Story: Overlord - Operation Neptune, D-Day - Part 3

OVERLORD, D-DAY

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944

By Clayton Marks, RCNVR and Combined Operations

Landing craft, manned by Canadians and filled with troops, are lowered

from the Prince David. Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum

Introduction - The following story (presented here in several parts) can be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.), is extremely difficult to find, but is being reprinted by a London team. I present a short summary of Mr. Mark's 23-page-long account on this site.

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944 - Part 3

Canadian troop ships, i.e., Prince Henry and Prince David, carrying hundreds of assault troops (members of the Canadian Scottish Regiment and Regiment de la Chaudiere, and others), began their channel-crossing later in the evening.  Algonquin and Sioux, bombardment destroyers in Force J, were bound as well for Sword, Juno and Gold sectors in the British area. Group by group, "moving at set speeds", including the 264th Canadian Flotilla attached to Force G, took up their formations.

All manner of ships, i.e., warships, transports, special craft of every kind, arranged themselves in such a way to arrive at the right place at the right time off the beaches. Groups looked like individual convoys, "each separated by exact intervals from the one behind and the one ahead." Escort ships drew alongside them, and the whole assembly - in ten great streams - moved toward mid-channel positions.

After 2200 a brisk wind was noted and by midnight a full moon was overhead the endless series of wakes produced by what seemed countless ships pointing "southward toward Baie de la Seine", all under orders not to fire upon passing planes which were "almost certain to be friendly". Bombers bound for the enemy coast were overhead and an hour later would come transports and troop-carrying gliders "towed in long trains", with the men of the parachute divisions.

The advance some ships overtook others as they moved into their final stations and some elbowed aside returning mine-sweepers. Dimly outlined in the pre-dawn darkness, U.S. battleships, British and French cruisers (Glasgow, Montcalm, Georges Leygues), and Canadian ships could be seen among the hundreds moving into prescribed positions.

Prince Henry and Prince David emerged from their respective channels and positioned themselves seven miles off shore in Juno sector. Each turned "parallel to the coast", as did the ships that followed them,  and by 5:35 AM nineteen vessels were safely at anchor.

As daylight appeared, many other ships exited their swept channels and could be seen along the coast for many miles. Returning bombers were heard overhead, and in places "the shoreline glowed and smoked", revealing that bombs had left their mark. Soon there was an enormous roar overhead of the anchored landing ships. The "first salvoes of battleships and cruisers" screamed on their way to prescribed targets on shore.

Immediately thereafter landing ships sprang into action. The crews of assault craft on Prince Henry and Prince David took to their stations. Waiting soldiers below decks checked their gear one last time and listened for hardened commands from loud hailers overhead:

"Will move in... five... minutes"....

"Will move.... now".

Disembarking from troop ships. Photos as found in Combined Operations

Royal Marines "went over the side" first from Prince David to provide small-arms fire, and were followed by other Marines responsible for "clearing mines and obstacles ahead of the assault craft."

Then came the Canadians! Soldiers climbed quietly into flat-bottomed assault craft and were lowered over the sides of Prince Henry and Prince David. Two Canadian flotillas joined the mass of LCAs from other landing ships nearby. Immediately after groups formed, a motor gunboat at the lead, they began the seven-mile trip to shore. Flights and forces became "one vast inward movement" on its way toward the Baie de la Seine's 20-mile-wide shore.

H-hour, or touch-down time for the Eastern Tank Force, was set for 07:25 in Sword and Gold sectors; and was about thirty minutes later in Juno sector so that off-shore rocks could be covered by the incoming tide. LCA's would reach the beaches in an hour, travelling steadily while salvoes screamed overhead - "to be completed by the time they arrived."

Some LCAs, crew members and soldiers did not arrive ashore without hardship, others "were mentioned in dispatches for their bravery during the landings." As well, turbulence interfered "the launching plans for the amphibious tanks" but still, up and down the coastline "the movement was proceeding...  with uncanny precision." Destroyers and support craft closely engaged beach defenses and Army artillery fired as it came.

Fleet class destroyers opened fire, HMCS Algonquin and Sioux among them. Though dust from earlier air bombardments still obscured assigned targets, several of Algonquins salvoes fell directly on them and she then targeted "a row of houses sheltering snipers along Nan Red." Sioux silenced guns inside two large buildings, and later checked her fire to allow landing craft to approach shore.

Projectiles from "the terrible rocket-firing ships" hurtled inland "with a searing roar" and blasted anything in their way. Next came craft which went ashore to deposit Avre tanks of the Royal Engineers, tasked to "breach minefields and concrete barriers in the paths of the troops."

Still other craft - some under German fire - followed the Avres to drop the men responsible for clearing away mines and beach obstructions, all of which presented significant challenges, because the German-made reefs lined beaches for half a mile off shore.

For example, heavy steel gates, eight feet wide by ten feet high, projected from the bottom on Sword and Gold beaches. They directed landing craft onto obstructions behind them. On all beaches landing craft had to face many lines of sharp wooden stakes projecting from the sand, and behind the stakes stood an army of steel-pronged tripods capable of ripping the bottom of many vessels to shreds. "Many of the tripods were mined" and all manner of mines were found in the sand and upon concrete pyramids assembled to delay and destroy Allied forces.

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel inspecting Atlantic Wall defences, April 1944

Photo credit - Juno Beach at Wikipedia

More to follow.

Please link to Story: Overlord - Operation Neptune, D-Day - Part 2

Origins of Combined Operations (5)

Passage From a Canadian Text

In the book pictured above, The Naval Service of Canada, 1910 - 2010: The Centennial Story (edited by R. H. Gimblett), one finds mention of the first Canadians who entered the Combined Operations organization as volunteers and voyaged to Scotland, then Southern England, in early 1942.

From page 64:

The RCN also made a substantial contribution to the Combined Operations service, the organization created to carry out raids on occupied Europe and develop the specialized techniques required to conduct the large amphibious landings that marked the latter years of the war. In early 1942, 50 officers and 300 ratings proceeded to Britain to form two flotillas of landing craft. On 19 August 1942, 15 officers and 55 ratings from this group were with British landing craft flotillas that participated in Operation Jubilee, the ill-fated raid on Dieppe that cost the Canadian army nearly 3,000 casualties, or about 65 percent of the troops that took part. In a letter home written shortly afterward, Sub-Lieutenant D. Ramsay*, RCNVR, provided a dramatic kaleidoscope of the images he had witnessed that terrible day, including:

“A German armed trawler blown clear out of the water by one of our destroyers; a five-inch shell right through from one side to the other on the boat next to me without exploding; the boat Officer, Skipper Jones, R.N.R. (ex-Trawlerman as you can guess) screaming invectives at the Jerry and coming out once in a while with the famous Jonesian saying, "Get stuffed"; a large houseful of Jerry machine gunners pasting hell out of anybody who dared come near the beach; a Ju.88 whose wing was cut in half by AB (Able Bodies Seaman) Mitchinson of Ontario in the boat astern; a plane swooping down low behind a destroyer and letting go a 2000 lb. bomb, which ricocheted over the mast and burst about 10 yards on the starboard bow; peeking over the cox'n's box and looking into the smoking cannon of an Me. 109. I'm here to state that that was close.”

