On the morning of June 5th, all 'Hedgerow' craft of G2 Group were present when the journey to Normandy began while the LCAs were taken in tow by Mk4 LCTs of the 34th Flotilla of 'L' LCT Squadron. Irwin's craft, the 1110, was taken in tow by Landing Craft Flak 38 (LCF 38)... and so began, to quote Michael Irwin " a most uncomfortable passage across the channel."

 ~  Passage to Normandy ~

In addition to the craft of G2 Group of 591Flotilla, Assault Convoy G6, comprised the American built, British manned, MK5 LCT(A)(HE)s of the 109th Flotilla, the craft being LCT(A)s 2121, 2291, 2039 and 2236 with LCT(HE)s 2048, 2345, 2225 and 2453. In addition, as mentioned above, six (6) MK4 LCTs of the 34th Flotilla, they being, 727, 763, 896, 899, 929 and 930 accompanied by Landing Craft Flak (LCF) 25, 26, 36 and 38 of the 332nd Support Flotilla to give anti-aircraft cover in the event of a sudden attack. At the head of the convoy went HQ craft LCH 187, the whole, escorted by the Anti-Submarine Trawler HMS Sapper of Lieutenant R. C. Lees RNR.

On passage to Normandy the craft of Assault Convoy G6 sailed in two columns - the left or port column was destined for KING RED sector of Gold beach in advance of the 5th Battalion The East Yorkshire Regiment, and the right or starboard column destined for KING GREEN sector of Gold beach in advance of the 6th and 7th Battalions The Green Howards, all of the 69th Infantry Brigade of the British 50th Infantry Division (Northumbrian).

And so they made their way across the choppy waters of the English Channel -  Lieutenant Irwin in LCA(HR) 1110, Sub Lieutenant Jessop in 968, Sub Lieutenant Roberts in 969, Sub Lieutenant Bruce Valentine Ashton in 1106, Sub Lieutenant Fiddes in 1103, Lieutenant Dodwell in 970, Sub Lieutenant Manders in 1109, Sub Lieutenant Peck in 1104 and finally Sub Lieutenant Caldicott in 1105.

As the records show the journey across was not without incident;

•  At 0200 hours on the morning of June 6th Irwin's craft, the 1110, lost her tow when the port engine of LCF     38 failed. Irwin continued his journey and at H-Hour released his spigot mortars in advance of the LCT 930.
   

•  LCA(HR) 968's tow also proved troublesome. It parted at 1430 hours on the afternoon of June 5th. It was rearranged but parted again some three hours later and thereafter the craft made her own way to the beach where she released her mortars. After doing excellent work disposing of her mines the 968 foundered on her way back to the carrier Empire Mace. 
   

•  A similar fate befell LCA(HR) 969. Her tow parted at 1300 hours on the afternoon of June 5th, the craft making it's own way to the beach where she released her mortars close to LCT 930. After assisting in the clearing of obstacles the craft foundered on her way back to Empire Mace.
   

•  LCA(HR) 1103's tow parted at 1015 hours on the morning of the 5th, but, by effecting a 'make do and mend repair' the craft arrived off the beach and discharged her mortars. The craft later sustained considerable damage whilst being hoisted in the Empire Mace.
   

•  Lieutenant Dodwell's LCA(HR) 970 also parted company with her tow on passage, this also, was rearranged with the craft arriving safely off the beach to discharge her mortars. The craft is thought to have fouled beach obstacles but was later hoisted satisfactorily.
   

•  The tow for LCA(HR) 1109 held for the entire passage, being finally released at 0615 hours on June 6th, she then proceeded to the beach in advance of LCT 763. Owing to water entering the firing batteries the mortars failed to fire, four unsuccessful runs were made to the beach, after which, the craft withdrew.
   

•  Sub Lieutenant Peck in LCA(HR) 1104 was in the tow of LCT 929, the tow parted three times on passage, the final time at 1800 hours on the evening of the 5th. Owing to LCT 929 having no more wire available, the craft, like others, made her own way to the beach and fired her mortars sustaining damage from light machine gun fire in the process.
   

•  The LCA(HR) 1105 of Lieutenant Caldicott did not make it to Normandy. At 1000 hours on the morning of the 5th her tow parted and her starboard propeller was fouled, she was forced to return arriving back at her starting point, HMS Cricket, at 0800 hours on June 6th an extraordinary achievement given that she only had one functioning engine.
   

•  For twenty three year Bruce Valentine Ashton and three others of his crew the morning of June 6th 1944 would end in disaster. Having attained the firing position, but before releasing her spigot mortars, the 1106 was rammed by the incoming LCT 899 of the 34th Flotilla, presumably the very craft that 1106 was supporting. All four perished when 1106 capsized. (Photo; Edward Archer, one of those lost.)

There were of course many other craft in Assault Convoy G6 and here we provide some details of the 109th, intended to beach in support of the LCTs of the 34th Flotilla. The craft of the 109th were due on the flanks of KING RED/KING GREEN sectors, the (A)s beaching on the easternmost (left) flanks of each sector...the (HE)s due on the westernmost (right) flanks.....for the 109th, the day, could have been better.

•  2039 was lost in passage after being swamped by heavy seas, the force of which caused her to turn turtle.
   

•  2048 was seen broken down in mid-channel on the 5th. Its presently not clear if she made it in although likely she did not. 
   

•  2453 broke down and returned, going again and finally arriving on KING GREEN on D+1.
   

•  As Michael Irwin's LCA(HR) 1110 made for KING RED beach the LCT(A) 2121 passed on the starboard side, Irwin watched the LCT beach and the tanks roll off...two were seen to be hit.
   

•  LCT 2345 was driven down to the eastwards almost to JUNO sector...coming to rest at Graye sur Mer. The men of the 1st Royal Marine Armoured Support Group were likely late getting back to their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Victor Peskett who went ashore from an LCT on JIG sector, with, he once told me, a bottle of whiskey strapped to the bumper of his jeep!

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission were approached about the loss of Able Seaman Norman Kenwood C/JX 351294 and 23 year old Leading Stoker Edward George Archer C/KX 145589. There was a conflict between their records and those held by the LST and Landing Craft Association. Their records showed both men were lost from LCA 591 as opposed to 591 LCA. This may appear to be a small difference, possibly caused by a typing error, but it makes all the difference to the history of each man lost. The CWGC are in the process of amending their records.

Sub Lieutenant Bruce Ashton, AB Norman Norman Kenwood, Leading Stoker Edward Archer and AB James Harper made the journey across the channel but were, sadly, lost, before they had time to engage the enemy. Bruce Ashton and James Harper are buried within the Normandy cemetery at Bayeux. Norman Kenwood, has no known grave but the sea. Edward  Archer was carried many miles to the eastwards before his body was recovered. Precisely when and where that was and by whom is unknown. He rests in the village cemetery of St Aubin sur Mer (Seine-Martime) ten miles west of Dieppe, some 90 miles away from where he went into the water on the morning of June 6th. (Photo opposite). They were not alone that morning. Men died in their landing craft, as they left their landing craft and in the sea by enemy fire or drowning. Yet others, having struggled out of the sea, laden down with equipment, exhausted from the physical effort and sea-sickness, were cut down on the beach. On Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword and Juno beaches many men made the supreme sacrifice.

The names below are those of Convoy G6 who were lost that day except for Wireman Russell A Groombridge D/MX 103071 who was lost from HMLCT(A) 2121 on June 28th 1944 and who rests in Bayeux, close to Bruce Ashton.

This beach..could tell a story
This beach..it would not lie
Could we...but only listen
This beach...would make us cry..!
 

 ~ Roll of Honour ~