~ D-DAY FLOTILLA 814 HMLCV(P) ~

814 HM Landing Craft Vehicle (Personnel) Flotilla [814 HMLCV(P)] took part in the D-Day landings. Royal Marine Roy Nelson was on board LCV(P) 1155 which was hoisted aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) for the journey across the English Channel to the beaches of Normandy. These are Roy's recollections.

 ~ Early Training ~

I joined the Royal Marines at the age of 17 years in March of 1943 and during that summer I was transferred to Combined Operations and commenced training in North Wales on crewing minor landing craft. Further training was provided at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth where we were issued with our ‘blues’ and the treasured Combined Operations badge. The latter entitled us to an extra sixpence (2.5p) a day! Whilst at Dartmouth we practiced ‘beachings’ at Blackpool Sands with American troops based in the area.

These joint training exercises were not uncommon since both the navy crews and army passengers were destined to share the hazardous experience of sailing across the English Channel and landing on the beaches of Normandy, in many cases under enemy fire. To land safely and to discharge their cargos of men and machines in an efficient manner required all concerned to know what to do and how too react to unpredictable circumstances.

In late 1943 I arrived at HMS Robertson at Sandwich in Kent with my ‘oppo’ Norman ‘Goldie’ Goldsmith. Initially we were allocated to 810 LCV(P) Flotilla of ‘C’ Squadron which comprised four flotillas, 810-814 inclusive. Shortly afterwards, I was promoted to Corporal/Coxswain and transferred to 814 LCV(P) Flotilla and took over HMLCV(P) 1066. We were now operational and carried out a lot of landing craft training exercises in the area in the run up to what became the D-Day landings of June 1944.

 ~ Operational Training ~

Our commanding officer was Captain Harry Barnes RM from Liverpool and 2nd i/c was Lieutenant Peter Haynes RM. Other names I recall are Sergeants Cox and Lovell and Corporals Kent, Hannabus and George Pargeter. As this is being written on March 31^st 1997 I have in recent years made contact with several old comrades including Ron Tomkins, John Tomlinson, Pete Barlow and Ray Pedelty. Together, we attended re-unions at Lympstone and the 50^th Anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth.

It was early in 1944 whilst practicing beach landings at Ramsgate that we ran into a spot of bother. There was an unfortunate coincidence of malicious weather, tide and conflicting orders resulting in my landing craft hitting a sandbank on the way in. I am reluctant to admit to poor seamanship! Sadly LCV(P) 1066 ‘broached to’ and became fast on the beach. In spite of supreme efforts of 814 the 1066 was firmly beached as the tide receded. We were obliged to stay overnight and resume our attempts to re-float craft the following morning. When 1066 stubbornly refused to move the next morning we were forced to remove our equipment and ‘abandon ship! I often wonder what became of 1066 after I left her in Ramgate. [Tony Chapman of the LST and Landing Craft Association writes; LCV(P) 1066 is recorded lost during exercises in the Richborough area of Kent during February 1944.]

 ~ D-Day ~

My second command following the loss of the 1066 was the HMLCV(P) 1155. In the spring of 1944 together with the craft of 814 Flotilla we left HMS Robertson and sailed through the Dover Straits and along the coast to Rye in Sussex where we had a break. I think it was on that leg of the journey that a steering cable snapped and 1155 proceeded to go around in circles! With the help of an emergency rudder we limped into Rye for repairs.

We later made our way along the south coast to Hayling Island's HMS Northney III where we continued training in readiness for the forthcoming Normandy landings. We also assisted a battalion of US Navy ‘Sea Bees’ (naval construction personnel) who were working on caissons off Selsey Bill. Although we didn't know it at the time these caissons were later towed across the English Channel shortly after D-Day to form part of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches.

