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We sailed from the Solent in a high wind. Next morning it was grey and dull with a considerable sea. The L.C.A. was lowered successfully, but were uncomfortable and wet for the next two hours. There was little gunfire from the shore and the Navy shelled the coastal batteries accurately. But it was too dull to pick out the features on the shore and this severe handicap to Royal Navy bombardment and air bombing was probably the reason for the failure of supporting fire to demolish or neutralise the beach defences.

Tac Bn H.Q. were embarked in an L.C.M. This was lowered from a derrick. It was attached to a large hook weighing half a ton or more. When we hit the water the motion of the craft was such that the crew could not throw off the hook, which bounced on the top of the command carrier, containing at one end the Colonel's wash basin and at the other a box of grenades we were there long enough to reflect that if it hit the grenades none of us would need the wash basin. We were eventually released without damage. On trying to beach it was found that the door of the ramp would not open and it looked as if Tac Bn. H.Q. would sit on the beach being mortared, while the Bn. fought their battle. However it eventually yielded to military and unprofessional pressure.

The Bn. was landed in exactly the right place. 'A' Company found stiff resistance from their pillboxes and the 105 mm., but with excellent support from one tank of the 4/7 Dragoon Guards overcame this. They were then held up by enemy who threw grenades at them over the sea wall and fired spandaus from a flank. Two N.C.Os. immediately jumped over the wall and' by grenades and sten gunning forced those enemy to surrender who were not killed. 'A' company then completed its task, inflicting more casualties and capturing more prisoners, despite coming under 88 mm and mortar fire Their casualties were reasonable, but included an excellent N.C.0. who was drowned as he jumped from his L.C.A. The brilliant success of this company, secured despite unexpectedly fierce resistance from comparatively undamaged defences, cleared the beach of small arms fire and was largely made possible by the incomparable leadership of the Coy Comd.

'D' company met mortar fire, mines and deep water on landing, losing good N.C.Os. But they secured their objective the MONTFLUERY battery quickly, being considerably assisted by the Germans who left the road inland unmined. As they were going up the hill, the company commander and C.S.M. Hollis noticed a pillbox which had been by-passed and walked over to it. At 20 yards range fire was opened on the C.S.M. who immediately charged the pillbox and killed the inmates - one of the out standing actions D Day which earned him the V.C.

"B" Company despite an unexpected minefield cleared up their objective and took prisoners Naval shelling of the enemy positions in this area was accurate and effective. C company met heavy mortar fire on landing. The company commander was killed, the 2 i/c was hit on the head, luckily not seriously, and several first class N.G.Os. were lost. The 2 i/c however, took over and the company gained its objective.

The first phase was gained comparatively easily. But in the process the Sp Coy Comd, one of the mainstays of the Bn., was badly wounded as he stepped off his craft to do Bn Unit Landing Officer.

As 5 East Yorks had cleared LA RIVIERE on our left and some of 7 Green Howards had passed through us, the advance was resumed. Little opposition was expected inland of the coastal defences. But in CREPON we had our first experience of really determined resistance in close village country. A few snipers and a 75 mm gun with crew - which was almost too much even for C.S.M. Hollis - held us up there. I decided to by-pass this resistance and push on. Unfortunately the Carrier Comd, on his way with what few of his platoon had landed, was killed by a shell in the village.