D Day Landing Craft Markings

Michel,
Thank you for your kind words of support ... they make me feel like I almost know what I am doing!

The other way I was trying to determine not only the craft and serial numbers, but who was aboard any given ship or craft, was by following the trail of Embarkation Tags. War Diaries from the Cdn. Sec. G.H.Q. 2 Ech. 21 Army Gp., detail the collection and handling of Embarkation Tags and the creation of Nominal Rolls based on them. I will include a sample of an Embarkation Tag here along with a document that discusses situations where there are both British and Canadian troops aboard the same vessel.
To date I have been unable to locate these Embarkation Nominal Rolls at LAC. There is everything else - ie. ones for all of the exercises and for North Africa, but none for D-Day .... sigh.

 

Further to my post #117, I had forgotten the account by Paddy White (My Story – Aboard Landing Craft Infantry 375) here (.docx attachment just above the photos at the bottom of the page):
Battle Honour 'NORMANDY LANDING'. | Royal Irish - Virtual Military Gallery

who says his craft LCI(L) carried RUR troops on D Day... If so, she could not have kept her FABIUS Serial (389), and the Hull/LTIN numbers match for Group 16 is even less precise:

LCI(L) 390...(394).....................LCI(L) 376...(388) Flotilla Leader
LCI(L) 385...(395)
LCI(L) 389...(396)
..................................................LCI(L) 387 )
..................................................LCI(L) 388 ) (389-393)
..................................................LCI(L) 241 )
..................................................LCI(L) 375...(391-393) (389 during FABIUS)
..................................................LCI(L) 384...(391-393?)

Michel

 

Michel,

Yet more superb analytical work by you identifying the LCI(L)‘s of Group 16. However all the similar Pennant No.s/LTIN’s have clearly made you cross-eyed, as a result of which you’ve forgotten how to tell the time
Group 16, carrying the Infantry Battalions of 9th Infantry Brigade (Lincolns, RUR, KOSB) was indeed due at H+270 - however that was not 1055hrs, but 1155hrs.

Before you sail off to the Juno area to sup from the Holy Grail, we may have some more photographic evidence of the activities of the LCI(L)‘s of 263rd LCI(L) Flotilla in Group 11.

The first photo is the very well known aerial oblique taken by a USAAF F5 as it flew due west through the Queen sector. The time is 1025hrs (give or take just a few minutes) - which can be pretty accurately deduced from the position of the tide, the various craft seen in the photo, and the traffic jam in the centre of Queen White. The three LCT4’s seen in the photo close to the beach belong to the previous groups (eg. Group 10 which was due at 0925hrs). At the top of the photo an LCT4 can be seen coming in at speed - probably the first of Group 12 (possibly LTIN 326), arriving as per ONEAST/S7B.

There are three LCI(L)’s in the first photo, although none of their Pennant No.s/LTIN’s can be identified. Of note no LCI(L)‘s can be seen on this stretch of Queen White at the time. I think we can safely surmise that the troops of 185th Brigade have been landed and the LCI(L)’s, some of which are damaged, are attempting to depart. On the left of the photo an early production LCI(L) can be seen sitting off. In the centre of the photo is another early production LCI(L), alongside a mid production LCI(L) - one apparently rendering assistance to the other.

The second photo was taken roughly 10 minutes later by a Mustang of 2 Sqn RAF. This photo depicts the arrival of Group 12 (carrying the Staffordshire Yeomanry et al). There are now eight LCT4’s close to the beach. Another six LCT4’s, also due on Queen White, have made a turn to starboard and are heading towards Queen Green. In another 5-10 minutes Group 4B (carrying 7 Fd Regiment) will also arrive and the traffic jam along Queen White/Green will become chaotic.

The three LCI(L)’s which can be seen in the 1025hrs photo can still be identified. A fourth LCI(L) can be identified off the western end of Queen Red - the latter craft appears to be stationary (another frame from this photo run shows what might be LCT(A) 2012 approaching from the north east to provide a tow).

