OPERATION EPSOM - 8TH CORPS' FORMATIONS IN ACTION (PART 4) [Allocated Title]

Infantry, artillery and armour go into action near Cheux.

Shermans from the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry's 'B' Squadron advance through wheatfields, sunken lanes and meadows towards Cheux and Le Haut du Bosq. A British rifleman (10th Highland Light Infantry or 8th Rifle Brigade's 'F' Company) brings in two sullen-looking Hitlerjugend prisoners. Scattered groups of infantry advance with the tanks across poppy-flecked fields, occasionally coming under mortar fire. The Yeomanry's tanks halt near a line of downed power cables; smoke from wheat and grass set on fire by mortar and artillery fire obscures much of the view. Carrier detachments from the 8th Rifle Brigade's 'F' Company join the tanks during a pause in their advance. The cameraman observes 7th Royal Tank Regiment Churchills and the 9th Cameronians advancing towards the Caen - Fontenay-le-Pesnel road north of Cheux under fire. A Sherman reverses to avoid mortar (?) bombardment. Field artillery, transport and armour (4th and 29th Armoured Brigades and 15th (Scottish) Division) congregate near the Caen-Fontenay road waiting for the fighting in Cheux and Le Haut du Bosq to end. Troops standing among parked 29th Armoured Brigade rear-echelon transport watch an ammunition truck some 200 yards away burn after being hit by a mortar bomb.

35mm