Description
Object description
British officer served aboard HMS Prince Charles during Normandy landings, 1944; served with Combined Operations in GB and Far East, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Durham and Merton Park, 1924- 1942: family; employment. Enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1942-1943: background to enlistment; sea training on convoy duties in Atlantic; officer training at HMS King Alfred. Aspects of period as Sub Lieutenant with Combined Operations in GB, 1943-1944: drafting to Combined Operations; transfer to Scotland; move to Folkestone; drafting to HMS Prince Charles in Weymouth; visit to US command ship. Recollections of operations as Sub Lieutenant aboard HMS Prince Charles landing 2nd American Rangers Battalion on Dog Green Beach, Omaha Beach, Normandy, 6/6/1944: delay in start of landings; sight of landing craft blown up by mine; grounding on sand bar; problems of getting ashore and taking shelter behind beach wall; sight of dead bodies lying on beach; obtaining pair of boots off dead US soldier; smoke from burning vehicles; collecting Royal Navy stragglers; return to GB.
REEL 2 Continues: loss of literature relating to D-Day; briefing received prior to landings; lack of organisation to return to HMS Prince Charles if problem occurred; crew of his landing craft; award of Distinguished Service Cross, 11/1944; his position on run in to beach; degree of awareness of incoming German fire; casualties amongst British landing craft crews; uniform worn; question of change in nature of beach since 1944; lack of casualties amongst US troops carried; lack of post war contact with US veterans. Aspects of period with Combined Operations in GB and Far East, 1944-1946: training in GB, 1944-1945; move to India; effect of dropping of atomic bomb on role; duties aboard LSI in Philippines; return to GB; demobilisation, 1946.
REEL 3 Continues: Story of receiving Distinguished Service Cross and investiture as Member of the British Empire. Reasons for not continuing in Royal Navy after 1945. Story of organising Corporation of London Falklands War reception.