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This story has been added to the People's War website by Marie on behalf of Chris Moody and his late father. Chris fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

The following are part of letters that L.Sgt Moody sent home from the Front

11272762 L. Sgt. Moody C.E. Att. H.Q. Sec. 1034 Port Operating Coy. R. E. S.L.A.

4 April 1944
Excuse pencil, but am writing this at our sleeping quarters in Northampton, where we are spending our second night on the road.
After leaving you yesterday we went through Watford & St. Albans, & eventually on the Great North Rd, arriving at Peterboro at 6.20 p.m. We had a look for accommodation, but nothing doing, so decided to spend the night in the lorry. This was not as bad as it may sound, as we had blankets with us, & two of them rigged up hammocks with bonnet covers, whilst the other two slept on the camouflage nets on the floor, plenty of room and quite warm. It rained all night, but had cleared by 7.30 a.m, when we made a move, but then developed engine trouble, so by the time we had had a wash & some breakfast, it was gone nine before we got away to our destination 5 miles out. Having collected our three motorcycles, we started on our cross country trek to near Derby, but the lorry was behaving badly & caused us quite a bit of time in delays. Having had a slight snack in Loughborough, we arrived to collect our two amphibious jeeps at 2.15 p.m. & left about 4 p.m. The vehicles caused quite an impact on our way down but the lorry was still causing trouble, so it was 7.30 p.m. by the time we reached Northampton, & by the time we had parked the vehicles, fed, found accommodation & washed it was it was now gone 10 o'clock.
I am sorry that I could not have looked in today, especially as I have heard on my travels that all leave has been cancelled from midnight tonight, so unless this is countermanded in the meantime, I shall not be home on Friday week as expected. Bad luck isn't it?

17 June 1944
My Experiences & Impressions of D Day and Preparations for same.

After days of seclusion in our wired-in encampment, receiving no letters, but being equipped and briefed for the great day, the majority of the Company gradually left us for their different points of embarkation, leaving us only four of us in our original camp, who were destined to be the first ashore of our Company at between 4 and 7 hours after zero hour, rather an honour and a responsibility I thought, and included the O.C. his batman another L/C and myself. On Saturday 3rd June we at last left for the docks, and on our backs carried "everything but the Kitchen Stove" the weight was really terrific, and in addition I was responsible for the wireless set. Imagine my surprise on arrival at our embarkation point, that the Channel Islands boat "St Helier" was to take us across, and as 3 of the 4 were allconnected in some way with the G.W.R. it was a comforting thought and a good omen. On board we were told we were guests of the Navy, and I must say we were fed excellently and were all comfortably installed in bunks, which we remarked was certainly invasion with the maximum comfort. Eggs and bacon for breakfast and large and appetising dinners with a good tot of rum added to our well-being, though we thought it might be fattening the offering for sacrifice. However, for two days we stood out in a sheltered anchorage waiting to sail, the Day having been postponed for 24 hours owing to adverse weather reports, which prevented me from landing on my birthday, 5th June. At last as dusk was falling on the Monday evening, we set sail in company of a most impressive convoy of ships of fair size, the smaller craft having gone on before. On board were detachments of assault troops timed to go in 20 mins. after zero hour, and their boats were slung out ready for them to board. As darkness fell I retired to my bunk, but although I was resting, I slept fitfully, and at 3 a.m. the boys in the first flight were roused for their last meal aboard, and I eventually arose about 6 a.m., but did not feel like breakfast, although eggs and bacon were on the menu. So up on deck to see the sights, and what a panorama, the French Coast could be faintly seen on a rather doubtful looking morning, about 7 miles distant, and we anchored in company with numerous other ships, while destroyers and corvettes steamed in and out. On the extreme flanks could be faintly seen the heavier capital ships giving the shore installations a pounding, while overhead a squadron of planes kept watch. Otherwise all was quiet, but a heavy swell was on, which made the landing more difficult. At the appointed time the assault boats with their human cargo were lowered into the water, and rising and falling like corks on the swell, got into formation and went for the shore. At the distance we were from the shore, it was obviously impossible to see how things were going, though at intervals explosions and flashes could be seen, and as the light improved, out ultimate landing point could be picked out. It was surprisingly like a peaceful day at sea while waiting for our craft to take us ashore, no interference being noticed from the German air or sea forces. About mid-day a craft came alongside for the rest of us, and it was even then quite a thrilling manoeuvre to get from one boat to another with the swell prevailing. All were eventually aboard and crammed together we set sail on the final part of the journey. We neared shore and the sea became calmer, ruined and blasted houses could be seen, and odd shots from snipers could be heard and a few burning buildings were also apparent, but it was uncannily quiet, and the number of vessels going ashore were few, though some wrecked ones were on the beach. About 150 yards out we decided to get our equipment on, and I helped the batman and the other L/C to get theirs on. They were standing by the side of the vessel next to the O.C. who was sitting on the edge, and I was bending down to pick up my heavy pack, when there was an explosion and I was thrown across another chap with one of the ship's ventilators on top of me. I soon pushed this off and scrambled up, again making an attempt to collect my kit together. It soon became apparent that we had hit a small mine and there were a few casualities about, one rather serious, but it was not until quite two minutes after the event, that looking round for my two pals, discovered they were not there, and looking over the side, saw two or three heads in the water calling for help. I learned a few minutes afterwards that about six had been blown clean overboard by the explosion, and of these two were obviously of our party, with full pack on, and neither I nor the O.C. had seen them go. The O.C. was then trying to organise order out of chaos, and how we both escaped injury or immersion I cannot understand to this day, Providence must indeed have been watching over us. Eventually I saw one person get ashore, but it was so far off that I could not make out who it was, or even if it was one of ours.

