WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 1
By Mac Ruttan and F. J. McParlan - R.C.N.V.R. - V-32691
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
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.
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.
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 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."
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
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