Relics from Moissy ford

This year I returned from Normandy with several intersting items from the 'Corridor of Death'. While visitng the Moissy Ford , which had been extensivly cleaned up by the local council I returned to Blighty with the following items recovered from ONE of the hedgerows, sixty years after the battle of Normandy. They were...

A 105mm artillery shell
An 88mm L56 shell

And best of all, a German Gasmask canister.

These were all found right by the ford in a hedge that had been severly pruned!!!

 

Excellent stuff, RedBaron ! As 'Sommecourt' well knows, Moissy Ford is one of my favourite NW Europe battlefield sites.

I hate to think of it being 'cleaned up' , but it looks like you found some remarkable relics ! Did you get a chance to see the Vimoutiers Tiger, just up the road from Moissy ...?

 

No,the field trip we run has a rather tight schedule and no matter how much I moan the boss wont let me near a Tiger!!!

He thinks I will cart it off as another relic!!!

 

Pity - I tried, BTW ; it wouldn't fit in the car boot !

 

Nah i just think the boss is worried you'll drive it on to the ferry for the trip back.

 

My own relics ( not including the book, of course ! ) from Moissy, found under a hedge 50 yards up the track from the ford.

A motley bunch of items, but...they were there......

 

shells, and a spar plug (looks like it without the porcelaine) What's the part with the cylinder and the black piece?

 

I think...( clockwise from top ) firstly the tail-tube of an exploded Allied mortar shell ( probably 3" ), next - the potentially dangerous one - a detonator from a stick grenade ( luckily, the alloy tube is empty of explosive ), a piece of solid rubber most likely from a tyre, a 2-cm flak shell case, and lastly the piece I like best - a broken bearing ( quite heavy ) from an engine or motor.....

 

Does the bearing still have little marbles? It looks in a quite good condition. If it's all metal you can heat it up and burn the rust and the dirt. I have managed to revive and articulate several pieces that way. It's better than a chemical cleaning.

 

From 'The Battle Of The Falaise Gap' by Eddy Florentin ( Elek, 1965 ) : -

'...(one of the German ) columns was trying to cross the River Dives at Moissy Ford. It was a ridiculously small crossing for the might of a powerful army - a ford for washerwomen who crossed by laying a plank from one bank to the other. By pouring tanks and vehicles into it, Seventh Army would fill the deep riverbed, and soldiers would kill each other fighting to cross the bridge.....The Allied artillery and air forces pounded this semi-paralysed mass unceasingly....' (p.233 ).

 

Great Pic. Very Nice Area Reminds Me Of Arkansas. LOL

 

I have just returned from my annual visit to Normandy.
The attached photo shows a few of the items that i picked up whilst in the Moissy ford area.

1. 7.92 heads.
2. 9mm heads.
3. 7.92 cartridges.
4. Key.
5. Not sure about this piece of melted alloy, maybe a badge/award ?
6. Flare pistol cartridge.
7. Part of rucksack spring clip (marked on reverse, HRE 40 D.R.G.M).
8. Parts of MG belts.

 

They're MG42 links aren't they?
I'd never noticed the odd 'spring' linkages until I bought a short belt for one of the sprogs.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

That chap on the book cover is CSM George Mitchell of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.
Taken at St Lambert sur Dives about 14.00 on 19th august 1944.

 

The spring link sections on the belts are made of stainless steel which has helped them to survive the ravages of time.
The area around the Moissy ford is still strewn with bits of twisted metal and other items.
Caution must be observed when looking as there are still live rounds to be found.

 

Thanks for posting the pic, Jagdpanther .... I'm going there in two weeks time - so I hope you've left me some bits to find !

 

Martin, it seems like you spend more time in France than in the U.K. nowadays. Maybe it's time considering buying a house there. You certainly wouldn't be the first Englisman to do so.

 

Martin I'm sure you will find plenty more relics, my pockets weren't big enough to take them all .
I just wish i had had more time to rummage through the hedges and along the tracks.

Happy hunting

 

Sounds really tempting, maybe I should have a short break there too.

 

Skipper you and Martin should hook up and explore and tell the Mrs to go shopping somewhere else...........

such easy access it appears I am jealous