Monday
21 August 1944
Start Location:
LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE
Searching for War Office Map for this area...
End Location:
LA CHAPELLE AU MOINE
The Bn carried out special training for an assault river crossing operation, using the equipment as follows :-
(a) Class 9 FBE Bridge
(b) 9 Close Support Raft
(c) Storm boats.
This trg was designed for an assault crossing of the SEINE. Owing to recent news bulletins, however, it does not appear probable that this will be necessary.
D-Day+
76
21 August 1944
1 KOSB and 2 RUR crossing of the Meuse/Escaut Canal at Lille St Hubert in September (rather than the Seine).
Alternative Information (from books, personal accounts)
From 9th Infantry Brigade War Diary for 20th August:
Complete day spent trg in storm boating and Cl 9 rafting on lake at LA CHAPELLE 8416 and Cl 9 FBE br crossing on river 8520. Bns and units in the Bde Gp were given trg allotments of periods during the day in which to exercise personnel in the negotiation of river obstacles. The weather was extremely poor, rain continuing throughout the day.
*The Bttn potentially used the large body of water near Les Peties Noes on the above map to practice their river crossings.
There are some IWM photos of the crossing of the Meuse/Escaut canal that show the 'storm boats' (Courtesy, Paul Scanlon)
Also, Antoine LePrince contacted us via facebook and said a Storm Boat used by the Bttn had been found recently in the area.
Please contact us if you have any information regarding this date. Thank you.
Died on this day =
0
Monday
21 August 1944
0
Wounded on this day =