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Lt/Col P.H. Dunphie was P.A. to Sir Alan Brooke before being command of 13th Medium Regt, RA., a unit in 3rd A.G.R.A. When the Regt went to Normandy around 20th June, I was left in charge of the Residue Party of approx 20 soft skinned vehicles, some stores and a group of soldiers. Together with the Residue Parties of other regiments in 3rd A.G.R.A, we were billeted in the Warnes Hotel. On Field Service rations we fed very well and the hotel bar in the basement entrance functioned normally. Sgt Yoxall was a good class club cricketer from Studeley, while I played for the school 2nd XI at R.G.S., Worcester. From the A.G.R.A. Residue parties we assembled a useful team to play the local clubs in Worthing.

Bgdr Herbert enlivened things when he shot from the first floor at a seagull on the seawall. He took a single shot with a .22 rifle and of the local fishermen came up some steps rubbing his rump and blaspheming. Naturally no one could throw any light on what had happened, but he did feel better after a couple of pints.

Soon after our arrival we saw a number of the caissons for the Mulberry Harbour being towed down channel, but no one had any idea what they were. More exciting was the witnessing of a VI being shot down by a fighter plane perhaps a quarter of a mile off shore. And at a height of five or six hundred feet. The plane came in from a tangent from the rear, opened fire and there was a loud bang. By then we had hit the deck! This was probably a fairly early success for an aircraft and it would be interesting to check the date from the local newspaper office. Perhaps a dozen or twenty windows in the hotel and next door terrace of homes were blown in.

My movement order to proceed to Tilbury reached me the day before and I had to rush off to Brighton to collect some strays. Tessa O’Shea was performing her usual brand of comedy in the Theatre and the manager agreed to put out a call. There was a good response. While I was watching the stage a lady in the audience could not stop herself laughing loudly, almost hysterically. This spread to Tessa herself.

When we embarked on the ship at Tilbury everyone had appeared in that mysterious way that soldiers manage. Our landing on the beach in Normandy was uneventful. I had supervised the waterproofing, the final closures being made on the L.C.T., and we actually came down the ramp into about 18inches of water. Rather an anticlimax. We were directed up a track lined with barbed wire and minefields to an assembly area. I a large field I can only recall seeing three small groups of vehicles. One of these consisted of perhaps eight ENSA performers led by George Formby and Beryl. No one was receiving or looking after them, so I asked my cook if he could feed them. As usual there was no problem and we shared our main meal of the day. Afterwards he and one or two of the others have us a half hour show with his banjo and all the usual favourites.

And this took place less than fifteen miles from the front! I can’t recall George any reward or award commensurate with his courage and services to our soldiers.

Next day our small detachment rejoined the RHQ of our unit at Le Mesnil-Patrie, a journey of about twelve miles. There the 16 x 5ft5in guns of the regiment had been in action for several days. The village had been taken at heavy cost by the Canadians, probably on D+2. On the cross roads is a fine granite memorial to the dead of the two battalions involved — eighty or so names from each.

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