- Contributed by听
- John Prior
- People in story:听
- John Prior
- Location of story:听
- Normandy beaches in France
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2166590
- Contributed on:听
- 01 January 2004
I John Prior was born in Gateshead 21st March 1925; at 18 years old I was called up into the army and trained in the Border Regiment with the 6th Battalion in Carlisle Castle. After some training in Scotland at Ayr Race Course we moved to Brockinhurst south of England where we trained again. It was hard but I enjoyed it, maybe I can say that now seeing that I came out of the war unscathed. D.Day was our main task and it must have been around the beginning of June 1944 when we the 6th Battalion along with many other troops moved onto a large troopship and sailed out of Portsmouth awaiting the time to head for France and the Normandy beaches. I was in an infantry regiment and trained with number 10 Beach group, our job once ashore was to ensure that supplies got from the ships via Dukws these were small amphibious vehicles that would move through water onto the beach. At about 5-6 miles out from our French area we moved on to our LCA (landing craft assault) ships.
On the 6th of June 1944 we were heading for the Le Hamel on the coast of Normandy in France at D+15 minutes (D was I believe 8am). As we moved closer to the beach driving through lines of LTFs rocket firing craft 100s of rockets were being fired over the beach area and further on it was tremendous sight and gave me much confidence for what was ahead, we could make out obstacles in the water some 50 yards from the shore and if we went over any we would be blown up. I think there was about 30 soldiers in each craft my friend Private Mohan and myself had to pull a small trailer from the LCA, as we jumped from the boat into about 2 feet of water. The Germans were firing from our right as we got near the beach, my friend was shot in his right arm however we managed to reach the beach and he was taken away to the casualty area. Eventually we reached the top of the beach, just below the sand dunes we set about digging trenches as the Germans still had some snippers. It was quite a sight to see, tanks (most of these were Bren carriers) moving, prisoners being escorted along the beach and frogmen removing these obstacles from the posts in the water, battleships firing from some distance away,what a day to remember. As night closed in on us the main battle was going on inland and we took it in turns to guard some dumps on the beach. I remember the next morning finding out these were ammunition dumps.
Many days passed doing the unloading work and this carried on for several weeks. On a lighter note I remember making friends with a little French lad called Guy, we were digging in a field next to his mam and dads Baker shop. The trenches we dug were our sleeping quarters. Sometime later I was asked to go on a snippers course as my shooting had been good in England however they found out I was only 19 and there fore could not carry on training at least that was what I was informed.
Late on in July we were moved as a Battalion to join up with the 1st Kings Own Scottish Borders at Bievel close to Cain, which is about 10 miles from the French Coast, which they had taken after some bitter fighting. This was the start of my journey through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany that is another story. It was a tremendous privilege to come right through with out even being wounded. After VE day and a rest we were to go to America and train for Japan, however America dropped atom bombs and instead we went to Egypt and Palestine and interesting experience. I am now 78 and enjoying life, I think that Gods Angles were looking after me.
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