大象传媒

H. M. S. Princes Astrid. D. Day and After.
2-6. D Day, the day the landing will take place on Western Europe, is a matter of days now. The preparations are fantastic, and it seems nothing has been forgotten. Hundreds of Tank Landing Craft all full. All Landing Ships full of Troops and in good working order. Lots of us, known as Landing Ships Infantry, including large Glen Ships and Empire Ships, Pre War Passenger Liners, who carry two or three thousand troops each. Smaller Ships such as ours carrying 300 troops each, will land Troops on the beaches first, with the larger Ferries and all kind of Ships which did short runs to the Continent before the War. The security all over the South Coast is good, no Civilians who do not live here allowed. Service men in the area not to go out of the 20 mile radius. All Troops taking part are confined to Barracks, or Ships. No all night leave for the Navy. Hundreds of Tugs just over from the US are here. Miles of Pontoons, ready to be towed across. Dozens of Concrete and Brick floating Jetties, which are going to be towed across to make an harbour. Large Floating Cranes which travel under their own power, armed with Oerlicon Guns. Motor Launches and Motor Torpedo Boats, by the hundred. Queer Ships that no one can guess what they are to be used for. Pontoons under their own power will take tanks, and all sorts of gangways for landing stores etc.
Around Southampton there are hundreds of thousands of Troops, who can be moved in a few hours with full equipment. Thousands of Tanks, Lorries etc. are lining the roads and filling the fields. It is impossible to get stores down here as all the Store houses are full ready to be taken to Europe.
Planes fly over every day, mostly about 20 at a time, going over, bombing the beaches and returning. We have had two or three Air Raid warnings at night during the past week. German planes trying to take photo's, but all ships possible make smoke, and fire AA guns, as well as shore batteries, manned by the Home Guard and the Army. The air raids are not a bother, apart from us having to get up in the middle of the night, although the smoke gets in ones eyes, and it is sometimes impossible to get below decks for above an hour at a time.
We hear Ships in other Ports are as many as here. Falmouth is a U. N. base, and although smaller, is much the same as this one in the way of Ships etc. Also Portland and New Haven. There are dozens of RN Ships of all types in Portsmouth. Mail is taking 8 days and more to come from north of London. We are not allowed to send telegrams or make private phone calls, and all letter have to go through the Censor on board and ashore.
No 4 Commando came aboard today. Lord Lovat came aboard to speak to them. 1200, Left Southampton and anchored at Spithead in the order we are to move off in.
3-6 It really is a wonderful sight in the Cowes Roads to see all the ships on either side of us ready to go. There are still a few Landing Ship Tanks to be loaded but all will be finished tomorrow. The weather is not quite suitable, but the glass is going up, and we think it should be alright by tomorrow night. Planes have been going over to France in large numbers and we hear they are giving the French coast a two day pounding before the landings. The Royal Navy will be bombarding the Beaches for four hours before the first Troops land, and for one hour after further inland.
Our force consists of one Cruiser and numerous Escort Vessels. In charge of LSI's is HMS Glenurn. Second in command is our ship. Then comes three Empire Ships, Cutlass, Broadsword and Battleaxe. and lastly the Maid of Orleans. As I write this and all yesterday there have been explosions. The coast of France is 80 miles away, and we think it is coming from there. It must be the RAF dropping bombs and it sounds like a continuous rumble.
As yet most of us and the Commando's aboard do not know where we are going to land. All officers do. The Troops have maps but no names of places on them. They all have French money and do not expect to be in France more than eight days. All our Flotilla of LCA's have their cases packed in case they don't come back, and have to take a small bag with them containing change of underwear etc., in case they are away for a few days. Every preparation has been made to abandon ship as quickly as possible, even down to the money in the Canteen which is to go to a hospital in London if we are sunk.
The Commando's carry a large pack weighing from 80 to 120 pounds. One has a pack heavier than himself, and another a pack plus a fold up Motor Scooter, which weighs 90 pounds, is 3/4 HP and does 15 MPH.
