Thank you all for your messages.
Bear with me Erich! When it comes to dates, and what happened when? I am at a loss, for although I have a remarkable memory, some of the dates I cannot honestly give. Anything I write here, must be exactly right, and, what happened to me. After all this time, dates and events get jumbled, some of what I write will be out of sequence. No matter, for it all took place. You asked about the Air force's and the losses that both sides suffered. Here I cannot tell you, for it is out of my remit. I do know quite a lot of statistics, but only where I am directly involved.

I do welcome the input from all those who read these pages! not only young people, but also the parents, and grand parents. For, when we old Veterans depart this Earth, we will take it all with us. For me, it is rather like handing on historical fact to those that follow. The same thing happened to me when I was young, for although this sounds absolutely ridiculous, I actually served with a man who fought in the South African war against the Boers. His name? Regimental Seargent Major Humphries.

Hillman.
Not one shell or Bomb!

We had now fought our way ashore and opened up the route into Hermanville. The German position code named "Morris" had been taken, and many Enemy captured, The Company had also been given the task of getting to, and capturing, the lock gates at Ouistreham, in doing so, they captured officers and men.

But now, before us, lay the huge inland Enemy defensive position code named "Hillman" and a very tricky problem it was going to be. Quite a large area, (650 meters by 450 meters) Heavily mined, with underground passages, and with the whole front covered with artillery and mortar fire, with machine gun fire criss-crossing everything, it could not be by-passed, it was far to big, and far too dangerous, it had to be taken.

The problem being? how to get in among this defensive position. For it was a “horribly lethal” proposition, when the Germans build a defensive position you can bet it will be very efficient, and it will serve the purpose for which it was created. One of the newspapers at the time described it as a “Grisly business”

An officer from my company had been attached to the Suffolk Regiment and with a few Sappers, had been given the job of opening up a path through the barbed wire and mines under heavy fire. Lt Heal R.E. with Sappers, worked their way through the mines under very heavy fire, dealing with the mines by blowing them, as they opened up a "Sheep track" right into the heart of the position, in doing so, earned himself the French V.C. The Croix de Guerre. (My Hero) Later, we spent the night at this position, only to find in the morning that a large crowd of Germans came up from the underground passages to give their selves up, with their officers. During the taking of "Hillman" there had been some very unpleasant and dirty fighting down in the underground passages! Once we got the infantry through the Sheep track, the battle was won, then the company opened up a wider track to get the tanks in.

What was most peculiar about this was that not one bomb or shell had landed on this position. It was untouched, but through the bravery of dedicated Sappers “Hillman” was won. Much later, and for a little while, we used it as a base. As far as I know it is still there and virtually intact. I have never returned to Normandy.
Comments welcome.
Sapper.