Breakout (Combined Operations Book 7)

by Griff Hosker

  We were now in the hands of the Major and his Shermans. We waited. If we fired too soon then the Germans would know that we had been alerted. Waiting helped to disguise us for the Germans would not know how close we were. Suddenly there was an explosion in the middle of the road close to the Panzerfausts. It was a grenade. Even as I prepared to fire I knew that had to have been a grenade launcher. The range was too great for a hand thrown one. I squeezed the trigger and the tank commander fell. Davis' gun barked and the German with the Panzerfaust closest to us fell. I switched to one of the anti-tank gunners. I saw someone pointing. I squeezed the trigger and he fell. Davis had another shot before the trees above us were sprayed with machine gun bullets. They were firing too high.

  I heard the triple crack as three seventeen pounders fired. The rest of the tanks in the column had a smaller gun but the front three were capable of hurting a Panther. The Panther returned fire. A second and third grenade hit the ambush and suddenly the Germans on the north bank were gone. The last grenade had wiped them out. Davis and I both began to fire at the machine gunners. I saw the flash of the muzzle. I aimed just above it and fired three shots in quick succession. When the gun stopped I knew I had had some success. The Panther continued to fire and the Shermans sent their own shells in reply. I then joined Davis in peppering the anti tank guns. We did not hit anyone but so long as they were sheltering they could not fire back.

  Then there was a huge explosion as the bridge was blown. The wave of concussion deafened us and we were showered with debris. When I looked up the Germans had gone. They had pulled back. Grabbing our guns we ran back to the road. I saw that the Kangaroos had disembarked their men and they were rushing down the road. I saw the half track pulled off to the side.

  When I reached it I dropped my Mauser in the back and took my beret. "Well done lads. Was it you, Sergeant, with the grenade launcher?"

  "It was sir. Took a bomb or two for me to get my eye in."

  "I'll go and have a look see. You be ready to move."

  "But sir, the bridge has been blown."

  "I know Davis but we will see."

  One of the Canadian tanks had been hit. The turret had been blown completely off. It looked like a Kangaroo with half a roof. I could see the handles they used to steer it. The medics were already seeing to the two wounded. There was no sign of the men who would have been in the turret. The Major had a cigar in his mouth. "Could have been worse. If you hadn't taken out those rocket launchers we might have been in trouble. But what do we do about that?" He waved a hand at the bridge.

  "Actually sir they have done a poor job of demolition. If you notice they have only blown the central section."

  "It might as well be the whole damned bridge. We will have to wait for a bridging unit."

  "Not if we make our own bridge, sir."

  "Our own bridge?"

  "Your brewed up tank. We either push or drive it over the bridge. It will fall into the river we should be able to drive over it and the parts which remain."

  I saw him looking at the damaged section and, in his head, working out if my plan was feasible. "That might just work." He banged on the side of his tank," Kowalski."

  A head popped up, "Sir!"

  "See if you can get number six started."

  "There's no turret sir!"

  "I didn't ask that. See if it will drive." He shook his head. "Three hits on the Panther and it still drove off. The Germans have good tanks!"

  "And their eighty eights are deadly, sir. As you have discovered."

  We heard the sound of the Sherman's engines as it started. Kowalski's head popped up. "It goes sir!"

  "Good now drive it over the bridge and into the river."

  "Into the river, sir?"

  "Yes, Sergeant, we are going to make a bridge. I want you to take it and bridge the broken ends of the bridge."

  I said, "If I might suggest, Sergeant. Get up as much speed as you can otherwise you will land nose down."

  "Is this your idea sir?"

  "Yes Sergeant."

  "Then do you want to come with me? This is a cockamamie idea!"

  "Sergeant!"

  "Sorry Major but..."

  "No he is quite right. I'll join you Sergeant."

  "You don't' need to Captain. The Sergeant will obey orders."

  "He might need help, sir."

  I climbed into the co-driver's seat. The handles were slick with blood. The sergeant handed me a cloth. "A bit messy." He pointed, "That blood was Joe Grant the gunner's."

