30TH CORPS LIBERATES GACÉ DURING ITS DRIVE FOR THE SEINE (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

The townspeople of Gacé welcome the 50th (Northumbrian) after their liberation by the 11th Armoured Division the previous evening.

Shermans belonging to the 4/7th Dragoon Guards, some carrying sections of infantrymen from the 6th Battalion Green Howards, motor from Exmes towards Gacé where they and troops from the 11th Armoured Division (riding on motorcycles and in Universal carriers, Bedford QL lorries and Bedford MW trucks) receive a warm welcome from the people of Gacé, whose undamaged buildings are decorated with Allied flags. A heavily laden Universal carrier belonging to either the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment or No. 2 Independent Company Royal Northumberland Fusiliers pass a German sign board pointing westwards to Caen, Falaise, Tran, etc. and east to L'Aigle and Paris. Recently freed French colonial troops enjoy their first day of freedom with ordinary civilians and FFI volunteers. Stuart III light tanks and a Humber scout car from the Dragoons' HQ squadron and a carrier- borne 6-pounder anti-tank gun detachment and a CMP truck from the 102nd Anti-Tank Regiment RA motor through Gacé. From the balcony of the Préfecture, the town mayor leads a large crowd in singing the "Marseillaise".

35mm