(*D. Ramsay's letter, in full, can be found on this site, '1000 Men, 1000 Stories'.)

Organized as four distinctly RCN flotillas, Canadian Combined Operations personnel then took part in Operations Torch (the landing in North Africa in November 1942), Husky (the Sicily landing in July 1943) and Baytown (the Italy landing that September). The achievements of the Canadian flotillas were almost unknown in Canada, much to the chagrin of NSHQ, which became determined that the same case would not apply with the RCN’s Tribal-class destroyers when they entered service. (The first of these warships was commissioned HMCS Iroquois).

* * * * *

In the first paragraph taken from the book we read:

"In early 1942, 50 officers and 300 ratings proceeded to Britain..."

Canada's first volunteers proceeded to Britain aboard Volendam - Dutch Steam

passenger ship. Photo credit - U-Boat/Allies/Merchants

It is known that the first volunteers signed up for 'hazardous duties overseas' without fully knowing what the duties entailed, and that their departure for the United Kingdom (January, 1942) was delayed by the grounding of the ship they had boarded in Halifax - during a major winter storm - at least one month earlier. These earlier details can be found on this site as well, at Story: Canada's Early Days in Combined Ops

Please link to Origins of Combined Operations (4)

Story: Canada's Early Days in Combined Ops

Three Accounts: Getting Started, Then Grounded

Volendam - Dutch Steam passenger ship

Photo - U-Boat/Allies/Merchants

Part 1 - "Early Days in Combined Ops" by Al Kirby of Woodstock, Ont.

Part 2 - "Early Days in Combined Ops" by Doug Harrison of Norwich, Ont.

Part 3 - "Early Days in Combined Ops" by Lloyd Evans of Markham, Ont.

Please link to Story: Waiting for D-Day, Normandy

Video: D-Day in Colour, Normandy 1944

D-Day in Colour: Normandy, June 6, 1944

Troops of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada going aboard LCI(L) 250 and 125

(part of the Canadian 262nd Flotilla) at dawn, on 4 June, 1944, Southampton, UK.

Photo credit - RCN photographer Gilbert Milne (as at Maple Leaf Up)

Introduction - YouTube is a reliable source for videos and films related to WW2 activities, and on occasion references are made and scenes are seen that involve men on landing crafts during raids or invasions, e.g., in Normandy, as is the case in this film (in colour). Not often will one hear of references to the Canadians who served in Combined Operations and operated some of the landing craft, but in spite of that, the videos and films are informative and educational for a variety of reasons.

The film, "D-Day in Colour" (narrated by John Hurt) can be found on YouTube as one episode.

Link to D-Day in Colour

Details: D-Day, 6th June 1944: The launch of Operation Overlord. The battle that began the liberation of Europe. The last moments of the German Army
Country: UK
Language: English
Release Date: 25 May 2004 (UK)
Duration - 47:44

Part of a review from theguardian.com follows:

True colours of D-Day seen for first time 

Previously unseen images of paratrooper landings in France capture 'iconic moment' of history

By David Smith

Astonishing colour images of the D-Day landings have been compiled for the first time, revealing previously unseen images of the invasion of the French beaches.

The colour excerpts have been drawn from archives in America, Britain, Canada and France to form the documentary D-Day in Colour, narrated by John Hurt and to be shown on the 60th anniversary next month. It includes the Allied conferences involving Churchill and Roosevelt, the preparations in Britain, the air and naval build-up, the aerial bombing raids, the landings on the beaches, the fight for Normandy and the liberation of Paris.

The film is the fruit of 10 years' research by Adrian Wood, the mastermind of previous series The Second World War in Colour and Britain at War in Colour.... Wood said he felt the most significant 'find' for D-Day in Colour was the Pathfinders of the American 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, preparing in Britain for Operation Overlord the next day. The film, shot on the eve of D-Day, shows Captain Frank Lillyman, commander of the 101st Pathfinders, who at 12.12am on 6 June, 1944, would become the first Allied serviceman to parachute into France. 

Dr Stephen Badsey, the historical adviser to D-Day in Colour, said: 'It was the job of the Pathfinders of each of the airborne divisions to drop first, about an hour before the main body, and mark out the drop zones. It was extremely dangerous work; they were dropping into hostile territory at night and alone.

The flight would take two hours, encountering bad weather and, for the last few minutes, German anti-aircraft fire. Lillyman, who always jumped with a cigar in his mouth, was first out of the plane, at 12.12am. His Pathfinder team of about 15 men set up electronic equipment that sent out a signal to the oncoming waves of planes, telling the pilots when the paratroopers should jump. They also set burning pots in fields as a signal to glider pilots.

D-Day in Colour also includes never-before-seen film of the Nazi occupation of France. Wood, the international vice-president of archive development at TWI, said: 'We were surprised there is so much. In the late Eighties there were 200-300 hours. Now there are maybe 600 hours. That's an astonishing amount that has come to light.' He added: 'The cameramen took horrendous risks and they're often overlooked as heroes. They showed incredible courage and bravery.'

Please link to Video: World War II - The Complete History

Story: Overlord - Operation Neptune, D-Day - Part 2

OVERLORD, D-DAY

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944

By Clayton Marks, RCNVR and Combined Operations

Landing Craft, Flak (LCF) near France - D-Day, June 6, 1944
Photo as found in Combined Operations (page 108) by C. Marks

Introduction - The following story (presented here in several parts) can be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.), is extremely difficult to find, but is being reprinted by a London team. I present a short summary of Mr. Mark's 23-page-long account on this site.

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944 - Part 2

The planners of Operation Neptune hoped to accomplish much with their superior air power, i.e., "tenfold superiority in aircraft" - 5,900 Allied planes vs less than 600 German planes. Other mighty resources were available as well.

Some of the plans were as follows:

     Allied fighters were to provide cover for convoys of troops and all materials of war.
     Allied bombers were to drop overwhelming explosives onto the beaches during the night and early morning.
     Naval bombardment was to begin at first light. The assembled battleships, cruisers, over 100 destroyers, monitors, gunboats and rocket-firing ships were to blast concrete emplacements and gun batteries that were hiding among the dunes and in farmhouses near the coast.
     After the Naval fire power ended, amphibious tanks would go ashore on inflated canvas screens. "Gun-carrying craft, with army personnel and artillery, would follow the tanks, firing as they came."
     Then would go a fleet of assault landing craft carrying the first wave of infantry. ("Seven divisions of Allied soldiers were to be landed within the first twenty-four hours, followed thereafter by reinforcements...")