At 1900 today a Motor Launch came right up to the Ship and passed down the Starboard side about four yards away. I was on watch and the upper deck was deserted as it was meal time. Winston Churchill., the Prime Minister stood up and gave the V sign, smiling all over his face with the usual cigar in his mouth. He seemed to be having as look at all ships.
At 2000, it looks as if all Tank Landing Craft are loaded, and in line ready to go. Tugs have been coming out of Southampton all day and going to the front of the line which is out of sight. There will be hundreds of Ships before us, such as Mine sweepers, Motor Launches etc. Although our Troops will be the first Infantry on the beaches.
4-6. It is fairly rough today, too rough for Landing Craft on the beaches. Tonight according to the story, we should have moved and the Second Front started tomorrow. The Troops were to have a compulsory sleep this afternoon, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
The 大象传媒 says targets were raided by our aircraft in the Bologne area. Everyone is given a printed message from Dwight Eisenhower.
5-6. 0640. Into Southampton for Oil and Water. The place is nearly empty of Ships. 1230, Went to same anchorage. at Spithead. Landing Craft have been moving out all day. 1630, Captain spoke to Ships Company. We are going to land on the French Coast. Our convoy with an escort of one Cruiser and six Destroyers is going to the left hand flank of all the beaches. The LCA's leave the Ship at 0610 tomorrow and touch down on the beach at 0750. We are to wait for LCA's to return to the Ship. There are Shore Batteries on the beach, 9'2" guns mostly, but there are some 15". It is the job of the 4th Commando to take the beach and destroy the shore batteries. 200 Bombers to bomb our beach before landings. 10,000 planes used in the operation tomorrow. Six tenths of Landing is British, the rest American. 4,000 Ships of Allied Navies taking part on first landing. A bombardment of our beach by Battleships Warspite and Ramelles, Five Cruisers and a number of Destroyers, as well as Landing Craft Flack, fitted with two 4-7" guns and 800 Rockets. As long as we get the Troops ashore nothing else matters. If we are hit before the Troops leave we have to try to get them into the LCA's to carry out the landing. On no account is any Ship or Landing Craft to stop to pick up survivors on the way in to land. Loss of life does not count as long as we get the Troops to the beach. There will be US Coast Guard Cutters there specially to pick up survivors.
After the Captain spoke, a talk was given to the 4th Commando's by Col Dawson. First of all amphibious tanks go up the beach, then the RE's to clear a way through the mines. Then the Commando's take the beach and shore batteries and hold them, or blow them up. Some of the Commando's to advance across the river to meet up with Paratroops, which will be landed at Midnight. From then on no more instructions, and they have all day to join up with the Paratroops.
Captain speaks again over loud speakers. We are going for sure now. To the Bay de la Seine, landing the Commando's south of the River Seine and North of Courseulles.
At 2100 we weighed anchor and proceeded with HMS Glen Urn, MV's Empire Broadsword, Cutlass and Battleaxe. Maid of Orleans. Escorted by five Destroyers and one Cruiser. In one Convoy. Just one small part of the a gigantic Landing.
2140, Passed through Spithead Boom and proceeded at 15 knots, passing LST's towing pontoons and all kinds of landing craft. Hundreds of planes overhead heading for the beaches.
The Commando's are in high spirits and are all for getting at the enemy. We have 60 Royal engineers aboard now, who ere to be taken to the beach in landing craft who will join us at our anchorage.
2200, Ships Company to General Action Stations.
6 June. D Day.
From Midnight to 0200, Nothing to report.
0200. Passing through Minefield which has been swept clear by our Mine sweepers. Buoys are placed either side of a swept channel six hundred feet wide, which we must keep to. There are ten more channels for other convoys.
