#MLU70 #WW2 - 19 August 1944
#NORMANDY - Battle of the FALAISE GAP
Today is the 175 Anniversary of Photography. Pioneers had been working on photographic processes for years, but it’s “official” today because, on 19 August 1839, Louis Daguerre actually patented the first photographic process at the Institut de France (in Paris).
And so it’s only fitting we commemorate photography through the photographers and cinematographers of the Canadian Film and Photo Unit in WW2. On 19 August 1944, the day photography was (only) 105 years old, the CFPU was getting ever closer to Paris.
Canadian historian C.P. Stacey described this photo attached as the closest "we are ever likely to come to a photograph of a man winning the Victoria Cross." Major David V. Currie (at left, pistol in hand) of The South Alberta Regiment (an armoured reconnaissance regiment of 4th Cdn Armoured Division) is seen here overseeing the surrender of German troops at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, France, 19 August 1944. Currie is in command of securing this village and its two bridges over the River Dives against the impending German breakout of the Falaise Pocket. His personnel for this mission include his C Squadron armour and B Company infantry of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.
This story is fascinating and too vast to encapsulate here, but Currie’s VC was really won on the next two days of this brutal battle. See his full citation here:
http://bit.ly/1rWenl2
This photo is taken by Lt. Donald Grant, CFPU section leader, who’s unit consisted of Sgt Jack Stollery (cinematographer), Lloyd Millon (cinematographer), and drivers Tpr McKay and Pte. Zentner. (Grant already had a Military Cross from D-Day. Stollery had a Military Medal from Ortona.)
In Lt Grant’s photo, you can see Sgt Stollery at extreme frame left, peering through the viewfinder of his Bell & Howell 35mm Eyemo camera. Stollery is usually cropped out of many versions of this photo. On the extreme right, underneath the electrical pole are two jeeps, both of which probably belong to this CFPU team. Some of Stollery’s footage is shot behind the left bumper of the lead jeep, as can be seen here at 3:27 on Canadian Army Newsreel #40:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XQjAi8fNrs&t=3m27s
Stollery then moves behind the other jeep to shoot footage (scroll to 3:53; note Stollery’s tripod in the passenger seat) as the German motorcycle sidecar and Horch vehicles approach. Both men on the motorcycle can be seen in Grant’s still photo -- the motorcycle rider with goggles and his hands in air looks at Currie, while his passenger passes Currie, possibly with an Allied safe-passage paper in his hand. The motorcycle is behind them. The German army officer with hands in air followed behind them in the Horch.
David Currie may also be seen on Cdn Army Newsreel #40 at 4:06...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XQjAi8fNrs&t=4m06s
In this footage, a German hands an object to a Canadian officer who holds a pistol on the upper right of frame. Then the officer can be seen walking behind the PoWs with the object in his hand. This is Major Currie. (The narrator at the time is talking about McCallister whose footage follows)
You can see the current location on Google Maps:
http://bit.ly/1oYf2iC
(Photo by: Lieut. Donald I. Grant, LAC, a111565)
#WW2 #Normandy #OTD #OnThisDay #France #SFR #Sherman #tank #VictoriaCross