Our craft meantime was useless, the engines having failed, and the fore part began to settle down, but we were sufficiently near shore to save it from foundering entirely, and a U.S. Naval craft came alongside to take us off. This had to be done quickly, so most of the kit and equipment was left behind, though I managed to hang on to the wireless set at the expense of my large valise and rifle, thus being left with just bare necessities. We had no sooner got safely aboard when a sniper got interested and began having a go, only to be silenced by the ship's guns. The O.C. and myself were again transferred to another craft going ashore, and it was only then that he realised his party was reduced by half, with no knowing what their fate was, so we were not too happy a couple. We eventually waded ashore, the water coming to the top of our thighs, so it was quite a good landing really. Opposition was over, and we eventually found our location on a sandy part of the promenade, where I proceeded to scratch a hole in the sand with a small tool.

The only sign of the enemy was a JU 88 overhead chased by our fighters, and batches of German prisoners that came along the beach at intervals. Fighter cover was excellent, and borrowing a spade my hole became a slit trench, and all around was a hive of activity with spade and pick. Imagine my great joy however, when around 20.45, our two lost companions shouted and waved to us from the beach, dressed in naval attire, having got ashore with difficulty without a scratch, and clothed and cared for by the Navy, as they had lost everything except what they stood up in. A larger trench to shelter four was then made with some scrounged timber for head protection, and we prepared to settle down for the night, and though enemy aircraft made a few brief appearances, we were not duly troubled, although our accommodation as not exactly spacious.

Our company began to assemble in small parties, and up early next morning we moved our location to a better spot and began getting organised. It was a busy day erecting our office and digging our bivouacs deeply into the sandy soil for our future comfort. It was not until night that any more attentions were directed at us, although snipers could still be heard making themselves a nuisance at scattered points. Just on midnight (D+1), I had occasion to go on the beach with the O.C., when a plane being heard in a dive, we were ordered to get down, and I made a hasty dive under a conveniently placed dukw. Under this I spent a most uncomfortable half hour, while he and I suppose others went up and down the beach machine gunning and dropping one or two bombs, and on his final run a missile went pang against the side of my protecting vehicle. However, "alls well that ends well" and here we are on 17 June fit, well and smiling, although the front line is even now not far away though firmly held. Our air cover is excellent, and our battleships and cruisers give Jerry an almost daily pasting, a most comforting sight and sound.

Civilians are drifting back, though it has very few houses that show no sign of battle, and they seem well fed and clothed.
Weather is fine, although inclined to be unsettled and a little rough now and again, but altogether I think the task our Company came out to do is going according to plan, and that they are doing a most important and efficient job.

I hope you find this resume interesting, and I may be able to add to it at some future date, but will let it rest here at the conclusion of D+1.

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