Advance from Arromanches by Simon Smith

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day: 1944 – 2019

Following the successful D-Day landings on the adjacent Gold Beach, a vast pre-fabricated artificial Mulberry Harbor was quickly assembled at nearby Arromanches, allowing British and Canadian reinforcements to pour ashore. Towed piece by piece across the Channel, assembled and ready for use within days of the invasion, the harbor – nicknamed Port Winston – would enable more than two and half million men, half a million vehicles and vast quantities of supplies to be landed before it was finally decommissioned at the end of the year, by which time the ports along the Channel and North Sea had been liberated.

Clearly visible in Simon’s detailed piece, the new ‘Mulberry’ is working flat out with reinforcements pouring ashore and one of the floating roadways being used to evacuate the wounded onto ships soon bound for England. In the foreground recently- arrived Sherman Firefly tanks from the 13th /18th Hussars climb away from the area as they move out towards the front line alongside infantry from The Devonshire Regiment. In the days to follow both regiments would fight with great distinction.

Easily identified by the long barrel of its British 17-pounder gun whose bright muzzle flash inspired its nickname, the ‘Firefly’ was considered the most deadly version of the iconic Sherman tank and, being the only Allied tank in Normandy with a gun powerful enough to penetrate the thick armor of the German Panther and Tiger tanks, it was greatly feared by the enemy.

Signatures:

Limited Edition: Joining artist Simon Smith in signing every print is a highly-regarded Tank Commander who served in Normandy:

Corporal GEOFFREY PULZER Ld'H - 11th Armoured Division, British Army

Anniversary Editions These four signature editions are additionally autographed by a further three veterans directly involved in the Normandy Campaign and the fighting around Arromanches:

Sapper GEORGE BATTS MBE Ld'H - Royal Engineers, British Army

Able Seaman BILL BENNETT - Merchant Navy, seconded to the Tombola Division of the Royal Navy

General Sir HUGH BEACH GBE KCB MC - Royal Engineers, British Army

Normandy Tribute Editions: With twelve signatures and an original pencil drawing! With all signatures of the Anniversary Edition, each print is issued with a separate specially commissioned original pencil drawing by Simon Smith which has been signed by seven Normandy veterans:

Private CHARLIE HILL - 6th Battalion Green Howards

Private BERT COOPER - 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

Private PATRICK STAFFORD - 1/7 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Trooper DON WALKER - Royal Tank Regiment

Private CYRIL ELLIOT - Royal Army Service Corps

Corporal GORDON DRABBLE - 1/6 South Staffordshire Regiment

Each unique drawing is conservation matted to include the original pencil signature of a famous veteran who served with distinction in Normandy:

Brigadier Sir ALEX STANIER BT DSO* MC - Commander of the 231st Infantry Brigade that spearheaded the assault on the west section of Gold Beach and played an instrumental role in the capture of Arromanches.