大象传媒

This is a transcript of a letter written by my late father which he sent home to his family detailing his experiences of D Day and the following weeks after. The original letter is still in our possession.

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6850319 Rfn Gocher
H/Q Coy 2/K.R.R.C.
B.L.A.

24th September 1944

Dear Everyone

Here at last is one of those long accounts of a period in this war which I imagine has been the experience of most of us during the last months - can't remember all the details now but of course various memories and more vivid recollections remain.

First then back to June 6th. At that time we were in a concentration area sealed off from the world, near Southampton The news of the invasion caused quite a stir and naturally slight trepidation as to the future was felt; one had heard so much about the bloody combat expected at first, that it came as rather a shock to us to know that we were to sail on the 7th on board an L.S.T. Actually we didn't go till the 8th and as we sailed through the Solent about 9 o'clock in the evening watching such an Armada waiting to go you may imagine the suppressed excitement not knowing what was to happen. There we were all done up in our lifebelts, sea-sick bags in case the Channel was rough, ready for use; chatting in little groups, a sure sign of "what will it be like", what are the chances of being bombed or being chased by E boat or submarine. I myself got into bed my dingo (armoured car) about eleven-and when I awoke it was still raining at 9 in the morning. Quite surprised to find that there were only a few ships with us and just the shadow of a destroyer dipping in and out of the waves on the horizon - not at all like an invasion. Soon though, as we neared the French coast about midday, one could see ships of all shapes and sizes covering the water for miles with the Navy well represented - still not a sign of battle except for an occasional i broadside from a cruiser or a sudden bang of mines on the beaches as the sappers exploded them.

We had to wait on board till one o'clock in the morning waiting for the tide to recede during which time we had an air raid or two, an occurrence we were to get very used to during the following two months on the bridgehead. Finally we landed in the vehicles from the rhino, an R.E. built ferry only through a foot or two of water, we could well have done without our waterproofing. An enemy strongpoint which had held out lobbed over a few shells but didn't do any damage, and we finally settled down at 3 in-the morning near a village called Pierrepont, in fact our own landing was almost peaceful.

Next day we de-waterproofed the vehicles and moved a mile or two inland behind the main line taking up a semi-defensive position. Our own artillery was shelling day and night and what with the nightly air raids on the shipping and beaches we didn't have a lot of sleep - we all had to dig trenches and they were our beds until the final breakthrough, sometimes digging a trench everyday or during the night.

Our first month in Normandy was quite peaceful from actual enemy action, just the noise of our guns which increased every day as more landed, in other words it was Montgomery's "build-up" - we ate well from compo rations - the weather was mainly fine and we began to dig up our French and talk with any of the local inhabitants, buying butter, camembert and eggs to supplement our own rations. One thing I remember about this particular period was the news that flying bomb attacks had started on England and as we looked on our map to see our very tiny strip of French territory we wondered just how long it would take us to reach the sites, it seemed a long way off then.

Towards the middle of July came the much awaited attack - we were told of the plan ... and the part we had to play, a very ambitious plan to reach the Orne which actually didn't materialise until 6 weeks later - always it was a series of big attacks which captured perhaps a 1000 yards of ground from the Germans, a big counter attack by them the next day when perhaps they took it again - it was a very fatiguing business lasting day and night but I guess we had too many guns, too many tanks and above all too many aeroplanes in the long run. Everyone near the battle zone was in it, liable to be shelled etc, it really was a battle, Alamein certainly faded in the background. It seemed at one time that we would never break through, how it was achieved is certainly a tribute to the staff planning and the fact that lives weren't wasted unnecessarily as far as one can see of the battle.

A few items stand out in my memory - the sight of 500 to 1000 bombers blasting away a couple of miles away, the terrific-flash as one was hit and burst into flames, the sky filled with black smoke as the 88's whacked at them. One evening the air around us was filled with dust as a result of one of those poundings, one almost felt sorry for the Germans.

Another thing I remember was the sight and stench of cows and horses killed by shells, their four feet sticking up in the air, their stomachs bloated to an enormous size - unless it was hanging out. Remember quite vividly one horse being killed in the morning and despite the continual fire all around, its companion stayed by it for two days with downcast eyes. Often during the nights one would hear the scream of a cow as it was hit. The smell was pretty awful as they had to lay unburied until the area became safe enough for the bulldozers to dig a hole and push them in; many a wounded animal was killed and eaten but guess I didn't fancy any.

