Travel from Le Havre to Saint-Vith ?

[xavier]

I would like share with you about a try to layout on a 1941's map the most probably route from the 106th to go in the front line positions. I have noted know positions and extrapolated between them.

If I do no error, the 106th’s artillery boarded december 1st at Weymouth on Landing Ship Tank (LST) to Rouen.

December 2nd, Infantry man boarded the SS monowai to Le Havre. But debarkation is possible only the 6 december when the se is calmed. Vehicules embarhed on LST.




I added the information provided by Carl.

Between Philippeville, where the 106th ID bivouac, and Marche-en-Famenne : "The Givet route was indeed unit specific for the 422 RCT, Prell's unit." (purple route)

"The route past Bois de Rosée is specific for the 424 RCT (which included C/331 MED and one of the engineer companies and the 591st FA)." (blue route)

Perhaps, some people can add information or correct this map...



Please, not diffuse this map.

[connie]

Hi, Xavier,

It looks like you've been doing some work!

I assume your main objective here is to find the path of the jeep you now own (2nd Battalion Hq Co of 424th Infantry-- see introduction post & photos: 106thdivision.proboards.com/thread/919/xavier )

You are right that the 106th Infantry Division's Field Artillery Battalions (589th, 590th, 591st and 592-- and I assume also Division Artillery Hq) landed on LST's at Rouen. They made camp around Yerville and Limesy, France (NW of Rouen) as delayed units arrived and while awaiting further orders. The date of the 1st of December is around the time of departure from England for them. Various units left on successive days around this time. A few vessels had anchor chains break off the coast of France as they waited to land. They had to return to England for repairs and try again. Their companions waited off the coast of Le Havre for their turn to make their way up the Seine to Rouen. They were indeed on LST's and their jeeps and other equipment I believe all made the trip across the channel and up the Seine with them. Those camping in Yerville/ Limesy area made the trip from that point to St. Vith and beyond. I know two delayed units of the 590th landed on the same day that their counterparts had begun the move. So they began their move toward the front directly from the banks of the Seine.

I've been away from my research for about 8 months and am preparing to dive in again. I have the confirmed route taken by most of the field artillery. I think it was also the route of most of the division, once the different starting points in France are factored in. But I've been thinking I need to confirm that. I know, too, that there are stories of a few units that were temporarily lost or misdirected along their route. I'll be doing some reading up on this with your quest in mind, too.

I do know that some (all?) the infantry crossed the channel on larger vessels and made precarious climbs down rope ladders to jump aboard landing crafts. Obviously their jeeps and equipment did not do this kind of a transfer. So... there are more stories for your jeep that perhaps others can tell...

The map is too small for me to make out, but maybe others can... and I'm sure others will have info to add.

I started with route points in some quotes by General Jones but was able to add a few more route points and some actual route detail. But again, I need to confirm when it comes to the infantry routes. What route points were you working with?

Connie

[xavier]

I have changed map about indications of Connie. From Philippeville the route of 106th go through Givet, France and Wellen, Belgium and then northward through Rochefort and Marche en Famenne.

Thanks Connie.
 


For a better definition, open the map in a new tab or windows. If I can, I put a new map on a better definition in few times...

[Carl W.]

Hi Xavier,

Here is some more info on the route taken by the 424th Infantry from Le Havre to St. Vith. This is the info taken from the official map overlay for the scheduled route (Traffic HQ 1st US Army). You got the roads correct from Le Havre up to Philippeville, where the regiment had its first bivouac. Instead of going through Givet they headed north past the Bois de Rosée and through Dinant, Marche-en-Famenne, Hotton, La-Roche-en-Ardenne, over the Baraque de Fraiture, through Vielsalm and on to St Vith.

I hope this info helps you.
It was nice to meet you in person in December at St Vith.:-)

Greetings,
Carl

[connie]

Carl,

We need to pool notes. The route you described is the one that looks most logical and the one Xavier had guessed as the route taken by the division. So the route you describe is the one he had until he and I talked.

I had information from Donald Prell (who posted the traffic directors for the route) that showed the route you see now. It did go through La Roche en Ardennes but went south first through Givet.

