Recollections
of Mike Hunt
The Battle of Herouville
As
2nd i/c A/Tk I stayed back with Sgt Poole and the gun section (six 6pdr A/Tk) awaiting the call to go forward. I went with Sgt
Poole to inspect the A/Tk ditch which stretched across our front to the Caen
road. It was over six feet deep with steep sides and quite wide so utterly
impossible for the towing carrier to cross let alone with the six pounder.
The
only way forward was along the Caen road and this was constantly under fire from
mortars (Nebelwerfers) and a heavy machine gun down the center line of the road.
In view of the delay I guessed something was wrong so went forward, hugging the
side of the road to the junction with the lane down to the village. This
junction was under fire from mortars and snipers. Many casualties were there
including Sgt Lord who was killed by snipers.
I
then saw Sgt Hague who appeared from the Caen side. I never saw the D/R Pte Kay
who I believe had also been hit.
I
believe Sgt Hague was the only survivor of the group who went forward with Peter
Cliffe. He told me what had happened and that a substantial barricade topped
with wire blocked the lane into the village. We went down to have a look but
came under fire and had to take cover. We both returned fire and suddenly an
armored car (City of London Yeomanry) appeared, saw the position and sprayed
with the BSA heavy machine gun over the side of the barrier and hedge. There
were immediate shouts of ‘Kaput’ and two snipers wearing the ankle length
camouflage gowns came through a gap in the hedge. We were taking them back to
the road junction when we met Douglas Wilson the Bn 2 i/c. He arranged some of
the men to clear the barrier and Sjt Hague and I went back to fetch the 6 pdr
guns. We were able to take them straight down into the village. The guns were
sited with one covering the Caen road and one on the forward edge of the Caen
side of the village.
There
was a counter attack that night and we heard sounds of Armour and voices. The
gun on the forward edge was loaded with APCBC solid shot but the attack petered
out on the left. I believe the MK IV German tank was destroyed by a PIAT from
Rifle Company.