Le Bourg Saint Leonard

Pre-war frontal view of Place de l'arbre de la Liberté. Archdoor clearly visible.
Pre-war frontal view of Place de l'arbre de la Liberté. Archdoor clearly visible.
Place de l'arbre de la Liberté. An M5 gun of 607 TD is pointing towards Chambois, 15 or 16 August 1944. The crew consisting of Pfc William J. Pierson and Cpl John J.Blair of C Coy. Third one unidentified (not on dutyroster). Shutters provide some camo.
Place de l'arbre de la Liberté. An M5 gun of 607 TD is pointing towards Chambois, 15 or 16 August 1944. The crew consisting of Pfc William J. Pierson and Cpl John J.Blair of C Coy. Third one unidentified (not on dutyroster). Shutters provide some camo.

Room for improvement! At the right side of the picture you see a part of the rebuilt building with the archdoor seen above. Click for StreetView.
Room for improvement! At the right side of the picture you see a part of the rebuilt building with the archdoor seen above. Click for StreetView.
Tanks passing Le Bourg to Dreux and Paris (currently the D926). Matchpoint is the building in tha background. Click for StreetView.
Tanks passing Le Bourg to Dreux and Paris (currently the D926). Matchpoint is the building in tha background. Click for StreetView.
Same location today (2011).
Same location today (2011).

A Sherman M4 tank having its turret turned towards Chambois, the MP directing that way too. Chambois has still to be liberated!
A Sherman M4 tank having its turret turned towards Chambois, the MP directing that way too. Chambois has still to be liberated!
It wasn't really easy to track this one down. The roof lining at right gave the right spot, at the roundabout direction Dreux, D926. The Renault van does not seem that threatening anymore. About the same spot as pic above! Click for StreetView.
It wasn't really easy to track this one down. The roof lining at right gave the right spot, at the roundabout direction Dreux, D926. The Renault van does not seem that threatening anymore. About the same spot as pic above! Click for StreetView.

Columns coming from Argentan, on their way to Paris, a motorist looks back to check if all is going well.
Columns coming from Argentan, on their way to Paris, a motorist looks back to check if all is going well.
A picture taken in 2011 from a somewhat lower point of view (no tank avaliable to stand on), again tells nothing really changed during 65 years. Click for StreetView.
A picture taken in 2011 from a somewhat lower point of view (no tank avaliable to stand on), again tells nothing really changed during 65 years. Click for StreetView.

The view from the (current) roundabout towards Argentan. The white building behind the top of the jeep is the white building in the pic above on left! The tree is L'arbre de la Liberté.
The view from the (current) roundabout towards Argentan. The white building behind the top of the jeep is the white building in the pic above on left! The tree is L'arbre de la Liberté.
The same location in 2011. They even planted a new tree! Click for StreetView.
The same location in 2011. They even planted a new tree! Click for StreetView.

The shortly liberated inhabitants gather around the Sherman tank. The white building was rather hard to locate, both the horizontal brick lining and the uneven spacing between the windows brought the solution!
The shortly liberated inhabitants gather around the Sherman tank. The white building was rather hard to locate, both the horizontal brick lining and the uneven spacing between the windows brought the solution!
The glory of 1944 completely wept away, this house has seen historic scenery! Click for StreetView.
The glory of 1944 completely wept away, this house has seen historic scenery! Click for StreetView.

Close to the (current) roundabout, this M10 points down the road to Chambois, the current D16 nowadays. People are happy and admiring their liberators.
Close to the (current) roundabout, this M10 points down the road to Chambois, the current D16 nowadays. People are happy and admiring their liberators.
Same situation some 65 years later (2011). Machpoints were the rooflining of the house on the left and the small dormer of the 'long house' at the roundabout (in 1944 a Notary house). Click for StreetView.
Same situation some 65 years later (2011). Machpoints were the rooflining of the house on the left and the small dormer of the 'long house' at the roundabout (in 1944 a Notary house). Click for StreetView.

The match is made. See original postcard on top of page.
The match is made. See original postcard on top of page.