I’m of the opinion that the arrival of Group 11 was fairly orderly (although we yet haven’t worked out exactly where the LCI(L)’s touched down). Group 11’s departure was apparently somewhat less orderly.

Regards
Arty


Editors note! I have re-viewed the second photo. The ’blur’ in the centre of the photo is possibly additional LCT4‘s not LCI(L)’s. The two LCI(L)’s seen alongside each other in the 1025hrs photo have probably departed by 1035hrs (a higher resolution photo scan would help!). Nevertheless the two photographs provide a good illustration of the unfolding events.

 

Arty,

Thanks for giving the correct time. You're right, I ended not being able to add 2 and 2 together . I've corrected the errors in my posts above.

That's a superb match you found of these two photos! Although the only other version I have of the second photo is from a magazine (the old and nevertheless excellent 39-45 Magazine Historica Hors Série No.75, pages 134-135), therefore heavily half-toned, I believe it does show two LCI(L) alongside. Here are two extracts scanned at 300 and 450 dpi respectively (a higher resolution only makes the half-toning worse...). The shape does not fit that of LCT, and the "arched" dark camo on the port bow of the craft on the left is typical of LCI(L) and does not look that way on an LCT, plus no funnel is visible:




Logically, the LCI(L) towing the other would be the one aft, i.e. the mid-series one. This "alongside" way of helping another craft to unbeach was also used by LCT(4) at Westkapelle.

The funny aspect of the bows on the stationary first series LCI(L) must be an artifact caused by a bend in the print, because they look OK on your version.

The broached, still loaded LCT(4) on the left is probably the same as the one at the same spot in your first photo, as is perhaps also the one in the middle, which has no space where to unload her vehicles. Most of the vehicles on the beach have not moved a bit between the two photos. Only those already engaged in the exits and beyond seem to have progressed at all:



This thoroughly matches the Admiralty Report (Extracts from record of Captain G.S.3):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0943 All groups up to Group X (Second Priority Vehicles and last of Assault Brigade) touched down. (Note.–This was only 18 minutes late on schedule.)
0946 Some congestion on beaches, due to shelling, but one exit observed in use.
0948 Brigadier CASS (Commanding Assault Brigade) and Staff landed.
1000 WHITE Beach congested.
1027 Vehicles on the right edge of WHITE Beach so congested they cannot move.
1100 Craft continue to beach in good order.
1105 RED Beach closed owing to vehicle congestion. Two hours to clear. WHITE Beach exits open and improving. Soft sand and wrecked vehicles causing congestion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michel

 

Bunts,

Here's a confirmation that your Group 11, part of Convoy S10, was "in the wrong place" for some time:

From the Report by Naval Commander Force S
Phase II.-The Assault and D Day - The Passage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Convoy " S " 10 strays into Channel 8.
68. Group S Three found no difficulty in following the channel, but Group S Two appear to have been misled by a line of " Approach Channel " dan buoys which, as Captain GOTTO admits, led slightly to the west of the course expected to the entrance to Channel 9. These were accepted as the sweepers' track but, in the light of subsequent events, it seems probable that the centre line dans of the Approach Channel had dragged, as the entrance buoys, with Channel 9 characteristics, were never sighted.
69. A line of QH fixes soon made it clear that his Convoy (S10) was in Channel 8, but Captain GOTTO wisely decided to remain there until south of QZ 771 and then to cut across, through less dangerous waters, to the correct channel. Although clear of Force " J " convoys at the moment, this intention was considerably delayed in execution by the sight of their L.S.I. coming up astern. When these had finally overtaken, the transfer to Channel 9 was completed before daylight and without loss of programme time. Our apologies are due to Force " J," however, for this trespassing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes: Captain Renfrew GOTTO, DSO, RN (seniority 31.12.42) was the Senior Officer Assault Group S Two (short title SOAG S2 or Capt. GS2), on board HMS DACRES which sailed with Convoy S10 comprising Groups 11, 12 and 15.
(Assault) Group S Three was the one carrying the Assault Brigade Group (7 Br Inf Bde Gp) while (Assault) Group S Two carried the Intermediate Brigade Group (185 Br Inf Bde Gp). The Reserve Brigade Group (8 Br Inf Bde Gp) was with (Assault) Group S One. This reversing in the numbering of Assault Groups is specific to SWORD Area.

