ARMOUR AND INFANTRY UNITS CROSS THE SEINE INTO 12TH CORPS' BRIDGEHEAD (PART 4) [Allocated Title]

Two sequences.

I. Commer (?) 3-ton lorries from a 12th Corps RASC composite company can be seen among the traffic leading in both directions through Les Andelys, a town dominated by the ruins of the 12th Century Château Gaillard. A 3.7 inch AA gun is towed across 6th Army Troops RE's 440-foot long Class 40 Bailey pontoon bridge; in the foreground, pontoon ferries and a small river steamer used by the Germans to evacuate troops across the Seine lie partly submerged in the water. Motorcycle despatch riders, jeeps, several Firefly tanks (from 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards), a Scammell tank transporter and a Scammell heavy breakdown tractor (both from 22nd Armoured Brigade REME) with a broken-down Valentine scissors bridgelayer in tow and civilian cyclists emerge at the exit of the British pontoon bridge on the north bank of the Seine.

II. Curious villagers follow the 10th Battalion Highland Light Infantry band marching through Muids playing "The Retreat"; during the same evening, the pipe-band of the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, led by King George VI's personal piper, Major Nicol, performs in a field at Le Thuit.

35mm