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For an invasion into Northern France, as we could not claim a port, we had to build our own steel roadways from pierheads to the beaches, a distance of 戮 of a mile.

Along the coast of the British Isles two companies of Royal Engineers got to work to assemble all the parts to make up six links at a time. Tugs would tow them to the moorings secretly. I suppose around fifty non-commissioned officers and sappers were stationed at Sandwich to erect and assemble them on the River Stour.

From there they were transferred to the Isle of Wight. I have never seen such a fleet of vessels of all shapes and sizes, what a sight that was.

It was about six to seven weeks just waiting around for the time to move off. Where were we going? This was a guessing game, the rumour was that we could be going to France. Well we got under way with the tug towing us, not a lot was talked about. We left the Solent that afternoon, then night fell upon us, only a few hours of darkness and as it was June it was daylight at 4am when we made the French coast, anchored the six links, then back onto the tug to return to the Isle of Wight for another six links. That crossing is about a hundred miles, and I was thinking it was just a day trip!

Well the beaches were cleared of debris, the harbour was completed and the amphibious vehicles were travelling up the beaches fully loaded with materials, food and water supplies. From the vessels that were tied up at the pierheads, our companies landed eventually on the 8th and 9th of June 1944.

This story was added to the People鈥檚 War site by Melita Dennett on behalf of George Taylor, who understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

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