大象传媒

Our task on d-day was to clear the beaches at Arrowmanches, including command posts etc, therefore we were among the very first to attack the beaches. I served on LCG11, we were on emergency food rations. Among the many craft which were sank were a number of yankee craft, and of course food ration boxes, quality absolutely out of this world - so naturally if one floated anywhere near, you tried to hook it and drag it aboard. The enemy made good copies of these supply boxes, but filled with high explosives, a number of ships were sank by this method.

Some days after the initial landings, a terrible storm broke out, a number of capital ships took refuge from this storm in the pre-fabricated harbour. Landing craft, because of poor manouverability were deemed to be a possible danger to capital ships, so were expandable and had to weather the storm. The storm had caused considerable damage to sails, winches etc on deck, and while we had all anchors down to hold us, an enormous concrete section of harbour broke loose and was rapidly making its way towards us. Absolute panic broke out, trying to raise anchor, the winch was twisted and it was difficult to get the cable on board, we had to lose anchor just in time to save the ship.

Later we had to form what was known as the Trout Line, this was a semi circle of ships stretchinmg from the British held coastal area to enemy held area. This was deemed essential to stop enemy craft leaving. To arrive at this position we had to float across an acoustic mine field - we all had to stand in the bows perfectly still, engines all silent, until we floated across. Once in position, we were, depending on your place in the semi circle, within enemy gun range.

During this period we were the target for a full sized german torpedo, this came directly for us, impossible to escape. Fortunately the torpedo passed under our engine room with 12" to spare. The attack came from a one man submarine, when it surfaced, we captured the ship and took the officer prisoner. This was the first mini-sub captured in the war.

Returning to the UK, we were the reformed and loaded with extra ammunition and a whole lot of medical supplies, the tok off for Ostend. Other craft were loaded up on deck with all manner of equipment, including corrugated iron sheets, needless to say a sense of foreboding began to be felt by everyone.

It was now mi october and the use of corrugated iron was beginninging to be quite obvious - emergency huts on and near beaches close to Ostend, it left us in little doubt what to expect. We soon found out.

31st October we set sail - once well out to sea, the Captail of LCG11, who every man had the greatest respect for, addressed the whole of the ship's crew. He told us that we had to take the island of Walcheren, it was imperative in order to open up supply. We were told that the expected Air Force were unable to assist us due to adverse weather conditions. The enemy had gun emplacements 8" every few yards, and God knows why - we had to make the attck at 9am, in broad daylight! The Captain also said we had to expect heavy casualities, but it had to be done.

At this point I feel it only right to mention (my good friend was air force navigator) two weeks prior to our planned landing, six attack planes were dispatched to take out the heavy seaward 8" naval guns on the island. They were told weather conditions were suitable for bombing at 10,000ft and that little anti aircraft fire was expected from the island. Upon their arrival, cloud cover was below 5000 ft and surprise surprise, they were met with enormous gun fire - all six planes were shot down (my friend was taken prisoner) and little or no gun emplacements were destroyed.

Picture the scene, the squadron of ships slowly approaching the shore - all ships in formation lines abreast and directly astern of each other. Our maximum speed approximately 10 knots and our enormous gunfire of 4.7" to their 8" guns (with the exception of HMS Warspite , lying many miles astern)
The German Commanders must have thought their Christmas party was coming early, they carefully sorted out their range and sank the first four ships, then started on the next row. A further two ships were sank, before due to almost begging to be allowed to scrap the formation - the Captain eventually was ordered to make his own way to shore.

We had at this time, two new craft in our group, these were basically LEI, with pointed bows - carrying two quick fire 4" guns each, and could submerge to deck level, making them an extremely difficult target to hit. One ship approaching shore flooded its starboard tanks, making it turn over and sink. The other ship flooded both its tanks, but settled close inshore and was immediately destroyed. In all this mayhem, some small infantry landing craft was making its way to shore, only to be showered by rockets, which one of the LCRs had fired long before it was in range of the coast.

It was at this point that we were instructed to lay a smoke screen for some protection of the remaining ships - this might have worked, but as we were only running on one engine and a speed of approximately 5 knots, we were a wonderful target, as the enemy guns just had to aim for the start of the smoke. This was very quickly found to be the case, but the huge smoke canister was jammed on the anchor bed. My friend and I were ordered to dislodge this, so with 8" shells dropping within a few feet and both of us hanging onto the stern sails, we did eventually dislodge the smoke float. Making our way back towards the beach, through countless drowning men, to whom we weren't even allowed to throw a line, seeing their faces of utter disbelief, then them raising their arms above their heads to sink to their deaths.

The island was taken - but God knows what the cost was, and we made our way back to Ostend.

To this day it is almost impossible to find more than a very small mention of this action - it hjas all been successfully hidden. This took place on November 1st 1944 and was the last landing of the war.

I would just like to finish this tale with this final episode.

V.E Day found us back in Poole Harbour, other ships anchored there also, most ships' companies partying on deck. We had decorated the upper deck with bunting, music rigged up for the crew, liberty boats coming alongside, bringing wrens for parties in the officers' wardroom. The First Lieutenant ordered us to stop the music and frivolities. Being a very warm evening, the hatches from deck to wardroom were open, drinking and partying going on down there. So our leading stoker said "thats it!" or words to that effect, switched on the bilge pumps, shoved the big nozzle into the open wardroom hatch and commenced to flood the wardroom. Word was quickly sent up - together with spirits etc to carry on the party and please stop the bilge pumps!

Probably the only mutiny in recent years!

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