Michel

 

Bunts,

Do you by any chance know whether the Colonel commanding 2 KSLI was on board your craft for the first run in on D Day? Or if not, on which craft he was?

Thanks in advance,

Michel

 

Posted 29th Sept 2015 Nichel/ Sorry Michael we did not get to know the names of the KSLI Officers Re.LC I{L}390 you were correct as to their duties.they landed on Juno with Canadian infantry on D plus one,after disembarking the troops they were retained for ferrying duty. Bunts

 

Back to Group 16 again, I've stitched the frames of some sequences in British Pathé clip 2115.10 together into a couple of panoramic views.

First, a stich of frames 86 to 88 showing LCI(L) 389 and two others. They are approaching the Lowering Position because an LSI is visible beyond 389. The presence of the two funnels indicates either Prinses Astrid or Maid of Orleans, but the height of the funnels and the shape of the superstructure are closer to that of the latter:



Then, frames 89 to 96 show Group 16 approaching the Lowering Position, where more stationary troopships can be seen. Three of them have the distinctive silhouette of Empire Class ships, with their two large white code letters visible, but not quite legible, on the hull side. The only letter readily identifiable is the first one on the second ship from the left, visibly an "A", therefore she must be Empire Battleaxe (AX) (see http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57869-princess-maud-d-day/?p=674353).
The second code letter on the third ship looks like a "C" on some frames, but this cannot be as no LSI for SWORD had such a code. It must then be a "D", indicating Empire Broadsword (BD).
The third and last Empire Class LSI for SWORD is Empire Cutlass (CS), which must therefore be the ship on the left.
On the extreme right is the other twin-funnelled LSI carrying units for SWORD, i.e. Prinses Astrid:



The sequence of the LSI, from left to right on the clip, exactly matches ONEAST/S7B 'Deployment at the Lowering Position' (Glenearn, Cutlass, Battleaxe, Broadsword, Astrid, Maid of Orleans in that order). We may therefore safely assume that the last (or rather first) LSI for SWORD (Glenearn) is anchored further to the left just outside our field of view, all the more so as no other LSI is visible to the right of Maid of Orleans on the first panorama above.

Finally, frames 97-109 depict the head of Group 16, with LCI(L) 389 in third position in the port column, and an LCT(4) to the left:



Michel

 

Cathy,

Very interesting find, Would appreciate information on the Reginas when you have a chance to capture the complete file.

 

Folks,

A bit more info on the 263rd LCI(L) Flotilla has ‘surfaced’…apparent confirmation of the employment of LCI(L) 179 on 06Jun44 ie. one of the ‘spare’ craft mentioned in Force S Commander's report (etc).

The info comes from…http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/d-day/remembering-the-experiences-of-d-day-landing-craft-crews

“On the 6th June, some Craft had other duties to carry out. An example of this is Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) 179 (LCI(L) 179) which had orders to tow or rescue any abandoned Craft to create space for incoming Landing Craft. Joshua Skinner was on LCI(L) 179 on D-Day and witnessed the sinking of the Norwegian Destroyer, HNoMS Svenner, torpedoed by German E-Boats. LCI(L) 179 raced to the scene to rescue any survivors, several of whom they managed to save.

However the Norwegian sailors were not safe… yet. Skinner's Craft was showered with shrapnel as they approached the beach. This left one of the Norwegian sailors in a lot of pain after he was struck on the arm - luckily he survived. This is one of a few rare examples for Landing Craft crews on D-Day, where even with the hardest of experiences and in the heat of battle, men of different languages and cultures knew their roles and worked tirelessly together. Even once they had reached the beach, the Norwegians were pulling out as many wounded out of the sea as they could, thus saving many lives”

Also from the same website a photo of Bunts’ craft – LCI(L) 380, looking somewhat weathered…




Arty

 

Very nice find Arty!

