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LOVELL CONTINUED

Normally we operated a 22 w/s, a larger vehicle carried the
set.. But on this op. we carried a 68 set on our back. As coming in
about 7:30 a.m., preceded by 231 infantry brigade, firing from gun
positions from 88m. stationed on cliff.. no small arms fire, nothing
hitting us as we land (we were on 6th landing craft), but underwater
obstacle sunk as - we were holed, but our chaps got ashore. Until
firing started, we were singing away, usual popular army and navy
songs.. everybody was quite gay. As soon as we realised "somebody
was opposed to our landing" things in the craft quietened down.
There were some comments "Its a private beach, they've no right to be
there." "They don't like the idea of us coming in here.."

We all got down under the cat walk, and it wasn't until we
formed up on road that we found out who was missing. Colonel C.F. Phillips
didn't muster.

As we were coming in to beach, the craft was holed and water
began to creep up in the boat. "Good job we are nearly there."
Weight of 68 set was about 50 lb., it stook about 2 feet by one foot.
At that point we got out of our sinking craft and into another. Took us
nearer the shore.. the last bit we had to wafe up to our waists in water.
There was a lot of confusion, chaos, aftermath of seasickness.

Lovell to Arthur F. "Glad you have got ashore, where's the jeep?"
Arthur pointed out to sea. We had to do without the 22 set. The
second-in-command, Donald, took over the beach. Col. Phillips didn't
come back until later that day. We had a cross-country route, in
and out of ditches, to follow. Passed through two deserted empty
German camps, with hutted buildings, passed through two gun emplacements,
hadn't fixed artillery (probably same batteries as mentioned by DAMSKI).
No. 2 troop of the commando dealt with one gun position. We took some
prisoners there and handedthem over to another unit. They gave themselves
up, were glad to see the Allies, didn't have any heart for war. We didn't
meet any real Germans until we were captured (D plus one or two).. We
kept going, occasionally going to ground, to save ammunition. Had to
bypass German chateau H.Q. without being observed... We were to make
our way to target without using ammunition unless it absolutely necessary.
Had to conserve equipment... All the time the French went on working
as if nothing was happening.. (British counterpart: when we landed,
saw crew of damaged tank brewing up amidst all the chaos and confusion.)
We said to the. "How your's doing?"

Arrived at Point 72 late that night and dug in. Nothing much
happened.. had only one casualty. All our troop got to the Point. We
dug in on high ground overlooking the Port...Quite amazed we had got so
far without much trouble. Couldn't help comparing it to an ordinary exercise
back home.