Thought provoking day today. My father (who was 21 at the time) was in a landing craft LCSM47 at Juno beach. His landing craft was sunk by German shellfire and the survivors machine gunned. Of the 6 crew and 5 Canadian troops on board only 2 survived, Marine Alec Moore and Marine Fred Williams. Casualties I know of were One Able Seaman Papworth the coxswain of the craft was 19. I found his grave at Bayeaux Cemetery a few years ago. One other Leading Seaman Buck Taylor was 23 and is buried in Haslar Naval Cemetery near Portsmouth. The commander of the craft was an Australian called Sub Lt Pirrie and he was the first Australian confirmed death on 6th June. His body was never found. He was 24. I know his relatives in Australia (Melbourne) have tried to find out what happened. Hope they get in touch as I have a written account from my father detailing all the events of that terrible day. Sadly my father died in 2006. We should not dwell on the past but we should always remember those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 22:15:59 +0000
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