[Photo: back row; 1st left Cpl Clark, 4th left Cpl Hewitt, 6th left  Pete (Zeke) Barlow, far right 'Lofty' Wagstaff, 3rd from right John Tomlinson; 4th row 2nd left Cpl Pete Money, 3rd left Cpl George Pargeter, 5th left Cpl Roy (Admiral) Nelson, 5th from right Syd Liddle, 7th David How 8th Ray Pedelty; 3rd row 7th from left K 'Darkie' Wisdom; 2nd row 1st left Ron Tomkins, 3rd  left Cpl Rhodes; front row 1st left Cpl Ken Smith, 5th left Col/Sgt Adams, far right Cpl Hannabus, 4th from right Sgt Cox, 5th from right Sgt Smith. Cetre Front Captain Harry Barnes and Lt Peter Haynes.]

By my recall it was Saturday June 3^rd 1944 when the craft of 814 LCV(P) Flotilla joined a section of the fleet anchored off Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Our reserve crews meanwhile boarded the depot repair ship the Cap Tourane in Tilbury Docks, London. The Cap Tourane was to be our base while off Sword beach.

LCV(P) 1155 was hoisted aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) suspended from davits at the stern. There were two craft to portside and two to starboard. However, a fellow veteran believes our whole flotilla of 16 LCV(P)s was carried in one converted LST with eight craft to portside and eight to starboard while others believe we were carried over on a Landing Ship Infantry (LSI).

814 Flotilla set off on the morning of June 5^th to become part of that vast armada. [Tony Chapman writes:- Recorded as part of 814 Flotilla on June 5th 1944 are LCV(P)s 1064, 1065 , 1067, 1148, 1153 , 1154, 1155 , 1157, 1158, 1159 , 1161, 1170 , 1171, 1181, 1184 and 1250. Craft shown in bold are listed war losses in the assault area.]

It was an unforgettable sight, one which has been described by many people on many occasions. Suffice to say here that it was then that it dawned on me that ‘this was it’……the culmination of almost a year’s training. On our arrival off Sword beach we were dropped off by our ‘carrier ship’ to begin our allotted tasks. We never returned to her and sadly, as this is being written, the question of her identity remains unresolved and will likely remain so.

 ~ Post D-Day ~

Our depot ship the Cap Tourane (Photo) took up position off Sword on June 8^th, to become our rendezvous point for changing crews. [Tony Chapman, LST and Landing Craft Association writes; The Cap Tourane departed Tilbury at 0600 hours on the morning of June 7^th sailing in Convoy ETM 2 for service at Gooseberry 5 (Sword beach area, sheltered by the sunken ‘blockships’ Becheville, Belgique, Elswick Park, Empire Defiance, Empire Tamar and Empire Tana.) She was later damaged by gunfire on June 22^nd and the 25^th and later moved to Gold beach area on June 29^th.] It was six days after first leaving Cap Tourane that we returned to her to take our first break.

At this time I discovered that I had lost my gold signet ring given to me six months earlier by my parents on my eighteenth birthday. The loss upset me as much as anything I had witnessed during the invasion and it was several months before I was able to tell my parents. They were understanding and were just pleased I was home. It put the loss into perspective.

Our Headquarters ship was HMS Largs which we visited from time to time for briefings and instructions. To provide us with some shelter several ships were sunk off Sword beach. It was known as the ‘Gooseberry’ and although not as sophisticated as it’s big brother the 'Mulberry Harbour' at Arromanche it proved to be invaluable to minor landing craft crews and was a popular rendezvous. This was particularly so during the severe gales that blew up on June 19^th-22^nd. This was a very critical time since no supplies and reinforcements could reach the beach for the duration.

It is true that no amount of training can prepare you mentally for actual warfare. I was 18 years of age and in charge of a landing craft and crew which was a lot of weight to carry on such young shoulders. The majority of landing craft crews were between the ages of 18-20 and ‘Hostilities Only’ men. We certainly found the hostilities we had joined up for with their associated dangers, but, to offset that there was a great camaraderie amongst the lads which saw us through the rough times.

