Durham Light Infantry 11th Batallion Hi, I'm new to the Forum and this is my first post. My Dad embarked for Northwest Europe and the Normandy landings on the 9th of June which tallies with the date that the Transport (including carriers) left Woolwich Docks. Am I correct in assuming that my Dad would have therefore travelled with the Transport On the basis of the above channel crossing assumption would anyone be able to provide any of the following information which should enable me to establish when the transport landing craft reached Normandy. On the 9th June 1944 -The Battalions transports vehicles were embarked at Woolwich Docks, what time was the embarkation? How long was the crossing (in hours)? Which beach did the landing craft (Large) carrying the transport use, Gold? King Sector? What date and time did landing crafts carrying the transport arrive on the beach? When was the transport unloaded, again date and time? What route did the transport take to the Battalions concentration area in fields between Brecy and Rucqueville? It is my understanding from the DLI war diaries that the transport arrived at the concentration area with odd trucks at a time as there were delays in unloading. When did the Battalions transport arrive. Your help is very much appreciated. Thank you
If you go onto the Convoyweb site and insert the date you will find that 6 convoys left Southend (so London River) for the Seine between the 8 June and the 10th. If you click on the convoy number it will tell you which ships were in each convoy.
The Battalion transport left for the marshalling area under the command of Captain P.A. Johnson. The Transport Party consisted of nine Officers, 225 Other Ranks and 71 vehicles. The 11th DLI transport didnt arrive on the 9th June it set off on the 9th but the first troops (rifle companies) ashore landed at King Beach at 11:30 hours. on the 12th June .Transport arrived at the concentration area on 13/14th June but there was still no 15cwts trucks as there was a problem with their unloading ? Was your dad 4457134 Pte Joseph Thomas Shovlin , served in Iceland with 11 DLI ,Served Normandy posted to The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 5th August 1944 ? Kyle
Hi Kyle . Yes that was my Dad. Can I ask where you got that detailed information from. Thanks for your help and for providing further details on Dads potential route to Normandy. From Dads war records I have him leaving the UK for NWE on the 9th June - the Battalion war diaries have the transport leaving the same date so I have assumed Dad left with his carrier platoon with the rest of the transport. I think it's a fair assumption. Do you agree? If the transport left of the 9th but didn't arrive at the concentration area what happened in the intervening days. This is what I'm trying to establish. Can you help further
Hello Peter, The information came from a former member here (Verrieres) who has a DLI website . I asked him today and he told me your dad was recorded in Army Book 358 Register of Soldiers, Durham Light Infantry, Book no. 21,Covering the DLI nos. 4456036 - 4457228, who enlisted in 1939. He said another member on here ,John Dixon, has the same info on his very detailed website 70 Brigade Perhaps John could tell you more ? Verrieres (Jim) had contact with the son of another 11 DLI carrier driver (Bill Charles) and was told the carriers came ashore via the Mullberry Harbour at Gold Beach ? The story was also posted here;- William Charles Army Durham Light Infantry The Wartime Memories Project Kyle
Thanks Kyle - I know John and he’s been very helpful to me in my research and he must also have updated my Dads war records using the information I provided to him. I’ll check out your references and revert once any further and relevant details are known
Hi Danny these schedules are very informative and just what I required to add more detail on Dads war journey. I thank you for publishing these. With regard to the types of ships used for the transport do you know what the abbreviations for the ship types stand for ie MT ships and LSTs. If I establish this I should be able to get a photo of the type of ships used, their specification and speed in the water so that I can visualise the landing craft and how long the crossing would have taken. My research to date had suggested that Dad may have embarked on a Landing Craft Tanks. Perhaps that abbreviation was the American description of the British Landing Ship Tanks? Thanks again for your help.
The ETM convoys consisted mainly of Mechanised Transport ships, merchant cargo ships of around 7,000 grt with temporary accomodation for troops in the tween decks. Many of these provided a ferry service to Normandy through to August at least. There were no LSTs in these convoys, I have always assumed that they sailed from the south coast ports - but I am sure that someone will put me right.
Hi Roy. That was a quick response. Unless I’m misinterpreting The Force Movement Tables that you kindly provided to me, then these tables include a reference to 5 LSTs for the ferrying of the men and vehicles. My Dads war official war records have his embarking from Woolwich Docks on the Thames on the 9th June which tally with your Force Movement Tables. Would my assumption that part of the 11th Battalion were ferried in these Landing craft be correct and are these the same ships are LSTs the abbreviation of which was the subject of my earlier query. Would the Mechanised Transport Ships be able to ‘beach’ to unload or did these shops dock at the then partially built Mulberry dock. A war time memory from another 11th DLI driver has him driving off a ship onto the Mulberry to reach the shore at Arromanches. It’s all very intriguing. Looking forward to any responses. Thanks again
Hi Peter, I think that it was Danny who provided the Force Movement Tables. The merchant ships were not designed to beach, though as the landings went on many of the smaller ones did. The Liberty sized vessels would have transferred their personnel and cargo to smaller LCMs and Rhino pontoons until the Mulberry harbours functioned. Then the discharge was alongside. I can send photos, but with the limited file size it quickly overloads the system
Thx Roy. I’ll repost to Danny as the crux of the query is how the vehicles were landed. As you can guess I’m new to this
Hi, As Mike and Roy have said most of the LST sailed from the Solent area but some did sail from the London area. Following D Day 10 British LST were scheduled to leave London daily. Up to the 30th June 23 convoys of 320 MT ships and 195 LST were sailed from the London area. 25 convoys comprising of 287 Stores Coasters were sailed. There is a thread on the forum that might be of interest to you, Assembly & Transit Maps – Overlord Assembly & Transit Maps - Overlord Regards Danny
Thank you again Danny. I think we have all learnt a little from this thread and I personally have learned a lot and I now have a much better understanding of how Dad probably got to Normandy. To reconfirm: The force movement details, extract from you above indicates loading of the 11th DLI transport and crew at London; Dads official Army war records that I obtained document that he embarked for NWE on the 9th June from Woolwich; The 11th Battalion war diaries available on the web record the transport leaving from Woolwich see 11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry War Diary June 1944 - 70 Brigade Thanks again
Does anyone have a map that shows the route from Gold beach to the Concentration Area around Brecy? See attachment I am also looking for a map of Sussex that shows the marshalling camps that were prefix 'J ' and held troops that left via NEWHAVEN Any help appreciated - Thank you
