大象传媒

This story was submitted to the Peoples War Site by volunteer John C Haywood 大象传媒 Radio Lincolnshire Action Desk on behalf of Mr Ronald George Lamming, and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Lamming fully understands the site terms and conditions.

PART 2
Tuesday 6th June 1944
12.00Hrs
Heavy explosions are coming from the shore and the troops are apparently meeting strong opposition on the beach-head, while all the time landing craft are heading for the shore. A few of the craft are drifting about helpless, one can be seen with a heavy list, she has been taken in tow by a sister ship.

14.00Hrs
Bombardment still heavy and landing craft are still heading for the shore. The ship shakes with heavy explosions and I think the ships company would welcome a wash and a shave. Five amphibious 'Ducks'are floating by helpless. No one seems to be aboard them, except one with two U.S soldiers on it which has been taken in tow by one of our motor launches attached to our flotilla.

21.00Hrs
Troops still landing - aircraft still shuttling back and forth - all aircraft are painted with black and white strips for identification purposes. I wonder how long it will be before he paints his the same.

23.00Hrs
At last, the long awaited attack by the enemy is taking place, what a reception he gets. The sky is lit with the flak from the fleet. A plane has just swooped down over the ship, and crashed down into the sea with a terrific explosion near to one of our landing craft, at first it seemed to have struck it.

Wednesday 7th June
All night long we have been at action stations and we could do with a good nights sleep, necks and backs are sore through constantly wearing life belts and all essential gear, still no one moves to take them off.

08.30Hrs
We now go out to do some more mine sweeping.

09.00Hrs
One mine goes off by HMS Ready

10.00Hrs
In the last half hour we have swept up 12 mines, 2 by Ready who has again lost her sweeps, she falls astern again to repair them. We have bagged 4 of the 12 bringing our total to approximately 15, and the whole flotilla have swept up 51. As we sweep, landing craft full of troops are still passing by, what a reception for them.

10.20Hrs
Action stations, aircraft.

10.50Hrs
Secure

17,00Hrs
Quiet afternoon, those off watch are taking the chance of two hours sleep. Ships of all description are passing by all day long. We learn officially that the coast line invaded, is the strech between Le-Havre and Cherbourg, although every one has already guessed so.

18.00Hrs
Our screws are fould by drifting Dan buoys, and we drop astern to clear them. While attempting to do this we also foul the other propeller - sitting target for jerry.

18.30Hrs
Screws cleared, under way again.

18.45Hrs
Body of airman drifts past ship, and we learn that 26 enemy aircraft were shot down last night.

19.00Hrs
On our way back to the French coast. Large hospital ship and a hugh convoy on way back home. Two or three flotillers of sweepers are also on the job with us.

20.00Hrs
Just cleared two mines, four mines floating by unexploded. We have been detailed to finish them off - mines sunk by rifle fire, we also had the anti-tank gun out.

22.10Hrs
We can now see flashes and hear explosions as we draw nearer the French coast, convoys coming and going.

23.45Hrs
Smoke screen put up by all ships, reason not known. We are now at anchor, all mine sweepers are forming a gigantic defence around the beach head coast. Air-raid in progress - terrific barrage going up ashore, wreckage and bodies float pass ship.

23.50Hrs
Smell of fuel oil about.

24.00Hrs
Enemy aircraft directly overhead, but seems to be making it's way towards beach head, heavy barrage still going on.

Thursday 8th June
Enemy aircraft kept us off our sleep last night, though some of us managed two hours rest, could do with a damm sight more though.

05.30Hrs
Big convoy passes going shoreward, large concrete blocks towed by tugs also pass.

06.30Hrs
Two big French battle ships pass us going in.

07.30Hrs
Another big convoy going in.

08.00Hrs
Out again sweeping Channel for convoys to come through.

10.30Hrs
Action stations - submarine for a change, two 'U' boats reported on surface, we search and have no luck.

11.00Hrs
Secure, tot time, every one is fed up with carrying this gear around and only taking it off for a hurried wash. Most of the boys are thinking of home and wishing they could just get word home to say they are O.K.

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