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Crocker
BRITISH
ARMY
JUNO - SWORD
[crossed out] ROYAL [end crossed out]
[crossed out] NAVY [end crossed out]

E

Lt. General Sir John Crocker..

Crocker was on the Headquarters ship HMS Hilary on D-Day.
He was scheduled to go ashore at about 10.0 a.m., but there was
such a heavy swell that it was impossible to lower boat from parent
ship. A small craft was brought alongside the Hilary and Crocker
went aboard. But then it was found that there was absolutely
no communication between wheel and engine. Crocker then had
difficult job of regaining the Hilary by way of rope ladder.... a
tricky enough business for a young man!

Admiral on Hilary quite put out by this unexpected development,
arranged for ship close by to send over another landing craft Came
alongside, whoosh, demolished gangplank....... Finally, Crocker boarded
the craft but it turned out to be a "deep-draft" vessel and couldn't
get close to shore. Crocker transferred to a "very ordinary, humble
landing craft" and finally waded ashore in two or three feet water!

Nowabout one hour late, so no reception committee waiting for
Crocker as arranged. He slogged up the beach on foot, got a lift
on a tiring motor cycle (it gave up some way along the road to Rennie's
H.Q.) and finally reached Rennie... Later, when he returned to the beach,
was conferring with other officers.. suddenly Gerry came over and
raked the beach all around Crocker... he found himself grovelling in
sand conferring with other officers about progress of invasion.
Left beach in landing craft to rejoin Hilary at about 3.30 p.m.
sailed out into Channel but not sign of H.Q. ship at rendezvous..
Had to stooge around until he could locate her......