Lt. Jack Anderson's Diary Aboard LCI(L) 311
Photo - Gilbert Milne, RCN photographer (Combined Operations)
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
On Monday, June 5, D-l (D-Day minus 1 day), Jack Anderson wrote, in part, that the day started "as a normal day" but Dave (Lt. David J. Lewis) was annoyed a group photo was not working out and Ian, another officer, left the ship at 8:45 AM to search for liquor. By noon, Ian returned with Guinness for each craft.
The officers spent the day filling out various forms and learned by 5 PM that the invasion "was definitely on", resulting in a surge in the crew's morale. Their LCI(L) pulled away from the jetty by 7:30 that evening to a very small audience and a few "goodbyes and good lucks". Anderson says he found himself almost alone on the bridge, until Ian came up from below decks, and as they passed the old docks a few soldiers and dockyard mates raised their hats and cheered. The troops onboard the LCI(L)got the idea and cheered back again.
Once past Calshot, the crew aboard a minelayer were lined up to cheer as twenty craft left Southampton. Anderson adds that two Hunt class destroyers joined the flotilla of LCI(L)s at about 10 PM and he and Ian were relieved shortly thereafter by D. Lewis. A bottle of Guinness and bed time followed.
Tuesday, June 6 D-Day
Anderson writes (in part) that he returned to the bridge at about two AM to find Dave "curled up in a corner trying to sleep." Nothing much occurred until 4 AM "when great white flares were dropped about twenty miles on our port bow." The trip was uneventful until the LCI(L) slipped between two mines before arriving, at 9 AM, in the waiting area. Ships were everywhere to be seen, and cruisers fired a few salvos toward the beach while LCI(L)s circled until ordered to land at 11 AM. They split into lines abreast and charged at the beach. Though large numbers of crafts crowded the beach LCI(L) 311 landed nicely and troops disembarked quickly, in part because Dave yelled into the loud hailer, "Get off my bloody ship!" The troops apparently felt he meant business and poured down the ramps.
Anderson saw about 150 German prisoners marching along the road and heard a few rifle shots coming from a nearby LCT (Landing Craft, Tank). "Ain't war hell!" he writes. Shortly thereafter 311 left the beach and anchored one mile from shore. Only after supper was there a hint of enemy resistance from the air, and Anderson was called to action stations at 10:30 PM, "so I had to get out of bed." He watched tracer fire for a few minutes, yawned, and went back to bed. He says he slept "right through two later air raids."
Wednesday, June 7 D+l (D-Day plus 1)
Anderson writes that at about 10:30 AM they received their next orders, to unload "five infantry carriers arriving at 1700". By 11:00, LCI(L) 311 began to search for them and found three in Force J area. Unable to find the other two LCI(L)s the crew of 311 unloaded the Bibby liner "Cheshire" and took 250 Cameron Highlanders and about 150 Pioneers to shore. In the midst the action Jack Anderson saw Dave Lewis jump into the water to help a sergeant that had fallen off the Jacob's ladder.
J. Anderson and D. Lewis grapple with the sergeant in the water
Photo credit - Combined Operations, page 136
Anderson then climbed down the rope ladder with a knife in his teeth, pirate style, to assist.
Anderson climbs to safety. Lewis and sergeant still in the water
Photo credit - Combined Operations, page 136
During this rescue mission, Ian (Barclay) shared his unvarnished opinions - about the Allied landings - on the B.B.C. As well, the announcer was genuinely concerned about the salvos that were fired regularly from the cruisers, and concluded (incorrectly) there was an air raid on, and so he broadcast that bit of news as well.
Anderson draws near the last of his notes for the day by stating, "One amazing sight is the number of cruisers and destroyers which are anchored off the beach. They serve no apparent purpose, but they do look nice."
More to follow.
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 in three months, and an announcement will be made on this site.
Please link to Short Story: "Details about the Silverwalnut"
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