ryan_box023-tld_f54_03

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name Henry L Churchill

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or
during the day? yes we had men both killed and wounded
but we lost the most in prisoners our battalion
was 550 men and I thing that all we got together was
140 men our platoon was 18 men short

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became
casualties? one of my pals used to say to me, Churchill
lets go out and enjoy our selves to-night, for
we havent got much longer to live. I would
say to him that isnt the way to look at it
He was the second man ahead of me and he never
got out of his harness as the jerries got him

Were you wounded? no

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you
felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time ?
Our section Sgt Joe Middleton in our plane
landed right close to an anti-tank gun position
and was taken prisioner right off and they took him
into their dug out it was dark of course in there
Joe was having trouble trying to get them to understand
what he said so he said cant any of you Jerries under-
stand English. Then a voice said yes but it doesnt do
much good. He was one of our boys [?thaken?] prisoner
a little sooner

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck
you more than anything else?
One of our company Sgt Majors I cant recall his
name who was outstanding when it came to disapline
which is very necessary and I remember hearing the
remarks I wonder how he will be when it comes
to action. The sad part of it was he didnt have
very long with us once we landed. I think it was
the first day that he and two of his men were pinned
down on account of mortar fire and during this time
they were all wounded, he gave them all morphine
including himself and when they stretcher bearers came
he had the other two taken out first and himself last
but he died of his wounds soon after wards