We now have two out of the three craft scheduled for towing duties.

I interpret the last paragraph in your quote as meaning that the Norwegian survivors were still on board LCI(L) 179 as they were pulling out wounded, and were not actually left on the beach as I had first understood it.

Beautiful photo of LCI(L) 380 too.

It's very comforting to hear that the rich and precious archives of the defunct LST & Landing Craft Association are now safely kept by the D-Day Museum, after the sad demise of their Archivist Tony Chapman.

Michel

 

Michel,

There are two over-lapping actions involving the ‘spare’ LCI(L)’s of Force S. Firstly the rescue of survivors of HNoMS Svenner around 0545hrs. Secondly the transfer of 263 Fd Coy RE from Princess Astrid & Maid of Orleans around 0630hrs, and 263 Coy’s subsequent landing, somewhere on Queen beach between 0810 & 0835hrs.

I’ve identified another crew member who’s recollections confirm LCI(L)179’s role on 06June. The following info comes from “We were there: The Navy": "AB Gordon Marshall LCI(L) #179 'We left the Solent with a big convoy of ships on June 5. The 179 had an all-British crew and they made us into a tug. We were about half way across the Channel when a brand new Norwegian destroyer (the Svenner) in the convoy was torpedoed and sunk. Because we had no soldiers on board, we were allowed to stop and pick up survivors. There were hundreds in the water. We picked up 14. Then we went onto the Beach. I watched three soldiers go down the ramp of one landing craft. The machine gunning was heavy and they turned and ran back up the ramp on another gangway. Another LCI hit on an underwater obstacle. It was full of troops and listing badly….'"

Officially, there were four vessels involved in the rescue of the survivors of Svenner. From Force S Commander’s report: “HMS St Adrian, Headquarters Ship of SOFC…two US coastguard cutters and an empty LCI (L), earmarked for towing duties off the beaches, were ordered to the rescue of the survivors and a large proportion of the ship's company was picked up and eventually sent home in the LSI.”

Unofficially, HMS Swift also got involved – picking up between 70 & 100 survivors - depending on which source you read!

I'm not sure that any of Svenner’s survivors ended up on the beach. Aside from the above reference to the Svenner survivors being “eventually sent home in the LSI" here’s just a couple of mentions of the plight of Svenner’s survivors….

From the memoirs of Jack Eaves, crewman of 535 LCA Flotilla on HMS Glenearn: ”…. there is no doubt that 535 Flotilla had been so very very lucky, no casualties in either men or landing craft, the Sick Bay was very busy, over 70 survivors from the Norwegian Destroyer had been picked up and were on board ‘Glenearn’ many required surgery, other casualties were also transferred to “Glenearn’ from other vessels.”

From the Diary of Stan Hough onboard HMS Princes Astrid: “…A US Coastguard Cutter is racing to pick men up….The US Cutter has picked up survivors of the Destroyer and is going alongside Empire Broadsword. It is rough in the sea, so the Broadsword has lowered a life boat down to the Cutter, where the survivors transfer and are hoisted up….”

However it appears likely that the “14” Svenner survivors picked up by LCI(L)179 were onboard when it “went onto the beach” - although there is something missing from Skinner’s and Marshall’s accounts - that is, what LCI(L)179 actually did next after picking up Svenner survivors. LCI(L)179 had not embarked troops when it sailed on the 05June and yet it apparently went into the beach to land troops on 06June. I tend to believe that LCI(L)179 was one of the two ‘spare’ LCI(L)’s that transferred 263 Fd Coy RE from Princess Astrid & Maid of Orleans then took them ashore.

Of note, the various pieces of info from Reports, War Diaries, memoirs (etc) cannot seem to agree as to whether there was one or two LCI(L)’s involved or when they landed.

From the Diary of Stan Hough onboard HMS Astrid again: “0630….LCI's coming alongside to take off Royal Engineers, are having a difficult time getting alongside, and have made three large dents in our side.”

