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I was in the 15th M.S.F (Mine Sweeper Flotilla) which was a ‘Bangor’ class fleet minesweeper unit. We sailed from Dover without navigation lights heading for France. Our flotilla consisted of the ships — HMS Fraserburgh (which was our flotilla leader), HMS’s Ardrossan, Bootle. Lyme Regis, Worthing, Fort York, Dunbar and Llandudno.

We were to sweep Channel Number 10 to Sword Beach. We were at the eastern end of all ten channels which was the closest to the German naval base in Le Harve. So thinking we might be attacked whilst sweeping, we were allocated two destroyers, HMS’s Scourge and Serapis for protection. We had a further problem, owing to our minesweeping motor launches not being able to carry out sweeping ahead of us because of the bad weather, so we were on our own in upswept waters. Luckily no mines were encountered going in, but we were all worn out since we’d had no sleep for about twenty four hours and were issued with pills to keep us awake! Our gun crews fell asleep by their guns!!

I will always remember the noise of the guns behind us. They were being fired over our heads to try and silence the German batteries. We could see the gun houses on shore, but they did not open fire on us as they would have given themselves away to the big warships.

I will always remember it was one hell of a day!!

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