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THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5 - MIDNIGHT JUNE 6

[*ack 6/6/58*]

What is your full name? Leslie Wightman ([illegible])

What is your present address? 347 Chillingham Rd., Heaton
Newcastle-on-Tyne 6

Telephone numbers nil

What was your unit, division, corps? 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Reg
Prince of Wales Vols

Where did you land and at what time?
We landed between Isigny and Courseulles between 7.20
& 7.30 AM. (Our objective was Bayeux, Normandy.) (Red Beach)

What was your rank and age on June 6, 1944? Private Age 24 years

Were you married at that time? no

What is your wife's name?

Did you have any children at that time? no

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
About a week before, when we were stationed at a place
called Cosham. -- We were paid out with French money and
issued with overseas kit.

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you
remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?
The crossing was very rough. Conversation was kept to a minimum --
mostly about wives and sweethearts. I felt very tense. As we
disembarked from the troop-ship, a major of C. Company reminded us
that we were going in to make a spearhead for about 5 miles. We would
then be pulled out and sent back to England with the Sixth Air-
Borne Division" (This was false, as we were in till the end of war.)

Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that
the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire
when the troops came in.)
There was a rumour aboard ship that the Germans would
try to reciprocate for the treatment received when they
had attempted invasion.

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
No, but I'll never forget it.