From Force S Commander’s report: “The LCT(A) Convoy, with whom had been routed the LCM carrying RE stores for beach obstacle clearance, were the most notably delayed. In fact, the latter were not even in sight at this time and, as they were required to pick up the RE personnel who had taken passage on HMS PRINCESS ASTRID and SS MAID OF ORLEANS, I ordered a second empty LCI(L) which had been earmarked for towing duties to take these men off. The LCM arrived at the lowering position just as the LCI(L) had completed embarkation and the party were sent in together, but were about 20 minutes late on touch down.”

From Notes on 3 British Infantry Division Phase I Op Overlord: “263 Field Company due to land in eight LCM in support of and 10 minutes behind 629 Field Squadron were unable to tranship into the LCM owing to the swell and were landed from a single LCI(L) approximately 45 minutes late…”

From the War Dairy of 263 Fd Coy: “Arrived at Disembarkation Point near French Coast 0535hrs, but LCM did not arrive until 0715hrs. In meantime embarked on LCI(L) (both serials) & proceed to shore...Arrived on beach but too late on tide to clear beach obstacles.”

From the recollections of Major de L’Orme, OC 263 Fd Coy RE: “We all trooped onto the larger craft….I had to brief the two captains of the craft as to where we were going. And eventually we set off as a little convoy…The skipper of the LCI’s said he would land us all dryshod…As we came within 800 yards of the shore, we came under shellfire from shore batteries and both were hit several times…”

All the above adds up to LCI(L)179 and another LCI(L) (perhaps also of 263 Flotilla) possibly being the first LCI(L)’s to touch down on Queen beach. It would be nice to know the pennant number of the other ’spare’ LCI(L) involved – I’m still working on it…

 

Arty,

Very nice summary of the various reports on ferrying 263 Fd Coy RE ashore!

As you point out, some reports seem to imply that there was more than one LCI involved. I would however tend to think there was only one, because the Notes on 3 Br Inf Div etc. very cleary state "a single LCI(L)". Additionally, the exact quote from Force S Commander's Report reads:
"I ordered a second empty L.C.I.(L) which had also been earmarked for towing duties to take these men off. The L.C.M. arrived at the lowering position just as this L.C.I.(L) had completed embarkation and the party were then sent in together..."
The words in bold are important because they mean that there was indeed only one LCI(L) involved, and that it was the second LCI(L) earmarked for towing duties. Therefore the first 'spare' LCI(L), which had been ordered to the rescue of survivors from SVENNER (i.e. LCI(L)179), was not involved.

The War Diary of 263 Fd Coy does not specify whether there was one or more LCI(L), but "In meantime embarked on L.C.I(L) (both Serials)" could simply mean "both Serials S74 (Prinses Astrid) & S75 (Maid of Orleans) embarked on the same LCI(L)".

The remaining two quotes, each using just once a plural form for LCI, are in my opinion less reliable (because their exact original spelling is not known) and do not formally contradict the above:

Stan Hough's mention of "LCI's" might include some LCM, and since he had previously stated that "We have 60 Royal engineers aboard now, who are to be taken to the beach in landing craft who will join us at our anchorage", one single LCI(L) is more than enough to ferry these engineers ashore.

Finally, let's deal with Major de L’Orme's recollections:
“We all trooped onto the larger craft…" – meaning the LCI(L), singular or plural, as opposed to the LCM.
"I had to brief the two captains of the craft as to where we were going. And eventually we set off as a little convoy… The skipper of the LCI’s said he would land us all dryshod… As we came within 800 yards of the shore, we came under shellfire from shore batteries and both were hit several times…”– All this may just mean that there are two groups of craft (one with LCI, the other with LCM), each commanded by a captain or skipper, both groups being hit by shellfire. The only problem is the " 's " in "the skipper of the LCI's", but this might be an oversight or might just mean "the LCI's [column, group, ...]", or that the LCI(L) ferrying 263 Fd Coy went in together with some other LCI(L) carrying other troops.

