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I was to be leading man of 9 Plt "C" Coy, to deal mainly with
mines. On the break-down of our aircraft we bundled into a Dakota
& I am now wondering if this was a diversionary aircraft as we
landed so far in & yet the aircraft circled the supposed dropping zone
four times - myself going out on the third time in. I landed
at Putot-en-Auge & I was completely alone. We ran into flack
at the coast & maybe we were pushed off course.

On landing, I gathered myself together, I had dropped with
kit bag & rifle. I tried to get my bearings but was completely
lost- I landed near the roadside & in a very big field. I
could not hear gun-fire only aircraft overhead.

I made off across the fields, lying low every now & again;
eventually day-light came & I was heading West near a main road
which I now know as the Troarn -Putot-en-Auge road. I
met up with two Canadians from the Canadian Para. & after
awhile we were surprised by a light armoured car, I had
a "gamma-bomb" which was hastily packed & which I slung
at the vehicle, the vehicle was dis-abled but then another
came up & we made off & were fired upon with machine
gun fire. I was parted from the other boys & once again on
my own. I made off towards Troarn but found going hard
as the Germans were very prominent. I then had to about turn
& found my way back to [crossed out] where [end crossed out] roughly where I came from.

I met up with Sgt Smith of my own Platoon & we then
contacted the French & were amazed to find where we were.

After three weeks of evading & exciting experiences I was
finally taken prisoner & escaped a month later- rejoining my unit.

I was to be leading man of 9 Plt "C" Coy, to deal mainly with
mines. On the break-down of our aircraft we bundled into a Dakota
& I am now wondering if this was a diversionary aircraft as we
landed so far in & yet the aircraft circled the supposed dropping zone
four times - myself going out on the third time in. I landed
at Putot-en-Auge & I was completely alone. We ran into flack
at the coast & maybe we were pushed off course.

On landing, I gathered myself together, I had dropped with
kit bag & rifle. I tried to get my bearings but was completely
lost- I landed near the roadside & in a very big field. I
could not hear gun-fire only aircraft overhead.

I made off across the fields, lying low every now & again
eventually day-light came & I was heading West near a main road
which I now know as the Troarn -Putot-en-Auge road. I
met up with two Canadians from the Canadian Para. & after
awhile we were surprised by a light armoured car, I had
a "gamma-bomb" which was hastily packed & which I slung
at the vehicle, the vehicle was dis-abled but then another
came up & we made off & were fired upon with machine
gun fire. I was parted from the other boys & and again on
my own. I made off towards Troarn but found going hard
as the Germans were very prominent. I then had to about turn
& found my way back to [crossed out] where [end crossed out] roughly where I came from.

I met up with Sgt Smith of my own Platoon & we then
contacted the French & were amazed to find where we were.

After three weeks of evading & exciting experiences I was
finally taken prisoner & escaped a month later- rejoining my unit.