Box 024, folder 03: James Percival deLacy

[ crossed out] Got M-M [end crossed out]

Sgt James "Paddy" Percival de Lacy

Irish from Dundalk.

Landed at about 7:30

Sgt fell in with a Sgt Paddy McQuaid ("Bejasus the bastards are trying to drown me even before I even get ashore")

[crossed out] PO [end crossed out] PO sd to them "Well I'd rather it was you than me - going in" He offered you both "somethin' to quieten your nerves " McQuaid - "This'll help take aim at the first Gerry bastard I see"

All leave had been cancelled for Irishmen in forces to Ireland. And letters from Ireland to Irish soldiers were held up - and had to be sent to third person to be forwarded.

Bagpiper playing "The Rose of Tralee"

Drank toasts. " May the blessin's of Ireland look down on you."

Other toasts - "Here's to DeValera - he's keepin' us out of the war"

De Valera joke: "I can offer you anything Mr Churchill except a little port"

21 years in army at D-Day

Had been at Dunkirk

"You're going to here a lot of noise but the sounds will be worse than the actually thing - don't be timid if your name is on it you'll get it"

McQuaid: "Some of them are a little timid"

On 2nd wave went in Landing Craft Assault

McQuaid: "Come out ye bastards & fight us now"

There perimeter was only about 600 yards from beach - his job (and his 10 men) was to work with the beach control group checking in troops and supplies

About 9 he decided to make tea - officer - look sgt this is no time to make tea - sir why don't you [?text ?gave?] away & come back in 5 mins - [crossed out ] this [end crossed out] [crossed out] not [end crossed out] as we're not playing soldiers now this is the real thing

Sgt moved up beach - saw a movement in a hedgerow - fired a sten - and a dozen Germans came out. He had lost a brother in North Africa - " come out you bastards and if you make a move God help you" They were dumbfounded. He turned around to this little cockney & sd [crossed out][illegible] [end crossed out] 'Look at these super blokes - Just look at them - here take them out of my sight"

Then he suddenly realized that they must have been watching him all the time. He decided to make himself a cup of tea =

That afternoon he saw an American sailor from [crossed out]of [end crossed out] one of the American landing craft calmly walking down the beach with a Bren gun. "Where the bloody hell are you going with that.". "One of you fellows just [crossed out][illegible][end corossed out] sold it to me for 2,000 cigarettes This was to the Co Sgt Major: "Paddy what do you think of that bastard - what the hell is the army coming to"

Sgt McKay called "Mac" - He [crossed out]say[end crossed out] waded out three times to get [crossed out] [?text] lorries of an LST. "Paddy I

must get them off. I must save that petrol.". The LCT was blazing. He [crossed out] got [end crossed out] [crossed out] his [end crossed out] drove them off one at a time. But as he climbed into the 4th truck up it went.

[insert] 11AM [end insert] [illegible] incident: one of his section reported finding [illegible]. Paddy picked up bren gun & took a couple of men. "Alright stand back" - "now pick up the lid". If there's anybody in there he is dead now." [illegible] the poor fella - well alls fair in love & war.

Had been led to believe there would be 75% casualties. That night Paddy checked up & found that although several of his section had been wounded nobody was killed.

Paddy always carried a rosary

how Dispatch clerk at Cook's

49 Southlands Ave Orpington, Kent, 3.6. 1958.

Dear Miss Isaacs, Sorry I am late in completing the questionaire. I have been busy and also I had to think back 14 years. With best wishes for the success of the book Yours sincerely J.P. de Lacey