D-DAY: MEDICAL FIRST AID POST FLAG.

D-DAY: MEDICAL FIRST AID POST FLAG.
[Gifted by a Medical officer of the 61st Medical Battalion to a Mr Besain, near St Laurent sur Mer, Normandy, June 1944.]
Battle-worn Red Cross woolen flag. 1150 x 1770 mm. White ground with central red cross, 5 sets of cotton ties at the hoist for tying to a pole. Slightly discolored, considerable damage to the flag with tears and holes.
Provenance: The flag has an accompanying 1944 dated 5 franc note on which is written in ink "Drapeau du poste de premier secours du 61eme bataillon de medecine Americaine provenant de la plage del'invasion nomee Omaha. m'a ete donne en 1945 par un medecin officier Americain."; sold in 1968 by Mr Pierre Besain to a World War II collector.

The 61st medical battalion landed in the second wave on red sector of Omaha Beach, with the Infantry Divisions eventually gaining the cliffs by the end of the day. The medics moved their first aid post to a position near St Laurent sur Mer, on the eastern edge of Omaha Beach, where this flag was acquired by a local farmer.