SIR Michael Wilford, who will be laying a wreath for Andover's D-Day commemorations, has shared some of his memories with the Andover Advertiser.
It was 60 years ago that the former sapper's unit of the Royal Engineers, 82 Assault Squadron - part of 79 Armoured Division known as 'Hobo's Funnies' - was one of the first to hit the beaches of France. The squadron loaded at Q2 Hard at Lepe on the west Solent on 3 June. They were equipped with Churchill tanks called AVRE carrying specialised equipment.
Sir Michael said: "We sailed on 5 June in increasingly rough seas around the Needles, round the Isle of Wight and it was well into the afternoon before we approached the concentration area where Forces G, J and S each turned south towards the French coast, each in their own swept channels.
"By then there was little interest on the part of the seasick troops whether our maps with English and Canadian names should be exchanged for those with French names. The troops had virtually nowhere to rest except in our tanks or in the open."
Hobo's Funnies followed minesweepers in to dry land which had cleared a number of lanes marked by buoys. The landing crafts carrying tanks were the first to land.
"Every effort had to be made to clear the beach of obstacles, mines, anti-tank ditches and so on, so that the infantry could get quickly off the beach," he said.
Sir Michael's fellow troops were headed for Jig Green beach and dropped their exit ramps and beached about 400 yards further to the east than intended.
"Our LCT came immediately under fire from a blockhouse only 100 yards away, causing real damage and casualties. We were also under heavy fire from mortars and small arms.
"Despite all this, in the next few hours we did not do too badly.
"Three of our targeted lanes through the beach defences were successfully cleared. Our losses were moderate, though they included our squadron commander."
Behind the armoured assault force came the infantry of 231 Brigade of 50 Division, led by the 1st battalion the Hampshire Regiment under Lt Col Nelson Smith. The regiment was helped by one of Sir Michael's tanks under Lance Sergeant Scaife, who destroyed buildings and a blockhouse holding them up.
He later won the distinguished conduct medal. Sir Michael remembers the long day vividly, despite it being 60 years ago.
"By the next morning 82 Assault Squadron were in Bayeaux, Arromanches and Port en Bessin about to fall. Gold Beach seemed well under control," he said.
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