Story: Hands to Beaching Stations (with Sketch)

Hands to Beaching Stations

By David and Kit Lewis and Len Birkenes

Sketch of LCI(L) 271 by the war artist of 'Smear'

In the book St. Nazaire to Singapore, Volume 2, one will find many stories by Canadians in Combined Operations, WW2, who served aboard large landing crafts like LCI(L) 271 (above) during the invasion of France at Normandy in June, 1944.

David Lewis, one of the editors of Volume 2, may have written this short, light-hearted piece about the able-bodied crew of LCI(L) 271.

The piece begins as follows:

"This sketch by the war artist of "Smear", the Weekly Pictorial, shows the smooth working team of our LCI(L)s in action - after they found the right beach. By the bow we see AB Roger Gee starting his cross Channel swim with the grass line."

"Roger Gee takes the plunge, lower left, above a few signatures"

The two men at the front of the landing craft, one leaning over the bow with a boat hook, are identified next and we soon learn that it is "Buck" Buckham (formerly of the Prince David, aka "House of David") that is aiming the cannon toward the sky, "shooting down a couple of our own".

Lieut. Jack Dean is mentioned (a veteran of the invasion of North Africa) as are others on the bridge. The light-hearted tone continues with, "On the bridge things are quite calm - for a change."

 "The kedge wire (far right) seems to have two of the pongos tied up to the can"

Stokers and coxswains all get a mention and twenty signatures were secured at the time to authenticate this "revealing document".

The signatures belong to the following Canadians in Combined Operations:

Bev Stark, "Red" Eagleson, Buck Buckham, Glen Baird and more.

Link to Hands to Beaching Stations, concerning LCI(L) 271

As well, please link to Story: Introduction to the LCI(L) 271

Photos are from St. Nazaire to Singapore, Volume 2, pages 212 and 213.