The actual simplicity of the invasion would baffle the Germans, as they had been led to expect a complicated series of operations. The Atlantic wall was to be breached midway between Le Havre and Cherbourg without the use of diversionary landings. One massive thrust would erupt from the waters off Plymouth, Portland, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, would drive southward across the Channel and pour liberation armies of liberation onto Normandy's shores. And an enormous stock of men and materials of war would maintain these vast armies. "The Allies had prepared themselves to land millions of tons of equipment and more than a million men on an open coast...."

German general staff believed such an invasion could done be accomplished without access to "one great harbour" (they were likely right), but the Allies planned to build, then bring two great harbours (aka mulberries and gooseberries, for some reason) with them to Normandy, including an enormous number of "blockships, concrete barges, pontoon piers and floating breakwaters." Each artificial harbour had a shipping capacity equal to that of Dover.

Operation Neptune, involving 6,000 ships, was governed by a rigid set of timetables, sites and speeds. And "any serious disorganization of the precisely planned assault movement might have the most disastrous results." Earlier plans considered a May 1st landing along a narrower front with a smaller force, i.e., three divisions. Further thought approved an invasion along a wider front with five divisions, and another month was added to the timetable in order to amass more landing craft and increase the amount of bombing of German defenses. A secondary drive from the Mediterranean area was planned as well, to take place after Allied forces were permanently ashore in Normandy and moving eastward.

Planners realized that bad weather would also present great challenges. High seas would surely prevent landing craft from going ashore; fogs and storms would ground aircraft and complicate navigation. Laborious calculations continued, at times with hope and prayer.

In the months prior to the cross-channel invasion, Allied aircraft battered German defenses, communications and production centres in Europe, and Allied Naval forces attacked German convoys in the Channel and along the Biscay coasts and successfully confronted attacks from German E-boats and R-boats against convoys travelling near England's coast with invasion supplies. By April, 1944, attacks, patrols and mine-sweeping took on a new intensity, in order to clear the way for the passage of the invasion ships.

The enemy, however, still had about 230 surface ships available "within striking distance of what was to become the cross-Channel highway for Neptune," i.e., heavily armed trawlers, minesweepers, 16 destroyers, 50 E-boats and 60 heavily armed R-boats, along with 130 U-boats ("which might be increased to 200 within a fortnight after D-Day") based on Biscay and Channel ports. German Naval resources appeared small in comparison to Allied numbers but they were still significant. Most of the Allied ships used to carry troops and supplies were not equipped to put up a fight against German Naval vessels, limited as they were to narrow, mine-swept channels. Enemy surface ships and U-boats could still wreak untold havoc by creating confusion and fatal delays to operations and reinforcement programs.

Allied forces therefore made plans to weaken Germany's Naval strength. The flanks of the Allied assault force would be guarded by a complex series of patrol ships and every type of German ship would be countered by similar ships belonging to the Allies. E.g., German E-boats and R-boats would face "their long-time enemies," i.e., motor torpedo boats (MTBs) and British gunboats.

Embarking in Southampton, just a few days before D-Day, June 1944

Photo as found in Combined Operations (page 139) by C. Marks

Allied ships completed all last-minute preparations by June 3rd but because of very foul weather, D-Day's initial start date, June 4th (to arrive in Normandy's beaches on the 5th), was aborted, "followed by sickening hours of uncertainty." One day later than planned, however, the die was cast. "The assault put forth... ."

Details related to Canadians in Combined Operations are noted below:

"At twelve o'clock on the morning of June 5th, seven landing craft of the 260th Canadian Flotilla slipped their lines from Southampton.... (and joined) a stream of similar craft threading its way down the crowded anchorage of the Solent.... on board the seven craft were 250 Canadian and 1,050 British troops, all attached to the 3rd Canadian Division."

"Two hours astern of them in the same stream followed the twelve craft of the 262nd Flotilla, carrying 1,946 Canadian and 148 British troops (3rd Canadian Division). (Also) making for the assembly area.... were the seven craft of the 264th Canadian Flotilla, carrying 1,227 troops of the British Northumbrian Division."

More to follow.

Please link to Story: Overlord - Operation Neptune, D-Day - Part 1

Video: World War II: The Complete History

World War II: The Complete History

Part of Combined Operations Memorial, at No. 1 Combined

Operations Training Centre, just south of Inveraray, Scotland

Introduction - YouTube is a reliable source for videos and films related to WW2 activities, and on occasion references are made and scenes are seen that involve men on landing crafts during the raid at Dieppe (1942) and invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and so on. Not often are there references made about the Canadians who served in Combined Operations and operated some of the landing craft, but in spite of that, the videos and films are informative and educational for a variety of reasons.

The lengthy documentary, "World War II: The Complete History" can be found on YouTube broken down into thirteen episodes.

Link to "World War II: The Complete History" 

One will also find an interesting comment thread (as is often the case) suggesting the documentary is well-balanced, is presented from a wider point of view, and is closer to the truth re root causes of WW2 (e.g., related to the Treaty of Versailles) than other films. You, of course, get to be the final judge.

Duration: 660mins
Released: June 2007 (see below)

Editorial Review, in part, as found at Amazon.com:

The full story of the greatest conflict the world has ever seen... With the use of extensive and rare archival footage, experience the full story of WWII. From the Battle of Britain to the attack on Pearl Harbour to the bloody conflict in the Pacific, this incredible collection provides a complete review of the war that claimed the lives of over 60 million people.

This brilliant series tells the chronological story of WWII. All the crucial moments of the conflict are covered in detail including Pearl Harbor, the War in the Pacific and D-Day.

Historical Archives Include: Official military maps & combat reports; Replica logbook from the Dambuster Raid in 1943; A replica ration book and coupons as well as wartime cookery recipes; A leaflet showing how to spot enemy uniforms; Newspaper advertisements on the dangers of a gas attack; A series of 12 full-color public information notices; Letters home from the front; War posters, cigarette cards and much, much more!

Above plaque is part of Combined Operations Memorial, Inveraray

For those who want extensive historical context for Combined Operations activities, e.g., from Norway to Burma, this documentary may assist.

Please link to Video: D-Day, The Shortest Day - June 6th 1944

Photos from Inveraray by GH

Story: Overlord - Operation Neptune, D-Day - Part 1

OVERLORD, D-DAY

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944

By Clayton Marks, RCNVR and Combined Operations

The true scale of the D-Day landings. Some 156,000 Allied troops landed

on five beaches along the Normandy coast. Photo - Imperial War Museum

Introduction - The following story (presented here in several parts) can only be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find. I present a short summary of Mr. Mark's 23-page-long account on this site.

OPERATION NEPTUNE, June 6, 1944 - Part 1

The effort called forth to defeat the shameful dreams of Adolf Hitler was both gigantic and majestic. Operation Overlord was "the stately title of the plan" to defeat the Reich. Operation Neptune was the Navy's part of the plan and it involved the landing of Allied armies on French soil as well as the development and maintenance of lines of communication and supply by water. The "direct Canadian contribution of 110 ships and 10,000 men" was about four percent of the total Naval effort.

