Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 020, folder 36: F. Ellis

ELLIS, F. British 2nd Battalion Glosters BOX 20, #36

MR F ELLIS, 65 ABBOTTS DRIVE, STANFORD-LE-HOPE, ESSEX.

May 22'

27MAY1958

Dear Sir, I read your advertisment in the Evening News last night, and thought I should write to you, in the possibility of helping you in your book. I am 33 now, and was not quite 20 when I took part in the D Day landings. Unfortunatly I cannot tell you of the actual assault on the Beaches, as I was in the follow up troops and landed about 12 noon [inserted] D DAY JUNE 6th [end inserted], the beaches were taken I believe about 8 am.

2 Well briefly -, up till about September 1943 from just after call up in Dec 1942, I was in the 101 Light Ack Group (Bofors) a Scottish Regiment. About this time I along with thousands of others (All AI men (Medically fit) ) were tranfered to the Infantry. I was tranfered to the 2° Battalion Glosters (The Back Badge Boys) where I stayed till after VE day. Early in 1944 our Battalion along with hundreds more began consentrating in the New Forest Area for intensive training. We practiced with Landing Craft and various other aspects of the Invasion, and shortly before D Day we made a Dummy Run to within about 10 miles of the French Coast in the dark.

3 All types of craft were consentrated in the Southampton Area, and the Area was well protected by ACK ACK, and the vessels were of course Camuflaged. It is important here to add, that right up to D Day complete secrecy was observed, and we were not told of our final destination, and all base was stopped about 3 months before land. I might add that it wasnt until about half way over that we were told our destination. Arromanches [inserted] CODE [end inserted] (Green Beach). We crossed mostly at night - the invasion fleet assembled at a fixed Rendevous somewhere well out, and it certainly made an impressive sight by Early light D Day morning.

4 I being a bad sailor was sea sick crossing over, and sincerely say that I was glad to land even if it meant getting killed, although of course when I [inserted] had [end inserted] landed a little while I wished myselfback, on board the Troop Carrier. The beaches were already taken when we landed at Green Black Arromanches about 12 noon D Day. Prior to this our Aircraft had straffed the German Positions and Naval Guns had kept up a tremendous barrage to cover the Assault. The sea was inclined to be choppy and we were tranfered to small landing craft, well weighed down with Equiment believe me.