#ww2walkingtheground #jamesholland #almurray British historians Al Murray and James Holland are walking the ground in Les Mésières, Normandy, near Utah Beach, retracing the incredible D-Day action of Staff Sergeant Harrison Summers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne division. In a feat easily equal to those of the more famous ‘Band of Brothers’, Sgt Summers won an Distinguished Service Cross for eliminating a German gun garrison in an almost single-handed display of courage and determination. Historian James Holland and Al Murray walk through Les Mésières looking for the ‘WXYZ’ complex that was Sgt. Summers’s objective. They study the layout of the buildings and the surrounding fields comparing what they see to the post-action reports, and quickly realise that the standard description of how Summer’s action unfolded is flawed with discrepancies only able to be revealed by walking the ground. Watch as they excitedly put forward an alternative version of the path taken by the heroic Sergeant Summers on the morning of June 6th 1944.
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Episode Notes:
On June 6, 1944, time was running out for Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Cassidy. His 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, had yet to achieve its D-Day objectives: securing defensive positions north of Causeway 4 off Utah Beach and clearing the German barracks at Les Mésières, known as the “WXYZ” building complex. Cassidy dispatched Staff Sergeant Harrison Summers with 15 unfamiliar men to clear the barracks. At 0900, Summers charged into WXYZ, but most of the men hesitated, prompting Summers to make a daring solo assault on the first building, where he kicked down the door and took out four Germans as they fled. He repeated this fearless act at the second building. By the third, he gained support from Private William Burt and another soldier, who was sadly killed, leaving Summers to face the enemy alone. When Private John Camien questioned his solo charge, Summers boldly declared, “They don’t want to fight, so I’ve got to finish it.” Inspired, Camien joined him, and together they vanquished the remaining foes. This intense action spanned five hours, with Summers accounting for nearly three dozen Germans killed and many captured. Afterward, a shaken Summers remarked, “Not very good. It was all kind of crazy.” For his exceptional bravery, he received the Distinguished Service Cross and later a battlefield commission. Despite determined advocacy, the Medal of Honor eluded him, possibly due to disbelief that one man could achieve so much. Summers rarely spoke of that fateful morning. “He was just quiet,” his son recalled. After retiring from the mines in Rivesville, West Virginia, most of his coworkers were unaware of his heroic wartime service. Summers was laid to rest in Marion County, West Virginia, in 1983.
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Do we know what happened to the 2 “kind” Germans in the cupboard? 🙁
The video game Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 covered this action in the chapter 'Operation XYZ'.
World War 2 Wayfinder did a video on this action two years ago – and it looks like he was in Les Mezieres – I can't be sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2UKvwarL1U
https://youtu.be/IDai0OEEOM0?si=iR3xvsnLyWBsfcU0
Same story, some different buildings. The "mess hall" doesn't match up.
Fantastic
I felt the pain in those old knees as they jumped at the end
Great stuff lads, really enjoyed this. Brings the story to life 😊
So many relatively unknown yet unbelievable small unit actions took place in Normandy we will never know about. The fighting at dead man’s corner springs to mind, 5 vs a company sized German element, artillery and mortars
What's the TV series they referenced? I think the video game Brothers in Arms covers this action, but I couldn't track down a TV series.
You guys nailed it with this episode. Simply great. Loved it. Keep up the good work 👍
Amazing story, there must be others out there that just aren't widely known. Surely few people knew about Brécourt Manor prior to BoB?
A couple of weeks ago I made a comment on a video about not being able to find things on the map (think it was Hill 112?). This one was so much better, I was able to find the spots you were filming from, so I was able to see the land almost first hand. Thank you.
You two…
Hard not to like you with your enthusiasm, humour and shenanigans.
Been coming here for years 😉😎
Been there, done that, but no T-Shirt. On June 6 1984 tried this very same walk, with my late friend Dick Davidson.I had a more detailed account than the one Al is using in this vid. Cannot recall, precisely, the source of that detailed account. At the time was pretty confident that we had identified the first house Summers stormed and the building where the Germans were eating breakfast.
Is that the grass knoll where the 2nd gunman was? Who knew it was in Normandy. Well done guys! You deserve a cuppa.
Really wish I could join you on your walk abouts, the things you could learn and the laughs you could have. One thing I can not stop thinking is "what would the pub land lord make of all this".
Hey, hey, hey…I'm pretty sure Matt Baker did this with pvt Hartsock..
@ww2wayfinder tells this story so well on his channel
Hey guys, just wanna same this Is an absolute great series your doing, this episode is depicted is a game called brothers in arms on the Xbox , follows the 502 though Normandy and you can play wxyz as summers
Knowing of Mr Holland’s penchant for military jackets, does anyone know what he’s wearing in this episode?
Not being funny lads, but the Harrison Summers story should not really come as any kind of revelation for anyone who has studied D-Day in any kind of structured manner. There were plenty of sources readily available when I included a chapter on the story published in my own book over a decade ago. Night Drop, Vanguard of the Crusade, Koskimaki, RDV with Destiny – these are all core texts which anyone shoud be aware of when looking at the 101st Airborne in any kind of detailed way.
So peaceful there, but I can really picture the action being described. So cool! 👍 (Am I the only one who pictures history in black and white? )
Fantastic series guys. I can't believe the Germans were busy eating. I know it would of been a very confusing day but they would of heard gunfire clearly from the short distance away they were. No wonder they lost the war if that the quality of soldiers they were.
Might be the best episode yet!