Newbie seeking info on LCT 1000 and grandfather

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Boozyfruits, Jan 10, 2014.

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  1. Boozyfruits

    Boozyfruits New Member

    Hi, I have come to this forum as a result of a search for 'LCT 1000', on which my Grandfather served.
    I am looking for more information about the craft and what my Grandafther faced during his service.
    i have a copy of this P and V record so far.

    Wireman (LC) Victor Noel White MX610310
    He died in 1985 and was too traumatised to talk about his experiences to his children, hence the search for information from a distance.

    If folks could point me in the right direction, that would be lovely.
    Many thanks
    Rebecca White

    It is the British LCT1000 i'm seeking, not USS LCT1000
     
  2. Hello Rebecca,

    Welcome to this forum!

    I do not have any photo of LCT (Mark 4) 1000, but I can tell you it was part of 56 LCT Flotilla, 'Q' LCT Squadron, based at Plymouth and attached to Force 'B' (follow-up force bound for the US beaches) as of 5 June 1944.

    The other LCT in 56 LCT Flotilla were LCT 515, 638, 757, 815, 838, 1001, 1048, 1049, 1106, 1170 & 1171.

    There are a couple of photos on fold3 showing LCT 515 and 1048 unloading in OMAHA Area:
    http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#251|hbSH1CZcRdyfhUm0F4WXU8hdLBsdX_cjglYFT8bi5_R6voH7n
    http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#251|hbSH1CZcRdyfhUm0F4WXU8hdLBsdX_cjglYFT8bi5IJG6gDS6
    http://www.fold3.com/browse.php#251|hbSH1CZcRdyfhUm0F4WXU8hdLBsdX_cjglYFT8bi5ypok4Vl7

    Michel
     
  3. Hi Rebecca,

    I just found this 2009 article in the Derby Telegraph, about one Arthur Tarr who was Signalman on board HM LCT 1000:
    http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Normandy-landings-veteran-receive-Legion-Honour/story-11596200-detail/story.html

    Here's another mention of LCT 1000 (and of Signalman Arthur Tarr):
    http://www.combinedops.com/LCT_PAGE.htm
    You might want to get in touch with his family, if you've not done it yet.

    Another useful contact is Tony Chapman, who was the Archivist and History of the now defunct LST & Landing Craft Association, and who knows many veterans and is very knowledgeable about all things LCT. Here's his last email address I know of:
    a.chapman93[at]ntlworld.com
    If you can't contact him there, you might try to contact him through the Combined Ops website:
    http://www.combinedops.com/Contact%20Us.htm
    or here:
    http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-chapman/36/b04/955

    Could you post a scan of your grandfather's records here?

    Michel
     
  4. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Rebecca, Michel,

    Unfortunately Tony Chapman died last year (on the 6th June of all dates).

    I would suggest contacting Geoff Slee on the Combined Ops website (link posted above) who worked closely with Tony for several years. Geoff now has copies of the RN Green List around the D-Day period (courtesy of Lee, PsyWar.Org) and could provide more information about LCT 1000's movements.
     
  5. Very sorry to hear the sad news about Tony Chapman. His dedication to the Landing Craft veterans cause, as well as his poetic talent, will be sorely missed.
     
  6. Jeff Vilardo

    Jeff Vilardo New Member

    Sorry I am many years late to the game with this thread. I have been looking for information about loading lists for LCT Squadron “Q.” Particularly Flotillas 54 and 56.

    Elements of the U.S. 747th Tank Battalion were loaded onto LCT1000 according to Morning Reports from this unit. Hope this helps.
     
  7. Hello Jeff,

    Welcome to the forum. Thanks for this piece of information, which narrow down possibilites a bit. From Trux' post on Force B, LCT(4) Serials 305-308, 311-312, 317 and 345-352 (15 craft) carried elements of 747th Tk Bn.

    Is there any specific detail about the elements of 747th Tk Bn carried by LCT 1000 in the Morning Reports?

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2019
  8. Jeff Vilardo

    Jeff Vilardo New Member

    Thank you Michel.

    I have attached the morning report for HQ Company, 747th Tank Battalion. This only shows the personnel assigned. I have seen a website (not sure if I can post the url for that site) that lists the amount of personnel from each company as well as units assigned to the LCTs. This website uses the same Army serial numbers mentioned in the Trux' thread. Just looking at the personnel assigned, it may (if that website is correct) be possible to narrow down which LCT corresponds to Squadron "Q" craft. I'm glad I finally found this forum.

    Jeff
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Hello Jeff,

    Thank you for the Morning Report you posted, and please excuse my extremely belated answer..

    I have compared it with the Landing Table for Follow-up Force B and the best candidate for LCT 1000, based on the only information we have (the total number of men from Bn Hq & Hq Co in each LCT, from the Morning Report), would be LTIN 409 (Serial 344):
    847_Page_31 LT 408 to 410.jpg
    848_Page_19 LCT(4) (344) 747 Tk Bn.jpg
    You will note that the Landing Table has misaligned the 6 2½T LWB so that they seem to belong to Hq Co, but it is obvious that they are from the Service Co, as correctly listed in the Boat Loading Diagram (6 Trk 2½ T Cargo towing 3 Tr Cargo & 3 Tr M-10) .

    I also found a still from a film shot at Exit Easy-1 on 7 Jun 44 around noon time, showing the bows of LCT 1000 (on the right of the pic):
    1000 LCT(4) Q56 OMAHA - 166 - 04.27.21.jpg

    Because there are several other close candidates in the Landing Table, it would help if you had the Morning Reports for the other parts of the Battalion, in order to cross check and hopefully discard the other possibilities.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2021
  10. Things are more complex than I thought, because, as stated by Trux in his Omaha thread, Serial 344 was deleted (by an Amendment), so LCT 1000 was probably not Serial 344 but another one. I'll have to dig deeper...

    In the meantime, the full "Narrative Report of 'Q' L.C.T. Squadron in Operation OVERLORD" can be read from my flickr Album here:
    Q LCT Squadron OVERLORD Report
    It does not give the hull number/Serial matches though.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2021

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