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Beck

Extracts from my diary

June 4th - At last, to everyone's relief D-day was announced for June 5th.
Our L.C.T. upanchored and began running down the Solent passing the great
L.S.T.'s. Waves were running high. Off the I.O.W. the convoy stopped and
hung around until a signal ran through the fleet. We turned round. Postponed.
The suspense aboard all ships was almost unbearable.

June 5th - The Armada set sail despite most unfavourable weather reports.
Our L.C.T. weighed anchor at 10.00 hours, once more passed the great L.S.T.’s
and once more the waves were running high. Capt. Perry and Capt. Hale
(in the L.S.T.s -- acting as F.O.O.s for Infantry) flashed signals by lamp
"Good luck" to our L.C.T. as we steamed by. As we passed the Neddles and felt
the first Altantic swells we knew there was now no turning back. The documents
marked "Not to be opened until the last possible moment" were now opened.
Messages to the troops from the King, Eisenhower, Montgomery and 50 Div. Commdr.
were read out in the Army shelter under the bridge of the L.C.T. Final briefing
with correct names as well as their code names were given and the last
instructions (As there was little room in this shelter, I had to give the
briefing 3 times to all Army personnel aboard, which included a detachment of a
R.E. beach party. Each briefing lasted about 40 minutes and in the confined
space with the L.C.T. beginning to pitch and roll, I was feeling very queasy
at the end and glad of some fresh air.)
Everyone was by now wearing his Mae West (life belt) and a check was made
to see that everything was securely fastened down, the ammunition secure and dry.
Spray and waves werb washing over the sides. Soon we began to feel queer and
bags, vomit, were produced (Sea-sick pills had been distributed earlier. I did
not take mine until the briefing was over and already beginning to feel sick,
Later I remembered "reaching" in a quiet corner, but not violently sick.)
The wind wasclear against the bows, the boat heaving and swaying, chains and
shackles grinding against each other and the tanks, the boat's engines revving
at high speed. There was little comfort for anyone. Some tried to sleep
inside their vehicles.

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