"Just before it was really day light they started moving towards the beaches - Honestly it was a great sight - never to be forgotten. We actually could see the boys land a fight, it really was a grandstand view and I feel proud to have had the opportunity of seeing it."
My mum came across a letter from my Grandad (Henry George Webb) sent to his sister Lilly Webb, dated Friday 9th June 1944. It was sent from Normandy, France to her in Alton Hampshire, UK.
It describes his view from his ship H.M.S Argonaut during the Normandy landings / D-day.
Transcript:
Friday June 9th 44.
My Dear Lily
Hello my dear. How are you? I can't promise you a long letter this time, but I thought perhaps you would like just a few lines to know that I'm still alive and kicking, in very good health and - yes- in pretty good spirits (under the circumstances ).
I'm afraid you haven't been the only one that has had to wait for a letter from me. We have been so busy - within the past week - what with one thing and another that I haven't even had the time to write to Joannie. Yes things have got to be pretty bad for that to happen - anyway I found time to write to her and Mother yesterday - It's you today and so on until I eventually catch up with my mail.
Well I'm afraid there is very little I can talk about from this end. - This life goes on as usual, - haven't had the chance to go ashore - or to go to see any good films - so you can guess how grim it is.
Anyway I cheer myself up by telling myself that one of these days I'll be home on leave again - and who knows how soon that may be and you bet I can endure all this hardship if there is a spot of leave at the end of it.
Perhaps life is a little more interesting your end my dear. - or isn't it? - I expect you are having some lovely weather now and I hope you are able to get down to Alton occasionally - By the way has Joannie found out yet whether you can get down there and visit her or not - I do wish now that I had remembered to find out.
Sunday June 11th 1944.
I'm glad now that I did keep this letter open until today, because we have just been given permission to tell you where we are and what we have been up to.
I suppose you thought it strange that I didn't mention about the second front - such a great event as that - well that's just what we've been up to but we weren't allowed to mention anything about it before because up till today they hadn't mentioned anything about the old Argonaut taking part- Perhaps you heard on the news this morning all about this ship.- So now we can fire away and tell you all about the 'fun'.
It's funny, but when ever something big happens, I always seem to have a 'finger in the pie' don't I, it must be fate or something.
Well, as it happened we were with the first ships to go in and attack the Normandy coast, - In fact it could be said that it was our guns that woke Jerry up and told him that the invasion of his Atlantic wall had started in earnest. We let fly with every thing we had it was 'hell let loose' and it continued until day break. When it began to get light, we gradually made out the multitude of ships that were around us - big and small - the ocean was full of them just sitting there waiting for the word 'go' - Just before it was really day light they started moving towards the beaches - Honestly it was a great sight - never to be forgotten. We actually could see the boys land a fight, it really was a grandstand view and I feel proud to have had the opportunity of seeing it.
Opposition was next to nothing for us. We saw no enemy ship, E boats - 'U' boats and not a single enemy plane. - That no doubt surprises you - it certainly surprised us. - We had visions of them coming over in the hundreds to try to stop us. Even now after nearly a week we've seen hardly any. - From the very start it has literally been a 'piece of cake'. Whether it will continue - well that's still to be found out - but I have a good idea that it will.
Ever since the Balloon went up we have been working over-time. Bombarding enemy positions - and helping our troops to advance. It's a great job a wonderful plan and we are sure that Jerry is licked this time.
Of all the millions of troops I've seen this week I've wondered whether your David was amongst them, if you have a good idea that he is, - well I don't think you have cause to worry too much.
It is a lovely summer day today, - hot and hardly any wind. We aren't very far away from the coast, - (about half a mile I should think) and if it wasn't for much battered houses and deserted sea front any body would imagine that we were on a pleasure trip along the south of England.
Well my dear, I'm afraid I can't stop any longer - duty calls we must 'get cracking once more.
I suppose Mother will be worrying now that she has heard the news. - so I must write to her tonight to sort of put her mind at rest.
Cheerio for now.
Keep smiling, seeing you soon George
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