Brian Guy, Royal Engineers,246 Field Company Options

[ham and jam]

This has been started for Brian Guy who is a Normandy veteran, he has kindly offered to tell us his story. He served with the 246 Field Company, Royal Engineers, Eighth Brigade, Third British Infantry Division. There are alot of pages ahead but its really worth reading.

Thanks again Brian for sharing your story with us.


Andy

This post has been edited by ham and jam: Nov 28 2003, 04:48 PM

[Morgy]

No problem Andy. I must admit that when I saw that post's titel I told me "yes, Ham and his Normandy vet posted something for us", but I'm still more looking for it.

Keep fingers crossed.

Morgy (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[homefront41]

Well, Mr. Guy, I too hope you find your way to this thread and tell us a story or two. And just to help welcome you, with any luck, I can upload a beaut of a symbol for the Royal Engineers.

(IMG:http://www.royal-engineers.co.uk/images/rebadgetp1.gif)

If it's acceptable, we can probably entice the webmaster to drop in this symbol as your avatar. Hope to see you soon.

And just to let you know we've done our homework, lo and behold, there's a neat page devoted to Brian Guy: http://www.ww2n.com/archives/Cameos_of_War.shtml Have a look. BK

[appell8]

"Evil to Him who Evil Thinks." That would be the motto of the British monarchy, as I recall. Dating way back. "Royal" Engineers, indeed.

Sir, I'm very much looking forward to hearing from you. And thank you for your service to King and Country. And, thus, to the Allied cause.

[sapper]

Thank you for your welcome.
Would this forum be interested in the British landings? and what took place? First hand? What you may find interesting is that the American view of Normandy and the British is somewhat different.

There have been so many films made about those times, that legends have grown with constant repitition and have become firmly established as truth. sadly, the truth can be far different from legend, no matter how exciting. I had the honour of fighting along side the "Yanks" we got on great, and they treated us like lords.

There is so much to tell. its a job to know where to start. I suppose a description of our duties in active service would help?
My very best wishes to you all.
Brian.

[Jiggersfromsp...]

Dear Brian,

It truely is an honor and a pleasure to have you join us. I hope you find us worthy of your presence.

Yowser !
Jiggersfromsphilly

[sapper]

Thanks Jiggers!

The Flowers of Normandy.
Les Fleurs de Normandie.

On Norman soil, they fought and died.
Now young men's graves in rows abound.
In Mother Earth's arms, now sanctified,
The fragrant flowers of our youth are found.

And yet, to rise again, as in a distant song.
Small voices that call, in dead of night.
Fleeting figures only in our dreams belong.
Alas, they fade, in dawn's bright light.

I see them yet, a sad, forgotten throng.
Shadowed, lost faces, marching on.
Over dusty roads, and high golden corn.
The call of long lost friends are borne.

We must not forget, the flowers of our days,
Lest they lay unquiet, in numbered graves.
For we lived, and loved, and life was sweet.
Still yet, for us, awaits our last retreat.

Flowers of our youth, now long since past.
Our sweet autumn days are fading fast.
We, who are left, flowered in our prime.
Enjoyed golden moments, on borrowed time.

Remember our friends, who passed this way.
For all our tomorrow's, they gave their today's,
On Utah and Omaha, Juno, Sword and Gold.
Oh! Dear Lord! See that they grow not old.

B.R.Guy. June. 1944
.

[sapper]

Sapper is an English man that lives on the South Coast of England, he is a life time Engineer, he had to retire early due to the severity of his wounds, retirement is something he hated.

He is 78 years of age and was just nineteen on D day. His Company, An R.E. Field Company had been picked to provide three highly trained teams of Assault troops, trusted with the task of going in first, before other troops, to open up a path from the beach to the road beyond.

To do this they were provided with"Beehive" explosive charges, the purpose of these, is to blow the enemy gun positions sky high, nothing must be allowed to stand in our way. Nor did they! Should there be too much opposition we were also armed with flame throwers, the life belt type.

As with all well planned operations, many of the troops arrived at the same time. enough DD tanks got ashore, to take out much that was bothering us.

These highly trained three teams were known as "demolition teams" there were also "assault mine clearing teams" trusted with the task of opening the path from the beach to the road. all worked perfectly.

Over the years the legend grew that the British Sword beach was an easy landing? I hope to tell you about Sword later.

[sapper]

One other thing! Now is the chance to ask about anything about the war, when we leave here it will go with us.
Not yet though.
Brian

[homefront41]

Good morning, Sapper Guy! Good to see you. Thank you for visiting us here.

Last evening I went through the Encyclopedia Britannica section on Normandy with specific reference to Sword Beach landings and the first day of the invasion, just to refresh my memory.

http://search.eb.com/normandy/maps/onormay714m4.html

I wonder if you can tell us where you were in this map on that day. It shows the 3rd British Infantry landing in Sections Peter, Queen and Roger.

Thank you! BK

[sapper]

Hello homefront !Third British Infantry landed on Queen RED and Queen White, these were the landing sectors on Sword beaches for the South Lancs and the East Yorks regiments.

That was the renowned Eighth Brigade, our habitual home.
Eighth Brigade always led. we opened a path to Hermanville through the Morris and the Hillman enemy positions.

If you ever get toHermanville? there is a small museum there run by my very good friends Jaques and Colette Tirard.

There you will my face, and other articles all over the walls.

Best regards.
Brian.

[sapper]

ham and Jam.
I was a very ordinary Sapper, and remained as one. given time I will tell you all about Harry Grey, Wass, and Ginger Ford.
I have been searching for them for years, sadly, it would appear that I am all that is left.

I did find my old officer who told me that there was precious little chance of finding any others, they had perished in Europe.
Brian

[homefront41]

Alright, Andy, at ease! I'm already smitten. (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Brian, I have never trod those battlefields on the eastern end of the invasion AO, but I will one day. And I'll surely look for you on the walls. I must say it is very encouraging to me to see many of the veterans of WW II beginning to speak more and more about their war. The youngsters need to know about this history. Thanks very much for your efforts in this regard.

Looking forward to more posts. BK

[ham and jam]

Far from ordinary Brian. (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Andy

[VanessaBinder]

If anybody would like to see what Brian looks like, now and then, check out the link that BK provided further up. I bet you had a few ladies after you Brian when you was in uniform hehe.

Andrew

Andy,

I checked out the link BK provided. Which person is Brian. I couldn't figure it out. Mind helping out here. Thanks. Vanessa