A temporary Signal Corps encampment near Gonfreville, France, November 1944. Soldiers often bivouacked in conditions like these while awaiting movement and maintaining operations. My father remained bivouacked in this area for approximately two weeks.
Location of Gonfreville, France where my father bivouacked for approximately two weeks after arriving in Normandy in November 1944.
Transcript in Memorandum:
November 27 – Landed on beaches at LeHavre, France. Went to Gonfreville, France & bivouacked for 2 weeks.
December 13 – Left for Cherbourg, France.
Historical Context – Normandy November 1944*
By late November 1944, allied forces had moved beyond the initial landings of D-Day and were continuing their advance across norther France.
The port city of LeHavre had been secured by Allied forces in September 1944 after heavy fighting, and by November it served as an important logistical hub for the movement of troops, equipment and supplies into the European theater.
Smaller surrounding areas, including Gonfreville-l’Orcher, were used for temporary encampments as units staged, regrouped and awaited further orders.
*Historical context sourced from U.S. Army Signal Corps. records, World War II archives and documented accounts of Allied operations in Normandy, France November 1944.
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