0500. Anchored, Troops told to prepare to land.
0515. Norwegian Destroyer Svenner, moving in about 50 yards from us has hit a mine or been Torpedoed amidships. One great column of smoke goes up and she breaks in two. Starting to go under amidships, within 30 seconds, forming a V with her fore and after ends.. In five minutes she has touched the sea bed, and the two halves are sticking up out of the sea about twenty feet. Rafts have been dropped and survivors are on them, cannot see many. A US Coastguard Cutter is racing to pick men up. I could see men jumping into the sea from the upturned bows. The Empire ships have sent one lot of LCA's to the beach. The US Cutter has picked up
survivors of the Destroyer and is going alongside Empire Broadsword. It is rough in the sea, so the Broadsword has lowered a life boat down to the Cutter, where the survivors transfer and are hoisted up. I count 15 men getting out of the lifeboat. Is this all out of the 250 men a Destroyer carries.
0610. Dropped LCA's with Troops. The sea is very rough, much too rough for a comfortable journey on the LCA's. A few RAF fighter planes overhead, but not many.
0630. Ships inshore laying smoke screens. LCI's coming alongside to take off Royal Engineers, are having a difficult time getting alongside, and have made three large dents in our side.
0645. HMS Warspite bombarding beach, and batteries on shore firing at her. She is getting enemy shells very close and is moving out of the way.
0700. Monitor HMS Roberts firing at shore batteries, and has silenced them. Battleships and Cruisers have stopped bombarding. Lots of planes overhead now. we can hear them over the clouds.
0720. First Troops land on the beach, and more noise than ever on shore. Landing Craft Flack with rockets opening up on beach.
0750. Out LCA's should be touching down now. Lots of noise from that direction.
0800. Aircraft laying smoke on beach.
0815. 4th Commando directing fire from Battleships and Cruisers, which do not fire so often now. Destroyer Svenner is about three feet above the water.
0830. Lots of LCT's moving in now to drop tanks and motors. Empire Broadsword has two LCA's back already.
0900. Destroyer dropping Depth Charges in distance, has contacted a submarine.
0930. Warspite, Ramelles and Robert firing as fast as they can, and getting replies from shore. Long range shore batteries are getting close to them and us.
1000. No 1 LCA coming alongside, very difficult to hoist with the sea being so rough. Tried the Starboard side, but had to move to Port side and managed to get hooked on the second attempt. One of the seamen knocked unconscious (AB Robert Field) with a block from the davit, and taken to sick bay on a stretcher. Maid of Orleans has five boats back.
1030. LCA No 2 Coming alongside with hole in stern six inches in diameter. One of the crew has been in the sea, and comes back with no pants on.
1035. Crewe of No 4 and 6 LCA's brought back in Landing Craft Mobile. Both boats sunk.
1045. No 3 and 7 LCA's return and are hoisted with difficulty. Reported No 5 sunk and have crew on board No. 7. No 3 have crew of No 8. So we have lost four LCA's, but all crews safe aboard. Battleships still bombarding beach.
1115. A LCT coming alongside us with her ramp blown away. One dead and two wounded taken from it. The dead man has no head and stomach. His brother is on the same ship and saw him blown up, but he is coming on here as we shall bury the dead at sea. Reports from the LST say that it is hell on shore, but landings going OK. Battleships still bombarding.

9th Jan 2002. From Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Casualty= Able Seaman Lawrence Batty, C/SR 8475. Served with H.M.L.C.T. 898 Royal Navy.
Died: 6 June 1944. Age 25, Son of Thomas & Charlotte Batty. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. Kent. 75,1.
The Memorial overlooks the town of Chatham and is approached by a steep path
from the Town Hall Gardens.
As a result of constant vandalism at the Memorial, the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission has had to arrange for it to be regularly patrolled and
public access limited to the period from 08.30 to 17.00.
Should for any reason the Memorial be closed during the stated hours, please
telephone the Guard Room at Brompton Barracks on 01634 822442 who will
arrange for the gates to be opened.
