Grumble Jones August Scenario GJ150 The Guns at Holdy

 

Summer heat is raging here in Oklahoma as work on the August scenario concludes. After endless rain, we are now experiencing the furnace heat that is Oklahoma in summer. Due the 100+ temperatures, I have stayed indoors and utilized my time to work on all things ASL. 

My primary source material for this month's scenario is Mark Bando's excellent 101st Airborne The Screaming Eagles at Normandy. Fantastic book and a must have for anyone interested in the 101st at Normandy.

An incident at the hamlet of Holdy would be the inspiration for scenario GJ150 The Guns at Holdy. A four gun battery of 105's would be located at Holdy and were sited to cover the exits from Utah Beach.

Holdy was essentially a sister battery to the one at Brecourt Manor. The only difference being that Allied Planners had not identified the battery at Holdy. Many American paratroopers would land on the battery in the early morning hours of June 6th and be killed, captured and some cases tortured to death. This tragedy would go unknown until a few mutilated bodies were discovered once the battery was successfully taken. Two Distinguished Service Crosses would be awarded to Captains Patch and Raudstein, who led the successful assault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRFxIQ2X8fc

History Traveler has done a fantastic video of the area of Holdy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbhLA_bkWLQ

French YouTube video that provides some great slides and pictures of the Holdy Battery engagement. I have shamelessly snipped the pictures below from the French video.

https://www.mvtdday.org.uk/holdy-battery.html

Another great online source for information on the fight for Holdy Battery.

https://www.dday-overlord.com/battle-of-normandy/cities/sainte-marie-du-mont

And one more very good site with more information on the fate of the paratroopers that fell into the hands of the Germans at Holdy.

As always, these monthly "Basement Quality" Scenarios are offered for fun only and as a thank you to the readers of this blog.

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All Grumble Jones scenarios are available from the ASL Archive website. 

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