Omaha Coxwain

Cpl Rootes · 13-10-2007, 10:30 PM

Last week on a school history trip I visited the Menin gate. I saw a group of veterans so I went up and talked to them. This is the story one of them told me (his almost exact words).

"I joined up when I was 17 years old, I lied about my age to join the [Royal] Navy. I was trained as a coxwain on a landing craft and was designated to land at Omaha beach with troops from the 29th Infantry Division. I started loading with troops at around (he paused and thought for a bit) 5:00am. As we went in I was next to a LCT and saw several Sherman tanks attempt to 'swim' the 5 miles in. All of them sank. The boat behind me picked up a couple of men who had managed to escape the tanks. They were mainly commanders, the other men having been too far in the machine.

As soon as I reached the shore and let down the ramp I estimate 70% of the men died in my craft. The craft next to mine was coxwained by my best friend, Bob. His craft was hit by a shell and it literally just evaporated. None of the men survived and I never saw Bob again."

At this point tears began to come into his eyes. He regained his composure and began again.

"On my 3rd run in the tide was rising see. The Germans had put metal crosses we called hedgehogs all over the beach. One of these ripped out the bottom of my landing craft and I was stranded on the beach from then until about 4pm in the afternoon. I hid behind a hedgehog for the whole time. 2 men tried to hid on each side of me and both were machine gunned."

I can only imagine the hell this man went through.

I am eternally grateful for his story.

Paul Reed · 13-10-2007, 10:55 PM

Very interesting - my uncle was also RN, and also landed men on Omaha Beach. Would have loved to speak to this man myself!

Well done for noting it all down, and nice picture!

Cpl Rootes · 13-10-2007, 11:32 PM

Cheers Paul. It's just lucky I had a note book and a decent memory.

The picture is one I took on the same trip at Langmark German cemetry (I may have spelt it wrongly).

I like the poppy in the sunlight. With my added inscription I find it a fantasic photo.

13-10-2007, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cpl Rootes Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: With Puff the Magic Dragon, living by the sea Posts: 1,054	Omaha Coxwain Last week on a school history trip I visited the Menin gate. I saw a group of veterans so I went up and talked to them. This is the story one of them told me (his almost exact words). "I joined up when I was 17 years old, I lied about my age to join the [Royal] Navy. I was trained as a coxwain on a landing craft and was designated to land at Omaha beach with troops from the 29th Infantry Division. I started loading with troops at around (he paused and thought for a bit) 5:00am. As we went in I was next to a LCT and saw several Sherman tanks attempt to 'swim' the 5 miles in. All of them sank. The boat behind me picked up a couple of men who had managed to escape the tanks. They were mainly commanders, the other men having been too far in the machine. As soon as I reached the shore and let down the ramp I estimate 70% of the men died in my craft. The craft next to mine was coxwained by my best friend, Bob. His craft was hit by a shell and it literally just evaporated. None of the men survived and I never saw Bob again." At this point tears began to come into his eyes. He regained his composure and began again. "On my 3rd run in the tide was rising see. The Germans had put metal crosses we called hedgehogs all over the beach. One of these ripped out the bottom of my landing craft and I was stranded on the beach from then until about 4pm in the afternoon. I hid behind a hedgehog for the whole time. 2 men tried to hid on each side of me and both were machine gunned." I can only imagine the hell this man went through. I am eternally grateful for his story. __________________ Regards, Alex http://rootsie.wordpress.com/

13-10-2007, 10:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,861	Very interesting - my uncle was also RN, and also landed men on Omaha Beach. Would have loved to speak to this man myself! Well done for noting it all down, and nice picture! __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

13-10-2007, 11:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cpl Rootes Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: With Puff the Magic Dragon, living by the sea Posts: 1,054	Cheers Paul. It's just lucky I had a note book and a decent memory. The picture is one I took on the same trip at Langmark German cemetry (I may have spelt it wrongly). I like the poppy in the sunlight. With my added inscription I find it a fantasic photo. __________________ Regards, Alex http://rootsie.wordpress.com/

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