Island Redoubt by David Roy

Author:David Roy [Roy, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2014-03-28T04:00:00+00:00

Breakthrough

‘Okay, get onto the RAF. I want a strike on this grid’, he handed a scrap of paper to the signaller and I want to know how long it will take.’ He turned from the lance-corporal sitting at the radio. Corporal Devenny, I need you to round up all the officers and colour-sergeants or staff-sergeants you can find and get them outside this tent at…’, he looked at his watch, ‘1505 hours.’

‘Yessir’, said the clerk.

‘And you Beattie. I want you to get over to the QM staff and ask for a lance-corporal’s stripe. You’ll need cotton and a needle. I’ll get it published in orders and make sure that you get paid for it.’

‘Thanks, sir’, said Sam. He was pleased, despite the generally grim situation in which he found himself.

‘You did bloody well there today. This isn’t an acting promotion you know. How long have you been in the Army?’

‘Over four years, sir.’

‘About bloody time you got promoted.’

Henderson jabbed a finger at the map. He realised that the use of this decisive gesture made him almost a parody of a great leader. Others saw it too but he could back it up with good decision making, courage and strength….and he hoped that this too was apparent to those around him.

‘We know that there is some sort of ambush at this point in the road. My guess is that this is heavily defended, designed to soak up punishment and to take the sting out of any attack we might make. Also, I think that this gives the other German formations further back plenty of warning.’

‘What do you think that the Jerries are doing, sir. I mean why aren’t they attacking?’, asked a Lieutenant. He was young and nervous like the rest of them.

‘I think that they are repairing vehicles, refuelling, re-arming, resting…. whatever. We have had some successful air strikes on their rear echelon and Weymouth has been bombed by the RAF. It has slowed their advance. That’s what I think’, he said, stressing the last word. ‘Now I propose that we are in position here’, he pointed to the thin line of a road on the big map arrayed before them. ‘As soon as we hear that the strike has been completed we rush through and straight down the road towards Weymouth again.’ He paused and surveyed the faces around the table; eight lieutenants, three captains and a major. Six senior NCOs commanded platoons or troops of tanks, in place of wounded or dead officers. He sighed and continued.

‘It’s a simple plan, partly because I like simple plans and partly because I don’t really know what we are going to find down the road. I’m also worried about this. It’s only fair that you should know the situation. The Jerries have made good ground to either side of us. We are already holding a salient and this plan, if it is successful, only makes that salient larger. Basically, we are trying to cause a bit of chaos, get the Germans

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