Any inconvenience to visitors is greatly regretted.
A copy of the Memorial Register is kept in the Naval Chapel of Brompton
Garrison Church and may be consulted there.
1130. LCT is secured to us with wire, but it has parted and we have had to use more wire to tie her up again. She is bouncing up and down a lot.
1145. The large Landing Ship Tanks are coming in now, and are being shelled from the shore.
The shells are bursting very close to us and are shaking the ship. May be shelling us as they are getting nearer to us than the LST's. The LCT we took in tow is moving away from us and is going to try to make it back to England, but is shipping water all the time. Not many planes overhead now.
1150. Pulled up anchor ready to move. All Ships ready to go back. Still being shelled. Out of this force of six ships over two thirds of their LCA's are missing. Maid of Orleans has lost 1 out of 6. Empire Broadsword, 11 out of 18. Empire Battleaxe 8 out of 16. Empire Cutlass 8 out of 18. Glenurn 18 out of 24.
1215. Air raid warning RED. Battleships and Cruisers have been quiet for a time. None of our planes over. No enemy planes over. We are not to fire at enemy planes, but leave them to the RAF.
1245. Less noise from the beach.
1315. Started to move away and back to Cowes Roads. Lots of explosions from shore, but very quiet here. Battleships etc. about five miles away from beach. LST's still going in.
1350. Going along French coast, shore batteries firing at us, and shells still close. Making smoke. HMS Rodney, one Cruiser and two Destroyers escorting us. Ten Coast Guard Cutters travelling with us.
1410. Shore batteries quiet. Stopped making smoke. Sea still very rough, but lovely clear sky. Cold out of the Sun.
1445. A few planes still going in. LST's still passing us on the way to the beach.
1600. Secured Action Stations. Cannot see any more ships apart from this convoy.
2000. Near to Spithead boom. LST's moving out with Pontoons in tow.
2030. Through boom. Lots of LST's moving out now. Hundreds of Transport Planes and Gliders going over. Have counted over 200, but they are still going past and look as if they will be for a time. A wonderful sight. A long line of them two or three deep as far as the eye can see.
2040. Issued with Post Cards to send home instead of a letter. They have priority over all mail.
2115. Anchored in Cowes Roads.
7th June. I have an cutting of an article of Opinion from the Express of June 7th. , and also one from The Fleet written by the Master at Arms, A.C. Armstrong about D. Day, dated January 1945.
Can now give information about the Landing from the LCA crews. The 4 LCA's were sunk by mortar fire. and there were lots of mines in their way which they were lucky to miss. The mines were on the sea bed, but had a floating top to them. When the top was hit the mine exploded with enough force to blow up a Tank Landing Craft. The four LCA's sank very slowly, and some of them were nearly back to the ship when they went down. Harry Kirkby who lives on Hyson Green, Nottingham, was Coxwain of No. 5 LCA, and he was half a mile from the ship when it went down. He was up to the waist in water before he gave up, and can hardly walk now because of bruises on his legs, and hip, which he doesn't know how he received. He told me later that while in the sick bay, at the side of him, they were picking bits of shrapnel out of the brother of Able Seaman Lawrence Batty. Petty Officer Flattery(Who won the DSM on the Destroyer Worcester and was Mentioned in Despatches at Salerno, for dashing up the beach with a revolver and shooting Germans) told his Crew to Abandon the LCA, and tried to save it by bailing water out, but couldn't manage it and it sank underneath him.
We have reports that the 4th Commando have reached their first objective, by capturing the shore batteries by 1030, and have reached what was left of the Paratroops. They had all day to reach the Paratroops, but crossed a river and managed it before Noon. The Paratroops objective was to keep two bridges intact and they managed that.
Yesterday we picked up an SOS from the Hospital Ship Dinard. She had struck a mine and went down not long after. Today the Hospital Ship St Julian came in being towed from astern and well under the water at Cowes.
