Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy

Author:Adrian Goldsworthy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781801108997
Publisher: Head of Zeus

16.30 hrs, A Company positions, near map reference 859620, Normandy

‘Coop’ had a plan, and Judd was one of those chosen to take part in the little scheme, which meant that before it was fully light a dozen men from 9 Platoon had left their slit trenches and gone back to other positions in the rear, away from the prying eyes of German snipers and spotters. A couple of times a flurry of mortar bombs came down in the sector, aimed by map and good judgement rather than zeroed in by eye. None of the 9 Platoon men were hit, although a signalman from Battalion HQ was badly wounded, both legs torn apart by the whirling fragments of metal.

He joined the slow trickle of casualties suffered by the Glamorgans. A lieutenant in C Company was shot by a sniper, the only time the man fired in the whole day. His victim was dead before he hit the ground, and no one saw any flash or could work out where the invisible enemy lurked. He would soon have changed position after the success, so any slight chance was missed. Smith had gone back, first to the regimental aid post and then to a field hospital. His war was over, and the same was true of the man shot through the body when the other patrol had been caught by the German machine guns. Shrapnel from mortars injured half a dozen more here and there in the battalion’s positions. Unless it was really bad, the men bandaged themselves or were helped by their mates, and waited until darkness to get back to the aid station. A little after noon, a single bomb was lobbed high and dropped down in A Company’s positions. Mortars were not precise instruments, but chance is fickle, and the 120mm bomb plopped neatly into a slit trench. Little was left of the two men sitting inside.

In return, the Glamorgans’ sniper section claimed two kills during the course of the day, and the battalion’s mortars had fired off over a hundred bombs, which may – or may not – have hurt anyone. Mr Buchanan had an idea to do rather more, for on a recce patrol during the night he had come close to a German patrol returning home. ‘Coop’ was sure that the enemy had not seen him, and his air of confidence was infectious. He had also discovered traces showing that the enemy had gone some way forward, exploiting the gap between the Glamorgans and the neighbouring battalion, and reckoned that this was something they were doing most nights. It might explain why Brigade HQ, almost a mile back from their positions, kept getting mortared with uncanny accuracy.

Judd sensed that most of the men were excited as they were briefed and then rehearsed the fighting patrol Buchanan was going to lead out tonight. It was real Davy Crockett or Hawkeye stuff. Added to that, it gave them time in a quiet area to relax and sleep, as it was going to be a busy night.

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