Watching 'The True Glory' DVD free with today's 'Telegraph' - very good indeed BTW - reminds me of this tale I heard about 25 years ago from Barrie, a RN veteran I used to work with. I believe it is true (but welcome comments). He was a young Lieutenant, and was, in June 1944, a naval gunfire support spotter (not a terribly risk free occupation). On the night of 5/6 June, he was landed (I cannot recall which beach, but probably SWORD, GOLD or JUNO) by submarine to await the arrival of the fleet, to spot the fall of fire for them. He was accompanied by a naval rating radio operator, and a RN Petty Officer with a Sten as close protection. Total strength, er, three chaps, total armament, one x Sten, 2 x Webleys. So they landed, hid up amongst some long grass....and waited...and waited...and waited... Then, at some point in dead of night, probably around the witching hour of 0400, they heard a swishing noise, as if someone was walking towards them, in the grass. A German patrol, surely...closer and closer it came. Fingers tightened around triggers, hearts began racing....closer it came... Then the sheep coughed. And, as Barrie put it, "if I hadn't been brought up on a farm, I would probably have shot it and blown the whole invasion..."
