BY LAURENT D’ENTREMONT
Alphonse (Ti-Poly) d’Eon,( 1922-2010), who died a few days before Christmas at 88 years, was with the Allied Forces when they set their course for a massive assault on Hitler’s infamous Atlantic Wall June 6, 1944. For the first time in years, it gave hope to the long-suffering civilians of war-torn Europe.
The price of penetrating the wall was very costly that memorable day, and more than 14,000 Canadians troops landed on Normandy Beach, about one-fifth of the invasion force. Almost 1,000 were killed, wounded or captured.
The supreme commander of that campaign, known as “Overlord,” was General Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969), who later became the 34th president of the United States of America. He had command of 156,000 men, 6,000 ships and 1,000 of planes of every type. With him was General Omar Bradley, a close friend, and General George Patton, as tough as they came, called “Old Blood and Guts” by his men. The British commander who did not sit well with Eisenhower was none other than Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery of Alamein fame. The supreme commander had to respect his ability, though, when Montgomery drove for Berlin and glory. Germany signed unconditional surrender document May 8, 1945.
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders were a very important part of the Normandy invasion and, when they landed on the beach at Berniers-Sur-Mer at 10:30 in the morning, the one man from my Acadian village with them was Alphonse d’Eon, a bren gun carrier driver. That day, and the following month, would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Alphonse d’Eon, in an earlier interview, remembered loading equipment was completed June 4, 1944: his Bren gun carrier and crew of a sergeant, three gunners and driver were loaded on a landing barge known as a LCL. The following afternoon, they slipped and moved down Southampton waters. This was one operation that could not fail, there was no turning back until the job was done the following May.
By the time they landed in mid-morning the beach was pretty well cleared, thanks to the paratroopers and commandos who had arrived earlier. There was still enemy action, like bombing and strafing, but the foot soldiers walked up the beach at a fast clip without incident and d’Eon gunned the Ford’s V/8 engine, which wailed in pain as the carrier scurried up beach.
D’Eon and his crew followed a distance behind the vanguard (the advance guard), their duties some mopping up and clearing of undetected enemy pockets and taking prisoners. Alphonse d’Eon saw very little of the enemy, except the prisoners, but remembers only too well lots of shelling from the Germans. Once, they even got bombed by the Americans, who had taken wrong bearings and mistaken the Canadians for the enemy. More than 60 years later, d’Eon still remembered the bomb hatches opening on top of them. Even though it was from friendly fire, it was as deadly. Driver and crew hid under their carrier until Uncle Sam’s boys realized their blunder. All were glad when the show was over.
At night, the crew slept under their bren gun carrier: a hole had to be dug, covered with canvas and then the “double track” was driven on top for protection. The ration truck came with hot meals when it could; the rest of the time, it would be eggs, poultry and whatever else they could get from local farms after the people had left in desperation. Many farm animals were loose and roaming free.
Once the North Novies, as the Highlanders were called, got rolling, there was no stopping. They soon captured Capriquet Aerodrome and drove the enemy back. In the months that followed, they fought through France, crossed the Somme, continued to Boulogne, Cap Griz Nez and Belgium. Rain and heavy fighting made life disagreeable during the Belgium campaign; however, the battalion finished by capturing the German divisional headquarters in Knoche and captured the last German in Belgium.
Germany was still a tough nut to crack but, eventually, the Allied Forces crossed the Rhine May 4, 1945. A message was received to the effect no further offensive action would be taken.
Alphonse d’Eon, who had been in the services since 1941, when he had voluntary enlisted; was discharged Feb. 26, 1946. He returned home to West Pubnico. After the war, he drove heavy equipment and, later, was petroleum manager for La Tour Co-op for 30 years. I knew him well, a very affable gentleman. He will be missed.