  "Thanks."

  "You think this will work Captain?"

  "In theory. What do you need me to do?"

  I'll shout left or right, forward or back. If you know your left from your right then we should be fine."

  I smiled, "We have right and left in England Sergeant."

  He grinned, "Yeah you guys drive on the left don't you? Crazy! Well let's try this. Left forward right back and then keep them together." We lurched forward and I saw that he had lined us up with the narrow bridge. There would be just enough space for us but no more. He shook his head, "Full speed and into a space no wider than a garage! Crazy! Geronimo!"

  I did not think we would be going fast enough. I had forgotten that the bridge had a slight slope but perhaps the loss of the turret gave us more speed for the sergeant said, "We might just make this. Hold on Captain!"

  I wouldn't say we leapt but we were travelling faster than I had thought. After rising when we approached the bridge the front suddenly dipped alarmingly. The tracks scraped the broken abutments and then we fell. I put my hands on the handles to protect myself. I saw the water looming up and then we hit. Holding the handles partly saved me but I still smacked my head on what remained of the tank chassis. The engines were still going and I saw that the Sergeant was unconscious. I pushed him from the controls and we stopped. I stood and, putting my hands under his armpits began to lift. The tank was filling with water as the river level rose. We were like a steel dam in the river.

  "Get them out of there!" I turned and saw that the remains of the bridge were just three feet above my feet when I stood. Two more of the Major's crew jumped down to help me. One grinned, "You sure have guts, Captain!"

  I shrugged, "It comes with the red flash!"

  We managed to manhandle Kowalski on to the bridge where medics were ready. I walked over to the Major. He pointed to the tank which was now almost underwater. "That is going to flood eventually."

  I nodded. "But not until we have got across. We have lost one crossing but there are a lot more." I whistled and circled my arm, "My vehicle is lighter than yours. I will try it first and we can check for booby traps on the other side."

  "Booby traps?"

  "We would certainly leave them and the S.S. are even sneakier than we are."

  I turned and saw Kowalski being helped to his feet. He looked at the bridge and said, smiling, "You are all right, Captain!"

  Emerson pulled up next to me, "Sir?"

  "I want us to drive over that."

  "Over what sir? That bloody big hole in the bridge?"

  I climbed into the cab and stood, "Exactly. Take it steady but keep the power on. You will drop a couple of feet and then you will be on the tank. We are narrow. You will have about eight or nine inches on each side. Once the tracks hit the tank they will grip. You watch ahead and I will keep you straight."

  "If you say so sir." I saw him cross himself.

  He did as I asked. The rubble on the bridge had already been crushed by the Sherman and we drove smoothly until we dropped on to the tank. It was now completely submerged but the water only came half way up the wheels. "Your way a tadge and keep the power on!" Emerson corrected. "Spot on!" Had we just had wheels then we would not have made it but the tracks had purchase on the bridge and they pushed us over.

  Getting up the other side was harder. We did not seem to be moving and Gordy shouted, "Put your foot down! I hate swimming!"

  The tracks suddenly found their grip and t
hey pushed us up the other side. We slewed a little and the rear end slammed into the parapet and knocked stones into the river. "We have a puncture!"

  "Just get us on the road and off to the side! Well done Freddie!" As we drove along the road so recently occupied by the Germans he beamed, "Nowt to it sir."

  "Shepherd, Davis, help Emerson change the tyre. The rest of you spread out and look for booby traps."

  The Major cupped his hands, "How is it Captain?"

  "When we have checked for booby traps you can come over. We will have to be quick. The river is rising."

  Private Beaumont found the first ones. They were the kind we used with a potato masher grenade and some trip wire. If you knew what to look for then it was easy to disarm them. At night it would have been harder. Corporal Fletcher found the second. It soon became apparent that they had not had much time.

  "Sergeant Poulson check out the house."

  "Sir!"

  "Major, all clear!"

  I heard the sound of the Shermans as they started their engines. I walked over to the half track. "Well?"

