Tuesday 5 July 2011

Watery Wednesday

Joining Watery Wednesday this week for the first time
and also
Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer.

I took these shots recently as we walked along the banks of the River Vire in Saint Fromond, a small sleepy Normandy village, typical of this area.



This village is about a 5 minute drive away from our home and we often stop here to take our dogs, Ben & Fleur, for a walk along the river bank en route to Carentan or St Lo.


67 years ago during the invasion of Normandy, as part of the "Avranches breakthrough", this is what was happening in this exact spot.

SAINT-FROMOND/AIREL Manche - 17 km north of Saint-Lô
The 30th Infantry Division seized a bridgehead on the river Vire

At the beginning of July 1944 the battle seemed endless for the Americans in the Norman bocage. On the left wing of the front line they reached the river Vire. On 6 July Airel is liberated. The following day on 7 July American artillery opened fire on the western bank of the river Vire. It is a preliminary to the assault of the 30th Infantry Division under General Hobbs who must cross the river Vire in Saint-Fromond. At 4:20 a. m. boats carried out the first assault wave, then the second under heavy German shelling. Infantry climbed the opposite bank and pushed back a German kampfgruppe. The engineers started to prop up the old stone bridge, and at 12:30 p. m. the first tanks crossed the river; a floating bridge allowed the passage of light vehicles. Saint-Fromond was liberated. North of the town the Americans spanned the canal Vire-Taute in front of Saint-Jean-de-Daye. On 11 July a German counter-attack of the Panzer-Lehr Division failed to drive back the bridgehead.


 with heartfelt thanks and gratitude
for those who fought for our freedom.
Lest we forget.

29 comments:

  1. It always amazed me, when we lived near the Ardennes, how such peaceful, bucolic landscape could have been the scene of such terrible fighting, within living memory.

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  2. There's something about water that calms and completes a landscape. I love the misty shot in the second set of images.

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  3. Very peaceful looking Maggie.

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  4. Amazing! Your misty shot is magazine worthy. hugs ~lynne~

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  5. welcome to watery wednesday, i hope you enjoy your stay.

    lovely shots.

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  6. Great post. Love the photos.

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  7. What beautiful contyside images!

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  8. Wonderful capture for outdoor wednesday!! :)

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  9. Very special post! :D Your photos are so pretty, Maggie.

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  10. Maggie, What a beautiful place and what beautiful photos. It's hard to believe that battles were fought in this scenic place. laurie

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  11. It's getting closer and I can hardly wait to see this beautiful area. I have seen the village in war movies and always wondered where it was. xo Jenny

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  12. It is an aha moment looking at your blog this week.
    Joyce M

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  13. What a lovely property! However, it might be wonderful to look for the photos but might be a different experience for a resident. That photo with reflection is really splendid. BTW, this is the first time i saw a blog from that area, Normandy, a country i might only fancy in dreams and not see in this lifetime. Hello! and thanks.

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  14. Beautiful photos. I love the scenery.

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  15. Great pics Maggie and reminds me of the lovely part of France we recently visited and met up with you and Roger!! Jackie in Surrey, UK

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  16. tranquil and beautiful. the reflections on water are captivating.

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  17. How beautiful, Maggie. And so still! I'd love to be sitting there all afternoon.

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  18. I love looking at the water...such a calming effect.

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  19. Your photos are almost surreal. Beautiful scenery.
    Rosie

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  20. Your photos are so calming and peaceful. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. I was in your beautiful area a couple of weeks ago ~ it was lovely. I had a wonderful time. How lucky you are to live there. Wonderful photos!

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  22. what a beautiful and peaceful place. I love the bottom two pictures.

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  23. Gorgeous pictures.I've traveled to Austria, Germany, and Praque, but I have never been to France. It looks absolutely beautiful. Maybe someday I will make it there. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your sweet comment.

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  24. You live in such a beautiful area!! What gorgeous scenery to view as you walk with your dogs!!
    Jane

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  25. Haven't been in Normandy yet -it looks so appealing! Love that pic of the bridge! Thanks for relating the history -no matter how long ago, we should not forget!

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  26. Lovely photos, Maggie. I agree with Pondside, it looks so peaceful there, yet the horrible fighting that occurred...
    Beth

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  27. Such a beautiful post.

    - The Tablescaper

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!