The ruins of Caen, 1944

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

Caen was heavily bombed by the Allies during the Normandy break out battles. It was a vital road junction and situated on two canals which greatly aided the German defenders. The Allies aimed to take the city on D-Day (6 June), but it was not fully under Allied control until 20 July 1944 after a series of bitter attritional battles.

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