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EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF DENIS LOVELL

June 5th

Today should have been D-Day; however, the weather during the
past 48 hours took a turn for the worse and now a heavy sea is running.
The programme has therefore been put back 24 hours making tomorrow the
Great Day. It is very hot and cramped on the troop-decks below so a
lot of us myself included have been sleeping on deck in various snug
corners out of the wind. The LCA's (assault craft in which we are to
land) are slung on electrically-operated davits, 3 on each side of the
ship. Quite a part of today is spent in loading these craft with all
the gear we are to take into action with us. We will be packed like
sardines in cans by the time we get in with all our gear on. I have
a 68 set (W.T.) to carry on my back as well as all the other usual
equipment; I find that with a supreme effort I can just about stand
upright with it all on. Before dark we weigh anchor and steam out of
the Solent, past the Needles and, in the biggest invasion convoy ever
known, we make our way slowly towards the coast of France, casting last
longing glances at the fading ourlines of the Isle of Wight on our port
side and at the faint blur of the mainland around Bournemouth on the
starboard side. The sea is still a lot too rough for my liking; we
do not notice it on the parent ship, but tomorrow will tell a different
tale when we have to get into the landing craft. I look, with some
misgivings at some T.L.C.s in our convoy that are pitching and tossing
like corks. As soon as it is dark and impossible to watch the rest
of the fleet, escorting destroyers, etc., any more I retire to my cubby
hole midships and try to sleep, praying for a calm sea and a decent
beach for the morning.

June 6th 1944 D-Day

In spite of the excitement that was apparent among everyone on board
I got quite a good night's sleep, and on getting a shake at 5:30 a.m. find
we are able to see the coast of Normandy clearly, being at anchor about
7 miles from it. Our supporting aircraft are very much in evidence,
clearly marked with black and white rings round the fuselage and wings.
They have no opposition to meet them however, we don't see a single Jerry
plane. Supporting the landings on our beach are cruisers (among them
the "Orien"). These are already shelling enemy positions ashore. The
first troops to land on our sector are the 231 Bde. already mentioned.
It is their job the secure the beach for us to land on, while we go on to
do our job. After a good breakfast of sausage and chips we black our
faces and hands in the approved style and stand by to board the landing
craft. There is still quite a heavy sea running, which we discover much
to our cost when, at about 7.30, we are lowered into the water and leave
the "P.J.C." to the accompaniment of "Good luck" cries and "See you on