The leftmost monument.

Monument

A rough-hewn stone monument bearing a rectangular white plaque providing a brief historical overview of the battle, detailing the events that took place as the 29th Infantry Division attempted to cross the Elle River after the D-Day landings. The text describes the strategic significance of the battle and the challenges faced by the American forces. There is also a map or diagram depicting the area of the battle, showing the positions of the American forces and the direction of their advance.

Source of photos:  www.google.com/maps

LA BATAILLE DE L’ELLE

THE BATTLE FOR THE ELLE

First Column:

La 29ème Division d'Infanterie U.S. (115ème, 116ème et 175 ème régiments), débarque les 6 et 7 juin 1944 à OMAHA BEACH, avec, pour première mission : captuter SAINT-LO le15. Dés le 9, le 175ème parvient sur les bords de la rivière l'Elle, à Moon sur Elle. Le 115ème n'arrive que le 10, à Sainte Marguerite d'Elle, ainsi que la 2ème Division d'infanterie à Cerisy la Forèt. Mais ces unités sont arrètèes par les testes de la 352ème Division d'infanterie allemande, rapidement fixèe sur l'Elle.

Le 12, après la plus fôrte concentration d'artillerie depuis le 6, le 115ème attaque au pont de la Pierre et au Pont Jourdan; mais il échoue. Vers 20 heures, le 116ème franchit la rivière au

Pont Jourdan et capture Saint Jean de Savigny et Saint Clair sur Elle. Le 13, Côuvains est atteint. Le 17, le front se stabilise et commence la ''Bataille des haies'',  jusqu'au 11 juillet: Le 18, la 29ème et la 35ème entrent dans Saint-Lô. Pour le franchissement de l'Elle, plus de 3000 obus ont été tirés. Les unités américaines engagées ont perdu 30% de leurs effectifs.

Second Column:

CE MEMORIAL EST DEDIE AUX SOLDATS DE LA 29ème DIV. INF. AMERICAINE. IL A ETE CONSTRUIT SUR UNE INITIATIVE PERSONNELLE AVEC L'AIDE DE BENEVOLES QUI VOULAIENT TEMOIGNER, LEUR GRATITUDE A NOS LIBERATEURS. VOUS QUI PASSEZ, APPORTEZ VOTRE PIERRE EN OUBLIANT JAMAIS.

THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE U.S. 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY PERSONAL INITIATIVE WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WHO WISHED TO EXPRESS THEIR. GRATITUDE TO THEIR LIBERATORS. TO THOSE WHO PASS, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WORK BY NEVER FORGETTING.

Maîtrise d'oeuvre, conception et don du terrain (Project manager, conception, and gift of land): CHESNEL Alain • Equipe de maçons (Masons) : CHAN Maurice, DENIS Gérard, DUBOSQ Georges, GUILLEMETTE Marcel, JEANNE Edouard, LABBE Pierre, LEBLONDEL Achille, MARIE Bernard, MARIETTE Daniel, OUTREQUIN André, OUTREQUIN Jean Jacques, THIEBOT Henri, VAUCLAIR Hippolyte.

Remerciements pour leur précieuse collaboration (Additional thanks for their invaluable contributions) : Mme De PUTHOD, Messieurs BEAUFILS, BESCH, CHAMBON, DEFORTESCU, DUPAIN, JOHNSTON, LA VIEILLE, LECACHEUX, LEFEVRE, LEGIRET, LESAGE, LETOURNEUR, LEVEEL, OUTREQUIN L. PEREZ, POISSON, RIVERS, TETON, YGOUF ainsi que LES PEPINIERES DE L'ELLE, les carrières de FUT à CAMETOURS. L'HERMITTE à HEBECREVON, GRENTE à PRECORBIN.

Remerciements particuliers à (Special thanks to) : Mr F.J. WAWRYNOVIC

Third Column:

The U.S. 29th Infantry Division (115th, 116th, and 175th regiments) landed on 6 and 7 june 1944 at OMAHA BEACH, with a primary mission to capture SAINT-Lô by 15 june.

On 9 june the 175th regiment arrived on the banks of the Elle River, at Moon-sur-Elle. The 115th arrived only on 10 june, at Sainte-Marguerite-d'Elle, while at the same time the 2nd infantry division took Cerisy la Foret. These units were held up by the remnants of the german 352nd infantry division which had rapidly concentrated on the Elle. On 12 june, following heavy artillery fires which began on 6 june, the 115th attacked at the Pont de la Pierre bridge and the Pont Jordan bridge, but the attacked failed. Around 20.00 hours, the 116th crossed the river at the Pont Jourdan and captured Saint Jean de Savigny and Saint Clair sur Elle. Couvains was taken on the13th.

On the 17th, the front stabilized and the ''Battle of the Hedgerows" began, lasting until 11 july. On 18 july the 29th division and the 35th division entered into Saint-Lô. Over 3000 artillery rounds were fired to support the crossing of the Elle, and the American units engaged lost thirty percent of their strength.