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After training with the Royal Navy’s Forty Fourth LCT Flotilla in Exercise Tiger along Lyme Bay and the South Devon coast, practising for the D-Day invasion, Graham found himself with the landing craft in the River Dart in Devon. Graham tells us that they knew the invasion was close, because everything became so secretive. They were only allowed to carry their pay book, and personal items such as letters. All leave was cancelled.

On 3rd June 1944 the flotilla set sail up the English Channel, anchoring in Plymouth Harbour. The invasion was postponed for 24 hours because of rough weather; then, on the morning of June 5th, an armada of 3,000 landing craft, 2,500 other ships, and 500 naval vessels, escorts and bombardment ships began to leave the English ports. It was the largest and most powerful armada ever assembled.

They arrived at the French coast early on the Tuesday morning, but plans for those landing on Utah beach went wrong from the start. Strong currents hampered the landing craft and thick smoke form from the preceding shore bombardment made visibility poor. Mines took a heavy toll of the first three control landing craft, which were lost, and the fourth one rounded up the landing craft and led them in using a bullhorn. Their landing force eventually landed some 2,000 yards east of the designated area. This was a blessing in disguise, as they were away from the most heavily defended area.

They headed for the beach at about 6.30 am, and soon came under attack. Graham remembers that he had no time to feel anything. ‘I had a job to do and I was intent on doing it’, he says. They were soon shelled by the shore defences, but luckily two american battleships immediately gave them covering fire, which stopped the German guns from firing, for fear of giving away their position.

In all 20,000 troops and 1,700 motorised vehicles landed at Utah beach, with fewer than 300 casualties. It was only some time later that Graham learned where they had landed. ‘My job was simply to look after the craft’s engines and generators, so I wasn’t party to any information where we were heading’ he says.

200,000 servicemen had stormed the Normandy beaches on that morning of 6th June. The landings proved a major turning point in the Second World War, and a key moment in the liberation of Europe.

This story was originally told by Graham Hiscox to the Bristol Evening Post on May 14th, 2004, and we acknowledge with thanks their permission to use it.

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