Wn41 Battr. Franziska, le Petit Fontaine

BATTERIE · K.V.U. Gruppe Bessin (Gold/Omaha Beach) · AOK 7 Normandy · France

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

The Dorset Regement landed on Gold Beach with the objective of taking Wn40, Wn40a, Wn40b & Wn41. I have covered these attacks previously, but I thought I would also add Wn41 in on its own.

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

le Petit Fontaine, just passed this barn on the left.

Google Earth

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

The route of the Dorsets from Jig Beach to Wn41. Green - C Company. Yellow - A Company.

From "They Couldn't Have Done Better"

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

Wn41 Ryes - le Petit Fontaine a battery of four Field Howitzers which were horse drawn artillery.
Batterie Franciska.
4 x 10cm le.F.H.14/19(t).

Bigot May 1944

10cm le.F.H.14/19(t) were a horse drawn batterie.

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

This picture in WO 205/1108 file of the batterie site. Yellow possibly - barbed wire & white - trenches.

WO 205/1108 21st Army Group

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

An after action report on the batterie position.

DEFE 2/433 via SD

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

A look through Google Earth Pro and it shows up around 2000/2009 time, since then I believe its been ploughed up. The other three cannot be found.

Google Earth

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

Just past the le Petit Fontaine farm house a track leads up onto the hill and along there are about four ammunition niches.

15 October 2017

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

Another niche in the hedgrow.

15 October 2017

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

Time Team Special 17 (2004). Also: - Click here for the Channel 4 Time Team D-Day Special. Three recommended books: - Three Assault Landings, Lt-Gen. Bredin. The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester. They Couldn't Have Done Better. Christopher Jary, Semper Fidelis ISBN: 978-0-9929033-4-3. The D-Day Landing on Gold Beach. Andrew Holborn. ISBN: 978-1-4411-8326-6. The 56th Infantry Brigade and D-Day. Andrew Holborn. ISBN: 978-1-4411-1908-7 (hard back) 978-1-4411-1908-1 (Paper back).

Time Team

Wn41Battr. Franziska le Petit Fontaine

IWM