Now and Then: World War II – Pont l’Abbe, France
March 8, 2011
Posted in 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, Bootprints, Hobert Winebrenner, Normandy, Picauville France, Pont l'Abbe France, World War II
Tags: 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, Bootprints, Hobert Winebrenner, Normandy, Picauville France, Pont l'Abbe France, World War II
Last Thursday, we ran a post regarding a most interesting wayside cross. If you remember the site lies at the intersection of roads D-15 and D-24, just west of Pont l’Abbe in the Normandy region of France.
Hobert Winebrenner, author of BOOTPRINTS, and his unit, the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, helped liberate the area. Winebrenner actually lost a friend to a German sniper at that very same cross.
Oops! In last Thursday’s post, we included a picture of a postcard capturing the original erection of the crucifix from 1910. Only problem, it was the wrong wayside cross. Our dear friend and dedicated follower of the site, Tristan, brought this to our attention.
Let’s give this another try!
Again, many thanks to Tristan for not only setting us straight, but for also providing the wonderful historical photos of the proper wayside cross.
After scouring through the different views over time, I have no doubt that the photos are of the same site. But the question now becomes, when was the cross shortened? We can see from the older photos, that the crucifix once stood much taller. But by World War II, it was nice and stout. Any ideas? Maybe a storm knocked it down?