大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Lucy Cutter for Billie Cutter, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

One day we were taken to a large shed on the docks, told to strip off our blues (Naval Uniform), issued with battle packs, boots, revolver, gas capes, entrenching tools and combined ops shoulder badges, we went into that shed as matelots (sailors) and came out as instant commandos, ready for anything.
At about half past four in the morning we were given 24 rounds of ammunition and put on board a couple of ships. Food was only available to those with a billycan and a tin mug so they were prize possessions. I slept under the LCM in my duffle coat. We had not been briefed at all and had no idea what was ahead, but some of the army chaps had been issued with things which suggested that we were going to France.
Very early in the morning, when we were about 10 miles off France, a small assault craft left the Glen Roy with under water demolition teams in wetsuits on board, they disappeared into the dark. As daylight arrived I could see hundreds of ships of all classes on either side of us. Then as if someone had pulled a switch all hell let loose. Warships fired every big gun they had. Rocket ships let fly with 400 rockets at a time all in the same direction. We knew then that was the real thing.
As we approached the beach I could see gliders crash landing just behind an earth bank and Bren Gun Carriers in full action driving out of the gliders. Our craft grounded on a sand bank and one man with a sledge hammer had to be stopped from jumping into deep water. We reversed and went in again 鈥淐ome on 鈥� get out we have to get back for more鈥� shouted a marine. We jumped out into about three foot of water just below my chin. Jock a small signal man was trying to keep his balance with a car battery and an Aldis signalling lamp above his head. We could see his head dipping below the water, so a couple of us held him up until we got into shallower water. There were massive obstructions stuck in the beach. There were twisted iron girders, all black through being weathered. Being wet they seemed to be varnished. There were lots of army boots floating on the water. These were the spare boots that had been ditched by the men wading in. They were heavy when they filled with water as were all our clothes and equipment. We learned later that we had landed at Le Hamel in the Jig Sector of Gold Beach.

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