大象传媒

Fox Troop of 318 Battery having gone on separately to land on D-Day the rest of the Regiment and transport embarked on 3rd June at London Docks and were due to land on D+1 to reinforce them in defending Pegasus Bridge from air attacks.Overnighting off Southend our convoy set sail on 6th June.The escorting vessel ordered our captain to lower the barrage balloon to avoid detection from Calais but were passing Dover at midday when a loud explosion forward of the bridge from two 15 inch shells fired from Calais set the ship and deadly cargo on fire.Attempts made to put the fire out were of no avail and we set about putting ammunition overboard to lessen more the damaging explosions already occuring.I was at the aft end of the ship and one of our number was severely wounded in the back from shrapnel.He was unable to walk and when the order came to abandon ship we lowered him over the side by rope but did not think he had much chance of survival.He did survive and some years later he spproached me in the street.If Billy Oakes is reading this he'll remember it well!We left the ship down ropes and were eventually picked up after trying to climb aboard one of the naval escort ships but had become too weak in the cold water to do so.Apparently 83 people did board and they were taken on to the beaches and returned three days later.We were landed at Dover and taken to Dover Castle and kitted out in a variety of sized uniforms.The Regiment eventually arrived at Aldershot,was re fitted and we met up with Fox troop at last on 29th June. Recent information found on the Internet showed there were 150 casuallties from all units on board.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.