Testimony of D-Day veteran Maurice Chauvet – Page 2
Caporal, 1er Bataillon Fusilier Marin, N°4 Commando
Continuation of the testimony of Maurice Chauvet (1)
French and British commandos in Ouistreham. Photo: IWM
“At a run, as we left the castle grounds, a troop advancing along the road reached its starting points. All along the road, gunfire from the seashore pursued us without slowing our pace. “Centaur” tanks accompanied us in the same part of the advance. I cannot explain such rapid action; I have only fragmented impressions: the open houses with their furniture, such as we have seen everywhere for the past four years: the first four Frenchmen, to whom I shouted hello, throwing cigarettes at them, as I passed: they were in their shelter in front of their demolished house. Then I was at the station, the French flag at the door of the café, a group of civilians around. The English troops overtook me, leaving to attack the port. The French HQ was established at the station; the troops had left the road to attack the beach.
French commandos attacking inland behind Sword Beach. Photo : IWM
After our attack, men from our commando were stopped and lay down, using the terrain. In the background, between the seaside villas that the Germans had transformed into a fort, a tank advanced to overcome unexpected resistance. The next half hour was marked by violent fighting, which took place around each stronghold and in extreme confusion. For my part, I provided liaison for the commander, moving from one troop to another: I recorded the successes by noting that I was fired upon much less as the troops advanced and reduced the strong points. For us, the first part of the fight is over. The commandos have taken Ouistreham. Troops who landed after us are already arriving to organize the defense.
British troops landing on Sword Beach. Photo: IWM
On our way to collect our bags, we encountered British troops landing with their equipment, four years to the day after Dunkirk. The beaches were still being swept by enemy fire at that time, and some soldiers were sheltering behind tanks. These two photographs (7 and 8) were probably the last taken by the first of the filmmakers who accompanied us.
Reinforcements continue to land on Sword Beach. Photo : IWM
Having gathered our gear, we set off inland to carry out the second part of the programme: the capture of two villages.
Evacuation of Allied wounded to Sword Beach. Photo : IWM
While we gather our bags, the wounded are being brought back to the beaches. Four hours later, they are in England. Here, we see a stretcher on the road, at the height of the castle. Two of the porters are French.
A French civilian congratulates British soldiers in Ouistreham. Photo : IWM
As we passed back to the station, two Englishmen were congratulated by a Frenchman who had come out of his shelter, where the night’s preparatory bombardment had forced him to take refuge in his pajamas. All the locals were already smoking English cigarettes. And since we had stated that we were coming to stay, and not for a simple raid, everyone had relaxed.
British and French forces advance inland. Photo : IWM
It’s around 9:30 a.m. In the foreground, a troop of Commandos is getting out of the boats, where they’ve retrieved their bags. In the distance, in line, we can see the French troops following the road, pushing inland. German snipers are positioned in the hedges and trees, hampering the advance as much as possible. Every bend in the road along the twelve kilometers to reach our stronghold has cost a dead or wounded person, near which we find the sniper shot down by those who were following.
The long columns of prisoners, reaching the barges that brought us, and that will bring them back to the prison camps in England, a spectacle particularly appreciated by all those, quite numerous, among us who reached the commando, after one or more escapes, from the stalags where they had been placed in 1940.”
Maurice Chauvet
