This photo was in my grandpa's WWII album. He labeled it as "Antwerp," but when I shared the photo with a friend in Antwerp, he said he didn't recognize the statue. Based on the architecture and the female statue (Joan of Arc) he guessed it was Normandy. After a web-search, he found this photo was taken in the Place Jeanne d’Arc in Montebourg. My grandpa spent most of his time working at Utah Beach, but he did sometimes traveled to nearby towns, moving supplies by truck. Note the arc painted on the soldier's helmet, indicating he is in a port battalion attached to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade.Montebourg was situated along the main road to Cherbourg, a crucial target of the Allied advance. The Germans fortified the route and the Allied navy bombarded the town to weaken German defenses. Antony Beevor mentions this in his book D-Day: "But the town of Montebourg itself suffered badly on that Wednesday afternoon [June 7, 1944] as naval shells exploded, setting fire to a number of shops. In the main square, the Statue of joan d-Arc remained undamaged when all the buildings around were smashed." page 160.
You can see more photos of WWII Montebourg on "PhotosNormandie's" photostream on flickr.com
Something about the casual stance.....leaning against the wrought iron fence and ease of appearance of your Grandfather, plus the contrast of the destruction of the area around him, gives one the irony of the place, and times.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your publication day and your success in this worthy accomplishment.
Solomon
Hi Solomon, I'm not sure if this is my grandpa or not. The face is so small, but from what I see it looks like it could be him. If it's not him, then he at least took the picture. Either way, you're right: the contrast of the casual to the destruction is compelling.
ReplyDeleteMy father, John "Reds" O'Hara was a Navy Seabee, followed the invasion and had the same picture in his collection.
ReplyDeleteMy father, John "Reds" O'Hara was a Navy Seabee, followed the invasion and had the same picture in his collection.
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