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Geoff Maidment had a good view of the D Day landings – from the deck of a merchant ship carrying Canadian troops to France.
As a member of the merchant navy from the age of 16, he had seen and experienced more attacks than most as he sailed the high seas with cargoes of bombs, fuel and other war necessities.
But on 6 June 1944 he was on board the Isle of Guernsey, designated a Landing Ship Infantry (LSI).
It was just one of hundreds of ships that crossed the channel that day, heading for the Normandy coast. "I was an OS crew member on the Isle of Guernsey and after the fiasco of the Slapton Sands exercise that resulted in the loss of our sister ship LSI Maid of Orleans and the reputed loss of more American servicemen than those who established the beachhead at Omaha, we were as ready as it was possible to be for the big day," Mr Maidment wrote.
"Word got around on about 3 June that the King would be reviewing the invasion fleet and making an inspection of a representative contingent ashore at HMS Bectis naval base. I was selected and given a day's shore leave to attend. The King passed right in front of me and never even said as much as a 'g'day'," he said.
"Just before we got our sailing orders we were issued with battle dress coats with a Combined Ops logo on the shoulders in case we were captured on the beach and shot as spies, and temporarily put under T124X Articles from our Special Articles. This latter move was shiftily sprung on us when we were actually under way and not having the talents of the late JC, we could not walk back on water even if we had disagreed. After they sailed, all members of the crew were given a copy of a message from General Dwight Eisenhower, commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. "Soldiers, sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
"You are about to embark on the Great Crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
"But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
"I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
"Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." And so to the big event. "Almost immediately after we embarked Canadian soldiers. The weather was anything but good and within hours most of them were a bright shade of green.
"Came 6 June and we were steaming after the mine sweepers in front of the biggest convoy you could ever imagine. Looking astern, I thought if we do get the hammer we could walk back to the shore over the ships.
"As we neared the Normandy coast, the shelling was getting heavier and heavier and several ships were hit. The Canadian piper on the boat deck showed what true grit is all about and never faltered.
"At this time we were so busy getting our LCAs [Landing Craft Assault] ready for lowering, and, as if there wasn't enough noise going on, HMS Rodney decided to join the fray – her 16 inch guns firing over the top of us.
"The noise and flame was indescribable. You could literally see the fortifications ashore disintegrating. It was worth putting up with the inconvenience to see it.
"By now there was German shore fire all around us and, we were to learn later, mortar fire as well. The old man shouted down to me to find the chipy and cut away our barrage balloons as the Germans were using it as a marker to drop their barrage on us.
"The chipy and I were preparing to sever the cable when this young, fresh-faced naval lieutenant asked us what we thought we were doing. The chip replied in true nautical vernacular '*… off'. 'Good idea,' I thought to myself, not being greedy. 'Let someone else have their share of the shore barrage.'
"As I stood there the bosun said to me 'What's the matter with your leg?' Looking down I could see blood seeping through my trouser leg. He took me down to the sick bay where they cut down the side of a perfectly good pair of trousers to find a little nick of shrapnel. Only a nick, but if I had been a Yank it would have been Purple Heart stuff.
"Once my leg had been bandaged the Bosun told me to stop swinging the lead and get back up on deck. By now several ships had been hit, some on the beach. About then our LCAs (Landing Craft Assault) started to return. Three out of six. The other three were blown up on hedgehog mines. Some good hardy men were lost that day." Geoff Maidment's brother, who was serving in the Navy, was in the same convoy and saw the Isle of Guernsey straddled by shellfire. He was somewhat surprised when Geoff survived the ordeal.
About 800 merchant ships were involved in the Normandy landings manned by about 30,000 merchant seamen.
In 1995, Geoff Maidment was invited to the Opera House in Sydney for a ceremony at which he and several colleagues were presented with D-Day commemorative medals and certificates from the French Government.
The material for this article was supplied by Mr Geoff Maidment of New South Wales
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