Living conditions on board LCVP were pretty basic, a bucket for a toilet, and a primus stove for making tea with compo rations to live on. It was never intended for crews to live on the craft for any length of time; but we often did. I often wondered how we were expected to survive for several days between visits to the Cap Tourane for ‘rest and recuperation.’

In the weeks following D-Day we became the work-horses of the beach-head fetching and carrying according to need. It kept us busy which was no bad thing although we did find the time to scout around scrounging food whenever the opportunity presented itself.

After several weeks we evacuated to Gold beach near Arromanches where the Mulberry Harbour was well established. LCV(P) 1155 was by then in urgent need of repairs and I left her in the hands of a beach repair party until the following morning. The crew and I (all three of us!), took advantage of our first run ashore in ages although, if the truth be told, we did not have a very comfortable night. When we returned to the beach there was no sign of LCV(P) 1155. I felt sick in the stomach to find her missing. We discovered that the repair party had declared the craft beyond repair, written her off and unceremoniously bull-dozed her out of the way to allow the war to continue. [Official records show that HMLCV(P) 1155 recorded lost in the assault area approximately June 1944.]

So, there we were, up a creek without the proverbial paddle, or, in our case, a landing craft. We made our way back to the Mulberry Harbour to hitch a ride back to the Cap Tourane to explain our circumstances to Captain Barnes. In the event there was no court martial or even a charge. I believe we had only three craft operational out of a total complement of sixteen and were urgently due replacements. I have little doubt in my mind that the ‘powers that be’ never expected many minor landing craft to make the journey home.

We were fortunate in 814 LCV(P) Flotilla to have Flotilla Officer Captain Barnes. He was a great leader but very approachable and a father figure to most of us young men. After the war he wrote a letter to every member of 814 offering his services should any of us require his help or advice. I have always regretted the fact that I never wrote back.

 ~ Fatalities ~

Sword beach was on the extreme eastern flank of the invasion and was subjected to much enemy shelling which continued throughout our stay there. We lost a number of craft but, surprisingly, casualties amongst our flotilla were light, several being injured and sadly, two killed They both rest in the cemetery at Hermanville (photo top left) and I have visited their graves to pay my respects. One was a much liked ‘Geordie’ lad named Syd Liddle aged 19 years (photo middle left) who was fatally wounded whilst with his craft and the other was our Lieutenant Peter Haynes aged 20 years (photo bottom left)  killed when a shell hit the Cap Tourane.

ROLL OF HONOUR.

Lieutenant Peter Broadhurst Haynes. RM June 25^th 1944, Wolverhampton.

  Royal Marine Sydney Liddle June 26^th 1944 of Morpeth, Northumberland.

 ~ We will remember them ~ .

[Tony Chapman writes:- Since receiving Roy’s recollections I was in contact with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to advise them of the loss of Peter Haynes and Syd Liddle from 814 LCV(P) Flotilla. Both men were recorded lost from their shore base as opposed to the flotilla they were serving with at the time that being 814 LCVP. Their records have now been amended.]

 ~ Awards ~

In any battle there are many unsung heroes and a few who receive official recognition. One of the latter was a fellow coxswain George Pargeter who was awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal). A rhino barge was being loaded with ammunition from a supply ship when it received a direct hit and caught fire putting the ship at great risk. George and his crew secured a line to the barge and towed it away from the side of the ship averting a possible disaster - an action that put George and his crew at great risk.

 ~ Further Reading ~

Veteran Royal Marines of 814 LCV(P) who would like to contact the author Roy Nelson, or to provide information about their service with the flotilla, are invited to contact Tony Chapman of the LST and Landing Craft Association.

 ~ Acknowledgments ~

These are the recollections and impressions of former Royal Marine Roy Nelson as transcribed by Tony Chapman, Official Archivist/Historian for the LST and Landing Craft Association. (Royal Navy). Further edited by Geoff Slee for presentation on the website.

Screen resolutions of 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 are best. Copyright © 2001 to 2010 inclusive [Combinedops.com]. All rights reserved.