Pictures from Dennis’s photo album (cont.)

A torpedo being launched from HMS Belfast	Mail arriving aboard HMS Belfast
Oiling at sea	P1 Gun crew on Artic patrol, Dennis is farthest right standing
Walrus plane being launched	Walrus plane being recovered

John Hyde

John Hyde was in the Royal Marines from 1941-1945. He was 23 years old on D Day and he was on one of the landing craft flotilla that transported the troops when they landed on the Gold Beach. His job was to ‘stoke’ the engines of the landing craft. He remembers his ship picking the troops up at Southampton and being stuck out at sea on the 4th and 5th of June. Eventually they stopped 10 miles out from the beaches and the Landing Craft( LCs) were lowered. It was very rough but it was their job to go in and out to try and find a place for them to land the soldiers. He remembers everyone being sick including himself the boats were flat bottomed and were no use in the rough water.

He was transporting the Green Howards. He told us the story of one of them a Company Sergeant Major Hollis. He was forever moving up and down the ranks because he was very mischievous and a bit of a rebel. He was awarded a VC (Victoria Cross) on D Day but he should have had two. One of John’s mates is sure that he was in their landing craft.

He also remembers Corporal Tandy of the Royal Marines who was in charge of one of the landing craft. When his landing craft was being lowered from the parent ship the cable caught on to the steering wheel and broke it off but it didn’t stop him, that man steered that landing craft onto the beaches on D-Day without a steering wheel and back to the ship. He was awarded the military cross or military medal.

Unfortunately John’s LC was sunk. They had to spend the night on the beach until the next morning when another LC took them off. He was grateful when the war was over it was no credit to anyone.

John Hyde being interviewed by Kayleigh(left) and Sophie(right)