A good Normandy Operation Totalize French Croix de Guerre group awarded to War Substantive Sergeant G.O. Fisher, 7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment who would be awarded the Croix De Guerre for clearing a path through an extensive minefield under intense mortar fire during the attack on Vimont on 9th August 1944, he would later recover the bodies of five men from the battlefield thus preventing the enemy from obtaining an identification.
Group of 5: 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal. France Croix Guerre, with one star on ribbon, the reverse dated 1939-1945.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Together with:
Certificate dated 3rd April 1945 awarding the Croix De Gerre with Bronze Star to War Substantive Serjeant Geoffrey Owen Fischer.
Infantry and A.E.C. box of issue for Second World War Medals awarded to Mr Fisher, G.O., 2 Beech Croft Avenue, Newport Road, Stafford.
Geoffrey Owen Fisher would be awarded the Croix De Guerre for his part in the attack on Vimont on 9th August 1944, the recommendation for the award reading:
‘On the night of 9 Aug 44, during the first phase of the attack on Vimont, C Coy was caught in a minefield and suffered from many casualties from anti-personnel mines. Casualties included the Coy Commander, Second in Command and Company Serjeant Major. As extent of the minefield was unknown the company was completely immobilised and any efforts at movement only resulted in more casualties. The explosions of the mines disclosed the coy’s position to the enemy and heavy mortar concentrations were brought down on the area at intervals. This NCO was in a party which was following C. Company. With complete disregard for his own safety he commenced to clear a path through the minefield as a result of which the Company was able to reach its objective by another route and was in position by dawn. Later in the day, this NCO recovered the bodies of five men from the battlefield thus preventing the enemy from obtaining an identification. By his courage and initiative this NCO materially assisted the success of this difficult operation.’
The attack on Vimont formed part of Operation Totalize an offensive launched by Allied troops in the First Canadian Army during the later stages of Operation Overlord, from 8 to 10 August 1944. The intention was to break through the German defences south of Caen on the eastern flank of the Allied positions in Normandy and exploit success by driving south, to capture the high ground north of the city of Falaise. The goal was to collapse the German front and cut off the retreat of German forces fighting the Allied armies further west. The battle is considered the inaugural operation of the First Canadian Army, which had been activated on 23 July.
In the early hours of 8 August 1944, II Canadian Corps launched the attack using mechanized infantry. They broke through the German front lines and captured vital positions deep in the German defences. It was intended that two fresh armoured divisions would continue the attack but some hesitancy by these two comparatively inexperienced divisions and German armoured counter-attacks halted this offensive. Having advanced 9 mi (14 km), the Allies were halted 7 mi (11 km) north of Falaise and forced to prepare a fresh attack.
