WAITING FOR D-DAY, Part 2
By Mac Ruttan and F. J. McParlan - R.C.N.V.R. - V-32691
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)
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