defences re-organised quickly after the surprise of D-Day. Soon after our landings they brought heavy armour up and fighting was hard. We came up against the Herman Goering Paratroop Division which included many snipers hidden in trees and abandoned buildings. They were well trained and camouflaged. I was alongside one of our officers as we moved forward slowly in a leopard crawl, surrounded on three sides.
"Askew, you are heading the leading section, we’re attacking!"
We lost three men immediately as we came under heavy fire. We managed to take the objective which was really just another hedge line in this treacherous bocage countryside. We had one prisoner and I was ordered to take him back to our main lines for interrogation. I made him walk slowly in front of me; there was no point trying to dodge around trying to remain completely out of sight, but I looked for cover wherever possible. I fixed my bayonet and held it firmly and close against the middle of his back. My belief was that I might be safe if the snipers believed I could run this chap through with my last breath. He told me he was Polish, although I’m not sure I believed him...
