Wn22 (Hohe 18) La Délivrande &
Wn23a Douvres-la-Délivrande (bourg),
K.V.U.Gr Riva-Bella, K.V.Gr Caen,
KVR H1, Normandy.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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As far as I can find out there are no defensive bunkers in the town?? but I have found a small bunker which is on the western outskirts.
To the south of the town is the massive radar station and defence of StP Douvres I & II.

 

 

 

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22 (Hohe 18) La Délivrande, Hohe translates to height and where the road crosses the old railway line is a spot height of 18meters. So this could be where the Wn was placed. Not a defence but more a rallying point with maybe a few houses and trenches.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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The German plan of the defences around Douvres.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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The towns distinctive double spires of the church.
When the landing craft were running in to the beach three kilometres away, they could easily be seen by them.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Originally two small towns, La Déliverande and Douvres.

Where I think Wn22 may have been, it may only have been an assembly point for troops to come to and then counter attack.
The Basilica is where the photos of British tanks driving through the town were taken.

 

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Basilica of Our Lady of Deliverance.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Basilica of Our Lady of Deliverance with Sherman IIIs of 13th/18th Hussars driving through Douvres, Normandy - 8 June 1944.

and two Sherman Firefly VC's and a Sherman II with the 4th Armoured Brigade photographed from a church steeple driving through Douvres , Normandy - 8 June 1944.
(Via World War Pictures Facebook)

 

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn23a Douvres, where I think the Wn could have been, again not a full defence, just a forming up point.
The British Army by pass around la Délivrande can clearly be seen here. The pictures of tanks passing through the towns narrow streets, shows that they were needed. Bayeux also had a by pass made at the time and today it is the towns inner ring road.
One section of the Bayeux by pass is named after Fabian Ware, Sir Fabian Arthur Goulstone Ware KCVO KBE CB CMG (17 June 1869 – 28 April 1949) was a British educator, journalist, and the founder of the Imperial War Graves (Commonwealth War Graves Commission).

Major- General Sir Fabian Arthur Goulstone Ware KCVO KBE CB CMG.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Plan.

A bunker that I found, it is set back into the hedgerow between Douvres and StP Douvres II.

 

 

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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I think its just a Vf type bunker.
A Vf bunker is not a standard design and this one is just a concrete box with a door in the middle.
A trench possibly linked up to other trenches in the hedgerow.

Vf1 unterstand.

 

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Looking down into the bunker and it looks like a lot of bullet splashes from incoming rounds. I did not go inside.

Canadians advancing.

Canadian Officers.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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There also seems to be a trench system in the hedgerow.

Inside a trench.

Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Wn22/23a La Délivrande

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Caption (post D-Day):
'Dump La Délivrande'.
Nebelwerfer on left, big gun barrels on right.

Caption (post D-Day):
'Dump La Délivrande'.
Doug Harrison.

© 2013 Richard Drew