Hi There, My father was a Stoker Petty Officer on Landing craft infantry large 130, he was awarded the DSM for his actions when the craft was holed approaching Sword Beach, I have searched endless photographs of Landing Craft on or near the beach but have never seen one of 130, would the craft have had 130 painted on her bows ? Kind regards to all. Phil Crennell.
Hi Philip, Welcome to the forum! Apologies for not seeing your post earlier. It might help if you ask the moderators to move it to The War At Sea or North West Europe sub-forums. I also have found no photo of LCI(L) 130 around D Day. She was part of 261 LCI(L) Flotilla, "E" Squadron, and carried the Serial 228 (1 SUFFOLK). Here is an extract from the Report by Captain Eric BUSH, RN (Captain Group S. Three) covering LCI(L) 130 (courtesy forum member Arty for the transcription): Enclosure to Naval Assault Group Commander’s No. 6644 dated 30th June 1944. (...) L.C.I.(L) 311. After an uneventful passage, 3 L.C.I.(L) of 261 L.C.I.(L) Flotilla parted company from Convoy S8 at the Lowering Position at H – 20 (0705) and picked up 18 LCA from SS “EMPIRE BROADSWORD” and SS “EMPIRE BATTLEAXE”. 312. On approaching the beach, Tempy.Act.Lieut. Commander C.R. WALL, R.N.V.R., the Flotilla Officer embarked in L.C.I.(L) 130, observed that the preceding Group, Group VII was under shell fire on the Western extremity of White Beach. He therefore decided to beach on the Eastern extremity where some tanks were operating. 313. Some near misses from shell fire were experienced on approaching the beach and all three L.C.I.(L) touched down steaming 10 knots at H + 60 (0825) the correct time. Here are their experiences:- L.C.I.(L) 130. 314. Lieut. Commander WALL in L.C.I.(L) 130 had, after leaving the Lowering Position, requested the O.C. Troops, Major GOUGH, 1st Suffolk Regiment, to organise his men into parties to enable them to disembark quickly. Major GOUGH, is reported by Lieut. Commander WALL to have stated that he felt too ill with seasickness to do anything and had detailed one of his officers to organise the men. No army officer was seen to take any action in the matter and the responsibility fell on the shoulders of the ship’s officers who had a difficult task, having no real knowledge of the composition of the various Units, of which there were many embarked. 315. It is understood that there were 24 Army officers in L.C.I.(L) 130, including a Colonel R.A.M.C. and another Major subordinate to Major GOUGH, O.C. Troops. 316. When L.C.I.(L) 130 beached the craft crashed into beach obstacles. Both ramps were lowered but they fell on submerged obstacles, canted, were thrown off the rollers, parting the boom wires and became unserviceable. 317. Scrambling nets were lowered forward and ladders rigged. This work was hampered by Army personnel crowding on the upper deck, restricting the work of the seamen. 318. About 15 minutes after touching down and before any troops had disembarked, L.C.I.(L) 130 received a shell hit underwater port side amidships. The Tiller flat and No.4 Troop deck flooded. Two soldiers were wounded. A near miss on the starboard side a few minutes later wounded an Army officer. 319. When the scrambling nets and ladders had been rigged, seaman tended the lifelines standing in the water, but only a few soldiers would disembark. 320. After an hour of confusion, Major GOUGH persuaded Lieut. Commander WALL, R.N.V.R. to unbeach. L.C.I.(L) 130 had by now a list to port and the upper deck remained crowded with men. 321. L.C.I.(L) 130 unbeached, contacted D.S.O.A.G.(l), Commander E.N.V. CURREY, D.S.C., R.N., in L.C.H. 185, who sent L.C.I.(S) 516 for the troops and equipment. 322. When all troops had finally been disembarked, L.C.I.(L) 130 returned to the United Kingdom under her own power. Engines, however, failed when Lumps Fort was reached and the craft was towed in by an L.C.T. 323. This is not an inspiring story. The Army appear to have behaved very badly. In their defence, however, I must admit that I have never been in the least impressed with Lieut. Commander C.R. WALL, R.N.V.R. The behavior of the crew of L.C.I.(L) 130 was very satisfactory. LCI(L) 130 "was the first vessel of the Liberating Forces to enter St Helier Harbour on 9 May 1945": Letter from Liberation boat commander - Jerripedia Another photo showing her at St Helier: Source: probably www.jersey.com, but not online anymore and a photo of her then skipper, Lieutenant Charles Arthur Sanders: Source: probably www.jersey.com, but not online anymore as well as of his No.1, Sub Lt Jimmy Cooper RNVR: Source: Damien Horn via the Jersey Evening Post (photo apparently not online anymore) and her crew: Source: File:LiberationLCL130Crew.jpg - Jerripedia As you can see, her number was indeed painted on the bows, as it also was on D Day. She would additionally have a wide dark Green band painted around her bridge, plus the 3 British Infantry Division sign afore her hull number on her bows and probably also at the corners of her superstructure, as did LCI(L) 131 which was one of the three LCI(L) of her Group (Group 8): Source: Landing Craft Infantry LCI Michel
Thanks for this information Michael, it is very much appreciated, I have copied it and put it in my dads file.