Assembly of fighting vessels began in January, 1944. The flood of cargo to the UK rose still higher in June and July, as armies battled in France.

The battle upon the Atlantic Ocean "was a lesser task" than during earlier years, but still not insignificant. Convoys of ships in 1944 continued to increase in size and number, until some were made up of 150 ships carrying a million tons of supplies. The traffic could not be hidden from the Germans but now the policy was to mislead them. The strength assembling in the southeast grew boldly, and pointed across the Straits of Dover, but the build up in the south and west, which might have appeared to target the actual invasion area farther down the French coast, was concealed. Best hidden were all the materials to be used to build large pre-fabricated harbours - "the most novel and daring feature of the Allied plan."

Canadian ships, HMCS Prince Henry and Prince David, assembled with other landing ships at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Prince Henry, Senior Officer of Landing Ships in Assault Force J (one of five assault forces destined for Normandy, was also responsible for discipline, navigation, etc. of many converted merchant vessels destined for beaches in Juno sector. 

A news clipping from 1944 re HMCS Prince David, Troop "Fortress"

As found in Combined Operations (P. 170) by C. Marks, London

On April 21st, after an intensive training period, Flotillas of assault landing craft - to be carried aboard Prince Henry and David - also gathered at Cowes, as did three Canadian Flotillas of LCI(L)s, consisting of thirty craft. Exercises involving Canadian, Royal Navy and U.S. Navy ships and craft began on a very large scale.

During Fabius, the largest and last of the exercises, an enormous assault force sailed from Southampton and continued south of Isle of Wight for twenty-five miles. It was a dress rehearsal, "very probably observed by the enemy". There was no German response, however, and when close to mid-channel, the assault force turned back to disembark troops ("under the thunder of supporting guns on the beaches") ten miles east of Portsmouth. After this final exercise and the King's inspection and salute, there only remained "last-minute preparations and days of waiting."

On land, vast armies moved into sealed camps, and as soon as final invasion orders came on board the ships just off shore, they too were sealed. "No man, except on an urgent official mission... could set foot ashore." Feverish, last-minute preparations continued under a shroud of secrecy. 

The forces of Overload were to strike the French coast in the region of the Seine estuary (and Baie de la Seine), directly across the Channel from Portsmouth, the Solent and Southampton Water, for it was there that lay the longest stretch of open shore lying within range of England's fighter aircraft. The waters along the Normandy coast would provide anchorage for Neptune shipping. At the approaches to the bay there existed a daunting belt of German mines, but lanes would be swept, by mine-sweepers, allowing assaulting ships to reach shore.

Overlord also consisted of plans to drop three divisions of parachute troops well inland, while the sea-borne landings took place on a five-divisional front. Five Naval forces (three British and two U.S.) were to deliver the troops to five code-named fronts, i.e., Sword, Juno and Gold in the east, Omaha and Utah in the western sector. In each area specific Naval craft would land assigned troops and equipment, all according to an appointed day, hour and minute. The appointed day initially had been set for June 5th, but the plan remained flexible - within narrow limits.

Appropriate dates in June were dictated by the tactics of the landing. According to Overlord, after a "night-long smashing by aircraft", German strong-points were to be smothered by Naval bombardment. Landing craft would then proceed "on a rising half-tide" over beach obstacles, including mines, the first line of German defense.

The assault beaches had been closely studied, inch by inch. Aerial photographs and intelligence reports numbered in the thousands. Every feature of the area, "every battery or minefield or cluster of beach obstacles" had been dutifully mapped. And landing craft had been assigned to exact beaching positions. By the time of the assault, crews had become very familiar with the beaches that lay before them. 

More to follow.

Please link to Story: Waiting for D-Day Normandy, June 1944

Video: D-Day, The Shortest Day - June 6th 1944

D-Day The Shortest Day - Operation Overlord

The true scale of the D-Day landings. Some 156,000 Allied troops landed

on five beaches along the Normandy coast. Photo - Imperial War Museum

Introduction - The well-written synopsis below accompanied the link to this 56-minute-long film. Excellent WW2 film footage and commentary are linked together with numerous interviews of veterans and observers.

Synopsis:

Life, said the survivors, was never quite the same again, after June 6th 1944. With testimony from the UK, the US, the Commonwealth and Germany, THE SHORTEST DAY documents the meticulous planning leading up to the world's biggest amphibious invasion, the terror and triumph of the landings and the bitterness of the fighting in the days that followed.

It also records one of the campaign's worst atrocities that cost the lives of 20 Canadian troops -- and the impact on the men who unearthed the war crime. Crucial to the success of the D-Day landings was one of the greatest feats of deception in history. Decoy troop activity was centered on Kent, to fool the Germans into thinking that the Normandy landings were a feint, to be followed by a main thrust across the short-sea route from Kent to Calais. The Germans were convinced and kept vital forces in the Pas de Calais, miles away from Normandy where the vital battles were being won and lost.

The build up had taken three years and the full moon on June 5th presented the ideal date for the invasion of occupied France. The weaponry and vehicles were loaded, the troops had embarked, when the halt was called due to foul weather. A day's delay and a tense decision by General Eisenhower in the early hours of June 5th gave D-Day June 6th, 1944, its place in history.

The ingenuity of the Allied plan, included purpose-built harbours, devised to land the troops on the shallow beaches. Sections of the harbours were brought from all around the country where they had been manufactured in separate parts, unrecognisable as to their end purpose, and transported in great secrecy to the vessels for assembly on the Normandy coast. A fuel pipeline, codenamed Pluto, was laid on the sea bed in order to supply the vehicles.

All this is told in vivid anecdote and ingenious use of archive film. This is a human document of an historic event which changed the face of the world.

Link: D-Day The Shortest Day

As well, please link to Video: "Victory at Sea" - Sicily and Italy

Story: Waiting for D-Day Normandy, June 1944

WAITING FOR D-DAY

By Mac Ruttan and F. J. McParlan - R.C.N.V.R. - V-32691

June 6, 1944: Troops embark - holding onto a line - from an LCI(L) at Normandy

Photo credit - As found in Combined Operations Page 111, by C. Marks

Introduction - This story (presented here in two parts) can only be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find.

Part 1 - Please link to Story: Waiting For D-Day Normandy, June 1944 (1)

Part 2 - Please link to Story: Waiting For D-Day Normandy, June 1944 (2)

For another story, please link to Story: After D-Day, Aboard LCI(L)-310

Story: Waiting For D-Day Normandy, June 1944 (2)

WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 2

By Mac Ruttan and F. J. McParlan - R.C.N.V.R. - V-32691

June 6, 1944: Troops embark - holding onto a rope - from an LCI(L) at Normandy

Photo credit* - As found on Pg. 111, Combined Operations by C. Marks

Introduction - This story (presented here in two parts) can only be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find. However, three of Clayton's family members and I are now in the process of readying the book for reprinting. It should be ready (hopefully) for sale and delivery by June 2016, and an announcement will be made on this site.

WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 2

A much shortened version of the Ruttan and McParlan account follows:

Ruttan and McParlan spent the rest of April housecleaning, making sure all equipment worked as intended. Then, on May 4th, 2000 members of the British 50th Northumbrian Division boarded the LCI(L)s bound for Operation Fabius, the final practice run for D-Day France. Nearly 1000 ships were involved.

They arrived off the beach of Hayling Island and faced a brisk breeze and heavy surf for the troops' last effort before the big day. When landing ramps were lowered they were either on sand or under five feet of water and many soldiers, "laden with rifles and ammunition" lost their footing. "Six carried by our Flotilla were drowned," says McParlan. (To avoid a worse tragedy on D-Day, LCI(L) crews devised a plan to have one sailor haul a rope toward the beach for troops to use to guide them: See top photo).

"Now we had a month of waiting," says McParlan. While waiting the men observed other preparations for invasion take place. They saw "strange, fortress-like, floating concrete caissons" (for a giant, artificial harbour) and tugs with large reels of pipe to set up a fuel line - along the ocean floor - from the UK to France. All leaves wwere cancelled and many began to write "letters home at a furious rate."

Ruttan and McParlan's Flotilla was to carry the Gloucestershire Regiment (50th Northumbrian Division) and on June 4th they moved from Southampton to Lymington. Each soldier carried a rifle and collapsible bicycle on board before the LCI(L) retuned to Southampton. Colonel E. C. Pepper also came aboard and with McParlan briefed the troops the next morning's assault. Shortly thereafter they learned that D-Day was delayed for one day due to bad weather. Ships that had already set sail were found and turned back.

"Each soldier carried a rifle and collapsible bicycle on board"

Photo - As found in Combined Operations, page 137

June 5th seemed to last forever, tensions mounted aboard the LCIs, but relief spread when they were finally underway. "We were among the last to leave and the deserted West Solent was a strange sight," says McParlan.

As well, McParlan says, "We passed the Needles Lighthouse... at 2300"

From a print called "Passing the Needles" (Isle of Wight) - Editor

When McParlan joined Col. Pepper on the bridge he noted that "aircraft droned continuously above the clouds" and the odd flash of the air and naval bombardment was observed. Morning light revealed a spectacular display of ships and planes, and after a light breakfast the officers and signalman on the bridge toasted the success of Operation Overload (with brandy from Pepper's flask).

"By now, with binoculars, we could make out the movements of forces clearing the beach of obstacles," writes McParlan. They positioned themselves off Gold Beach at 0940 and observed that the beach was thick with landing craft and "there was no parking place for us."

McParlan saw that many landing craft were stranded or damaged by mines and underwater obstacles. He watched the 260th Flotilla (with the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade) approach the beach, as well as the 262nd Flotilla (in top photo) that carried the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

McParlan writes, "We steamed up and down and more than one Gloucester said he would as soon swim ashore as stay on this flaming, leaping, rolling bucket."

Finally, at 1150, they received their order to go in. They swept toward the beach at full speed and touched down at 1159. Troops disembarked with their bicycles and Ruttan and McParlan shook hands with Colonel Pepper. They had not lost a man, soldier or sailor.

*Top photo taken by Gilbert Milne, RCN photographer. Many of his iconic photos can be found in H.M.C.S. Some notes in the book are supplied by Scott Young.

Please link to Story: Waiting For D-Day Normandy, June 1944 (1)

Story: Waiting For D-Day Normandy, June 1944 (1)

WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 1

By Mac Ruttan and F. J. McParlan - R.C.N.V.R. - V-32691

LCI(L)s, No. 305 and 295 of the 264th Flotilla, disembarking troops on the
French coast. "The 264th was made up of 7 Canadian and 3 American LCI's"
Photo credit - Combined operations by Clayton Marks, London, ONT.

Introduction - This story (to be presented here in two parts) can only be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find. However, three of Clayton's family members and I are now in the process of readying the book for reprinting. It should be ready (hopefully) for sale and delivery by June 2016, and an announcement will be made on this site.

WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 1

A much shortened version of the Ruttan and McParlan account follows:

On September 8, 1943, the War Committee of the Canadian Cabinet acquired 30 landing craft (Landing Craft Infantry, Large) for Operation Overload, the Allied landing in France. The LCI(L)s landing craft infantry (large) were built in the U.S., divided into three flotillas and became home to 850 Canadian sailors. Operated by the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, the LCI(L)s were described as fast (could do 16 knots) and were equipped with collapsible bunks for 185 infantrymen. Their range was 5,000 miles.

The LCI(L)s were commissioned as Royal Canadian Navy ships and the RCN was responsible for manning them, repair and maintenance costs. By the end of 1943 the 30 ships were spread among 15 to 20 ports in Britain, and in early 1944 crews arrived by way of Greenock, Scotland.

Commanding Officers, for the most part, had Combined Operations experience in the Mediterranean, first lieutenants had some training at the Combined Ops school at Comox, B.C., and the rest were mostly inexperienced. Though some had been in cells when they were offered release (on condition they volunteer for Combined Operations), they became first class sailors.

Combined Operations training school, Comox, British Columbia

Photo credit - W. H. Pugsley, Sailor Remember

Mac Ruttan, assigned to HMCS LCI(L)-302 of the 264th Flotilla, first saw 302 at Tilbury Docks in Feb. 1944 on the Thames River, 40 miles east of London. Beside her was LCI(L)-295 of the same flotilla. (See top photo).

To Ruttan, the ship appeared "strange looking", a white craft with a few rust spots. She was 160 feet long and equipped with 4 single 20mm Oerlikon guns. He met a young New Zealand Naval officer shortly after arrival who had been ordered to stay aboard "until the Canadians - any Canadian - appeared." 

The officer took time to explain the use of the stern anchor: As the ship ran toward a beach to land the infantry, the anchor was released about 150 yards off shore. After a landing, the infantry disembarked and the stern anchor was then used to help the ship withdraw from the beach. Ruttan explored the engine room and examined the ship's pointed bow and flat bottom (The bottom was a V for the first third of her length and flat for the other two-thirds.

The next day 302 was turned over to the R.C.N, after the completion of the most important part of the transaction, i.e., auditing the rum supply. Two days later the crew arrived, and though they were not wildly enthusiastic at first, unique qualities of 302 provided curiosity and interest.

The last three weeks of February was spent at Tilbury on repairs, testing the engine, steering gear, compasses and guns. The LCI(L) went to sea for the first time at the end of the month when ordered to Weymouth on the south coast. On the way Ruttan and McParlan were aware they were within "easy range of German coastal guns around Calais." Shortly after berthing 302 on March 1st at Weymouth,  the crew began the daily practise of beachings or landings, "rolling the two ramps down", which involved the use of "a complicated system of blocks and wires driven by an electric winch."