So this life continued until the Americans finally broke through at St. Lo and Avranches - it was cheering news and although we still had to hold on around Caen one felt that the chase wasn't far off - more prisoners came in and one began to see wrecked Jerry vehicles. I went through Caen one day, a place as big as Enfield, perhaps bigger, and it was simply a mass of ruins there was nothing left standing, the same applied to all the villages around, it was rare to see a whole house standing, the civilians had mostly cleared out and they presented a picture of utter desolation. Well the Germans really got windy, the Americans came round to Argentan , the Canadians got to Falaise and we went to help clear up the pocket - you can't imagine what the destruction inside that pocket was like, there were literally miles of wrecked German cars, tanks and vehicles of all description, it was a slaughter - dead Germans lay everywhere - remember I saw one who had evidently been hit in the leg, a rough splint had been made for it but he was left to die in a ditch, not a very pleasant sight.

The French people had got in first and had a good loot, German uniforms, blankets, ammunition, boots, everything was scattered over a huge area - when our job was finished picked up some revolvers and a pair of binoculars myself for souvenirs, think we took about 3000 prisoners - that day our boys were richer by 拢50 or 拢l00 - the S.S. had plenty of cash. Everything was quiet now, not the sound of a gun or rifle - one had become so used to artillery fire that it seemed so strange to hear nothing, in fact it was so to speak an effort to sleep again.

A couple of days rest and we were off to reach the Seine and the bomb sites - this journey was quite uneventful except for the cheers from the villages and towns as we drove by - we picked up a few Jerries who had no idea what was happening and we finally crossed the Seine around Louviers. No stopping there though, on to the Somme - this took us three days or so as we had rearguards to deal with but they didn't last long and fled leaving their guns or surrendering; so over the river we went seeing on this trip quite a few of the last war' cemeteries, the tombstones quite faded by now. It was not long before the names seemed quite familiar, Arras, Mons, Ypres etc.,- must say it seemed a funny war at this stage, well it wasn't a war just a triumphal procession through France and Belgium - will give you a description of one entry later. Occasionally we had reports of enemy in neighbouring towns but as long as they didn't bother us too much we just kept going and left them to someone else.

We were the first to enter quite a large town St. Niklaas and as soon as we arrived the square was crammed with people - flags appeared at every window and everyone came out dressed in their Sunday best. Cameras clicked incessantly, everyone must shake hands and all the girls had some autograph book or even a piece of paper to have us sign our names. This town we entered in the morning and the Germans tried to get in in the afternoon - an order was given for the people to get back in their houses and a sudden hush crept over the town only to be broken by absolute madness when the all clear was given again. The Resistance went around collecting up the Gestapo collaborators who were led through the crowd who jeered and jeered to their hearts content. There was not the slightest doubt that the New Order didn't take on in France and Belgium - the people were overwhelmed at the idea of being liberated and did everything in their.power to give a real welcome to the English - know I had offers of beds for the night and partook of much good wine and beer.

Had one day in Brussels which I think I told you about, had quite a decent time although the people had got over their initial outburst and had settled down quite normally, nevertheless, there were smiles of friendship and good feeling. Went to a theatre show which was crammed with patriotic feeling, at the mention of King Leopold's name much cheering was heard and I imagine they want him back! Had some very good ice cream at 2/6d per portion!! It's not or wasn't a crime to deal off the black market.

That just about ends this letter - at the moment we are trying to get into Holland and into Germany - everyone seems to think that the Reichs Army is finished and now it's just a matter of time before someone signs the dotted line - still these Germans still fight hard and shells are just as unpleasant even if one is winning, still the main conversation at the moment is "demobilisation" and why doesn't overseas service get taken into account. I'm very optimistic about getting out soon, if I don't I shall be very fed up. Home for Xmas is the slogan, one that I hope will come true, I've had this war as all of you must have too.

So I hope this is the last of these letters I shall write and hope that I may see you all soon.

Yours sincerely

Bert

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