'Churchill AVRE tank, some of which gave us support in the attack on the Radar Station.', Normandy, 1944

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe, 1944.

On the 7 June 1944 an attack on a German radar station at Douvres was ordered. A number of units took part in this attack, including a squadron of Churchill Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) tanks. The large calibre gun on these tanks would deliver a 165mm petard round to penetrate hardened concrete defences. During the assault at Douvres two of the AVREs had their tracks blown off and the attack was abandoned.

From a photograph album containing 210 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.