Last night and this morning other LSI's came in and they all seem to have lost more LCA's than our flotilla. Princess Charlotte 7 out of 8, and one man killed. MV Victoria lost 5 out of 6. HMS Prince Henry (Canadian) lost 5 out of 8, and HMS Prince David (Canadian) all 8, with 43 casualties.
HMS Prince Albert didn't go on D Day, but was to have made a landing this morning with Royal Marine Commando's, which were to take the heavy batteries near Le Havre. When they got there the Navy had already put them out of action, so they landed the Troops on the same beach as ours. They couldn't get near the beach for sunken LCA's and LCT's. Hundreds of dead in the water.
The Captain spoke tonight, and said we were to do raids up the coast. He had volunteered along with the Captains of our sister ships. If not that, we are to transport Troops to the beaches.
8-6. Weather not too good. Most of the LSI's will be working what they call "Turn About" which will be ferrying Troops to France. Not many Ships seem to have been lost. Glenurn and Glengile went across loaded with 200 Troops each.
9-6 Most other ships doing a Turn About routine.
10-6. Maid of Orleans taking 1000 Black Watch to Normandy.
11-6 Captain spoke to Ships Company. Still doesn't know what we are going to do. Went ashore in Cowes.
12-6. 0530, Left Cowes with Prince Albert and MV Isle of Thanet. 1030, Anchored outside harbour at New Haven. 2200 Went alongside for oil.
13-6. 0900, 541 R E's, Royal Core of Signals and R A's came aboard. 1500, Anchored outside harbour.
14-6. 0300, Left New Haven. 0830m, Action Stations. 1130, Anchored half a mile from beach in Caen area. 1200, Secured Action Stations. Disembarked Troops in LCA's and two LCI's.
Reports from LCA crews coming back from beach say the beach is clear of Landing Craft, but there are lots of damaged Tanks. Have counted 450 Flying Fortress heavy bombers going over and can hear a constant rumble of bombs dropping. Hundreds of ships off the beach unloading all kinds of
vehicles and stores. Battleships and Cruisers still bombarding North of us. 1730, Left Caen area. 1800, Action Stations while going through minefield. 2100, Secured Action Stations.
15-6 0100, Anchored at Cowes. Oiled later in day.
16-6. 0500, Left Cowes with Prince Bedouin. 0900, Anchored outside harbour at New Haven. 2130, Went alongside jetty.
17-6. 565 Troops of different regiments came aboard. 2200, Anchored outside harbour.
18-6. 0300, Left New Haven. 0800, Action Stations while passing through minefield. 1130 Arrived Caen area. Secured Action Stations. 1600, disembarked Troops. 1800, Left Caen area. Saw HMS Rodney hit mine. No damage and casualties. Lots of ships being mined now. 2000, Action Stations 2130, Secured Action Stations.
19-6. 0200, Anchored at Cowes. LCT came in today with stern hanging off, hit by mine. Very rough on beaches today.
20-6 MS Glenroy came in being towed, hit by mine. LST came in hit by bombs or shells. LST's coming back from France full up as it is too rough to land.
21-6. 0745. Left for Southampton, alongside jetty. Oiler came alongside. Gave us 150 tons of Diesel oil instead of Crude. Had to have it pumped out again. Embarked 331 RASC and Misc. Troops. 1800, Anchored at Haslar, Oiled. 2015, Left Haslar.
22-6. 0200, Anchored at Spithead outside boom after hitting Tanker head on. 0400, Left Spithead with Prince Albert and five other LSI's. 1330 Anchored near Trouville. Cruisers still bombarding Le Harve. Too rough to land Troops, moved to Caen area. Disembarked Troops. Cruisers here bombarding Caen. Flying Fortress Bombers dropping bombs in distance. Smoke miles high. Embarked RN Beach Parties. and 4 War Correspondents to take back to England.
