Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 021, folder 03: Francis David Goode

outskirts of Ryes. Goode will always remember it: conference was held at X roads which had a lot of enemy dead who were badly burned and 'smelled to high heaven'. Their rumors of enemy tanks Co told them to push on to Bayeux or the St Sulpice heights Co was still intact. Pushed on from X roads. Joined by FF1 who insisted on coming with us. FF1 insisted on sending [scratched out: them back] taking back to beaches. Germans werent't fighting well whole groups surrending "Which way did Batt go?" he asked mil. police. Took wrong road + got into fire fight. Found that he had taken wrong road when Co sent him message. Pulled back to X roads. "Chateau Neuf du Pape 21" in cellar + eggs - in farm overlooked by church. MAGNY. sent some to his Co. they were supposed to link up with Americans but no sign of them. Kocked back a pint of wine with couple of raw eggs.

slept in farm cart on inflated mattress No casualties + 1 Ser killed- fat fellow at MAGNY Had not cleaned farm of Germans Discovered them next day (Goode + 2nd Lt Peter Hughes with torch looked in cellar about midnight found wine) "Have you cleaned cellars?" "well no" "oh you bloody fool" Searched cellar found wine. Gave eggs + cider to men. Hughes, Goode + other officers had wine. ~ Appalling smell of burnt flesh during conference with Co dumped gas masks + capes rumors that Fr women were shooting at them Well shoot back Plastic waders caused Goode to trip up, waders filled up + Goode damn near drowned. underwear + champagne bottles in pillboxes Had revolver sten gun 3 mags 236 grenades 2 smoke grenades 2 smoke flans morp line + hypodermic, tins of selfheating soup, bowl & saucer automatic [?] [?],

D company landed 'off their maps' East of Le Hamel Circled off beach from 7:30 to about 10:00 no trouble crossing beaches Found themselves in field of poppies + suddenly noticed "ACHTUNG MINEN" but then he saw cows + a young girl tending them. If they suffered no harm he figured it was a dummy mine field. Continued across field to lateral road + knew if he marched along it he'd get 'back on his map' ~~ French were marching Ger back + presumably doing them in ~~ Shelling along the lateral road. At one point Lt Peter Hughes lying beside him in a ditch 'this is about only place they can't reach me with an income tax demand'

Major Francis D. Goode, 25, 50th North Div. says:

He was scared that they might run into a mine during the night and as he stood on the bridge after nightfall he heard from somewhere below a " dull thud" and said to one of his fellow officers , "My God , we've hit a mine!" What had happened really was that a sailor below had been playing around with a can of self-heating cocoa. These cans — the British had soups , stews and other liquids which could be self-heated — had a wick through them which when lit automatically heated the contents. To make it work right one had to punch some holes in the lid. The sailor had not done this and so the cocoa had exploded in his face. This single explosion had caused other cans of self -heating cocoa to explode; as a result the unfortunate soldier and his quarters was covered with cocoa.

The postponement had a terrible psychological effect on the soldiers; "It was rather like being pushed into the operating theater," he said , " only to find that the surgeon couldn't make it."

In an orchard a little while later that morning he saw a friend of his whom he had been to school with and whom he had not seen since 1930. This was an officer , a Major John Gay , whom he saw cycling along a road. He said to Gay, " Hello , old boy, haven't seen you in years. How is your sister? " Some time later that day he learned that Gay , who was spotting for an artillery battery, had been killed by a sniper.

Major F.D.Goode. 8 Gloucester Road London S. W. 7 Knightsbridge 5170 28MAY1958 [stamped] 20 May 58

Dear Sir , I have seen your advertisement in today's Times.

I may be able to help you as I was commanding 'D' Company of the 2nd Glosters in the operation.

I landed at le Hamel at H plus 2 hours and advanced through Ryes towards Bayeux arriving on the St Suplice Heights that night. My task was to take the centre of the town of Bayeux which we did on June 7th.

I have a few notes and two sketches that I made just after the operation when I was in hospital.

You may get into touch with me at the above address.

To put you in the picture with regard to the order of battle. 2 Glosters were in 56 Independent Infantry Brigade attached for the landing to 50 Div and landed on the extreme right of the British line.

Before giving you any information I should like your assurance that you are of British nationality.

yours faithfully FD Goode