The crew quickly discovered one peculiarity of the LCI(L)s - the engines were not reversible. Once, when approaching a seawall at a good speed, the bridge ordered "Stop engines", and without the help of a reversed engine, the craft hit the wall and a seaman was thrown through the air and landed on nearby pavement (uninjured), "after barely missing two young matrons pushing baby buggies."

After six weeks the Flotilla became a reasonably-efficient group and on April 19th it was ordered to Southampton, where Ruttan and McParlan saw "hundreds and hundreds of ships of every size and description" jammed into the West Solent. They concluded that the attack across the English Channel was not very far away, and noted that if the invasion forces were observed, the "Germans could have wreaked very heavy damage with only a few bombers in such a concentration of shipping."

Fortunately, there were no such attacks.

Combined Operations training school, Comox, British Columbia

Photo credit - W. H. Pugsley, Sailor Remember

Combined Operations training school, Comox, British Columbia

Photo credit - Gordon Bell, in Land of Plenty (History of Comox)

More to follow.

Please link to Story: D-Day Normandy - Lt. Anderson's Diary

Video: "Victory at Sea" - Sicily and Italy

Sicily and the Italian Campaign

The Fight For Sicily., i.e., Operation HUSKY

Photo credit - Histomil Historica 

Introduction - YouTube is a reliable source for videos and films related to WW2 activities, and on occasion references are made and scenes are seen that involve men on landing crafts during the raid at Dieppe (1942) and invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and so on. Less often are there references to Canadians who served in Combined Operations and operated some of the landing craft, but in spite of that, the videos and films are informative and educational for a variety of reasons.

The lengthy film, "Victory at Sea", can be found on YouTube broken down into many episodes and parts of episodes. Episode 14, Parts 1 and 2 deal with the invasion of Sicily and Italy, in July 1943 and September 1943 respectively. Part 1 deals more with the history in the making at that time (incl. scenes of Hitler on his way to Italy by train), rather than scenes of the invasion of Sicily, but Part 2 reveals many scenes of the Sept. 3 invasion, and we see men at work on various landing crafts, e,g, at Salerno - Canadians would surely be involved in some scenes. Both episodes are well worth watching, in my opinion.

Please link to Part 1 - Victory at Sea, Sicily (approx. 10 minutes)

Please link to Part 2 - Victory at Sea, Italy (approx. 10 minutes)

FYI - Part 2 is automatically loaded onto the heels of Part 1.

Please link to Video: Combined Ops Beach Landing Exercise

Story: After D-Day, Aboard LCI(L)-310

After D-Day Normandy, Aboard LCI(L)-310

By Lt. Luke Williams (retired)

A British naval command post on 'Gold' Beach. Landing craft are

disembarking British equipment. Photo - Times of Malta

Introduction - "With more men and material landing each day, the growing power of American and British forces began the steady drive inland. The plan was for British Forces to capture Caen, just 15 kilometers from Gold Beach, within the first few days after invasion." (From D-Day Revisited) 

After D-DAY - June 16, 1944

On the afternoon of June 16, 1944, LCI(L)-310 was ordered alongside the Royal Pier in Southampton to embark U.S. Army troops, and then to proceed to a designated anchorage to await orders to form a convoy bound for Gold Beach in Normandy.

At 1830 the convoy weighed anchor and proceeded in two lines through the Gate ship off Portsmouth and into the English Channel. I took the first watch from 1800 to 2400 with the Cox'n Jim Searle at the helm. At midnight I was relieved by the No. 1, Del Foote, and with either A.B. Corcoran or A.B. "Shadow" Walsh at the wheel. Orders were to sail within the mine swept Channel and to follow the blue cluster light in the ships ahead.

At approximately 0200 on June 17th there was action astern of the convoy, with starshells and gunfire and the Commodore of the convoy ordered all ships to proceed independently. I was called to the bridge at this time and and was surprised on taking over at 0400, that there were no other ships in sight and that the log did not indicate our position when the 'proceed independently' order was received.

We were lost now in the swept Channel and had to estimate where we were and what course to steer. We assumed a setting and speed that we thought would put us off the Normandy coast at approximately 0900.

With the Cox'n back on the wheel, A.B. Rowland Baxter as bridge lookout and the signalman, John Britton on the bridge, we set out on our course. At 0543 Baxter and Britton spotted a signal being sent to us from what appeared to us to be a great distance. The signal was requesting we reply with the proper recognition for the day, which John Britton was able to do. The other ship was a Royal Navy destroyer. She came alongside and asked us our destination. When we told them that we were heading for Gold Beach, we received, in my opinion, a classic response - "If you continue on the same course you will take Le Havre singlehanded, so follow me". With that we made a 30 degree alteration to starboard and arrived off Gold Beach at 0815.

LCI(L)-310 made seven trips to France during the invasion and thankfully lost none of the crew or the troops we carried. We were on the beach on D-Day for over twelve hours and lost our kedge and one of the ramps. On another trip we hit a teller mine that put a sizeable hole in the bow. On both occasions our Chief Motor Mechanic, Harry Osborne, made the minor repairs that enabled us to return to the U.K. for complete repair in drydock.

Editor's Note - 

Th short account above, written by Luke Williams, can be found in the book Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book, printed in the early 1990s - now very rare, almost impossible to find - is in the process of being reprinted and an announcement will be made on this site when ready for sale and distribution.

Please link to Story: 'The Day' - June 6, 1944, Normandy

Story: 'The Day' - June 6, 1944, Normandy

The Day: A Story in the Form of a Poem

By Charles H. Murphy, Major (retired)

The North Shore (N.B.) Regiment, Canada

Troops disembark from LCI(L) 299 during D-Day Normandy

Photo by Gilbert Milne, RCN photographer, D-Day Revisited

Introduction -

This poem, written by Charles H. Murphy, is accompanied by a date - June 6, 1986 - the 42nd anniversary of D-Day Normandy. Perhaps it was initially written for private consumption, but methinks it was penned for, or presented at, an anniversary ceremony of some kind, e.g., at a Navy club or Legion Hall.

The poem, twenty verses in all, can be found in the book Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book, printed in the early 1990s - now very rare, almost impossible to find - is in the process of being reprinted and an announcement will be made on this site when ready for sale and distribution.

THE DAY

On the sixth day of June, nineteen forty-four,
A group of us lads stormed Normandy's shore.
Ike issued orders to the troops, one and all.
Our task very simply was to breach Hitler's wall.

The Air Force flew cover and with the Navy below,
We readied our weapons to give it a "go".
Our ships were all ready, poised along Britain's coast.
Now steamed 'cross the Channel, each like a grey ghost....

The Landings were combined with parachute & glider attacks... Piper Millin,

in highland dress, played openly along the route. Photo - D-Day Revisited

.... Some lads wrote last letters, others had a quick smoke,
Played poker or cribbage, one remembered a joke.
Our Padre had blessed us, a tear in his eye.
He offered up prayers, knowing many would die....