23-6 Three air raids during night. Lots of bombs and mines being dropped by enemy planes. Very heavy AA fire sent up by ships here. 0900, Left Caen area with Prince Albert and two other LSI's. 1500, Arrived Cowes, disembarked passengers.
25-6. Divisions and Church. Air Raid on Southampton by V1 Rocket Bombers at 2030, which lasted all night.
26-6. 1200, Left Cowes and anchored off Yarmouth with Prince David, Prince Albert, Princess Charlotte and prince Leopold. No Shore leave.
27-6. Very rough sea today.
29-6. Boat races held between ships here. We came second on points of all races.
1-7. 0600, Left Yarmouth. 0730, Oiled and watered at Haslar. 1500, Anchored at Yarmouth. 2000, Very good Concert on board, done by Ships Company.
2-7. Divisions and Church. Shore Leave from 1000 to 2200. Dropped on beach to make our way to nearest place. Put request in to Captain for RADAR course.
4-7. 0900, Left Yarmouth. 1100, Alongside at Southampton. Embarked 498 US Troops.. 1630, Left Southampton, anchored outside boom near Yarmouth. Ships in company going to France are, Prince Henry, Prince David, Princess Charlotte, Ulster Monarch, Llangibby Castle and Mecklanburgh.
5-7. 0400, Left Yarmouth. 1000, Trawler about 200 yards away hit mine and was under in 39 seconds. Three survivors. 1300, Anchored Cherbourg area. 2100, US Merchant Ship near us hit mine. 1930, Left Cherbourg area after disembarking Troops. We had dozens of boxes of goodies on board for the US Troops, far better than we would ever get.
6-7. 0430, Anchored off Cowes. Heard that Empire Broadsword is sunk by a mine.
7-7. Saw Captain re RADAR Course. Recommendation forwarded. to RNB.
8-7. Germans are dropping a new kind of mine which cannot be swept up as they are on the sae bed. and come up when a ship passes over them. Have to do a very slow speed or a fast speed to be safe from them. Pressure of ships on the sea bed brings them up.
9-7. Divisions and Church. 1530, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton. Oiled and watered. 2000 Picked up 500 US Troops. 2130, Left Southampton. 2345, Anchored outside boom at Yarmouth.
10-7. 0400, Left Yarmouth with Duke of Wellington, Ben Mc Cree, Lairds Isle, Empire Lanie, Canterbury. 1600, Arrived Cherbourg area. Disembarked Troops.
11-7. Moved to Caen area. 1300 left Normandy. 2300, Anchored at Cowes.
13-7. 0930, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton. Picked up 532 RE's, RASC and Canadians. 1300, Left Southampton and anchored at Cowes. 2100, Left Cowes and anchored at Spithead.
14-7. 0400, Left Spithead with three Destroyer escorts., No other ships. 1300, Arrived Caen area with the Destroyers doing full speed. Disembarked Troops. 1600, Left Caen area. with one Destroyer escort, doing full speed. 2330, Arrived Cowes and anchored.
14-7. Shore Leave from 1300 to 1630 tomorrow, Sunday. Slept at Red Shield Club, London. V1 Rockets on London.
17-7. Very foggy in forenoon. 1845, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton. Embarked 498 US 9th Army Air Force. 2300, Left Southampton and anchored at Yarmouth.
18-7 0400, Left Yarmouth. 1000, Passed Cherbourg. Anchored just off Harbour made by sunken jetties and Merchant Ships. ( Mulberry) 14 LSI's on journey with us. 2300, Lots of gun fire in distance. We anchored near wreck of Empire Broadsword, marked with a green buoy and a red flag.
19-7. 1000, Left Cherbourg area with the same ships. very foggy most of the way. 2200, Anchored at Cowes.
20-7. 0900, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton Embarked 287 RAMC and 120 Naval Commando's, going back to France after 7 days leave. 1430, Left Southampton and anchored at Spithead.
