Churchill AVREs on Juno Beach

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Chris Wilcox
Does anyone know what types of Churchill AVREs where used by the 5th and 6th Assault Regiments, RE when they landed in support of the Canadian infantry brigades? Where they all carrying fascines or were some using bobbins or SBGs?

Thanks.

Just to make sure we're talking the same language, by bobbins do you mean the rolled up mat for traversing sand and by SBG do you mean a bridging tank carrying a box girder bridge? The Flail tanks were also known as Crabs and I believe were all Shermans on Juno. Here's what I know about Churchill AVRE's: Yes, there were several carrying fascines. There also were bridging Churchill AVREs; one of which laid it's box girder bridge on top of a fascine carrying AVRE which had sunk into a culvert at Graye-sur-mere.
At Nan white beach near Wiederstandnest 28 a bridging AVRE dropped it's bridge onto the sea wall, but the first AVRE trying to negotiate the bridge hit a mine and blocked the approach so an Armoured Bulldozer came forward to push the damaged AVRE out of the way.
So, the short answer to your question is:
There were Churchill AVREs present on Juno beach carrying fascines and box girder bridges, this I know for sure. Haven't seen any reference to the mat carrying variety so I won't comment on whether they actually were there or not. Hope this helps.