.... The Assault Landing Craft, tank-landers too.
Were rolling and pitching; - we lost one or two.
Calmly we circled until all were in line.
You'd think we were punting on the Thames or the Tyne.

We soon get our orders to head for the shore.
Such a motley armada was ne'er seen before.
We stood and looked round us, surveying the sight.
There were craft of all sizes on our left and our right.

The surf it was pounding and so were the guns.
The Navy, God bless them, hurled shells weighing tons.
Some fighters flew over, strafing the beach.
Jerry crouched in his bunkers, safely out of their reach....

We ran up the beaches, we stumbled and fell.
From confusion came order. We did our job well.
We saw our first wounded and stopped to give aid.
T'was clear that many the supreme price had paid.

Our Landing Ships; tank, disgorged out their loads.
We soon had our armour upon the beach roads.
They blasted the houses where the enemy hid.
The lead-tank commander was no more than a kid....

.... The medium machine guns laid on their fixed-lines.
While lads of the Pioneers exploded some mines.
Our anti-tank guns' were all safely ashore.
One silenced a bunker, blasting through a rear door....

.... The machine guns kept rattling, the rifles went crack.
We all were expecting Hitler's counter-attack.
Our companies' objectives we took rather well.
When we counted our losses, we knew we'd seen hell....

.... The Yanks who had landed along the coast to our right,
On Omaha Beach they had one hell of a fight.
From cliff-top positions a hundred feet high,
The defenders made certain that many would die....

.... The years have flown fast and we stand here tonight.
As I raise my glass, I reflect on the sight.
Here's a toast to our comrades who have gone to their rest.
Of the world's bravest men, they sure were the best!

More information about Gold, Sword and Juno Beaches, including a short video showing troops debarking from landing craft, can be seen at D-Day Revisited.

As well, please link to Story: D-Day Normandy - Lt. Anderson's Diary

Story: D-Day Normandy - Lt. Anderson's Diary

Lt. Jack Anderson's Diary Aboard LCI(L) 311

D-Day Crossing. Photo - Combined Operations by C. Marks, London, Canada

Introduction -

This diary, written by Lt. J. Anderson, R.C.N.V.R., during the D-Day landings, was discovered in a locker aboard LCI(L) 311 by Jock Menzies of New Zealand when he purchased 3 former LCI(L)s (Landing Craft, Infantry - Large) from Harland and Wolf Shipyards in Belfast, Ireland in September or October of 1944. Records indicate the Skipper of LCI(L) 311 was Lt. David J. Lewis, R.C.N.V.R., who later created, with the help of others, a rare book re Canadians in Combined Ops entitled St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, 1941 - 1945 (Volume 1).

LCI(L) - 311 "DIARY" By Lt. J. Anderson

Part 1 - Lt. Anderson's Diary (1)

Part 2 - Lt. Anderson's Diary (2)

Part 3 - Lt. Anderson's Diary (3)

Note from Editor: The diary, in its entirety, can only be found in the book Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find. However, three of Clayton's family members and I are now in the process of readying the book for reprinting. It should be ready for sale and delivery in June 2016, and an announcement will be made on this site at that time.

Please link to Short Story: "Details about the Silverwalnut"

Story: D-Day Normandy - Lt. Anderson's Diary (3)

Lt. Jack Anderson's Diary Aboard LCI(L) 311

Allied troops are embarking from Southampton. Photo - Combined Operations page 139

Introduction -

This diary, written by Lt. J. Anderson, R.C.N.V.R., during the D-Day landings, was discovered in a locker aboard LCI(L) 311 by Jock Menzies of New Zealand when he purchased 3 former LCI(L)s (Landing Craft, Infantry - Large) from Harland and Wolf Shipyards in Belfast, Ireland in September or October of 1944. Records indicate the Skipper of LCI(L) 311 was Lt. David J. Lewis, R.C.N.V.R., who later created, with the help of others, a rare book re Canadians in Combined Ops entitled St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, 1941 - 1945 (Volume 1).

LCI(L) - 311 "DIARY" By Lt. J. Anderson

An abbreviated version of details follows:

On Wednesday, June 14 (D+8, or 8 days after D-Day), Jack Anderson reports he "went ashore about noon and walked about 3 miles inland." He noticed that the locals were coming out of hiding and showed no big signs of enthusiasm. They just went back to their work. He was turned around by an M.P. so returned to the ship, where he met Ian Barclay who had returned from Bayeux "where he had a haircut and shampoo"  and bought souvenirs. "He says there is no shortage of luxury goods... all the stores seem well stocked."

LCI(L) 311 reported to "Albrighton" and learned they were to carry Lt. Cdr. Britton, R.N.V.R. to the U.K. on a high speed passage. They ran into a convoy of U.S. LCI's, however, who were in no hurry to return. About 2 AM they had a bit of excitement as a convoy ahead was attacked by German planes. Rockets, flares, traces and planes were buzzing all around. Apparently, a JV88 flew right over 311 at very low altitude.

Thursday, June 15 D+9

LCI(L) 311 arrived off Fort Gilkicker about 5:30 AM and later proceeded to Portsmouth. They drews alongside a casualty carrying LST with as many padres aboard as stretcher bearers. Anderson writes that they were told to move and eventually tied up beside the "Shippigan". He saw the "Victory" from a distance. 

Instructions were received to proceed to Southampton, where, two minutes after arrival (so it seemed) an American boarded to load 400 blankets, food supplies and 200 troops. Anderson found time after supper to go ashore to raise a glass at the Travellers Club, for starters.

Friday, June 16 D+10

After great rushing around to load rubber tires and more, 311 returned to France. He states they had "a most pleasant afternoon crossing the Channel with bright sunshine and a pleasant rolling swell." "The ships moving back and forth are amazing in their numbers," he writes. "Convoys of LST's and merchant ships are continually crossing - about 75 ships in each convoy." They dropped off their load at "Frobisher" at 8 PM and then enjoyed a sip of gin, followed up by a bugle fanfare to the "Frobisher" when they let their lines go. "Even the cruiser's Commander smiled," writes Anderson. "Smiled like he had a mouthful of razor blades."

Saturday, June 17 D+11

"This indeed was our unlucky day," begins Anderson. 311 unloaded about 300 troops from "Princess Josephine Charlotte" but in the process damaged their ship, e.g., two stanchions were broken and two holes were created at the water line. They also took on diesel oil from a tanker and ruined their forward anchor. "Let's hope the war doesn't last too long," he writes.

Sunday, June 18 D+12

Anderson's notes begin early! "At two AM we were told (to) proceed to unload troopers". The "Prince David" was among them and Anderson was reacquainted with friends. LCI(L) 311 unloaded a record number of troops from "Prince David" but "ran aground on the so-called pontoon."

