USS LST-503... USS LST-503 - Wikipedia Tank Landing Ship LST Re. LST503... The U.S. Navy at Normandy Captained (around D-Day) by Lieutenant Shannon (Sam) H. Jones. IWM A23942 THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS), JUNE 1944 The date on this one was the 7th June 1944 and it is in "None Had Lances" on p79. GOLD BEACH. Serial 2923 is an LST towing a Rhino Ferry and carrying... On the Rhino Ferry 1 D7 Bulldozer from 953 Inland Water Transport Operating Company RE 1 RB19 Excavator from 51 Mechanical Equipment Section RE On the Tank Deck 3 Stuart Light Tank from 24 Lancers 11 Sherman Tank from 24 Lancers 1 Scout Car from 24 Lancers 1 M14 Halftrack from 24 Lancers 3 3ton 4 X 4 GS from 24 Lancers 82 men from 24 Lancers 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 6 crew from 24 Lancers LAD REME 1 M14 Halftrack with 3 crew from 24 Lancers Signal Section RS 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 4 crew from Headquarters 8 Armoured Brigade 2 Motorcycle from Headquarters 8 Armoured Brigade (carried on above vehicle) 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 2 crew from 56 Brigade Signal Section RS 1 Ambulance 2 Stretcher with 2 crew from 168 Light Field Ambulance RAMC 1 Tractor LAA from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 3 SP 40mm AA gun from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 3 Motorcycle from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 32 men from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 3 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 12 crew from 2 Essex Regiment 3 Motorcycle from 2 Essex Regiment 1 Carrier Mortar and trailer with 5 crew from 2 Cheshire Regiment On Main Deck 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS from 505 Field Company RE 1 3ton 4 X 4 Winch from 505 Field Company RE 1 15cwt Compressor from 505 Field Company RE 1 M14 Halftrack from 505 Field Company RE 3 Motorcycle from 505 Field Company RE 47 men from 505 Field Company RE 1 15cwt GS with 3 crew from Headquarters 231 Brigade 1 15cwt Water with 2 crew from Headquarters 231 Brigade 1 15cwt GS with 2 crew from 2 Essex Regiment 1 15cwt Water with 2 crew from 2 Essex Regiment 2 Jeeps with 4 crew from 2 Essex Regiment 4 3ton 4 X 4 GS with10 crew from 1 Hampshire Regiment 1 15cwt Water with 2 crew from 1 Hampshire Regiment 2 Motorcycle from 1 Hampshire Regiment (carried on above vehicles) 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 6 crew from 231 Brigade LAD REME 2 Jeeps with 6 crew from Headquarters 8 Armoured Brigade 2 Jeeps with 4 crew from 82/25 LAA Battery RA 1 3ton 4 X 4 GS with 4 crew from Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1 3ton 4 X 4 Technical with 6 crew from Headquarters CRA 50 Division 1 Motorcycle from Headquarters CRA 50 Division (carried in above vehicle) 1 Jeep with 2 crew from Headquarters CRA 50 Division 1 Car 4 seater 4 X 4 with 4 crew from Headquarters CRASC 50 Division 1 15cwt with 2 crew from 2 Cheshire Regiment 1 Jeep Ambulance with 2 crew from 200 Field Ambulance RAMC 11 Men from 200 Field Ambulance RAMC 2 crew for D7 Bulldozer from 953 Inland Water Transport Operating Company RE 10 men from 953 Inland Water Transport Operating Company RE 1 crew for RB19 Excavator from 51 Mechanical Equipment Section RE 16 men from 961 Inland Water Transport Operating Company RE 15 men from 243 Pioneer Company 2 men with a balloon and handwinch from 55 RAF Balloon Unit
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS), JUNE 1944 The detail here below, I guess to the upper left shows something somewhat like LST 151 - which is a bit confusing - although it could also be a lot of other things.