21-7. 0400, Left Spithead. 1300, Arrived Caen area. and went inside the British built Mulberry Harbour. Fine piece of work. Sunken ships all round the concrete jetties. Disembarked Troops. 1700, Left harbour and anchored outside.
22-7. Two Air Raids during night. 0500, Air raid and attack by one man torpedoes. Destroyer dropping depth charges. 0630, Left Caen area with Ulster Monarch and Lady of Man, two Sloops and one Corvette escort. Ulster Monarch is a Mail Ship now. 1600, Anchored off Cowes. 23-7. 0700, Left Cowes. 1000, Anchored at Portland. oiled and watered. Embarked 576 US Infantry. All were wounded on the first few days of invasion and are fit again.
24-7 0100, Left Portland with Prince Leopold and Empire Gauntlet. 0400, Joined four more ships off Isle of White. 0700, Passed Cherbourg. 1400 Anchored Cherbourg area. disembarked Troops. Embarked Two Commodores and Staff.
23-7. Enemy aircraft over twice during night. Lots of Anti Aircraft Fire. During the forenoon hundreds of planes over going to bomb front lines. Reports on Radio say 3000. 1000, Left Cherbourg area with Prince Leopold, Empire Gauntlet, Brigadier, Lady of Man, and Invicta. 2115, anchored at Cowes.
29-7. HMS Prince Leopold hit mine at 0710 on the way to Cherbourg area. was being towed back when she sank. 17 Killed, 6 Seriously wounded, 7 Slightly wounded. Shore Leave over week end.
2-8. 1300, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton. Embarked 473 US Dark Troops with White MP's. 1800. Left Southampton and anchored off Yarmouth.
3-8. 0400, Left Yarmouth with Queen Emma, Princess Charlotte, Biarrity, Lady of Man, Princess Maud and Troopship Cheshire. 1700, Anchored Cherbourg area. Foggy all day. Sea too rough to take off Troops.
4-8 Quiet night. 0630, Disembarked Troops. 0930, Left Cherbourg with Princess Charlotte and Princess Maud. Making good speed. Beat Charlotte in a race just before getting into harbour. 1900, Anchored in Cowes Roads. Does not seem to have been many ships going over to France this week.
6-8. Went bathing from LCA on beach.
8-8. 1200 Left Cowes and went alongside Town Jetty at Southampton. Embarked 467 US Dark Troops with White MP's. 1930, Left Southampton and anchored at Yarmouth.
9-8. 0330, Left Yarmouth with Queen Emma, Empire Rapier and Viking. 0800, Passed Cherbourg very close. 1300, Anchored Cherbourg area. Disembarked Troops. 1600, left beach and anchored at outgoing anchorage.
10-8. 1100, Left Cherbourg area with same ships. 2015, Anchored at Cowes.
12-8. Week end leave.
14 8. ENSA concert aboard.
15-8. Landing made on the South of France today.
16-8. Bathing on beach from LCA.
17-8. 1115, Left Cowes and went alongside at Southampton. Embarked 415 Canadian Infantry, Oiled and Watered. 1830, Left Southampton and anchored at Spithead.
18-8. 0400, Left Spithead. 1300, Anchored just off British Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches. Disembarked Troops. Ships in company were Ulster Monarch, Monaway, Isle of Thanet, Lairds Isle, and Princess Maud. With us in charge. 1800, Left Arromanches with same ships.
19-8. 0330, Anchored at Cowes. Told to pack my kit.
20-8. Left HMS Princess Astrid at 0830. Finished up not on a RADAR course but a Torpedo course.

I understand that later on the Princess Astrid sank when going alongside in Belgium.
Later on. 21st June 1949.
Dover -bound boat sinks near Dunkirk. 5 Missing, 15 Injured. Express Staff reporter = Dunkirk.
The cross Channel Steamer Princess Astrid, with 176 returning British holiday makers on board, struck a mine and sank four miles off Dunkirk this evening, What an unfortunate end. I have a copy of the article.

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