Ack-Ack Gun, Condé-sur-Noireau
Ack-Ack Gun, Condé-sur-Noireau, 1944 (Imperial War Museum)
The photograph was taken in August 1944 and shows a 3.7 Ack-Ack Gun firing air bursts on targets south of Condé-sur-Noireau in Northern France. They were used to fire over German positions in support of attacks by the Allied infantry (which included my father Kenneth Taylor, in the 6th Battalion of Green Howards).
On the right of the picture, below the barrel, is George Jackson from Leeds, who was in the Middlesex Regiment stationed at Dover Castle and part of the Allied Advance that began on D-Day on 6th June, 1944. The gun crew were accompanied along the way by a pet cockerell called "Billy". George Jackson survived the war but the rest of the crew were killed by a shell while standing in a food queue at Nijmegen.
Many thanks to Debbie, George's granddaughter, for the picture and the information.
The 3.7 inch Ack-Ack Gun was actually an anti-aircraft gun. When fired, it jumped right off the ground, creating a cloud of dust that obscured everything. As the picture shows, the gun crew wore no helmets, or flash guards, or ear defenders. In the absence of enemy aircraft the gun was given this new supporting role. Later in 1944 it was fully adapted to anti-tank use and was used in the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945.
Related: (i) The Nijmegen Bridge, (ii) Kenneth Taylor's War Diary.
Look at the size of that shell! I'm sorry, but this cannot be a 37mm gun. The shell is too big.
whoops, my bad… you said 3.7-inch (93.98mm). That's more like it. Sorry. Ben
fabulous photograph… wonder if IWM sell prints?
It is a great photograph, and apparently they do sell prints »
Hi Patrick
I came back for a look at your site as I do periodically and noticed that someone had shown interest in the IWM photo of my grandfather and his gun crew. We found the photo completely by accident. A relative bought a book on the history of World War 2. When looking through it we saw the photo of grandad. You can imagine our surprise! The book had the reference number and source of the photograph in the back of it so we wrote to the Imperial War Museum and requested a print of the photo. I will have a look and see if I still have the reference number – if I do I will let you know so you can post it here.
Regards
Debbie
Hi Debbie. Yes please! Many thanks.
Patrick
Have found the Imperial War Museum negative number for the photo of my grandfather on the gun. It is B.9227. There is another number in the top right corner of the accompanying notes which I don't know if it is relevant or not but thought I had better include it just in case M.385/64.
For the sake of completeness and interest the accompanying note reads:
"A 3.7 ack-ack gun firing air bursts on targets south of Conde-sur-Noireau. These guns were used in the Battle of Britain and at Dover. They were taken to France as ack-ack guns but due to lack of enemy planes, are now used in a new role firing air bursts over enemy positions. 15-8-44."
and:
"NOTE: The above photograph was reproduced on Page 309, left hand bottom, of the "SPHERE" dated 2nd September, 1944, above the following caption:-
"A new role for A.A. guns in France. The 3.7 A.A. guns used in the Battle of Britain were taken over to France on Invasion Day. Owing to the absence of enemy aircraft however, these guns have been given a new role, they are used to fire over the German positions in support of attacks by our infantry, as shown here."
I do hope the above is of interest to visitors to your site. I am as you will appreciate extremely proud of my grandfather – and especially today which is the anniversary of his death.
Debbie
Debbie, many thanks. Unless I'm doing something wrong, it's very hard to find out if this photo is actually for sale on the Imperial War Museum website. Searching with the keywords "Ack Ack" brings up only four images, none of which is this one.
Hi Patrick……. Many thanks to Debbie for posting the IWM neg. no. for this photograph. I will pursue this with IWM.
The picture captures perfectly the incredibly hostile conditions and heavy physical demands required of heavy AA gun crew .
The precise teamwork and sheer brute strength required of these guys to achieve up to ten rounds per minute ( on a totally manual system ) speaks volumes for the quality of these men.
Totally ignored by WW2 filmakers the important contribution these men made to the defence of this country particularly during the blitz has been largely forgotten.
How tragic that George Jacksons' crew were killed in those circumstances so near to the end of the war. The bond between the members of these crews would have been very strong indeed. George Jackson must have been devastated.
Does anybody know What does the abreviation "ARL sight" stands for in relation to the 3.7 AA guns.
Regards
John
ARL might stand for Admiralty Research Laboratory. There were a numbe of AA gunsights designed there by a Major Kerrison in the 1930/40s.
Just a guess but it might be right.
Regards
A Browser!
I meant to mention; I am also a Boltonian – or at least Walkden/Worsley and the family are from West Houghton.
The browser again!
My father was born in Conde sur Noireau in 1920
Somewhère i am enjoy to see that the History is not lost!