Sword Beach Gallery

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SWORD BEACH GALLERY

Some photos taken on my 2012 visit to Normandy.

SWORD BEACH ROGER RED SECTOR - RIVA BELLA & CASINO POSITIONS (Point A)

The six storey Fire Control Position for the guns of the Riva Bella and Casino positions. It now houses a museum.

Part of the area of the Riva Bella gun emplacements. Behind can be seen the tower of the Fire Control Position.

The "Flak" tower situated behind the "Casino" position on the inland side.

The "Casino" position as seen from the "Flak" tower.

The steel cupola of a bunker position can be seen here incorporated into the memorial to No 4 Commando.

"Dragons teeth" anti tank obstacles still in situ at a perceived beach exit. In the dunes behind remain bunker and tobruk pits of Strongpoint WN10. In the distance can be seen the "Flame of sacrifice" of the Commando memorial erected on the bunker position as seen in the photo on the left.

The modern Casino building. The original building was flatenned by the Germans along with others in the area before the construction of the mainly underground "Casino" defence system.

SWORD BEACH ROGER GREEN SECTOR - STRONGPOINT WN18 (Point C)

Then. 1944 the Western casemate of WN18 being used by a RN Beach party. It housed a 75mm gun providing enfilade fire along sword beach.

NOW. The same bunker in 2012 now incorporated into someones house! Point C.

SWORD BEACH QUEEN RED SECTOR - STRONGPOINT WN20 (COD) (Point D)

The famous 1944 photograph showing Piper Bill Millin and Lord Lovat going ashore at a point just to the left of Strongpoint "Cod".

Sword Beach Queen Red Sector as seen from Point D looking East,

The "Twin Villas" of Strongpoint "Cod" as seen today.

The "Twin villas" today from Point D

The surviving "Twin Villas" from Strongpoint "Cod" as seen from the beach in approximately the position that the 1944 photo as left was taken.

SWORD BEACH QUEEN WHITE SECTOR (Points D & E)

SWORD BEACH QUEEN WHITE SECTOR VIEWED FROM POINT E

SWORD BEACH QUEEN WHITE SECTOR VIEWED FROM POINT D

1944 photo showing Beach Group troops admin area identified as being approximately 200metres left of La Breche D'Hermanville Square. The villa in the photo has been demolished.

Sword Beach Queen White Sector seen from Point E. The "Beach Exit" off of the beach is just to the right of the photo.

SWORD BEACH - La BRECHE D'HERMANVILLE
JUNCTION OF QUEEN WHITE & QUEEN GREEN SECTORS (Point E)

The "beach exit" from the junction of Sword Beach Queen White and Queen Green sectors. Point E

The "Square" of La Breche D'Hermanville looking out to sea. Point E.

The "square" of La Breche D'Hermanville looking in land from Point E. The square now contains a number of memorials to the units of the 3rd British Infantry Division who landed here in 1944.

THEN	NOW. The building at the edge of the "square" known as the "Place Du Cuirasse Courbet" looking a little less busy than in 1944.

SWORD BEACH - QUEEN GREEN SECTOR - LION SUR MER (Points E & F)

Sword Beach Queen Green Sector as seen from Point E

Sword Beach Queen Green Sector as seen from Point F

SWORD BEACH -QUEEN GREEN SECTOR - STRONGPOINT WN21 (TROUT) (Point F)

Point F looking East.

THEN. The strongpoint WN21 (Trout) at the end of Queen Green Sector. This photo is taken from Battlezone Normandy - Sword Beach by Ken Ford and attributed to the archives of the Memorial De Caen.

NOW. Site of Strongpoint Trout as seen from Point F. Both buildings in the photograph were incorporated into the strongpoint as seen in the photo on the left.

SWORD BEACH - PETER RED SECTOR (Point F)

Sword Beach Peter Red Sector as seen from point F. Looking West.

OUISTREHAM DOCKS AREA (Points G & H)

Ouistreham Docks as observed from point G. Visible are the Lighthouse and Power House mentioned in the war chronicle.

Cupola part of the bunker complex at the end of the harbour at point H. This is the bunker used by Cpl Toogood mentioned in the war chronicle.