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
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
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 ---------------------------- 2 German plans
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 Pro --------------------------------------------------------- BBC Time Team screen grab
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 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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