  "We have a spare but this one needs an inner."

  Davis said, "We should have taken the spare from the half track we destroyed."

  I nodded, "We'll remember the next time. How long?"

  "Five minutes. I made sure we had air in the spare before we left. I had a kit to repair the inner tube but a stone gashed the rubber in the tyre. We won't get far if we lose another tyre sir."

  I turned as the Major, with Kowalski's bandaged head sticking out of the driver's hatch, slewed to a halt next to me. "We can expect more of this eh, Captain?"

  "I think so. Sir, if you want my opinion I don't think we want to push on at night. These ambushes would have been deadly in the dark."

  "I agree Captain. Find us somewhere safe to stay eh?"

  I nodded, "Five star with English breakfast eh sir?"

  "Good to go, Captain."

  "Sergeant Poulson, all aboard!"

  "Coming sir." My men emerged from the house and their arms were laden. We had food!

  As they clambered aboard the Major said, "I can see we have much to learn from our British cousins Kowalski!"

  "Ain't that the truth Major. And I guess those guys will be eating better than us tonight."

  I heard no more as Emerson set off down the road to Sassy. The afternoon was fading fast.

  Chapter 12

  As we passed Sassy, Emerson said, "Sir, isn't that the Château we found the other day?"

  I looked ahead and saw that it was. "We will stop at the bridge and the tanks can laager up at the Château. That should be five star enough for them eh?"

  We halted at the bridge. It was, mercifully, free from Germans. "Sergeant Poulson, go and check the bridge for explosives. Lance Sergeant Hay direct the Major to the Château."

  Private Emerson said, "I'll get this puncture repaired. Can't be driving around without a spare!"

  I was left alone at the half track. I looked to the south and saw flashes in the evening sky and the sound of explosions. Small arms fire could be heard in the distance to the north and south. We had an apparent haven of peace in our corridor and that worried me. I was about to head for the bridge when Private Beaumont shouted, "Sir, the bridge is wired to explode and it is on a timer!"

  Conflicting thoughts raced through my mind. I did not want my men to die and yet we needed the bridge.

  "Can we defuse it safely?"

  "There doesn't look to be any booby traps... hang on sir. They have used our trick." Private Beaumont shouted, "They have grenades attached to the wires. We need to disarm the grenades first."

  I joined my men under the bridge. John Hewitt was very agile and I saw that he had swung to the middle of the bridge and was using his snips to cut the wires. "No grenade here sir."

  I found a spot where no one else was working. I saw the wires and the explosive. I could not see a grenade and I was about to cut the wires when my eye caught sight of a piece of metal. It was beneath the water and jammed between rocks. I reached down and felt the familiar and deadly shape of a German grenade. My hand found the cord attached to the detonator and then the wire which joined it to the fuse. I lifted the grenade, keeping hold of the cord. I took out my snips and cut the wire holding the cord. "Lay the grenades gently on the bank. They are still live and dangerous. We will explode them when the bridge is clear."

  We worked carefully and methodically. I heard Sherman engines and then the Major's voice, "Where is Captain Harsker?"

  "Under the bridge sir getting rid of the demolitions."

  Private Beaumont shouted, "Clear!"

  The call was repeated. I had a last look around and shouted, "Clear!"

  I took the grenade and the explosives to the bank. The others joined me. The major whistled, "That is some ordnance. When was it due to explode?"

  Private Beaumont held up the timer. "In about five minutes, sir, just about the time you and your tanks would have been crossing."

  "Sneaky bastards."

  "It would be a shame to disappoint them."

  "What do you mean, Captain?"

  "They will have observers down the road waiting for the explosion. Take the explosives over the river and make a pile in the undergrowth over there. Private Beaumont..."

  "I will use an electrical charge to blow them up sir. It will be safer."

  I left Sergeant Poulson and Private Beaumont to organise the demolitions. "The Château is empty, sir. There is plenty of room to park your tanks. I would just make sure you have sentries by the river. It can be crossed easily."

