Page 24 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Exercise NORMANDY SCHOLAR March 2021
OCdt Meadows
On Thursday the 4th of March, we began our virtual exploration of the Normandy landings. We started the day by analysing
the Battle of Merville Gun Battery, a key com- ponent of Operation Tonga, which contributed to the wider airborne operation. The Parachute Regiment was to drop a battalion in advance of the seaborne landings in order to disable heavy artillery pieces believed to be positioned at Mer- ville Battery. Due to a combination of inclement weather and poor pilot navigation, only a hand- ful of the force managed to meet at the desig- nated rendezvous. Having set the scene for us through impressive use of digitalisation, Dr Miller then advanced the leadership and tactical chal- lenges that the young commanders faced that night. We were able to transport our minds away from our rooms and into the heart of D-Day. We applied the combat estimate and discussed what course of action we would have under- taken had we been there, and our decisions were supported by the expert input from Captain Smee. Through satellite imagery, it was easy to imagine ourselves in Normandy, enhancing the authenticity of the exercise.
Following lunch, our journey continued with the seaborne assault of Gold Beach. We put ourselves in the shoes of Lt Thomas Lowe, a 25-year-old platoon commander in charge of the assault. We traversed towards the bunkers and conducted an assault vicariously through Dr Mill- er’s excellent narration and scene-setting. This exercise had a profound impact on our platoon as Lt Lowe was the same age as many of us.
We utilised the combat estimate once again in order to secure and clear La Riviere from Ger- man anti-tank bunkers which was hugely ben- eficial in honing our skills. We finished the day in true French fashion with delicious cheese and the most agreeable wine.
Following a night’s rest reflecting on the difficult decisions from the day prior, we continued our journey from the beaches further inland. Moving to St Pierre, we were offered the opportunity to practice our defensive skills. We were confronted with the challenging task of halting the German advance and targeting key bridges.
To conclude our tour, we moved to Hill 112, a key component of Operation Jupiter. The British advance went well, but the Germans launched effective counter-attacks on the Hill, a com- mon feature of their doctrine. We once again employed our defensive expertise in order to overcome these difficulties.
Having been the first platoon ever at Sand- hurst to conduct this exercise virtually, and perhaps the last, we felt that this was a rather exclusive experience. Admittedly, having heard how momentous this trip had been for previ- ous OCdts, we had our doubts about a virtual experience. The academics, however, made an exceptional effort in bringing the presentation to life through the use of Google Earth. Overall, it was an excellent few days and the stories and lessons learnt will remain etched in our memory for many years to come!
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