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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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D-Day Minesweeper: Onboard HMS Cockatriceicon for Recommended story

by Civic Centre, Bedford

Contributed by听
Civic Centre, Bedford
People in story:听
Alfred Ramus
Location of story:听
English Channel
Background to story:听
Royal Navy
Article ID:听
A2730728
Contributed on:听
10 June 2004

I was on board H.M.S. Cockatrice, an Algerine Minesweeper. On 5th June at 10am were left the Solent to clear the area of nearby sea nicknamed 'Picadilly Circus'. This was where the invasion force was to wait until being ordered to sail. The next day (D-Day) we lead the flotilla as we headed for our landing site, 'Gold Beach'. We had been told to expect heavy German bombardment, Admiral Ramsey had said that the first boats probably wouldn't stand a chance, but the only noise we heard on the crossing was our own planes flying overhead. The Germans didn't know we had arrived until our heavy guns opened fire. Once we had cleared the way for the invasion force our boats were ordered to put up a smokescreen around some of the battleships that were sitting of the coast fireing on the Germans. We spent the next few weeks escorting other boats across the channel and we also escorted the boats laying the 'Pluto' fuel line. I was never scared at the time. Maybe it was because I was only 19, but we never believed we'd get hit. After the war former sailors from the minesweepers formed a society called The Algerines, named after the boats we were on. Our founder member, Jack Williams, wrote a book called 'They Lead the Way', which told the story of the D-Day minesweepers.I am now one of the three surviving members.

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Message 1 - D Day Minesweeper Onboard HMS Cockatrice

Posted on: 29 July 2004 by jrknighton

MMS40 including my ship HMS Cynthia was also bottled up for many days in the Solent prior to D-Day. On D-Day, we also swept ahead of the battleships etc and afterwards did a good deal of sweeping off the French coast. At night, the whole flotilla anchored in line abreast off the mouth of Le Havre and were attacked all night by unmanned explosive motorboats, so they weren't very peaceful nights. ere you involved in any of this? and I should be pleased to hear more of your story.

John Knighton (My page is "Minesweeping with the Wavy Navy"

Message 2 - D Day Minesweeper Onboard HMS Cockatrice

Posted on: 21 August 2004 by wattsstuartt

Sorry Mr Knighton, I cannot say I was part of what you describe. However, I have found your post whilst researching HMS Cockatrice. My wife is head of Welton Primary School in Northamptonshire. We recently found a certificate from the Lords of the Admiralty, stating Welton Parish had adopted HMS Cockatrice in March 1943. I thought I would put together some details of the history and relate it locally for the Rememberance service the children will take part in in November. If you have any information you could relate to me I would be extremely interested. The research has 'touched' me, to the extent that I would love to know about the role of the vessel and what became of the men that sailed her. Please feel free to mail direct on stuart@ugrange.freeserve.co.uk
Many thanks!

Stuart Watts

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