Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 022, folder 46: David Jesse Sawyer

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Trooper David Jesse Sawyer "Sawbones" driver operator-gunner of flail tanks.

Sgt 'Jack' Sterling, from Glascow - killed two days before end of war. Saved his life.

Went over in LCT. 2 flail tanks & 2 AVREs (a fascine & petard)

He had a feeling he'd never see Eg again. Left 4am on June 5 from Southampton and that was start of 28 miserable hours. They were so sick - about 25 on board - that 2 of the men tried to jump overboard. He had to hold one man down who yelling "I can't stand it, I'm going overboard." At one moment they could see the remainder of the flotilla and the next walls of water. Even the Navy Capt (with 25 yrs experience) was ill. They landed at 7:30 & Sawyer just wanted to get on land - Germans or no Germans. Sgt Cox - 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards got to Caen on D-Day actually knocked out German Mark IV & a Panther had a flail tank in Hanover, Germany

Last edit about 1 year ago by SarahAnn
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A man & woman crying over cow - yet there were British & Cad & Germans Fr civilians lying around a farm yard. Sgt Jock Sterling was quite angry: "How can they feel that way about a cow when there are 20 men of our fellows lying about wounded & dead?"

In the 1st 20 mins on beach he exploded about 30 mines. Each time his chains hit a mine the tank would shudder & the whole front lift up. Also some of the chains would be blown off. He had to watch this because if he waited until all of them were blown off the next thing that would happen to him would be a track blown.

He was with Fr. Cndns

8 times he was hit by HE in the 1st 20 mins - shudder, paint flew off inside - white enamel hard which splintered flying flakes in face.

"Look at the silly b...he's going to himself killed" said Jock Sterling as they saw tank passing with his head outside tank. Sawyer

Last edit about 1 year ago by SarahAnn
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looked through his periscope and just at that moment saw flash on the top of tank. The man's head flew off his body. "Well he asked for it" sd Jock.

Jock was very calm.

What Sawyer was afraid of was Armoured Piercing shells, but Ger didn't seem to have much. Shot that knocked them out hit flail.

Sgt Jock Sterling went back to beaches that afternoon to get [crossed out] french[end of crossed out] fresh orders. He came back about 5pm. He looked green. Sterling [crossed out]"Do you know what I've see? Jock[end of crossed out] told Sawyer: [crossed out ' The French Canadians [end of crossed out] strung up a woman snipe. [crossed out] They[end of crossed out] strung her from a telephone pole."

"What do you think the Fr Can have done down the beach. They've

Sawyer remembers "others seeing the same thing." He's quite sure "Sterling saw the whole thing"

Last edit about 1 year ago by SarahAnn
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13 May 1958 76, Bisson Road, Stratford, London, E-15. 11.5.58 Dear Sir, Regarding your advertisement in "The News of the World", dated 11/5/58, concerning anyone who landed on Normandy on D-Day. This is to inform you my husband landed with the 22nd Dragoons at Bernieressur-Mer at approx. 7.20am on the 6th June 1944. He was a gunner in a Flail tank, and to the best of my knowledge was wounded

Last edit about 1 year ago by SarahAnn
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soon after. I am sure he will be co-operative in giving any information he can, concerning this event, if you would care to contact him at the above address.

Yours faithfully

Mrs. J. Sawyer

Last edit about 1 year ago by SarahAnn
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