大象传媒

Having survived torpedoing in the Mediterranean I came home to go to HMS King Alfred to train as an officer in the RNVR. Passing out as a Sub Lieutenant and then becoming a full Lieutenant I was given command of a Tank Landing Craft. Our role in the invasion was to carry tanks in the first wave of the assault on the Normandy beaches.
The tanks alloted to me were known as 'DD' tanks - that is Dual Drive. They were ordinary tanks but were adapted to 'swim' in water. This was accomplished by fitting them with inflatable 'skirts' and propellers.
The plan was to launch them some miles off the beach at H-50 to arrive on the beach at H hour as close support for landing infantry.
When we arrived off France after a difficult crossing of the channel, we found that the sea was very rough and our Flotilla Lt.Cdr. instructed us to beach instead of launching. The Canadian Major in command of the tanks said to me, "We've practised launching all these monthsso we going to launch now!" So, off they went and happily they all got ashore eventually.
We were elated at their success and before withdrawing to our waitng position, all of the crew of ten - including the cook - took pot shots at the church tower of Courseilles sur Mer.
As soon as it was dark we joined a convoy returning to England. Arriving off Portsmouth, we anchored and I proceeded to the Signal Station. I was one of the first back and was ushered in front of the waiting senior officers. Never have I seen so much gold braid as they offered me - a humble Lt.RNVR - a chair and a cup of coffee and wanted me to tell them all about howit had gone!
That was the first of twenty seven crossings to France that we did, carrying everything from tanks to land mines to mobile washing facilities!

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