The Seine Crossing: 25 August 1944
Within a Few days of the capture of Berjou the Division received orders to mount the first British assault crossing of the Seine, and to establish a firm bridgehead on the east bank. The operation was brilliantly planned. German attempts to reinforce their defences at Vernon (50 miles north-west of Paris), where the assault was made, were beaten by the speed with which this complicated operation was launched. Surprise was complete.
The assault was mounted from 120 miles west of the river. With Reconnaissance troops probing ahead, and a Royal Engineer road reconnaissance party out in front also, the Division completed the long approach march in 36 hours in spite of enemy bridge demolitions at Pacy. Infantry of the assault brigade, the 4th Bn Somerset Light Infantry and the 4th and 5th Wiltshires, carried over the last 90 miles in 'ducks', were crossing the 200 yard wide river from the centre of Vernon within two hours of arriving in the concentration area. Under cover of a smoke screen, and after an intense quarter hour barrage, in which machine gunners of the Middlesex and the tank guns took part, against all known enemy positions on the cliff-like east bank, the first 'ducks' and storm boats were launched at 7 o'clock on the evening of 25th August.
German machine gunners, from numerous posts carved out of the cliff side, had complete observation of the river and town, making the crossing and the bridging preparations by the Royal Engineers extremely hazardous. The steep and muddy banks and the weeds of submerged islands, which fouled the boats' propellers, caused much trouble. A number of boats were riddled and sunk by machine gun fire. A wide watercourse, which air photographs and local inhabitants had both suggested was dry, proved impassable with liquid mud. As a result 4th Bn Somersets landed on what was, in effect, an island. Later they were re-embarked. These factors created a critical period in the attack. For several hours the 5th Wiltshires, who had landed up-stream of the town, were severely tried and were counter-attacked when a Company strength only was across. Storm boats and 'ducks' were smashed and sunk. The remainder of the Battalion had one 'duck' only In which to cross, but were finally over by 0245 hrs.
At first light on the 26th the 4th Wiltshires were on the east hank. The Worcestershires crossed by the demolished road bridge, and mopping up in Vernonette and on the cliffs began. By mid-day the strongly entrenched German machine guns were largely eliminated and the Royal Engineers, after gallant earlier attempts under close range fire, completed the construction of a 680 foot folding boat bridge by 6 o'clock in the evening. The first vehicles, Bren gun carriers and infantry supply transport, and two more Battalions crossed immediately. The bridgehead was firm within 24 hours of the opening of the assault.
German counter attacks came in on the 27th. The Worcestershires were heavily attacked by tanks and 88 millimetre guns as they fought their way up the main road leading through the thick woods on the east bank, They held firm, and all infantry units of the Division, machine gun companies, anti-tank and anti-aircraft batteries, had crossed by the evening, within 48 hours of the assault. Within 72 hours of 'H' hour a bridgehead 41/2 miles deep had been established.
It was through the Vernon bridgehead that the whole of the British armoured units poured for the great drive to Brussels and Antwerp, achieving the liberation of north-east France and most of Belgium. The speed with which the 43rd secured the Vernon bridgehead was a factor of the first importance in the continued disruption of the German armies.
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