Michel

 

Back to Group 16 once again:

D-Day, 1944 - Voices from Normandy [Robin Neillands & Roderick de Normann], Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1993, page 207:

"Robin Fowler was a Petty Officer aboard LCI(L) No.387. They had embarked 250 infantrymen from the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB). 'I remember coming up on deck and marvelling at the number of ships which had joined us. Security on board was still maintained and even after we had sailed, we were told nothing other than this was the Great Day and we were heading to France, but as the soldiers had maps of their landing sectors and we knew our compass course, we had a shrewd idea of our destination.' "

which updates the possible matches for Group 16 as follows:

LCI(L) 390 (394)_____________LCI(L) 376 (388?) Flotilla Leader
LCI(L) 385 (395)
LCI(L) 389 (396)
__________________________LCI(L) 387 (389-390)
__________________________LCI(L) 241 )
__________________________LCI(L) 384 ) (389-393)
__________________________LCI(L) 388 )
__________________________LCI(L) 375 (391-393)

Michel

 

Michel

Nup! Despite your logic about the confused use of plurals (and both our attempts to squeeze out different interpretations) I’m now convinced it was two LCI(L)’s involved in ferrying 263 Fd Coy ashore. Yep, Force S Commander’s report articulates just one LCI(L) - and one would think he would know – in reality the report was probably compiled by his staff. Meanwhile the Notes on 3 Br Inf Div etc were actually put together by 'office wallahs' who probably didn’t witness the events, nor have the benefit of time to come up with their report (or archives to refer to, or the internet et al).

And a semi rhetorical question (if there’s such a thing): Why and how would LCI(L) 179, having no other ‘passengers’ onboard apart from “14” survivors from Svenner, head into the beach, then land troops?

Critically, I’ve now dug up Major Maximilian Hodelius de L’Orme’s original account. Unless he was insane, there was two LCI(L)’s involved (PM with the account coming your way). Meanwhile here’s some more info cut from Maj de L’Orme’s actual account rather than via some abridged extracts…

“Our plan was to meet our LCMs and disembark before the commandos, but, on arrival at the rendezvous about 0530 hours no LCMs appeared. The sea was quite high and a stiff breeze was blowing. We waited for twenty minutes, but none of our LCMs turned up. I consulted the Captain and a message was sent to the ‘Flagship’. I was promised two LCI (L) to take us ashore, and given the hope that the LCMs would turn up there. At nearly one hour after we should have set off, the LCIs arrived, and almost at the same time the LCMs…and we eventually set off as a little convoy, the two LCIs leading and the ten LCMs following, at about 0730 hours.”

He goes on to mention the time the company arrived on the beach - which is at odds with the times stated in the ‘official’ accounts – and which completely ruins my ‘hypothesis’ about craft from 263 Flotilla being the first LCI(L)’s to touch down! According to Maj deL’Ormes watch, 263 Fd Coy arrived nearer to 0920hrs… “We were nearly one and a half hours late, the tide was almost high, we were all on RED beach near LA BRECHE, instead of spread along the whole of QUEEN….”

I’m still thinking LCI(L) 179 was involved and I’m still looking for that second pennant number though…

Regards
Arty

 

Arty,

What a find! You're perfectly correct, Major de L'Orme's actual account is crystal clear: there must have been two LCI(L)!

Interestingly, he mentions ten LCM, each with a Carrier full of explosives on board, whereas other sources point to only eight LCM:

ONEAST/S7B - THE ASSAULT - Appendix I - Deployment at the Lowering Position - 21-5-44:
Group] 6 8 LCA (Towed) 8 LCA (Towed) RE (425-432)
later amended to 8 LCM

War Diary 263 Fd Coy RE, May 44:

[WICKHAM] 23. [May] 8 Carriers collected on temporary loan for operation. (...)
" 29. 8 Carrier Dvrs loaded on L.C.Ms at LANGSTONE, where they remained with their vehicle.

There might have been 8 LCM with a Carrier in each, plus two 'reserve' LCM added at the last moment?

