大象传媒

Written on behalf of Henry Thorndyke by Crawley Library.

As a volunteer for the Royal Navy entry day was 7/12/1942, HMS Ganges. After initial training we were drafted to Troon in Scotland, where we picked up an LCT which was converted for anti-submarine device. From there we made our way to Scapaflow where we laid alongside Capital Ships including American ships where we dropped nets as an anti-submarine device.
Having spent some time in Scapaflow, we were then drafted South for the build up for D-Day and then we were drafted back to Scotland for training. This entailed for the use of weaponry used by other forces, other than the Navy. Looking back, this training was essential in case as Naval ratings, we were used on the beaches if wanted.
I was then drafted to an LCT flotilla, stationed on the River Dart, about a fortnight before the D-Day landings. We then picked up American personnel including Sherman tanks, also American personnel that were going to be deployed clearing the beaches ahead of the main landing.
We transferred these to LCA鈥檚 where they were then deployed as trained for beach-head demolition.
The beach heads by this time were being shelled by Capital ships and what sticks in my memory as our flotilla of LCT鈥檚 with the American personnel and tanks were making for the beach head, the crews of the Capital ships with battle ensigns flying were cheering us as we started for the beaches. We landed as planned, and then made our way back to Weymouth, where we loaded up Air Force personnel and back to the beach heads. This we carried on doing for the ensuing weeks, until the build up was completed.
I always remember the gale that demolished the Mulberry Harbour as such. This is where the landing craft were most useful, as we were used to ferry personnel and equipment onto the beach from ships laying off the beach head.

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