LCM sword beach D-Day H-10 I would be interested if anyone can add to my findings on my father’s involvement on D-day. I have quite a good news paper article from a local paper when my father was interview as part of a series called “They Were There” for the 25th Anniversary in 1969. In the article my father explains he was a Royal Marine signaller on one of six LCM’s leaving Hayling Island on the evening of 4th June, which delivered a Bren gun carrier full of TNT and mine sweeping equipment, along with sappers to Sword beach on the morning of 6th June. Having unloaded, they return to a ship off shore to pick up senior offices, when they returned to the beach, they suffered a large explosion to the front, blowing off the bow door. The corporal standing next to him was never seen again. (the headline of the article which didn’t have my father’s agreement was “The Corp yelled “Duck”, and we never saw him again”). I’ve tried to find out more on his LCM, the number for example, (enquiries made at Royal Marine Museum archive , D-day Museum Portsmouth, Royal Engineers Archives) There doesn’t seem to have been many LCM's landing on sword beach, however records I have come across show that a Corporal John Hume PO/x3297 Royal Marines is registered as KIA on LCM652 (ship loss) on 6th June 1944 on Sword Beach being registered as not having a grave, him being the only RM Corporal lost on Sword on 6th that I have been able to find . Has anyone got any further information on LCM652 or the other LCM’s on Sword would be greatly appreciated.
Details are here for the Landing Tables (you can download) Updated Resource - Landing Table - 3 British Infantry Division Group (First Tide)
Hello Derek, Welcome to the forum! There were indeed not many LCM landing in SWORD Area on D Day, so we might be able to narrow down to a few craft. It is not certain that LCM 652 was your father's however, since she is indicated as a ship loss, whereas the loss of the ramp did not necessarily result in the craft being lost. It would help if you could disclose your father's details (full name, rank and service number if you know it), and also post a scan of the newspaper article. In the meantime I'll have a look on what I have on the Sapper's LCM at SWORD, and you can read Trux's post about hem here: Sword Beach. Michel
