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UNIQUE ID 88: A22 CHURCHILL AVRE TANK

Beach Exit, Graye-sur-Mer, France

(Location: Graye-sur-Mer)


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Sample Photo from Tank with UniqueID 88


Unique ID: 88
Added to Database: May 2008
Last Edited: May 2008
Type (ID): A22 Churchill AVRE (3905)
Model (ID): Churchill AVRE (3905)
Location Category (ID): Beach Exit (6020)
Location (ID): Graye-sur-Mer (6020)
Serial Number:
Registration:
Name: “1C” painted on rear turret stowage box so referred to as “One Charlie”. Previously carried the name “AVENGER” painted on the side air intakes.
Other Identification:
Collection Reference:
Links:
References:
Associated Tanks:

Location History:
(see map)

1: Vauxhall Motors Limited, Luton, Bedfordshire, East England, Britain (Churchill design parent and primary manufacturer)
2: Portsmouth, England (General embarkation area 5 June 1944)
3: Beach Exit, Graye-sur-Mer, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France (Current location)
4: Musée Memorial, Caen, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France (Not the museum but French Army workshops in Caen 1977)
5: Beach Exit, Graye-sur-Mer, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France (Current location)


This AVRE is on display to the west of Graye-sur-Mer, near Courseulles-sur-Mer. It was recovered from the beach where it had foundered during the invasion landings and been buried under the sand. During the recovery in November 1976 it was revisited by RE veterans including Bill Hawkins, the demolitions NCO in the AVRE, and George Dunn, its driver. Items recovered from it included an intercom hand microphone, a safety razor, a tin of corned beef and an emergency chocolate ration (for more information contact the RE Museum, Brampton Barracks, Chatham). The vehicle was later restored by the French Army workshops in Caen and put on display on a concrete plinth by the beach exit road. It was unveiled as a permanent memorial on 15 October 1977. It is in remarkably good condition considering its history. A plaque in front of it reads as follows:

CHAR CHURCHILL A.V.R.E.
26 ASSAULT SQUADRON ROYAL ENGINEERS
7 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
DEBARQUE PAR CETTE BRECHE LE 6 JUIN 1944
CE CHAR FUT IMMOBILISE
A 100M. AU SUD DE CE SITE
ET DEMEURA EN TERRE PENDANT 32 ANS.

RESTAURE EN 1977, IL COMMEMORE LE SOUVENIRE
DES MEMBRES DE SON EQUIPAGE
ET DE TOUS CEUX QUI ONT DONNE LEUR VIE
POUR LA LIBERTE
THIS TANK LANDED ON GRAYE SUR MER BEACH
AT H-HOUR ON D-DAY
AND WAS STOPPED ON ITS WAY INLAND
100 METRES SOUTH OF THIS SPOT
THE MEMBERS OF ITS CREW WERE KILLED
OR BADLY WOUNDED

IT REMAINS AS A MEMORIAL
TO ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES HERE
6 JUIN 1994

On D-Day a Sherman Crab flail tank and an AVRE were drowned in a crater in the dunes near Courseulles. Another AVRE pushed the fascine off the first one and then lowered a Small Box Girder Bridge over the top to allow the advance to continue. The drowned AVRE is believed to be this same one now preserved (source: Sherman Register).

Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

August 2007

Front right view
1: Front right view

Taken: 25 August 2007
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1284
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: 57CNV14_...
Views: 268
Select/Has Priority: 4/0
    

 

Front left view
2: Front left view

Taken: 25 August 2007
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1285
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: 57CNV13_...
Views: 202
Select/Has Priority: 17/0
    

 

Left view
3: Left view

Taken: 25 August 2007
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1286
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: 57CNV12_...
Views: 203
Select/Has Priority: 17/0
    



Rear left view
4: Rear left view

Taken: 25 August 2007
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1287
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: 57CNV17_...
Views: 215
Select/Has Priority: 4/0
    



Rear right view
5: Rear right view

Taken: 25 August 2007
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1288
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: 57CNV18_...
Views: 208
Select/Has Priority: 17/0
    

    



August 1982

Front left view
6: Front left view

Taken: 1 August 1982
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1289
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: Scan_Chu...
Views: 202
Select/Has Priority: 17/0
    



 

Left view
7: Left view

Taken: 1 August 1982
Contributor: T. Larkum
Photo ID: 1290
Added: 24 May 2009
Filename: Scan_Chu...
Views: 272
Select/Has Priority: 17/0