The Story of RALPH JACKSON

...The bombing was only about 1,000 yards ahead of the British lines so there was much concern about accurate bomb aiming and keeping ahead of Allied troops.

The German forces had retreated under this onslaught but fierce fighting continued as the Battle of Normandy slowly progressed South & East.

"One evening we pulled in by a farm house. We put the netting up over the Carrier and set up the radio mast to get an update and receive orders. One side of the Carrier sank into the ground and the tracks became lodged for a while. Once I drove out we uncovered a food store. The locals had a habit of secreting food in such places and we pulled out a whole ham along with lots of other food. We had a real feast that night! In fact, having the Bren Carrier provided us with a very useful mobile larder and we used the storage bins for all sorts of goodies as we progressed through the countryside. It was just as well since we were rarely in the right place to get our issue of rations.

Despite the heavy bombing, the retreating enemy remained in force and fighting was as tough as it could be. There were always casualties. The way I see it is that there were two main battles: Caen & Noyers Bocage.

After Caen, the 59th Division forced its way South against very strong and determined resistance. By the time we reached Thury Harcourt, South East of Noyers, it was mayhem. In the North & South Staffs we took 90% casualties. After we had taken the town, the enemy retreated across the River Orne which was to become our next obstacle."

The town of Thury Harcourt was taken in the early hours of the morning of 14th August.

Casualties were so severe that Montgomery took the decision to disband the 59th Division using the ranks to reinforce the 2nd Army which was by then well under strength. Ralph recalls the campaign came to an end with the enemy trapped in an area of sunken roads at Falaise.

This became known as the Battle of Falaise Gap, or in French ‘La Poche de Falaise’ where, after concentrated heavy shelling, the 59th Division joined with Polish, Free French and Canadian forces, the enemy was routed. Ralph explained the scene was just a mess of dead horses, troops and burned out armoured vehicles...