8th Rifle Brigade - from Normandy to the Baltic - June 1944 - May 1945
AUDIO TAPES DON GILLATE
In the early 1990’s Don Gillate recorded his life on a large number of audio tapes. The 1944-1945 tapes – 12 hours in all – formed the basis for Don’s autobiography ‘With the 8th Rifle Brigade from Normandy to the Baltic’. These tapes (actually sides, of 45 mins. each) will eventually all be added to this site.
Tape 1:
Events before the invasion of Europe; up to Tilbury Docks; sailing for Normandy (Spring 1944).
Tape 2:
The Normandy beaches; the way to the war; Operation Epsom begins (13 – 25 June 1944).
Tape 3:
Cheux, a dead German; across the Odon, Hill 112 (25 – 28 June 1944).
Tape 4:
Hill 112, day 2; withdrawal; preparing for Operation Goodwood (28 June – 17 July 1944).
Tape 5:
Operation Goodwood; from Goodwood to Bluecoat (17 – 29 July 1944).
Tape 6:
Operation Bluecoat; Presles; Le Bas Perrier ridge (30 July – 4 August 1944).
Tape 7:
The end of the beginning; promotion; Falaise to the Seine (4 – 28 August 1944).
Tape 8:
Crossing the Seine; a nightly dash to Amiens; into Belgium (28 August – 3 September 1944).
Tape 9:
Antwerp; Antwerp to Vlierden (4 – 23 September 1944).
Tape 10:
The battle of Vlierden; Losing Vicary (23 September – 8 October 1944).
Tape 11:
A naval battle; rest and refit in Belgium; the Ardennes (8 October – 25 December 1944).
Tape 12:
The Ardennes; Christmas in January; back to Holland (25 December 1944 – 12 March 1945).
Tape 13:
Leave to Brussels; across the Rhine; the battle of Holtwick; leave (12 March – 17 April 1945).
Tape 14:
What happened during leave; torpedoed; a floating concentration camp (17 April – 3 May 1945).
Tape 15:
Prussian peacocks; it’s all over; a day out to Hamburg (May 1945).
Tape 16:
A new life!