Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2021 16:29:58 GMT 12
INVASION STORY
THRILLING EXPERIENCE
NEW ZEALAND OFFICER
ASSAULT SHIP ARMADA
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received June 10, noon) LONDON, June 9.
The first member of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve to return to England from the invasion beaches was Lieutenant D. C. Wilson, of Wellington. He was senior officer commanding a flotilla of five small infantry landing craft filled with Royal Marine commandos. His craft hit a hedgehog mine and sank after mortar fire, but he returned to England with only a slight cold. Here is his story:—
“We knew on June 3, when we were briefed, that the invasion was on. We were to have sailed on the afternoon of June 4, but bad weather delayed the operation for 24 hours. Finally we pushed off at 5.30 p.m. on June 5. It was a light, clear evening, with low clouds and a reasonably good moon, but there was a strong wind and a heavy sea was running. The waves were between eight and ten feet high and half the naval crew and some 70 per cent of the commandos were sick. They lay flat out on the upper deck, swathed in their blankets. Our craft followed the headquarters ship and a destroyer. The Channel had been cleared by mine-sweepers and we could see our route clearly marked out.
“Naval Bombardment Began”
“About 3 a.m. when we were still some distance from France, we saw the first flashes on shore. It was the bombers at work. Then at approximately 5.30 the naval bombardment began by cruisers and destroyers. I could see a great long line of ships, all broadside on to the shore. From their guns came flashes and spouts of black smoke. It was a terrific sight and din. It lasted until about 7.30.
“At 6 a.m. we had awakened the commandos and given them a bowl of hot soup and they were given instructions to prepare their kit for the landing. But we were not scheduled to reach shore until 8 a.m., and meanwhile we saw an armada go by of assault ships, filled with Canadian troops, and landing craft carrying tanks and bulldozers. I have never seen so many ships together before.
“Eventually it was time for us to go in, and as we went forward we were covered by guns of the Hunt class destroyers and fire from gun ships, flak ships and rocket ships. It was an amazing sight and sounded like bedlam. We left our waiting position at 8 a.m. and it took us 40 minutes to get near the beach. There was a very heavy ground swell which was decidedly unpleasant.
“It Was Uncanny”
“When we were approximately 1000 yards from shore all the bombardment from our ships suddenly ceased and it became absolutely quiet. It was uncanny. All went well until we were within 100 yards of the beach, when the Germans opened up with their mortars. We could see a small spurt of flame as they fired and hear the whizz-bangs as they exploded around us. When we were about 70 yards from the beach my craft hit a hedgehog mine. There was just a dull thud and she listed to starboard. The commando major asked me to get in further if possible, so we went full ahead.”
“One of the stakes from the mine had gone right through the ship and as a result the craft could neither go ahead or astern. We were now taking in water very fast. Then suddenly a mortar bomb struck the deck among the commandos and killed some and wounded others. The sniping was now getting deadly and accurate and all the men had to keep down as flat as possible.
Sinking Rapidly
“We were sinking rapidly now and signalled for assistance, and a landing craft with tanks came up. I was on the bridge all the time and could hear the snipers’ bullets whizzing. Suddenly I ducked by instinct and a bullet shattered the perspex window where my head had been!
“We could see tanks and bulldozers ashore, but they were faced with a twelve-foot wall. There was also a pathetic sight. A number of French civilians who had been bombed out or shelled out from their homes had come to the beach and were seeking any shelter they could find.
“Eventually the commandos were transferred to a landing-craft. They were quite cool and unflurried. Most of them had been in the North African, Sicilian and Salerno landings. Eventually they were transferred to another ship and landed safely.
“I now had no craft and had to return to England with the casualties. It was a great disappointment. Personally I don’t think it much of a story. One thing that impressed us all was the complete absence of German aircraft, but there were swarms of our own boys overhead all the time."
WAIKATO TIMES, 10 JUNE 1944
THRILLING EXPERIENCE
NEW ZEALAND OFFICER
ASSAULT SHIP ARMADA
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received June 10, noon) LONDON, June 9.
The first member of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve to return to England from the invasion beaches was Lieutenant D. C. Wilson, of Wellington. He was senior officer commanding a flotilla of five small infantry landing craft filled with Royal Marine commandos. His craft hit a hedgehog mine and sank after mortar fire, but he returned to England with only a slight cold. Here is his story:—
“We knew on June 3, when we were briefed, that the invasion was on. We were to have sailed on the afternoon of June 4, but bad weather delayed the operation for 24 hours. Finally we pushed off at 5.30 p.m. on June 5. It was a light, clear evening, with low clouds and a reasonably good moon, but there was a strong wind and a heavy sea was running. The waves were between eight and ten feet high and half the naval crew and some 70 per cent of the commandos were sick. They lay flat out on the upper deck, swathed in their blankets. Our craft followed the headquarters ship and a destroyer. The Channel had been cleared by mine-sweepers and we could see our route clearly marked out.
“Naval Bombardment Began”
“About 3 a.m. when we were still some distance from France, we saw the first flashes on shore. It was the bombers at work. Then at approximately 5.30 the naval bombardment began by cruisers and destroyers. I could see a great long line of ships, all broadside on to the shore. From their guns came flashes and spouts of black smoke. It was a terrific sight and din. It lasted until about 7.30.
“At 6 a.m. we had awakened the commandos and given them a bowl of hot soup and they were given instructions to prepare their kit for the landing. But we were not scheduled to reach shore until 8 a.m., and meanwhile we saw an armada go by of assault ships, filled with Canadian troops, and landing craft carrying tanks and bulldozers. I have never seen so many ships together before.
“Eventually it was time for us to go in, and as we went forward we were covered by guns of the Hunt class destroyers and fire from gun ships, flak ships and rocket ships. It was an amazing sight and sounded like bedlam. We left our waiting position at 8 a.m. and it took us 40 minutes to get near the beach. There was a very heavy ground swell which was decidedly unpleasant.
“It Was Uncanny”
“When we were approximately 1000 yards from shore all the bombardment from our ships suddenly ceased and it became absolutely quiet. It was uncanny. All went well until we were within 100 yards of the beach, when the Germans opened up with their mortars. We could see a small spurt of flame as they fired and hear the whizz-bangs as they exploded around us. When we were about 70 yards from the beach my craft hit a hedgehog mine. There was just a dull thud and she listed to starboard. The commando major asked me to get in further if possible, so we went full ahead.”
“One of the stakes from the mine had gone right through the ship and as a result the craft could neither go ahead or astern. We were now taking in water very fast. Then suddenly a mortar bomb struck the deck among the commandos and killed some and wounded others. The sniping was now getting deadly and accurate and all the men had to keep down as flat as possible.
Sinking Rapidly
“We were sinking rapidly now and signalled for assistance, and a landing craft with tanks came up. I was on the bridge all the time and could hear the snipers’ bullets whizzing. Suddenly I ducked by instinct and a bullet shattered the perspex window where my head had been!
“We could see tanks and bulldozers ashore, but they were faced with a twelve-foot wall. There was also a pathetic sight. A number of French civilians who had been bombed out or shelled out from their homes had come to the beach and were seeking any shelter they could find.
“Eventually the commandos were transferred to a landing-craft. They were quite cool and unflurried. Most of them had been in the North African, Sicilian and Salerno landings. Eventually they were transferred to another ship and landed safely.
“I now had no craft and had to return to England with the casualties. It was a great disappointment. Personally I don’t think it much of a story. One thing that impressed us all was the complete absence of German aircraft, but there were swarms of our own boys overhead all the time."
WAIKATO TIMES, 10 JUNE 1944
