A stark account of the Allied soldiers’ courage and resolve as they landed in Normandy has been revealed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Archives and Local Studies (HALS) team.
The account from George Drew Fanshawe, of the 86th Field Regiment in Hertfordshire, explains how he and his comrades felt as they approached the French beaches to begin the D-Day invasion, 80 years ago today (June 6).
He said: “The sight from the deck was the most incredible I’ve ever seen. About 15 miles away was the French coast covered in mist and smoke; to our right and left and behind us were ships of every sort and size, all stationary, nothing happening and only a very occasional shell from the mainland.
“Then about an hour before ‘H hour’ the whole fleet came alive, little boats, LCA’s (Landing Craft Assault) and LCNs (Landing Craft Navigation) were spewed out of bigger ones and busily went to the other boats.
“Our frigate for its LCM (Landing Craft Mechanised) which came alongside and the sailors told us it was time to go, in tones that made it clear they thought they were as good as killing us. Little did they know that the soldiers couldn’t have cared less as long as they got off the sea onto land, any land.”
The account by George is part of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry collection that Colonel Sainsbury, a pre-eminent local Hertfordshire military historian, used in his research. His collection was given to HALS when he died.
Julie Gregson, head of heritage services at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “This account is just one of many stories from soldiers across the UK who bravely fought on D-Day.
“George was one of the lucky ones who didn’t lose his life and he was therefore able to share his personal experience.
“Accounts like these are so important to help us understand the past and preserve Hertfordshire’s history for future generations.”
The Hertfordshire Yeomanry archive has been worked on extensively by volunteers at HALS so that members of the public have access to a collection of 6,300 items with photographs, letters, accounts and lists of soldiers. To find out about other officers and Hertfordshire’s involvement in world wars, see: You searched for De/Yo - Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies