“A notable aspect of the Overlord/Neptune operation was the almost complete absence of enemy air activity, markedly different from previous operations in which B5 were involved.”
However, towards night, Malcolm says that aircraft engines were heard and a single low-flying plane came into sight, from inland, carrying a smaller plane on its back, which detached itself and flew back presumably to its base. The larger plane went further seaward by itself and dived into the water with a loud explosion. It may have been intended to strike one of the major Allied warships beyond the anchorage, but no Allied ship was affected. He also says that at night, the Germans tried to infiltrate small two-man submarines and self-propelled motor boats filled with explosives amongst the shipping in the anchorages, not just at Juno beaches but elsewhere. These, he says “are believed to have had limited success, mostly being spotted and destroyed before they could do any harm.”
“A singular event recalled by those on the Gooseberry as well as by Bernard and me on the SNOL LCI, was the sighting of what is believed to have been the first V1 [“doodlebug” or “buzz bomb”]. This strange object with the body of a small plane, stubby wings and fire belching from its rear, flew across the anchorage seawards, with Ack-ack directed towards it by every craft within range, but without success. However, possibly diverted by a close shell-burst, it reversed course and headed back across the coast inland until it disappeared from sight. Everyone hoped that the enemy had scored an own goal!”
“On 19th June, with the beachheads secure and the build-up going well, the whole invasion coast was hit by a gale of unparalleled ferocity which lasted for three days, creating chaos amongst the ships and craft lying off or working the beaches. For the crews of the smaller landing craft and barges the effect must have been terrifying, with anchors dragging and even the shelter of the Gooseberries not at all secure. Even the Mulberry off Arromanches in the British sector was badly affected. [The American one became unusable.] The beaches became strewn with debris as more and more vessels were driven ashore. Had the storm arisen during the early days of the landings it might well have proved disastrous to the whole enterprise. As it was, ammunition stocks ran low, the Allied offensive was delayed, and Rommel was able to build up his defences.
“The situation for those on the Gooseberry was one of extreme discomfort coupled with an element of danger. Although ballasted down and lying on the sea bed, the force of the winds and heavy seas caused the vessel to develop a most disconcerting rolling motion, with much ominous scraping and grinding. At times it was touch and go whether she would turn over. In fact, Alf Grundy well remembers that one night, the vessel next to them started to roll over and the British Army anti-aircraft gunners aboard had to be brought onto the B5 ship hand-over-hand on ropes.
“Resting on the bottom as she was, the vessel’s well decks had little freeboard, and whilst the storm raged, heavy seas were breaking continually across the wells, so much so that it was too dangerous for anyone to cross except at low water, and even then with extreme difficulty and at some risk. Thus the watch-keepers on the bridge and those off watch aft were completely cut off from each other for long periods.
“Conditions on the bridge were atrocious, and visual signalling was a never-ending struggle against the elements, what with the force of the winds and driving rain lashing into the watch-keepers’ faces and soaking them to the skin.
“Conditions aft were decidedly uncomfortable, due to water swirling into the accommodation over the entry coaming. Ron Wallbank remembers waking up to find a melange of personal gear, kitbags, boots etc., floating around the mess-deck in about three feet of water.
“During the storm a signal was received that a midshipman had been washed overboard from an LCT and crews were asked to keep a sharp lookout. Some time later an LCA brought his body to the Gooseberry for someone to deal with. The body was in a bad state and very unpleasant to handle. An officer offered two tots of neat rum to anyone who would clean the corpse and tie it up in canvas. L/Sig Johnson (‘Johnno’) agreed to take on this task, and when it was accomplished, a landing craft was prevailed upon to take the corpse to the beach.
“At last, the weather eased. ‘The Great Storm’ came to an end and things started to get back to something approaching normal.
“Work began, to deal with the stranded craft, including the refloating of a Destroyer, HMS Fury.”
(Ron Miles in Miles Aweigh records that this had been swept broadside on. It was eventually refloated on the evening tide after a channel had been made for her by a bulldozer. In the process everyone got smothered in the jettisoned oil covering the beach.)
“Repair parties from HMS Albatross and HMS Adventure worked night and day on the stranded vessels and of the 800 which were put out of action, around 600 were repaired and refloated by the next spring tide on 8th July, whilst 100 were refloated a fortnight later.”
On the Gooseberry, during the storm, fresh water had had to be rationed and food supplies were practically exhausted. The story goes that in order to try to improve the somewhat monotonous diet, ‘Johnno’ decided to make a foray ashore in search of vegetables. With the aid no doubt of a bit of bartering, he returned with a supply of potatoes. To ensure that B5 would benefit from this welcome largesse, Johnno took personal responsibility for their preparation and cooking in a large fanny (type of kettle). When they were boiled, he handed the fanny to Sig. Greenwood, known as Jan, with instructions to drain them over the side.
“Now, Jan was a country boy who, having experience of driving tractors and other vehicles on a farm, had been responsible for driving B5 all over Scotland in a three ton truck. At this job he was superb,” but at cooking was a complete novice. Not being quite sure what Johnno wanted done, he asked: “Do you mean all of it?” To which Johnno, thinking of the water only, replied ‘Yes, the whole ******* lot.’ At this, Jan lifted the fanny and tipped both water and potatoes into the sea. The reaction of Johnno is best left to the imagination. Jan was lucky he did not finish up where the potatoes had gone!
“Nevertheless, pressure of work did not diminish and the B5 crew were kept extremely busy. The capture of Caen was preceded by an awesome air strike by RAF Halifaxes and Lancasters. Those on Gooseberry had a grandstand view of events, hundreds of these big four engined planes passing almost directly overhead to paste the German defences.
“The watchers could see the planes flying through a tremendous barrage of Ack-ack, dropping their bombs and turning back towards the coast and safety. Inevitably some of them did not make it, the aircraft being shot down but the crews mostly able to bale out, their parachutes descending into friendly territory. Sadly, now and again, parachutes were seen not to open, the airmen plunging to certain death.
“The beginning of July marked the effective end of Operation Neptune, but the beaches continued working until the end of July. When B5 had been on Gooseberry almost six weeks a landing craft pulled alongside containing a number of communications personnel, the advance of the relief for B5. To ensure continued smooth working of the station, half of B5 were to leave the next morning; the rest would follow later. The first party to leave were taken ashore by landing craft and instructed by the Beach Master to go back to Gosport in a landing craft which would be returning empty. They arrived in it off Fort Gilkicker around midnight and three Royal Marines (awoken from their beds) were detailed to offload the B5 party at Ryde Pier.”
A long wait ensued, with no transport available to run them back to Gurnard Pines. They told Malcolm afterwards that they struggled along the length of Ryde Pier in the dark, and Sub. Lieut. Garvey went off to find a telephone to arrange transport whilst the others took shelter under the canopy of the railway station. They heard a “doodlebug” pass overhead which was seen to fall “somewhere in the Southampton area,” as far as they could judge. Les, who knew Ryde well from pre-war, suddenly realised that the canopy above them was made of glass, which was not the best protection should one of these rockets fall nearby. A move was made quickly to the open seafront.
While they were waiting, several more “doodlebugs” came over, all going towards the Southampton area. It was cold on the seafront, despite the time of year, but the low temperature