I'm not going to argue with that. There does seem to be something in the water today... Today? This week more like. Maybe it's the snow, and there's a whole week until the next full moon. Lord knows what'll happen then! Ah well, we wax & wane too. S'only the Internet.
From D-Day to the Battle of Jutland No thread worth its salt should ever consider itself immune from off topic tangets
you are correct. I will start a new thread with my question. I value the inputs of all members here and would welcome any insights they have
Today is the anniversary of the D-Day Landings so I went to my diaries to see what I had to say about this wondrous event. For whatever reason, I hadn't even bothered to make a note in my diary for that day ! This could be for one of three reasons 1. We had our own war going on in Italy and we were just waiting to see what was happening in France. 2, I had (stupidly) stuck that page in my Album so it showed the reverse page and was therefore lost for evermore 3. I hadn't bother to make an entry for that day Memoirs: Sunday June 4th 1944 The US 88th Division of the Fifth Army, led by the American General Mark Clark ,entered Rome. Four days later, on the 9th, I drove through the city, and on the 2lst I managed to get a day's leave. Personal Diary Friday 9th. June 1944 Drove 75 miles to outside Rome. Div Police led us through city. Really wonderful trip. ps Going back to my Diaries I find that I have no transcript for both April & May so evidently these must have been lost somewhere along the way. Ron
D-Day Research great thread title The service record's for a relative, GNR Gunner DRV Driver OP with 10th Medium Regiment (RF) Royal Artillery, reveal embarkation for D-Day as 3-6-44. Probably with the CBO Counter Battery/Bombarment Officer or Locating Battery. However the war diaries say the regiment embarked 9-7-44. The family story is that he landed on Sword beach on D-Day. Is there any way to answer the following? 1. Which boat did he embark on? 2. Where was he between 3-6-44 and 9-7-44? 3. Was he on Sword Beach on D-Day? 4. Assuming he was in a target locating role he would have been useful identifying targets for RN, RA and RAF. Would he have initally been doing this on board an RN vessel or among the first beach landings to call in fire support? Any thoughts? NB 10th Medium Regiment thread http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/15334-10th-medium-regt-rf-ra/page-2
Did anyone see Major Scott Bowden in a midget submarine off of Normandy, pre D Day? The then Major Scott Bowden was a member of my company. He it was, that went over to the landing beaches to take sand samples. He later also went to the USA Beaches to take samples there. Last letter I had from my platoon officer, "Digger" about the Royal Engineers news. Said that Scotty Bowden was now a general. but was also blind. My Hero ! men like this came from another age ...sadly they broke the mould..... For looking back at the leaders we had... With Scotty, Tiger, Arthur Heal that opened up the Hillman defensive position. Digger, M Edwards....and all the rest of that magnificent crew. Men of great stature. Shall we see the like again? Some how I think not.... For they came from a different age. Where they upheld the values that we hold dear.
Glad to hear from you Brian. Hard to believe its 69 years ago when we first set eyes on those two bridges. I've been back four times now and Benouville and Le Port are barely recognisable as they are nothing like they were. But the people will always be kind to us Brits in that area. It's sad to remember tho', we left some good blokes behind. Take care Jim
Absolutely delighted to see you again Jim. Yes 69 years is more than a life time for many souls. But I recall it all so clearly....And Yes I do get huffy when I read some of the stuff that is written, that has not the faintest tenuous connection with the truth. Me? Oh I am a crusty old Engineer that spent his life in engineering. Many of my generation came out of the same type model. Now let me return to what has been posted here about Normandy....With the huge amount of American films, documentaries, on TV and film and with the books, the USA version of D day has now become established in the peoples minds as the true legend of what took place. I said earlier while in the states. I met folk who were quite adamant that only the USA fought and won in Europe.... Every year I get a phone call from Normandy from my dearest friends Jacques and Colette ...A mixture of stifled French and English... (Sort of) But also a lot of genuine love and respect. Many years ago they spent holidays over here, with Sheila and Myself. And every year I Get a message from other friends the message is "Same again this year Brian/ That refers to these kindly folk that lay a wreath for me in Hermanville cemetery.... Bless them. For that..... I am so grateful.... AS you probably know. I have never been back. Though I have been offered a free trip with 70 REME officers (Captains) to escort me and pay for everything....What kindness. The injuries have caught up with me to such an extent that I am now unable to walk.. I used to drag myself around for short distances with elbow crutches....Now I am getting my engineering mind around the problem. And I will find a way. Best wishes Jim. Brian
So, you were one of those "dodging" D-Day, if the attribution to Lady Astor is correct, Ron .....! Still, I think you may know rather more about a number of different "D-Days", and WW2 generally, than quite a few college professors. If you, and the other WW2 veteran members of this site, studied at the 'University of Life' (1939 - 1945) I reckon you graduated with First Class Honours! Best wishes to Brian (Sapper) and all veterans of the Normandy campaign and the campaigns that were to follow.
D-day question anyone know how you can find out which ship carried which regiment on d day and d day + 1 cheers
Dubman, Just to expand slightly on Michel's somewhat brief reply above If you know your area of interest is Sword or Juno beach Mike (Trux) has posted 2 fantastic threads on Sword and Juno beaches that includes amazing details of the landing tables for these two beaches. They explain which vessels (down to individual landing craft) carried which troops to the beaches. Or at least what the plans were just before D-Day. If you are looking for the other 3 beaches I don't think such detail is available here (yet).
Hi Dubman. You can find the D Day Landing Tables for all four Brigade Groups in GOLD Area here: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/gold/en_page.php?page=69landing They differ somewhat from the ones at The National Archives, but being a later version they should be closer to what actually took place. Michel
cheers my friend. no mention of them on that site. They landed early June 7th, I can find two other battery's of 73rd on that page. Do you know of a similar table for June 7th? cheers
There are several possibilities, listed in what I think is the order of decreasing likelihood: WO 171/234 - 2 Army RA Landing Tables http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/redirect/?CATLN=6&CATID=5454863 ADM 199/1624 - LST Loading Tables http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/redirect/?CATLN=6&CATID=5054010 WO 219/3078 - Operation Neptune: 1 Corps, 3 Infantry Division, third and fourth tides http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/redirect/?CATLN=6&CATID=5419645 WO 219/3076 Operation Neptune: 7 Armoured Division landing tables, second and third tide; 3 Infantry Division second tide http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/redirect/?CATLN=6&CATID=5419643 WO 219/3076 Operation Neptune: 56,69,151 and 231 Infantry Brigades, 4 Special Service Brigade 51 Highland Division landing tables http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details/redirect/?CATLN=6&CATID=5419644 Michel
You must be right, but I could not find a reference to 30 Corps Landing Tables. It's a case of looking where there's light . I still think that it might be included in the 2 Army RA Landing Tables if they include subaltern Corps units. However, it might be in one of the 30 Corps papers (WO 171/332 and following), probably as an Annex or Appendice to an Operaton Order, although R.A. is not specifically mentioned there. If so, it should be in either the March, April and/or May "G" WD (WO171/333 to 335), or perhaps in the "Q" WD (WO 171/347): http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C4440441?v=r Sometimes (rarely) the detailed Unit loading tables were appended to the Unit War Diary, but I suppose Chris (Dubman) already looked there? I also could not find a specific Loading Table for Follow-up Force 'L', which must have included the remaing Bties of 73 A Tk Regt. Since Force L consisted of mainly LST (15 British & 37 US ships), plus two squadrons of LCT (3) (55 craft) and one of LCI(L) (19 craft), it might be that ADM 199/1624 - LST Loading Tables are precisely those Loading Tables for Force 'L'. Michel
