Interview with William Dennis Jarman

British civilian in Ilford, GB, 1940-1941; officer served with Combined Operations in GB, 1943-1944; commanded LBE 49, 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla in English Channel during operations off Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944; served with 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla in Netherlands, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in East Ham, GB, 1924-1939: family; education; evacuation to Ramsbury and Frome, 1939-1940. Recollections of period as civilian in Ilford, GB, 1940-1942: use of air raid shelter in garden; morale; belief in ultimate British victory; membership of Barking Abbey Local Defence Volunteers including duties. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1942: enlistment under Royal Navy's Y Scheme, 8/1942; training with Royal Navy, 1942; training aboard trawler on escort duties on south coast of GB, 1942. Aspects of period as officer training with Combined Operations at HMS Lochailort, GB, 1943: nature of training; trainees who refused to continue commando type training. Recollections of period as officer with Landing Barge Flotillas, Combined Operations in GB, 1943-1944: posting to Wootton Creek, Isle of Wight, 1943; conversion of Thames barges for landing purposes; problems of working landing barges for beach landings; use of kedge hook. REEL 2 Continues: living conditions on board landing barges; crewing of landing barges; differences between Landing Barge Vehicle (LBV), Landing Barge Emergency (LBE) and Landing Barge Flak (LBF); preference for serving aboard Landing Barge Emergency (LBE); preference in armament of landing barge; nature of landing barges without ramps including Landing Barge Kitchen (LBK), Landing Barge Oil (LBO) and Landing Barge Water (LBW); role taking converted landing barges from London to Sheerness; dangers of convoying barges to ports on south coast; wallowing characteristics of landing barges when at sea; methods of communication aboard landing barges; participation in Exercise Jantzen off Wales, 1943 including naming barge 'Lady, Don't Turn Over', how name had to be obliterated in Padstow, buzzing of barges by Polish pilots and sinking of landing barge of Saundersfoot; landing barge ferrying duties on River Thames; story of how he escaped Reserved Occupation, 1942; story of being charged with mutiny after commanding officer supplied him with spirits. REEL 3 Continues: allocation to assistant beachmaster duties with Royal Naval Commandos at HMS Armadillo; transfer back to landing barge duties at Hayling Island. Aspects of period commanding LBE 49, 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla in GB, 1944: drafting to 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla; taking command of LBE 49; crew of LBE 49; preparations for D-Day operations; reaction to news of LBE 49 was to be towed across English Channel. Recollections of operations commanding of LBE 49, 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla in English Channel during operations off Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: crossing English Channel, 6/6/1944; weather conditions; arrival off Gold Beach; repair work off Gold Beach; cases of sinking Landing Barge Emergency (LBE); surviving Great Storm, 19/6/1944-20/6/1944; Mulberry Harbour; supplying French Resistance with fuel and how they expressed their gratitude; degree of danger experienced off Normandy; souvenir he got from Operation Neptune. Recollections of operations as officer with 36th Landing Barge (Supply and Repair) Flotilla in Netherlands, 1944-1945: standing by for repairs to landing craft raiding Beveland Island. REEL 4 Continues: VE Day, 8/5/1945; conditions of Dutch civilians in Rotterdam, 5/1945. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMT St Kilda in Mediterranean, 1945-1946: role and duties; lack of discipline among crew of trawlermen from Kingston upon Hull; attitude to having served abord landing barges in Second World War; question of accuracy of memory.