Russethouse Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Blame the dentist - I do [:)]If you are coming from the west and heading to the ferry exit (north) surely you are going clockwise, however if you are coming further south, then you may well still choose the clockwise route but be travelling east [:)][:)]If you look for landmarks and signs I'm sure you will be doing lots of poor navigators (me and Cathy) a BIG favor [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 If you are coming from the Argentan / Falaise road, then it is signposted round to the east (I checked this morning) and you pass the shopping centre at Mondeville, the Paris motorway, the speed camera and then cross the bridge before the turning. Yes, I did know about the Poles and strangely enough OH was showing some friends that very memorial yesterday. For a detailed and incredibly vivid account of the fighting down from Caen I can recommend "The Guns of War" by George C. Blackburn who was in the Canadian Artillery. Was it really bocage over to the east of the N158? I have had a look at some of the photos in our local history books and it looks like the same sweeping series of ridges across open countryside that you see today. I agree that the development round the périphérique is a mess and don't let me get started on the pavillons down the Thury Harcourt road!regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 [quote user="LisaJ"] Was it really bocage over to the east of the N158? I have had a look at some of the photos in our local history books and it looks like the same sweeping series of ridges across open countryside that you see today. [/quote]I've no idea if it was all bocage, but I do know that enormous areas of hedgerow and copses in Lower Normandy were ripped up after the war and into the 70's to permit prairie-style farming. Regardless, I don't think that the Battle of Normandy had much to do with the ugliness of the landscape I'm talking about. And you can't deny that it's one mighty depressing view for kilometre after kilometre as you approach Caen from Falaise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 What is 'bocage'? My father-in-law was a gunner in the Battles of Normandy and Falaise (he called Falaise a massacre). He talked about 'bocage' and I just thought that it was a place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Bocage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 [quote user="Cathy"]What is 'bocage'? My father-in-law was a gunner in the Battles of Normandy and Falaise (he called Falaise a massacre). He talked about 'bocage' and I just thought that it was a place. [/quote]Bocage is mixed woodland and farmland with hedges, considered 'typical' of Lower Normandy by some people.[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Bocage_boulonnais.jpg/800px-Bocage_boulonnais.jpg[/img]There is also a place called Villers-Bocage, site of a famous battle shortly after the landings in June 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 You could describe it as depressing, Cassis (though I can think of more depressing landscapes in France and would nominate the A10 through Les Landes as top of my list). I certainly think the bit round the Falaise pocket still has a certain atmosphere and I don't think I could live there. If you turn off to the west of the Falaise to Caen road however, you are fairly instantly in an exquisite landscape of woods and rolling hills, which leads across to the even more beautiful Suisse Normande. I am biased, though!And to go even further off topic, does anyone know what caused the enormous bang that shook this bit of Normandy at about 9.15 this morning? I know it was heard across at least a 15km radius.regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 When was this action? My father landed (90th Middlesex HAA) on July 4th and the record I have says they were destined for a ground role in support of 5 A.G.R. and 30 Corps. They moved south passing Bayeux on the right and wre first deployed in the Chouan area north of Tilly sur Seulles. Other places mentioned are Balleroy, just north of Caumont, Hottot, Villiers Bocage, Aunay sur Odon, Thury Harcourt, Mount Pincon. Then they move toward Conde & Athis and it says the famouse 'Falais Pocket' began to develop. The Regiment swung South and they entered Argentan - it goes on with day by day accounts of happenings etc. I know my father ended up in the low countries - one day I'll read it with a map at my side.The paper it is typewritten on is getting very brown now, I ought to have it transcribed so others could share it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 [quote user="Russethouse"]When was this action? [/quote]The Falaise Pocket? August 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 [quote user="Russethouse"]The paper it is typewritten on is getting very brown now, I ought to have it transcribed so others could share it. [/quote]You must. The Imperial War Museum would probably be interested in a copy as well. In fact, when I retire (next month) I'll do it for you, if you send me a photocopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Yes you definitely should. There is another very good book by Stuart Hills "By Tank into Normandy" (from memory) that describes pretty much the same route. When you see how narrow and steep some of the valleys are, you wonder how on earth they took them. regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I could scan it all in but I think I may have to take it apart, it's the bending it back to scan it that concerns me. [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/russethouse/90thMiddx002.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Is it stapled or bound? You may be able to prise staples out and replace them later. Possibly your local librarian could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 It's stapled - my husband is pretty nifyt with that sort of thing - he has one of those gizmo's that 'comb binds' paper too, so I could print it out and bind it - Ok - I'm inspired......I may be some time ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 If you have "Omni Page" (software from Adobe), Russethouse, you should be able to scan the document and the 'puter will read it for you and convert it into Word. I know Cat has it, as do I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Thanks Coops - the reviews are a little mixed though [:)] http://www.download.com/Omni-Page-Professional/3000-2192_4-10469968.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I've used it a lot in recent months and on the whole, if the typeface is legible, it's worked OK. (It was free, so I guess I can't complain!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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