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Holllis
Extract from THE STORY OF THE GREEN HOWARDS 1939-1945 by Capt. W.A.T. Synge 6 Bn - 6 Jun 44
Tho next morning reveille was sounded at 3:15 a.m., but few had slept that
night, and many were up on deck watching the flashes from the coast, where
the bombers were engaging the enemy's coastal batteries. The morning was
misty and dull, and features on shore could not be picked out with any
distinction. As a result, the beach defences were not demolished or neutralised
by the bombing to the extent that had been anticipated.
The "Empire Lance" reached her lowering position for the assault craft
at about 5 a.m., being than approximately seven miles from the coast. The
Companies then transhipped and, as there was a heavy swell running-- the
aftermath of the storm-- they spent two very uncomfortable hours in their
assault craft, getting wet and being sick.
Battalion Headquarters embarded in a L.C.M.(Landing Craft Mechanised),
which was attached to a derrick by a large hook weighing about half a ton.
When the craft hit the water,the motion was such that the crew wewre unable
to throw off the hook, which for a considerable time bounced up and down on
the top of the command carrier. As this vehicle contained at one end a box
of grenades, there were many sighs of relief when the hook was eventually
released without damage. When the beach was reached, the door of the ramp
would not open, and it seemed likely that Lt.—Col*.Hastings and his tactical
headquarters would have to sit on the beach being mortared, while his battalion
fought the battle without him. However, the ramp yielded eventually to
military and unprofessional pressure.
The experiences of Major C.M. Hull, M.C., who was second in command
of the Battalion, were interesting. He, with two signallers and a runner,
was aboard the main signal ship. This was a small craft carrying nothuing
but highly powered wireless sets. On this craft Major Hull was in direct
communication with the higher military and naval commanders, both afloat and
in England, with the Royal Air Foree overhead, and with the Battalion on the
assuault beaches. The first task of the signal ship was to navigate the
infantry assault craft to within six hundered yards of the shore, or, if