Kangaroo AWD site near Bayeux, France

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

From what I've been able to determine, the intial M7 Priest 105mm How. SPGs that were converted to M7 Priest Kangaroo APCs, for Operation TOTALIZE, where those of the 12th, 13th and 14th Field Regiments, R.C.A., who on 1 Aug 44 (and shortly after in the case of 34th Fd Bty, R.C.A.), turned in their M7 Priest 105mm How. SPG equipment to a Royal Artillery reorganization centre located at RYES, northeast of BAYEUX. These returned equipments were requested by Lt.-Gen. Simonds, via way of the First Canadian Army Commander, for permission of the Americans, to be converted to armoured personnel carriers for the up coming Operation TOTALIZE.

Here's one of the Priests from the 14th FA Rgt, RCA, that landed on Juno beach on June 6th.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I was in Normandy during the third week of August, but did not get to do a lot of research on-site ('t was a family holiday after all )

I did get in touch briefly with Jean-Pierre Benamou of the "D-Day Academy" (www.ddaca.com), a Frenchman who does battlefield tours. He told me AWD Kangaroo was located in St. Sylvain, SW of Caen, just East of the Caen-Falaise road. I do not have my references at hand, but I would have thought the Allies had not advanced that far by early August? Plus it contradicts Mark's research and reasoning. Mr. Benamou told me his location is documented and he has pictures. Maybe he refers to the picture I posted of the field of wrecks?

Anyway, more later,
regards,
Hanno

[Bill Miller]

I think Monsieur Benamou is mistaken Hanno, or perhaps he is confusing the the AWD with the startline for Totalize? or where 3Div was located after totalize?

Anyway, I believe Mark's assessment of the location of the AWD is correct and corroborated by veteran accounts and some period docs. Though an exact MR is not available.

One letter I have hear from the mid-90's was from a Sgt Avery, attached from #2 TTWS, states they were "were pulled back to a safer location near Bayeaux." I am positive one of the Field Regiment WD's state they turned their Priests in at a location near Ryes. The conversions were done near where the Priests were parked.

If I wasn't already neck deep in Kangaroo stuff, prepping for the Guidon ceremony in 14 days, I'd dig into my files.

I'd be interested to see Benamou's photos??

Bill.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bill Miller

If I wasn't already neck deep in Kangaroo stuff, prepping for the Guidon ceremony in 14 days, I'd dig into my files.

We'll get to that later, Bill. I will send Mr. Benamou and other people or organisations some of the findings here and ask them for their input. I have bought a detailed map of the area and will plot the possible locations on it. I noted there are only a limited number of orchards there, so hopefully we should be able to pinpoint the location with a high degree of probability.

More later,
Hanno

[Tony Viste]

In the August War Diary for 14 Cdn Fd Regt there is a document entitled "Re-Organization Instruction No. 1" dated 29 Jul 44. It contains an overlay map showing the locations of the Re-Organization Centre. This map shows an 'Old Eqpt Park', and to quote from the instruction:

"No SP eqpts will enter the RE-ORGANIZATION CENTRE.

All SP equipments will be diverted at roundabout 844839 along new by-pass (RED route) to an RV 843836 where guides, provided by HQ RE-ORGANIZATION CENTRE, will meet and conduct eqpts along RED route as far as rd junc 840832, thence along GREEN routes to old eqpt park.

All personnel with SP eqpts should be self-contained for one night."

I added this map over Google Maps and the trapezoid shaped 'Old Eqpt Park' coincides very nicely to a trapezoid shaped field that I circled in red.

If the thought is that AWD Kangaroo went to the M7's, then it was possibly located in or near this field.

Thanks.
Tony Viste.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bill Miller and I just spent the past 2 hours trying to map out the grid references quoted by Tony plus the overlay.

At first it did not seem to line up, but then, suddenly....

So Alex, are you ready to go hunting for this field in France next month?!?

Hanno

[Bill Miller]

Map trace overlayed with GSGS 4347 Sheet 37/18 SW (1:25000).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Tony Viste

In the August War Diary for 14 Cdn Fd Regt there is a document entitled "Re-Organization Instruction No. 1" dated 29 Jul 44. It contains an overlay map showing the locations of the Re-Organization Centre. This map shows an 'Old Eqpt Park', and to quote from the instruction:

I added this map over Google Maps and the trapezoid shaped 'Old Eqpt Park' coincides very nicely to a trapezoid shaped field that I circled in red.

If the thought is that AWD Kangaroo went to the M7's, then it was possibly located in or near this field.

The Re-organization Centre even made it into a cartoon of the 13th Artillery Regiment where Gunners are seen handing in their Priests at the "Ordnance Re-equipment Park" and being issued with towed 25-pdr guns - something they were not happy with!

When the three Field Regiments of Canadian Artillery (the 12tth, 13th and 14th Regiments) of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was re-equipped with towed 25 pounder guns in late July, their self-propelled tracked vehicles were stripped of their 105mm guns and converted to Kangaroos. This change of equipment was not very well regarded by the gunners, who considered replacing the 105mm American self-propelled howitzer by the 25-pound towed gun a setback, as we can see in this cartoon drawn by the lieutenant Clay, in the book that tells the story of the 13th Artillery Regiment.
Cartoon lost the Priests.jpg

Source: http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2019/10/