LANDINGS ON 'GOLD' BEACH, 6 AND 7 JUNE 1944 (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

Tank landing ships seen ferrying men and materials to the Normandy invasion beaches.

I. US and British troops and transport board one of two Royal Navy LSTs moored at an embarkation 'hard' at Felixstowe. Major-General Erskine, 7th Armoured Division's commander, talks to a 'Daily Telegraph' war correspondent. LST 406 docks at the 'hard'.

II. Royal Army Service Corps DUKW lorries are test-driven in the estuary of the Stour and Orwell Rivers and then reboard their parent landing ship.

III. The LST's cargo lift brings a lorry up to the top deck. British troops and transport disappear through the ship's bow doors.

IV. A Royal Engineers captain briefs American and British personnel on the general war situation and on Operation Overlord.

V. The LST convoy sets sail with Force 'L'; HMS Mignonette steams alongside. Naval gunners are seen on duty by their Oerlikon cannon.

VI. The convoy waits off 'Gold' Beach for the onset of low tide before landing its cargo. Sergeant Watkins' ship and another LST disgorge troops, engineering equipment, tanks, guns and transport onto 'Jig Green' Beach east of Le Hamel. Prisoners bound for England wait to board LST 406.

35mm