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Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Apr 13, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X

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On this day in 1945, 1st Bn Manchester Regiment was in action outside Rethem. It was, according to their CO, "an ideal Machine Gunners battle" and AFPU cameramen were there to capture it...

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Rather than being with the infantry brigades and battalions of 53rd (Welsh) Division, their usual practice, the Manchesters were under direct command of their own CO, Lt Col Bill Crozier.

He positioned #VickersMG and mortar platoons on the west bank of the River Aller.

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The decision was sound, as the good positions and flat, open ground on the enemy held eastern side provided ideal conditions for supporting the advancing infantry.

Difficult to spot amidst the din and confusion of battle, the Vickers' beaten zones would become deadly.

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D Company's available mortars were first in action at 9 am, firing 60 x 4.2" rounds on the marine battalion holding up the 4th Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers at Altenwahlingen.

Andrew Copnall's B Company followed up with a 25-minute MMG shoot shortly afterwards.

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B Company, targeting a crossroads outside Rehemen, were likely the men Sergeants Walker and Whitaker (pictured) captured on film.

It was a scene that played out throughout the day, with the machine gunners supporting advancing battalions with a succession of fire tasks.

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The open land onto which they were firing gave the defenders little opportunity for escape and, by nightfall, Crozier estimated that the Manchesters had accounted for 200-250 German dead.

The toll of one day of one battle in the long slog into Germany.

🎥 IWM A70 299-5

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More from @whincupm

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Sep 21

"In the end, both my engines weren't fully fine"

#OTD in 1944 Flt Lt Jimmy Edwards climbed into his Dakota on a mission to resupply troops at #Arnhem.

After the war, he became a renowned comedian, but his experiences on 21st Sept were no laughing matter...

🧵 1/12 #Arnhem80

Edwards had joined the RAF from Oxford, eventually flying with 271 Squadron in Transport Command.

He'd go on to deliver airborne forces into #Normandy on #DDay, of which he'd later say, "although I was part of it, I felt more like a spectator than anything else."

🧵 2/12

Edwards had a similar role on the first day of #OperationMarketGarden, towing a glider as part of the vast armada of aircraft heading for Holland.

Though beset by engine troubles, his Dakota (KG444) returned safely to Britain.

A few days later, he wasn't so lucky...

🧵 3/12

Read 12 tweets

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Aug 25

#OTD in 1944, a small group of British film makers edged jeeps ladened with cameras and bedecked with the union jack onto the streets of #Paris.

There, they found - and recorded - scenes of euphoria...

🧵 1/5 #AFPUinNWE #WW2 #Paris80 #LiberationofParis #LibérationdeParis

"We were suddenly aware that the crowds were getting bigger and bigger, the cheering was getting louder, the avenue for our passage of jeeps was getting narrower" recalled cameraman, Sgt Ernie Walter.

🧵 2/5 #AFPUinNWE
🎥 IWM A70 137-2

"We were brought to a standstill by these huge crowds, who became quite hysterical" (Walter).

Around them, champagne and kisses were the order of the day - one which Capt Roy Boulting's would assess as "for me, I think, the greatest day of the war".

🧵 3/5 #AFPUinNWE

Read 5 tweets

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Aug 10

🪖 HARDY - 10th August 1944

#OTD in 1944, Sgt Bert Hardy photographed a sniper-clearing party of 1/5 Welch "in action".

The images were staged, but give a fascinating insight into counter-sniper work in #Normandy. Let's follow them on a sniper hunt...

🧵 1/16 #AFPUinNWE #WW2

Before setting out, the Intelligence Officer - who, among other duties, was usually in charge of the snipers in his own battalion - briefed the NCOs and men on what to look out for.

🧵 2/16 #AFPUinNWE

Briefing complete, the men set out, keeping a look out for signs of activity and using what cover was available to them.

🧵 3/16 #AFPUinNWE

Read 16 tweets

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Jul 28

🪖 LEATHERBARROW & MIDGLEY

#OTD in 1944, the first ATS servicewomen landed in #Normandy and AFPU cameramen were there to capture the scene.

Let's meet five of those stepping onto Juno beach 80 years ago this evening...

🎥 A70 103-4
🧵 1/5 #AFPUinNWE #WW2

Among that first party of 24 members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service was Pte Marjorie Johnstone from Ruislip. She, like many of those landing, likely acted as a clerk in the beachhead, but some would take on other tasks.

🧵 2/5 #AFPUinNWE #WW2

Cpl Joyce Collins and L/Cpl Celia Strong would carry out duties with the Corps of Military Police.

They are pictured here speaking to MP L/Cpl Martin, a man who had experienced war in France, something at least one ATS servicewoman shared...

🧵 3/5 #AFPUinNWE

Read 5 tweets

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Jul 20

🪖 HARDY - 20th July 1944

Until June 1944, the rich farmland of #Normandy had been relatively untouched by war. #DDay changed that and, as Bert Hardy recorded #OTD 80 years ago, soldiers and farmers sometimes lived side by side...

🧵1/8 AFPUinNWE #WW2 #Photojournalism

When AFPU photographer Sgt Bert Hardy visited M. Bekarot's farm at St Manvieu, he discovered some temporary inhabitants - men of 530 Battery, 190 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Part of 15th (Scottish) Division, they'd been in #France for a little under a month.

🧵2/8 AFPUinNWE

The battery's presence wasn't the only sign of war Hardy found that day. Here, a couple of gunners help a farm girl repairing a loft shattered by shell fire.

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Read 9 tweets

Martin Whincup

@whincupm

Jul 18

🪖 HARDY - 18th July 1944

In June 1944, war came to #Normandy, exerting a high cost on the civilian population. #OTD in 1944 photographer Bert Hardy joined a family returning to their shattered home.

Join me for a powerful piece of #photojournalism...

🧵 1/12 #AFPUinNWE #WW2

Located to the north west of Caen, the village of Buron had been liberated by men of the 3rd Canadian Division on 8th July 1944.

As the Le Du family would discover 10 days later, the fighting had left once familiar streets devastated.

🧵 2/12 #AFPUinNWE #WW2

The family soon began searching through the wreckage of their home, hoping to unearth some of the belongings they'd been unable to take with them when they left the village.

🧵 3/12 #AFPUinNWE #WW2