It was drizzling with rain much of the time and weapon cleaning was a nightmare, not exactly a tonic to put us in high spirits.Īround 23 May, outgoing mail was suddenly stopped and we were confined to camp.
It was the second week of May 1944 were on the move again and we were three miles from Romsey, on the Winchester Road, which passed about twenty yards from our tent. Being the first US soldiers we had come across, we were certain to get along well – they were OK. They were very good-natured and always greeted us as friends. They were our allies and it was hoped that we could learn from one another. But they were very well equipped and I was sure that they would give a good account of themselves when the time for action came. I didn’t think they looked as fit as we were and they appeared to be casual in their movements. The smell from their kitchens was fantastic they even had doughnuts for afters. No bell tents for them, but good square tents with three-feet walls holding about a dozen soldiers. Their attitude seemed to be so easy-going and casual. In the field adjoining ours, there were some American soldiers who appeared to be from a different planet. But I don’t know why the army could not have provided waitress service for its infantry! The battalion field kitchen was set up in the middle of the field and at meal times the bugle would blow and the lads would grab their mess tins and eating irons and join long queues in order to be served with their meal, which was usually plentiful. I recall we were under canvas and luckily it was good weather. It was Bushfield Camp, two miles outside of Winchester. “The first week in April 1944 found us at a new campsite, in bell tents which had been erected in a field of short grass. The extract starts with the foreboding lead up to the big event, when troops were being brought South from all over England to encampments. The battle needs no further introduction beyond saying … D-Day was the day for revenge for so many pals and comrades killed in previous battles – it was payback time – judgement day Over 130k troops landed on beaches on 6 June Two memoirs overlapping after some 70 years later.Ħ June anniversary 70th anniv 2014 WW2 podcastĢ33 Field Company, Royal Engineers / 5EY – Tell us about his book By two soldiers from connected regiments in the 50 div. Two versions of the same episode in the war. This episode, I want to share with you some of Dad’s D-Day experience Interested in Bill Cheall's book? Link here for more information.įighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, hardback, paperback and Kindle etc.įighting Through WW2 podcast 3, D-Day 1944 To our surprise, he disappeared from sight! He had fallen into a shell hole, obscured by the water.įeedback/reviews in Apple Podcasts - Thank you.īest podcast for World War 2 history and the second world war With a yell, 2nd Loot White sprung to his feet and jumped out into the knee-deep water. "A burst of automatic fire crackled in, just over our heads. Then, at the top of his voice, the helmsman shouted: ‘Hundred to go, seventy-five to go, all ready, fifty to go!īill Cheall, Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Green Howards "Every second was vital let’s get out of this coffin! Our landing craft was getting so near now and we felt so helpless, enemy shells were now landing on the shoreline and machine gun bullets were raking the sand.
Startling accounts from two different perspectives - one from an infantryman, the other from a Royal Engineer, both landing on Gold Beach under heavy fire. Graphic accounts of the D-Day landings taken from two veteran memoirs.