Unfortunately not yet available online via either of these links... LSTS AND DESTROYERS OF FORCE K OFF GOLD BEACH [Allocated Title] LSTS AND DESTROYERS OF FORCE K OFF GOLD BEACH [Allocated Title] But the description is... Full description LS to the French coast, panning left to LST - HMS Undaunted (R.53) lies in the foreground, guns of A turret at maximum elevation. LSs to the coast and smokescreen on shore - ML and destroyer lie inshore. LS pans over the invasion fleet - LCTs, MLs, LCMs, LSTs, merchantmen, a Modified W Class destroyer escort, destroyers, etc. MLS of four BYMS ("British Yard Mine Sweeper") s in line astern, and LCT and LST underway. MS as BYMS ("British Yard Mine Sweeper") s go past (they are early two-funnel types) - one has just gone about to starboard - LSTs and ML in the background. LS to invasion craft gathered along the shoreline, and track along coast - barrage balloons cluster over LSTs which lie stern-on to the camera - MLS off the starboard beam of a LCG(L)(3) steaming to pass behind starboard bow of LST 54, while on the opposite course, LCF(4) 25 passes the LST's port bow - track continues, revealing LCI(L) and Hunt Type II destroyer escort, LCTs, US LST 345 with a Rhino alongside, US LST 503, etc. MS of the starboard beam of Polish Krakowiak (L.115, ex-Silverton) - smokescreen on shore in the background - US LST 30 crosses right to left at bottom of frame. Cut to MLS off the port quarter of LST 344 as she makes for the beach, and track right past LCI(L)s to LST 30. MS off port beam of LST 280, and track right to LS of LCI(L)S, LCTs, etc. LS track left from bows of LST 280 to MLS off the starboard bow of Krakowiak. MLS off the starboard beam of a LCF(4) - LCI(L)s and beached LCTs in the background - cameraship moves right to a MCU track from the port bow to the stern of HMS Ursa (R.22), and past the destroyer onto a LST. Final LS to the coast, shrouded by smokescreens. Additionally... FORCE K, SUPPORT FORCE FOR GOLD BEACH [Allocated Title] FORCE K, SUPPORT FORCE FOR GOLD BEACH [Allocated Title] Full description I. Force K bombards. LS of gunflashes on the horizon - HMS Emerald visible in the foreground. Emerald opens fire - she has some minesweepers in company with her. LS off the starboard bow of HMS Orion at bombardment position - the forward turrets fire, highlighting the ship. MLS of minesweeping trawler, Halcyon Class minesweeper, and a U/V Class destroyer. Cut to MS off the starboard bow LCS(M) 112 underway with companions 109 and 78 (the craft may be from LSI(L) Empire Arquebus). LS of a destroyer. LS off the starboard beam of Halcyon Class minesweepers and small craft - Emerald and Argonaut in background. BYMS ("British Yard Mine Sweeper") passes right to left making smoke - Fairmile B ML 245 lying in the foreground at the bottom of the screen. MSs off the starboard quarter and beam of HMS Orion, turrets trained to port - she fires her after turrets and then a full broadside - the cameraship, HMS Jervis, moves away to a position off her starboard bow. Full description II. MS aft, past funnel of Jervis, to the guns of X turret trained over the port beam - a second destroyer is visible in LS, broad on the port quarter, while another takes up station fine on - the cameraship opens fire. MS off the starboard bow of HMS Urania (R.05), turrets trained to port, and pan right to a LS off the starboard beam of a second U Class destroyer. Cut to MS of starboard forebody of Urania (frame cuts the ship aft of the searchlight platform) - she fires. MLS off the starboard beam of HMS Ulysses (R.69). LS over the invasion fleet - LCAs cross left to right, LCTs and destroyers in the background. Ships on the horizon open fire. MLS off the starboard beam of HMS Ulysses underway, camera panning to follow her - the starboard forebody of Urania comes into frame. LS over invasion craft. Cut to MS aft to X turret of Jervis, trained over the port bow - barrel of 4in AA visible in lower frame. Final LS over the invasion fleet - LCTs, destroyers, minesweeper, etc - vessels on the horizon fire periodically. Physical description 35mm
The informal name on the bow looks like ARMAGEDDON (presumably a tank from 'A' Squadron of 24th Lancers). The over-eager wartime censor blotted out the regiment tactical sign. The writing near the fender probably reads LCT IV. The '51' is possibly the embark sequence number ... VIRGIN has a '242' scribbled on the side while the truck next to it has a '241' marked on the cab door. The headlamps were removed and capped on ARMAGEDDON, but VIRGIN still has headlights in place. The waterproofing standards might have been different for LCTs and LSTs, although photos of Allied vehicles suggest variation in practice. EDIT: The writing above the fender on ARMAGEDDON might also read 'LST 2' as there is an LST in the background.
This is one possible candidate - perhaps - for Lt. F.W. Wadsworth who was the commander of the 24th Lancer tank Armageddon. The later picture is from one of the 24th L's Old Comrade reunions. Re. Lt. Frank William Wadsworth MC (289285) Prior to D-Day - the Troop leader of the 1st troop of "A" Squadron of the 24th Lancers. Commander of the 24th Lancer tank Armageddon. Wounded in Normandy with the 24th Lancers - 26d6m1944 (?) He is (very) briefly mentioned here, amongst the listed 24th Lancers' casualties... in the 4th Edition of Lancer Life... 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. Later - 4/5th April 1945 - Military Cross - 3 RTR. Recommendation for Award for Wadsworth, Frank William Rank: Lieutenant ... | The National Archives There are a few mentions in the London Gazette, including, for instance in 1951... Movement Control Section. Short Serv. Commn. Lt. Frank William WADSWORTH, M.C. (289285), from R.A.C., Emerg. Commn., to be Lt., 19th Nov. 1951, with seniority 28th July 1950.
