Churchill would return in bright sunshine and glowing optimism two weeks later, his third visit to Tac HQ. But the battle was not over and that evening of August 6th, the Germans counterattacked at Mortain. It proved to be a trap.

In later life the two great men would meet, as friends, to reminisce over tea at Chartwell.

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A period of poor weather shut down offensive operations and Churchill was impatient to come a second time, unhappy at a battle that seemed to be degenerating into a stalemate.

While at Tac HQ he learnt from his Ultra decrypts of the assassination attempt on Hitler, which at the time opened the possibility of an abrupt end to the war. it lifted his spirits

"They're starting to kill each other now," he quipped to the Canadian soldiers gathered to hear him at one of the prefabricated airfields, " but I suppose that just can't be helped."

He enjoyed himself so much his stay was extended to 4 days, which allowed him to visit troops, engineers and dockworkers, and examine the almost complete Mulberry Harbour (in the greatest secrecy) and see how it all worked.

Churchill was at his most relaxed when hosted by the Harbour Commander Rear Admiral Hickling at the Royal Naval Headquarters on shore, with an uninterupted view of the harbour. "There's one thing about the Royal Navy" Churchill said, "they always travel first class!"

He returned the hospitality by inviting the Naval officers to a well-oiled dinner party each evening on board HMS Enterprise.

He also visited the shattered city of Caen, recently liberated, and the Americans presented a vast unfinished underground V1 factory outside Cherbourg. Air Marshal Broadhurst took him up over the British positions in his own captured German Storch for a unique (and hazardous) view of the battlefield. All guaranteed "to please the old chap". Churchill returned to England reassured, and the next day the breakout in the US sector was planned....

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Indiscreet journalists in the Uk has indicated the whereabouts of Monty's headquarters, and after bombs fell nearby it was decided to move to Le Blay, a remote part of the "hedgerow country" near the village of Le Blay. A private airstrip was built to accomodate his Messnger airplane, and he acquired an extraordinary menagerie of caged birds, a cow, and 2 dogs, 'Hitler' and 'Rommel'...

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On 16 June King George VI landed at Juno beach to received by Montgomery, turned out in his best uniform, and not in his usual baggy corduroys. The King was treated to a "Monty Special" (a concise and clear account of the battle to date), then gave out medals. He returned to Courseulles but was not allowed to visit the Mulberry harbour for fear of German mines sown in the harbour overnight.

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Churchill finally stepped ashore on June 12, at Juno Beach, to be received by Montgomery on the beach and taken in his jeep to his Tac HQ at Creullet. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and Field Marshal Smuts, friend and Prime Minister of South Africa. The mood was optimistic, the weather sunny. The 5 D-Day landing beaches had coalesced into one expanding"lodgement area".

Impatient to get on with directing the battle, Churchill was taken to Courseulles and shipped off on Admiral Vian's launch to head east to visit Gold beach. He witnessed the first Whale Pierhead for the Mulberry harbour off Arromanches perform its lifting manoeuvres as the first floating roadway snaked out towards it. A naval bombardment at the shore was staged for the Prime Minister (using blanks as it turned out) off Sword beach, as he headed home to share experiences wth General Eisenhower, who had spent the day visiting General Bradley and the American beaches of Omaha and Utah. Churchill wrote by telegram to Roosevelt hthat he'd had 'a jolly day'..

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Montgomery addresses the King and the Overlord commanders at his old school Saint Paul's on May 15th 1944, to outline his "Master Plan". Churchill wants to interfere with the plan and four days later shows remorse after questioning Monty's judgement at Southwick House, Eisenhower's headquarters near Portsmouth. To everyone's dismay Churchill then announcees he wants to land with the troops on D-Day ahead of Monty. The King has to be asked to tell him not to be so silly. It takes two letters . The PM remains 'highly strung' and gloomy about the prospects, but is very moved when he visits the embarking troops. He will be allowed ashore 6 days later...

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