Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 020, folder 27: George Reginald Dale

- 2 - of rumours about this time. One was that the whole Brigade was going to go to the United States. In the billets everybody played cards - they played whist, solo, twenty-one and so on. Private Tommy Underwood, a barber, who was always called "Short back and sides" was the real card player in the Troop and "Honest" William Williams - he had a mouthful of gold teeth - a cockney, was also quite good. He could sell anything and it was reputed later in the war that he once found an old Don Quixote tank and sold it to a Belgian farmer. The day before D-Day Montgomery came down to the camp and told the Brigade that they were going to be members of the invasion force. "You will be back in 21 days - you are only the invading forces - you will be relieved at the end of that time." "Blimey", whispered "Honest" Williams, "do we get danger money?" They began waterproofing their trucks. George' s was a 3-ton truck containing a lot of mechanical equipment. On June 5th, the day before, they drove on board an L.C.T. That evening they set sail and they spent the day first sitting up in the driving cab but it became so uncomfortable that George and his pal climbed on to the canvas top. He and Ginger spent the remainder of the trip on the top of the cab over two fabs. There were nine trucks on the L.C.T. altogether and when they got off the shore that morning George and Ginger were duly amazed at the amount of shipping that they saw. Both of them were exceptionally proud to be part of this great invasion. It was about 3.30 that afternoon when they headed for the shore. Another L.C.T. beside them gave them a hail when they saw that they could not beach immediately. Apparently the ramps would disappear into a large shell hole each time they tried to make a landing at the precise part where they were supposed to come in. Finally they were told that they would have to drive through the water, and the order was given over the loud speakers "Start your engines". They drove off the ramp into the water. Only one truck, a breakdown truck, out of the first four got ashore. George' s truck which carried four tank engines besides mechanical equipment sank immediately and completely below the water. George and Ginger got out through the door window, half swam and half waded ashore and then later they were brought out of an amphibious truck and from it they dived on to the truck, attached chains and drove it out. While this was going on Ginger fell off the breakdown truck

- 3 - which was pulling the truck up on to the beach after they were hauled there by the amphibious lorry and he broke a leg. All this happened within the first half hour. George spent the remainder of the day helping to pull the trucks out of the water and in working with the beach recovery crews. That was all that happened to him on D-Day. He did not get off the beach - he was there under some shelling and some sniper fire but nothing happened to him at all. He remembers one thing though that as the vehicles got stuck in the water a voice called out "How do we get ashore?" and a broad cockney replied "Swim for it, mate". That night he and a pal dug a trench and prepared to sleep - one asleep, one awake - that was the plan for the watch which they intended to make during the night. In the morning they looked around to survey exactly where they were and both of them were rather horrified when they saw a pair of boots protruding over the edge of the trench. On investigation they found that they belonged to a naval commando who had been shot dead and beyond him were a line of others. All he could think of that night was that he had been incredibly stupid to agree with his wife to start a family at such a time and that he might never hope to see her again, but that the Lord was good, and indeed at Christmas they had a son.

Hilda + Geo Dale

Couple of days before D-day he was told that he was going to be a father Had been married 4 years Geo had been in service since (20/2/41) and had been a dispatch rider at time of Dunkirk Before D-day sealed at "White Camp" Newhaven on 24th branch the Dales were in air raid when roof collapsed + house shatterd Hilda Dale had a head injury They had been hoping for a child- their first - sowhen she had reason to believe that she was pregnant she visited doctor who told her that it might have been shock of airraid But by early June she was sure Geo was told "Well I think its worked this time" He did not know the date of the invasion He was under the impression that Germans were about to invade England - thus his concern was "Ginger" [?] from Swaeth, Yorkshire. Geo kept his worries to himself. There were all

of gold teeth - a cockney. He was quite a ladies man "Just wait until we meet your wife" they used to tell him, To which he would reply "Dont worry mate she knows all the answers." He could flag anything - once sold an old Dunkirk tank to a Belgian farmer. Day before D-day Monty came to camp & told the Brig that they were going to be members of the invasion force. "You'll be back in 21 days - you are only the invasion force - you'll be relieved at the end of that time." Began waterproofing trucks. Leo's was a 3-ton truck. On June 5th day before drove on board an LCT. Spent day first in driving cab, but it became too uncomfortable so Leo & his mate climbed on the canvas top on their own rations- biscuits, burly beef, chocolate & extra ration (10) of cigarettes 9 tanks on LCT About 3:30 you head for shore. Another LCT beside them gives them a hail when they saw that he could not beach The ramps would disappear into large shell holes made by the night before [crossed out] [illegible] ]end crossed out] bombing. "Start your engines" they over loudspeaker were told "and drive into the water." They drove off ramps into water only one truck (a breakdown truck) out of 4 got ashore. Leo [illegible]

truck carrying 4 tank engines sank immediately + completely below water George got out through the door window Waded above + they were brought out again on a DOKW they dived down to their truck attached chains + the DUKW towed them in one by one Singer fell off the Breakdown truck + broke leg in first half hour Got trucks going Civilian were wullen Geo noticed first the smell of explosives and of corpses