  "You have been here too?"

  "Yes sir but we didn't get to enjoy the Château. The Germans left in a hurry. You never know what you might find."

  "And you guys?"

  "Oh we are happy enough here. We will need to watch the bridge. I should warn your chaps about the explosives. They will make a bit of a bang."

  My men hurried back and, five minutes later Private Beaumont and Fletcher followed with the wires and the plunger. While Private Beaumont attached the cables Corporal Fletcher primed it. Private Beaumont looked at me and I nodded, "Fire in the hole!" We all put our hands over our ears.

  I was sheltered by the half track but the force of the explosion seemed to suck the air from around us. The air cleared and we opened and closed our mouths to clear our ears. The Major laughed. "Well that should make them think the road is clear." He turned to me. "I would like to make a start at 0430. That way we can be close to Trun by the time they have the air umbrella up."

  "I am guessing sir, that they will have a few surprises for us before Trun. There are a couple of crossroads and small villages where they can hold us up. We will leave at 0400. Corporal Fletcher will keep you informed of any danger along the way."

  "Good luck and thanks for today. I wasn't certain how useful such a small unit could be. I know now!"

  We ate well that night. There was an abandoned house a little way from the bridge. The French family must have evacuated in a hurry for there was fresh milk, day old bread, ham, home grown tomatoes, cheese and some wine. We even used their stove to brew up too. A constantly bubbling kettle was always a must for soldiers. There was no hardship in camping alone. Sergeant Poulson arranged the rota for sentry duty. Although he did not use me I woke at about two and joined Lance Sergeant Hewitt and Private Shepherd. I wanted to get the lie of the land before we left. All was silent. Fighting had finished for the day. It was too early to know how the offensive was going but we seemed to have made better gains. The night sky was clear and there were no sounds of battle. Peace had come, albeit briefly, to this part of Normandy. When daylight came it would resume.

  With hot tea inside us and the last of the stale bread toasted we left well before dawn. I was cautious as we headed down the road towards the hamlet of Morteaux-Coulibeouf. We approached gingerly but I saw no grey. We stopped at the crossroads. I stepped out of the cab and people began to emerge.

  An ol
d man said, "Is this the liberation?"

  I nodded, "There are tanks behind us. Where are the Germans?"

  "They pulled out after the bridge was blown. They headed down the road to Falaise. Is it true? Is the war over?"

  "No, my friend but that day is coming closer." I turned and said, "Corporal Fletcher, tell the Major the Germans pulled out last night. He is safe up to here. We will head for Trun." Despite their requests to stay we drove off. The Germans had only pulled back because they had thought they had stopped us crossing the river. They would be waiting. The question was where?

  As we drove Emerson asked, "Where to then sir?"

  "Let's go to Trun and the bridge where we were supposed to get to on day one."

  "You are the boss, sir."

  We never reached Trun. We didn't even make the river. We reached Beaumais. The houses had been ransacked but, worse than that, there were bodies lying all over. With guns in hand we went inside. The handiwork of the S.S. was clearly visible. We moved the bodies from the street. We had no time to bury them but we mounted our half track in a more sombre mood. The calibre of our enemy could be seen. We killed but we did not kill civilians. We had travelled just a mile or so when Bill Hay, standing above the cab, shouted, "Get off the road! I can see German tanks and they are across the river!"

  As soon as we stopped I clambered up next to Bill. He pointed south. I took out my field glasses. The Germans were dug in close to the woods on the La Filiane river. Eventually it joined La Dives. I turned to the men in the rear of the half track, "Corporal Fletcher tell the Major that there are Germans in force across the river. There is German armour and they are dug in. Emerson, take the road to Le Marais-le-Chapelle. Looking at the map, it is hidden from the tanks and will bring us out at Mandeville. That is on the Dives. Corporal Fletcher tell the Major to halt at Beaumais until we can check out the road." Emerson turned away from the river and took the small road which headed north and then joined another road heading east. The roads were too small for a tank but we fitted; just.