Box 025, folder 22: Jack G. Stothart

STOTHART, Jack G.

Canadian 3rd Can. Div.

BOX 25, #22

Lacombe, Alberta Nothing

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? JACK G. STOTHART

What was your unit and division? S.D.G. Highlanders, 3rd Can. Div. ( Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out] Bernieres [end crossed out] Courseulles - sur - Mer. 9.00 A.M. June 6.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Betty

Did you have any children at that time? Yes, two boys born in 1939 and 1941

What do you do no? Agricultural Research. Superintendent, Dominion Experimental Farm, Lacombe, Alberta.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We started training for assault landings on 1943. Invasion plans came to us early in 1944

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? It was rough - we did not open our final orders until late the night of June 5th and discussed details for a considerable time that night. We were on a LC(I) (Landig Craft Infantry) and it was crowded.

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in).

After our very rigorous training we were ready for anything. I think most of the men were glad we were finally going to get into "action".

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Jack Stothart

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No - no time for anything like that.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day?

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?

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? It seems a bit funny now but I think one of our main reactions was relief in getting off the boat and into action. Quite a few were sea-sick as it was very rough. - When circling waiting to land the shooting from shore looked like dim flashlights or fireflies going on and off.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? During training we often had to swim ashore from our landing craft as the boats were used many times and they were not rammed up on the shore. - Infantry men dont like to get wet and I remember very vividly the sub-Lieutenant (Navy) from [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Hamilton, Ont. giving the order full - speed ahead "When we finally made our run in: - He said, - "we'll put you on the shore this time". However, just before that he ordered the forward hold cleared and althrough the decks were

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Jack Stothart

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-day? jammed the 42 men in the Forward hold found places on the deck. He saved most if not all their lives as , on going in, we hit a mine which tore a six [inserted]foot[end inserted] hole in the bow of the ship. We still had to wade in about 3 to 4 feet of water but I will never forget that little sub-[?looie?]" even though I dont remember his name.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? [crossed out] on a [end crossed out] on the English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? in a hole in the ground neear Beny-sur-Mer France (slit - trench)

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Undoubtedly there are several men whom you might contact through The Officer Commanding. SD and G High'rs Cornwall, ont.

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

For Cornelius Ryan - 4 Jack Stothart

Another experience about which we chuckle now is our experience with enemy planes. When Gen Eisenhower spoke to us just prior to "D" Day he emphasized the fact that we would have air superiority. Whether he said those exact words or not I am not sure but we always credited him with saying "the only planes you will see will be ours". - In France when we would see German planes the call when up, "Write a letter to Eisenhower." Post D-day We saw quite a few, particularly one day our planes were grounded or somewhere else and we were strafed [inserted] but [end inserted] good, However, on another occasion, it was June 7. and we were moving inland, three Ju 88's were diving on us when several spitfires came out of nowhere and shot down all three 88's - one landed burning about a hundred yards from us.