Photos/details re Prince David, found in Combined Operations pg. 170

Monday, June 19 D+13

D+13 proved unlucky for LCI(L) 311. During the night a gale blew up the ship had to move twice, the second time into a gooseberry (man-made harbour). "We were not there long," Andersaon says. They were dispatched to tow rhino ferries but in the gale they could not be found.

During the afternoon Anderson went ashore, "at Arromanches," he says. He and a companion "found a church and a cemetery and spent some time in each." Only one shop was open ("all they seemed to have were buttons") so they returned to the ship for supper. At 1 AM, "just to make life miserable" 311 was forced to move again, into gale force winds. Not a good night.

Tuesday, June 20 D+14

"Last night was a bad one for the ship," begins Anderson's diary entry for the day. He reports on damage to 311. "A few holes in the forecastle.... a colossal dent in the port side." A tug was required to two them away from the jetty. After successfully getting their anchor down, 311 rode out the storm for the remainder of the day.

Wednesday, June 21 D+15

"There is always someone around to spoil things," writes Anderson. At 8 PM they were given orders "to move immediately because we were apparently in grave danger of breaking the beetle (man-made dock). Unfortunately, the crew found the anchor was fouled in the securing line for the pontoon.

They found they couldn't clear themselves and had to cut away the anchor. Anderson says, "A gale (is) blowing and us without an anchor." They moved about inside the gooseberry until 1 AM until a friendly freighter allowed them to tie up alongside. The business of cruising around inside the harbour was risky business after dark and 311 collided with an LCT ("another hole in the forecastle," says Anderson).

Thursday, June 22 D+16

LCI(L) 311 had to move after 6:30 AM because the "friendly freighter" had to unload. By 9 AM, however, they secured the ship to another friendly freighter. Anderson adds, "We learned later that he has been here one week waiting to be unloaded. His cargo is 450 tons of ammunition. Who said modern war needed supply?"

Anderson learned from the BBC that the wind was hampering operations off the Normandy coast, but that unloading was continuing. Anderson rates the unloading procedure as "Darn good." He observes LCAs (Landing Craft, Assault) being lowered inside the gooseberry. "Yet the battle goes on." He says, "The wheels were put in motion to return to the U.K." in order to repair damage to their ship, and later learned they were to return "at dawn tomorrow."

Last entry, July (no date given)

200 (troops) - U.S. Army - from Royal Pier, Southampton to Utah area.
177 - U.S. Army - Lymington to Omaha area

Note from Editor: The diary, in its entirety, can only be found in Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario. The book was printed in 1993 (approx.) and is extremely difficult to find. However, three of Clayton's family members and I are now in the process of readying the book for reprinting. It should be ready for sale and delivery by June 2016, and an announcement will be made on this site.

Please link to Story: D-Day Normandy - Lt. Anderson's Diary (2)

Video: Combined Ops Beach Landing Exercise

Reinforcements Arrive and Beach Landing Exercise

Lord L. Mountbatten (right) watches landing exercise at the combined operations

centre - Dundonald Camp, Irvine. The men use a dummy landing craft, and shallow pit

 filled with water to simulate a true amphibious landing. Photo - Histomil Historica

Introduction: One can find a wealth of excellent quality documentaries (approx. 10 min. length, free for the viewing) at Histomil Historica (along with very good quality photographs, as above) that were produced as Canadian Army Newsreels by the Canadian Army Film Unit at Merton Park Studios (South Wimbledon, London).

Though the film unit's chief subject is the Canadian Army, other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces are seen participating in various aspects of World War II. I will provide links to just a few of the films produced at Merton Park, ones which draw some attention to Canadians in Combined Operations and their work on landing crafts of various kinds in different parts of the war theatre.

At the end of this film one sees the Black Watch combined operations beach landing exercise. Please note, the photograph above relates to earlier forms of landing craft training at Irvine, Scotland.

Quote from the film: The Black Watch of Canada held a Combined Operations exercise to rehearse the part they might be called upon to play in the assault (D-Day Normandy), an assault that will dwarf every Allied military effort of the war. Once the landing craft hit the beach the real success depends on the Army.... Combined Operations encourages the spirit of co-operation in all fighting men united by the danger of their calling.

Link to Canadian Army Newsreel No. 22 - Reinforcements Arrive and Beach Landing Exercise

Synopsis, in part:

Arabian Princes Visit Canadian Corps - Amir Faisal and Amir Khalid, sons of King Ibn Saud of Arabia pay a visit to the Canadian Corps with Lieutenant General E.W. Sansom; they look at tanks up close and see an armoured division demonstration.

Power for Victory - Canadian Forestry Corps in the Scottish Highlands exploit the hydroelectric power source to work tools at the lumber yard and run other equipment.

Reinforcements Arrive – A British Port - Soldiers arrive at an unnamed port in England, crammed on the deck of the ship; The Canadian Women’s Army Corps on gangway; soldiers march off the ship; equipment is unloaded by cranes onto the dock; soldiers board trains and leave.

United to Conquer - A Black Watch combined operations beach landing exercise; land, climb up rocks, climb on ropes and slide down.

More films by the Canadian Army Film Unit can be viewed at Histomil Historica.

As well, please link to Video: Exercise Pirate - Rehearsal for Invasion

Video: Exercise Pirate - Rehearsal for Invasion

Rehearsal for Invasion with Landing Craft Flotillas

Troops coming ashore from Landing ships, during Operation Fabius, an invasion

exercise in Britain, 5 May 1944. Photo credit - The Observation Post

Introduction: One can find a wealth of excellent quality documentaries (approx. 10 min. length, free for the viewing) at Histomil Historica (along with very good quality photographs) that were produced as Canadian Army Newsreels by the Canadian Army Film Unit at Merton Park Studios (South Wimbledon, London).

Though the film unit's chief subject is the Canadian Army, other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces are seen participating in various aspects of World War II. I will provide links to just a few of the films produced at Merton Park, ones which draw some attention to Canadians in Combined Operations and their work on landing crafts of various kinds in different parts of the war theatre.

This film shows a short, rare and informative clip of Canadians on landing crafts during the Messina crossing to Italy, Sept. 3, 1943 and more.

Link to Canadian Army Newsreel No. 19 - Exercise Pirate - Rehearsal for Invasion

Synopsis, in part:

Exercise Pirate - A rehearsal for invasion. Men load tanks onboard landing craft. Sequence on landing craft flotilla at sea, approaching beach; men landing.

Italian Interlude - Divisional sports meet in Potenza, Italy. 880 yard dash is completed by D.R. Cameron and L.W. Brook; Artillery and Canadian Infantry Brigade in tug-of-war; obstacle race; Peter Stursberg is shown speaking into a microphone. Army vehicles have trouble with deep mud during heavy rains. At a supply dump, men of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps handle cans of gasoline and other supplies. 

More Canadian Army Newsreels at Histomil Historica

Please link to Video: CWACs, Seaforth Highlanders, Messina Crossing, 1943