Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 020, folder 23: Percy Edward Culum

CULLUM, Percy Edward British Royal Naval Party Box 20, #23

THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NCRMANDY D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5 -- MIDNIGHT JUNE 6 Acknowledged 11-6-58

What is your full name? PERCY EDWARD CULLUM.

What is your present address? 28 COLFE RD. FOREST HILL LONDON SE23.

Telephone number: FOREST HILL 1469.

What was your unit, division, corps? ROYAL NAVAL PARTY 1749 (I am not too certain of that number) The unit was also known as Heavy 8 and Light 8 (mobile W/T Stations).

Where did you land and at what time? I did not land on D. Day.

What was your rank and age on June 6, 1944? Petty Officer Telegraphist Age 25

Were you married at that time? Yes.

What is your wife' s name? PHYLLIS JANET.

Did you nave any children at that time? No.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About three weeks beforehand alhough this was not confirmed until two days before.

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? I do not remember that the trip was particularly uncomfortable from the point of view of the enemy activity it was unexpectedly quiet no doubt due to the fact that there was a constant umbrella of fighters. Although I did once or twice have a look at the invasion fleet most of my time was spent in the W/T office.

Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in.) I personally heard no such rumours.

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

2.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? No.

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

Were you wounded? No

How were you wounded?

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

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed amusing at the time? Or anything unexpected or outof-place? The thing that impressd me most of all was the number of ships of all types crossing apparently without [?alt?] or hindrance, I likened the scent to Piccadilly in the rush hour. In nearly five years of war at sea I had never seen so many ships at sea at one time.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, that struck you more than anything else? I did see one capsized landing craft with a man standing up waving. I was a little surprised that no one was attempting to rescue him and any others on board. When I mentioned the fact someone suggested that as there were so many ships about he wouldn't be there long.

3.

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly strange or stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either? Not particularly.

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours (midnight 5 June to midnight 6 June) either as infantry, glider or airborne troops, whom we should write to? I can think of no one off hand.

What do you do now? I am an Executive Officer in the Inland Reserve.

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."

Cornelius Ryan Joan O. Isaacs The Reader's Digest

The limit to which I belonged was a Naval mobile W/T unit equipped with W/T transmitters and receivers in 3 ton and 15 cwt vehicles. Hence Heavy and Light units. After being equipped at the Operational Signal Equipment Depot at [?Huntingdon?] Hall the unit was sent to a camp int he grounds of Southwick Park, Southwick near Fareham Hants. Whilst there the unit was adopted by Admiral Ramsey as his headquarters unit. We set up a large receiving station in a Nissen hut and trained continuously to become the front line station for the invasion. Just prior to the date of the invasion I was asked if would like to volunteer for a special job. When I agreed I was informed that I should be with the Admiral when he went to sea on D Day. On the morning of the invasion I was sent on board H.M.S. Apollo and found that beside tha Admiral we also had General Eisenhower on board. Part of the equipment I had to take was two portable transmitter / receivers. In the event of the General landing I had to land with him carrying one transmitter receiver (the other was to set up on board the ship and when he wished to return to the ship I was to make the necessary signal. No landing was made however as it was too rough H.M.S. Apollo towed the beachheads and later in the day struck a sandbank which reduced her speed. Admiral Ramsey ordered one of the destroyers (whose name escapes me for the moment) alongside and he, General Eisenhower and the staff were transferred. We then returned to Portsmouth