Stanley Whitehouse's book on Black Watch

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Crewman
Of course I would be interested in the threads - if they exist in this book - of the contacts between Black Watch and the Poles in Normandy. The Polish veterans mention that several times they fought almost together with Black Watches.

But there is also an incident in common history when on August 8th, 1944 the Polish regiments broke the orders of Operation Totalize and turned eastwards from Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil instead of to attack southwards according to 1st Army order. And then the Poles passed throughout the rear and lines of the elements of the 51st Highland Division. The Black Watch Battalion was one of the unit the Poles passed then before next passing through the lines of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry Regiment. It was small inter-Allied scandal

I am loking for various memoirs of the 51st Division veterans who describe their contacts with the Poles then and maybe they write general opinions about the Poles as well as about an incident of August 8th. In fact the Poles ought to be in other place than 51st lines but this is other story.

Hi Gregory;

The book "FEAR IS THE FOE" is a basic account of a Private, who on D-Day was a Private serving with the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion and landed as part of No. 6 Beach Group over Sword Beach. In mid-July, the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion was broken up for reinforcements and the author was posted to the 1st Black Watch, with whom he served until 1947.

There is no mention in the book of any contact with Polish forces in Normandy.

Cheers