As part of my war memorial research I am looking for any details on CH/X114498. MARINE Edward Charles BRYDGES. ROYAL MARINES HMS Copra. 557 LCA Flotilla. 06/06/44 aged 31. Son of Walter & Elizabeth. Husband of Doris. He was educated at Kimpton school and before joining the Marines he was employed as a baker. He married his wife, Doris in June 1941 and was killed during the landings on D-Day. He is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, France. (11.E.13) Can anyone help with any details about what happened to him. I have taken a look at the NA but can find no reference to him or LCA 557. Regards PAUL JOHNSON
Probably in Landing Craft Assault Flotilla 557 which would have been made up of a dozen or more LCA crewed by royal marines. I believe Flotilla 557 was at Juno beach in the initial assault waves bringing in the Canadian 3rd Division off of SS Monowai in the Bernieres sector, may have transported French Canadians of the 8th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. Most craft lost at Juno was due to beach obstacles with or without mines.
If you can find out what Landing Craft were in 557 LCA Flotilla, the following website has details of craft numbers and where they were lost:- British vessels lost at sea in World War 2 - landing ships and craft, LSI, LST, LCT, LCG, LCV, LCVP etc Good hunting. PS - If you go to the home page of this site it covers BRITISH NAVAL VESSELS LOST AT SEA 1939-45 by Name, Date, Theatre and Type from the original "British Vessels Lost at Sea, 1939-45", published HMSO, 1947 and in some cases, gives you casualty lists as well.
Couldn't find anything on losses, but a couple of links give you a brief history and some pics. air sea rescue RAF-lincolnshire.info :: Marine Craft :: Photos
Paul, Take a look at WW2 Combined Operations (interesting site), many references to unusual vessels (takes a bit of navigation, click on 'index' or 'A to Z'). Would direct you to Geoff Slee (Bugger, done it again) but he won't like me for it - this is 6th or 7th post today referring him! Alternatively try Tony Chapman at The LST and Landing Craft Association home page (again might not be his best mate after today). Best of luck, let me know if you get anywhere. Mike