Did the division diverge and take different routes from Philippeville area? From something Jones said I assumed that the movement order was by regimental combat team. If this was the case then field artillery and infantry would have taken the same route.

There are some puzzles here... I don't have access to my computer or documents at the moment or the list of points along the route that I passed on to Xavier. Marche-en-Femme I believe was on the list, but on the route I had, it was approached by going through Givet and then, if memory serves, Wellen (?) before heading up to places approaching La Roche. Prell spent the night in La Roche after having dropped off traffic directors all along the route to St. Vith. In the morning (again this is from memory without notes) he returned to the point beyond Givet that I am remembering as Wellen, to find the guards had overslept and some of the lead vehicles had taken a wrong turn and had to be found and re-directed slightly. I don't have Prell's contact info with me either. But I'm guessing you may. If he is still available it might be helpful to pull him into the conversation... There may be several truths here that will flesh out a larger picture...

It's good to have your input!


Connie

[Carl W.]

Hi Connie,

The Givet route was indeed unit specific for the 422 RCT, Prell's unit. The route past Bois de Rosée is specific for the 424 RCT (which included C/331 MED and one of the engineer companies and the 591st FA). The motor column routes for each specific RCT differed only slightly from the Philippeville bivouac onwards. In addition to traffic directors posted along the designated route, the roads were marked with triangular or square indicators (signs).

Greetings
Carl

[connie]

Carl,

That's helpful. Sorry I steered you wrong for the 424th, Xavier. Do you know the route for the 423rd Regimental Combat Team from Philippeville on? That of course would have included my father with the 590th Field Artillery Battalion.

Connie

[xavier]

Connie, Carl,

Thanks to you ! It's really interesting.
My interest is for the 106th and not only for the 424th, even if I have more interest for this regiment
I propose to trace the route of the different units.

Carl, the comeroration day in December at St Vith and Vielsalm is a very good memory. I especially enjoyed the organization and the amazing kindness of everyone. Your personal collection of objects and documents of the 106th is exceptional. Thank you to having shared with us on this occasion. It was a very nice day and I hope to be with you next year ...


Do you know the road marked with triangular and the road marked with square indicators ?

Xavier

[connie]

Xavier,

I'm glad you brought this topic up. It has helped me fill in the larger picture, too.

Carl, thanks for helping clear up the questions. You've mapped out the route of the 424th Regimental Combat team from Philippeville, Belgium on to the front and affirmed my understanding of the route (via Donald Prell) of the 422 Regimental Combat team.

That leaves one more Regimental Combat team-- the 423rd. Did they take the same route as one of these other teams or did they have their own route, too, as they approached La Roche en Ardennes? Do you have any documentation on this one?

Connie

[connie]

OK. I have the route down for the 422 Regimental Combat team which crossed the Meuse at Givet.

I'm not really clear on the exact route of the other 2 regimental combat teams. If anyone has sources or insights I'm open to being enlightened!

Sounds like Namur was the Meuse crossing point for at least one of these teams?

I know that my father would have traveled with the 423 Regimental Combat team and I know that, beyond the Meuse crossing, they went through La Roche en Ardennes and I assume pretty much followed the 422nd's route from there through Baraque de Fraiture, Vielsalm, Poteau, and into St. Vith. From there, after a couple night's stay (for the 590th FA BN, anyway) it would have been eastward on the St. Vith/ Schoenberg Road...

What confuses me, is the reason behind the separate initial routes if all (or some?) were to converge around La Roche En Ardennes. Sounds like the formula for a traffic jam at point of intersection unless someone got a headstart!

Connie

[xavier]

I'm sorry to have taken so long to correct the map.
With the cold weather comeback, I abandon my summer activities and I work again to the history of the 106th !

I hope somebody can give us some information about 423 RTC travel.

Xavier

[connie]

Xavier,

I also have another major project out of the way & can get serious about my research again. I'm going through accounts by men, currently. If I find more I'll let you know.


And... if anyone else comes up with documents on the journey from France to the front, please know that Xavier and I are both interested!

Connie

[xavier]

I have updated map with information given by Connie. The change is that the route of 106th ID go over Valencienne and not directly by Cambrai to Maubeuge.

[connie]

Thanks so much, Xavier,

I appreciate your updating the map.

Connie