THURSDAY - SAINT-LÔ, HILL 112 AND THE EXTRAORDINARY "MEMORIAL DE CAEN"...

THURSDAY - SAINT-LÔ, HILL 112 AND THE EXTRAORDINARY "MEMORIAL DE CAEN"...
First off....why Hill 112? Well one of our mates, Geoff Brooks' father-in-law fought in the battle there....his wife, Lorraine's father. Geoff had hoped to join us on the trip but in the end was unable to.
We promised to go to this memorial and pay homage to Corporal Alfred Billett with the 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. After landing on 25th June, he was in charge of the anti-tank section taking part in the second attack of Hill 112 on 10th July and lost all his section wounded. Later he was one of the first to cross the River Seine with the 5th Wilts. Alfred died last year aged 101.
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Our trips to the coast over the past few days had taken us along some busier roads so I thought it might be nice to take the back roads to Hill 112, via the back roads to Saint-Lô which itself was in a major battle with the Americans. We stopped for coffee there. Also known as “The capital of ruins” (95% of the city was destroyed) the city of Saint Lô was a strategic crossroad for the Germans and the Americans. Whoever held Saint Lô, would control Brittany.
After the visit to Hill 112 we set off for The Memorial de Caen. The Memorial de Caen is a museum and war memorial commemorating World War II and the Battle for Caen. More generally, the museum is dedicated to the history of the twentieth century, mainly focused on the fragility of peace. It is an extraordinary place to visit. This was our first bit of city riding - trying to keep together through city traffic was not too straightforward. We took no photos or video at the museum and spend most of the afternoon there.
Finally...more fuelling up in Caen then returning to Bayeux on the back roads for most of the way.
Our Route: maps.app.goo.g...
‪@RobLittleuk‬
FAT MAN, TINY BIKE...5 JOURS EN NORMANDIE !!

[@johnimmins7302]

Another enjoyable one Rob, I've got to look forward to these little visits to places I remember. However, Hill 112 I did not get to. Glad all the bikes are doing well and the weather has been kinder these past few days. The meals you had looked just up my street, better than the rubbish they served up for me in Caen. All the best NJ😊👍🏍

[@RobLittleuk]

Glad you enjoyed - we have of course been home for a month....just takes a long time to edit!

[@johntaggart1176]

Yet another poignant area of the fighting in France, and the Matilda tank which looks a bit heath Robinson up close, thanks again Rob.

[@RobLittleuk]

You're welcome John

[@graemebowyer4901]

I was a bit baffled why St Lo, as all the other sites were UK ???? I've yet to visit Hill 112.

[@RobLittleuk]

Well we went to Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, the US cemetery as well as St Lo? But the other reason we went there was…just for the ride! We are motor cyclists after all!!

[@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246]

The expainations of your friend at Hill 112 is not good to understand. it's a shame.But a very interesting video for me. Thanks for that.

[@RobLittleuk]

Hi ! Basically he was saying that whoever held Hill 112, could control Caen - in the battle for Caen, between the "Allies" and the Germans we wrecked the place! Germans held Hill 112 and there was a battle to control it which the Allies eventually won - eventually Caen fell to the Allies. My friend is a historian and he could tell you more if I ask him but I got the following text from the memorial web site you may like to look at? "In 1944, men from the 43rd Wessex, 53rd Welsh, 15th Scottish and 11th Armoured Divisions finally took control of one of the most strategically important battlegrounds in northern France. It took ten weeks of fierce fighting and cost the lives of 10,000 men, but taking and holding Hill 112 allowed the Allies to retake Caen and continue the liberation of Europe. The Hill 112 Memorial Foundation has been set up to continue the work of Sgt Albert Figg, who worked tirelessly to turn the site, known in 1944 as ‘Death Valley’, into what is now known as Normandy’s ‘Hill of Peace’."

[@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246]

@@RobLittleuk Thank you so much for your explaination.I was very happy about that.I'll have a look on the "Hill 112" webside.

[@RobLittleuk]

@@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246 You're welcome

[@jefflambert8603]

Good Moaning.. French Cafe ☕🥠. The Bells the Bells ! did you Spot Bonnie Tyler wandering around looking😂 Lost

[@RobLittleuk]

Ha ha !!