The Guns of Nouvion, Part 2.

 Robert Odd-Fellowes stood at his desk, in his hand a series of Photos taken by the RAF.

Confirmation of the location of the German heavy guns harassing the coastline in his area of command.

Included in the bundle was a note that a heavy bomber raid was to be launched that evening to deal with the issue.

Not for the first time, he wondered on the fate of the agent responsible for the information.

The Guns of Nouvion. Scene 1.

Daily Briefing. 

  0630 hours. Southern Command HQ.

      Robert Odd-Fellows walked into his office to find, as he expected, his aide John Chard, tea cup in hand, waiting. The usual greetings followed, before getting down to business.

    Item 1.  State of Defences;  Major Chard reported that a large delivery of mines, both anti-personnel and anti tank had been delivered and the previously laid Quaker mines of bully beef tins were being replaced.

   Item 2.   Detailed timetable of the planned inspection tour were finalised. Together with the reports of various exercises under way.

   Item3.   Full details of the High level conference due to take place at Wilton House over the upcoming weekend, and increased security precautions following overflight by German photo reconnaissance.

  Item 4.  Report of the escape of German aircrew with film and capture of enemy agent, currently in hospital awaiting interrogation by special branch officers.

  Item 5.   Final item, passed on to us from the special lot at Beaulieu, regarding the heavy gun that has been playing havoc on the entrance to Poole and Christchurch harbours.

"Railgun position located 7 miles S.E of.........."                                                                                                It appears the security markers were all correct,for our agent in Nouvion, but we  don't know why the transmission was interrupted.   Photo Reccon. have been sent and we wait their report.

Oh, and finally " I found a birthday cake on your desk this morning, it bears the Contessa's mark, but no one knows how it got there."

To be continued; both here and on the sister blog Somewhere in France for anyone interested.

Down at Malachi's Cove ....

continued form the previous post ....

Cynthia, Falconer and the german air men had arrived at Sopley farm, not far from their pick-up point at Malachi's cove. Cynthia and the Falconer considered their options. Across the moor by foot to the cove or down the road by van and smash through the road block perhaps? Would their pick-up be there on time ? Plans made they set off, it was still dark .....

Cynthia took the air men and set off across the moor, a roving patrol passed them by some distance away

Cynthia and the air men had made it across the moor; meanwhile Falconer was driving the lorry across the moor towards the coastal road...

They crossed a field as the lorry approached the check-point near the junction with the coastal road ...

Falconer got out of the lorry, leaving the engine running (to create distraction noise); while he talked to the home guard men manning the road block...

While Falconer was at the road block, Cynthia and the air men crossed the road (after a motorbike/sidecar passed by)

They were soon across the next field and getting near the coast; Cynthia waited by the fence as a two man patrol passed by ....

Falconer, once through the road block headed off to safety down the coast road. As Cynthia got ready to make the signal, the patrol came back - she ducked down behind the tank trap; the patrol stopped looked around then carried on .....

As the home guard patrol moved on, Cynthia signalled out to sea

The inflatables from the waiting U-boat headed towards the signal ...

With the inflatables on their way in, Cynthia headed back inland; as she crossed the fence she fell and let out a cry. A roving patrol nearby came over to investigate....

The wire had been cut by a couple of the U-boat crew and the air men starting making their way through. Cynthia got up but the patrol had reached her - Halt ! she didn't, shots were fired ...they soon captured her.

The shooting attracted another roving patrol, they could just see men moving by the barbed wire...

One of the airmen fired at them, the patrol returned fire and the air man went down; the patrol then opened fire on the rest of the airmen and the U-boat crewmen as they were getting into the inflatables..

Another german airman was hit and dropped to the ground; however the inflatables made their way out to sea paddling furiously; the patrol was on the beach firing at them, but missed .....

After what seemed an age the inflatables reached the waiting U-boat - they had got there (with the critical air recon photos).  Once on board the captain issued the order Dive ! Dive ! Dive !...

Just in time the U-boat slipped under the waves, as a coastal patrol boat approached ....

the patrol boat didn't see them; the U-boat set course for France....