Michel

 

Michel,

Situation ‘normal’ – one puzzle solved and another appears. Knowing the LCM Flotilla number might help. The only tantalising clue (from another source) is that the Flotilla was probably equipped with LCM MkI’s…but that could be a whole new thread.

Noteworthy is yet more factual errors, misleading information, contradictions (etc) appearing in the ‘official’ (and widely accepted) versions of events.

Still working on that second pennant number!


Regards
Arty

 

Hello
I am new to the forum always wanted to know more on the sinking of the Svenner,my father was on Svenner on d-day,he was normaly working in the engine room,but went off watch at 0:400 and was on the aft gun deck to help with bringing ammo to the guns
He told me in his later dayes that he ended up in the water and got on to a small raft,holding on to some people in the water as there was only a little room on the raft,he told me they where picked up by a boat that had some US camera men onbord.
what ship could that be? he described it as landing craft LCI.I thought that is was those small boats landing on the beach,but I am probably wrong.He was later returned to Uk probably the same day.
My father served in the navy from 1940 to 1946 he came home with the king i may 1945 on the destroyer Knm Arendal same class as Stord and Svenner.
My father came up from antartica with the whaling fleet when Norway was invaided by Germany ,the Quisling goverment told all norwegian ships to go to norwegian home ports,but the goverment in exile told them to not to.
He ended up in Uk,went to Canada Lunenbug close to Halifax where they set up a traning camp,he first served on the kmn Lincoln, an old four stacker destroyer from ww1 lend lease from US to Uk
he later served on the Stord , sinking of the Sharenhorst off North Cape before joining the Svenner

 

Hello geir,

It's particularly interesting that your father mentioned that he was picked up by a “LCI”. LCI can be interpreted as Landing Craft Infantry. However the abbreviations for the various landing craft that carried infantry are commonly confused. For example the first waves of infantry that landed on Queen beach in the Sword area were carried by LCA’s. The LCA,ie. Landing Craft Assault, could be described as a small boat perhaps. The LCA was of mainly wooden construction, 12.5m long & carried 35 troops. The LCI(L), ie. Landing Craft Infantry (Large), was a somewhat more substantial craft – steel construction, 48m long & carried close to 190 troops. The LCI(L)’s were to hit the beach when there was, theoretically at least, less enemy opposition.

It seems likely that the LCI(L) that ‘officially’ assisted with picking up some of the Svenner’s crew was LCI(L)-179. It certainly was an American built craft, however on 06Jun44 it belonged to a Royal Navy flotilla and had a British crew. It’s slightly perplexing that this LCI(L), in particular, would have US camera men onboard. There were a fair number of British Army and Navy cameramen/correspondents onboard vessels of Force S - most of whom are readily identified. Two of the other vessels that assisted with rescue did indeed have American crews – these were the two US coastguard cutters mentioned above - perhaps there was a photographer on board one of these. Of note there were literally hundreds of civilian journalists, cameraman etc accredited to report on the landings.

Meanwhile I thought I had a photo depicting LCI(L)-179 in a pre D-Day exercise, however not so! The pic now attached is of LCI(L)-178 – an identical vessel (albeit from a different RN flotilla).

Regards
Arty

 

My father was a signalman1/C on LCI(L)13. Charles Edward Peaslee
He passed away in 1982. He never spoke about the war at least to his sons , he had 3 , he had 3 daughters also and must have told my oldest sister some because she was able to give my daughter reliable information about where he was. She asked me and I was on the wrong ocean.
That made me start looking and how I got here. I have learned a lot ,considering that I started this venture last Thursday.
Wondering if you have any information you could share?
There is a colored video with LCI(13) in it 3 time (2 times for sure). You-Tube, Sicily Invasion, Naval Activity 1674-02,
the first shot is about 6:40 into the video and the last 2 times is at the end or shortly before the end. One for sure at the dock and the craft the troops are loading on , I believe that is a 13 over the soldiers shoulder walking up the gang plank. This shot is from the opposite direction on the dock.