Looking for more info: wonderful letter from Sgt F Sandys/Overlord/Signals/7coy(?)/HQ2ndMain/BWEF

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# Research Request: Seeking Information on Great-Great Uncle Frank Sandys in Normandy, June 1944
## Hello WW2 Researchers and Historians,

I'm hoping to connect with anyone who might have information about my daughter's great-great uncle Frank Sandys and his experiences during the Normandy campaign in June 1944. I have a fascinating letter he wrote on June 23rd, 1944, and I'm trying to learn more about his exact movements and experiences during this critical period.


## What I Know About Frank:

- **Service Number**: 2591478
- **Rank** Sergeant - Company Quarter Master Serjeant
- **Regiment** R Signals
- **Name**: Frank Sandys
- **Unit** 7 Coy [? Company] Branch, HQ Second Army Main, B.W.E.F. (British West European Forces)
- **Command Structure** Under Lt. Gen. Miles Dempsey during Operation Overlord
- **Birth Date** 1915
- **Discharge Date** 18 Apr 1946
- **Service Group Number** 25
- **Stars/Medals Issued** 1939-45; France & Germany; Defence; War
- **Award Date** 17 May 1950

Key Details from His Letter:


1. **Transport to Normandy** (mid-June 1944):

- First embarkation attempt on a U.S. Transport ship with a dramatic incident where the bow doors broke open in rough seas, forcing return to England

- Second successful attempt on a different vessel after waiting at an English beach

- Arrived in Normandy at dusk and came ashore after dark


2. **In Normandy**:

- Passed through an eerie French village at dawn after landing

- Set up camp at a farm in heavy rain

- The day after arrival, his commanding officer "Major Middleton" (possibly "Willkinson") and two other officers were killed when their vehicle was hit by a shell

- Area was under periodic bombardment from German 88mm guns


3. **Role and Activities**:

- Mentions his role seemed to involve clerical work before D-Day

- Waterproofed equipment and paperwork before departure

- Works alongside an "Ordnance Sergeant"


## What I'm Looking For:


1. **War Diaries**: Does anyone have access to or knowledge of war diaries from 7 Coy Branch or HQ Second Army (Main) from June 1944? I'm particularly interested in mid-June entries.


2. **Personal Accounts**: Do you know of any memoirs, letters, or diaries from soldiers in this unit or area that might overlap with Frank's experience?


3. **Officer Casualty**: Can anyone help identify the Major Middleton/Willkinson mentioned in the letter? His death by artillery shell (likely between June 15-18, 1944) would be a key event to help pinpoint Frank's location.


4. **Transport Incidents**: Has anyone come across accounts of LST or Transport ships that had to return to England due to bow door damage during the Normandy operations? I gather there may be many…


5. **Maps and Locations**: Any information about where 7 Corps Branch or Second Army HQ elements were located in mid-June 1944 would be incredibly helpful.


6. **Photos**: I would be grateful for any photographs showing HQ elements, command posts, or farm locations used by British forces in Normandy during this period.


7. **Village Identification**: Any insights into which French village Frank might have passed through based on known movements of 7 Coy Branch would be valuable.


## Why This Matters:


Frank's letter provides a remarkable personal perspective on the days following D-Day, but without additional context, it's difficult to place his experiences within the broader campaign. His letter displays the wit and stoicism associated with his brave generation and I believe plays down the peril and hardship he endured.

My 11-year-old daughter, Frank's great-great-niece, has developed a keen interest in history and is particularly moved by the sacrifices made by her great-great uncles during the war.

This research is especially meaningful as we're trying to help her connect with her family's history and understand the personal experiences behind the major historical events she's learning about in school. Being able to trace Frank's footsteps through Normandy would make these historical events tangible for her and honour the memory of her ancestor's service during this pivotal moment in history.

I've copied a transcription of the letter and can share photos of the letter if that would help.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide in helping piece together this small but meaningful part of the Normandy campaign.

Note: If you have information about similar units or parallel experiences, even if not directly related to Frank, I'd still be interested in hearing about them as they might help build context around his experiences.

The letter text:


2591478 Sgt Sandys. 7 Corps Branch
HQ Second Army Main, [under Lt. Gen. Miles Dempsey key component in Operation Overlord],
B.W.E.F. [British West European Forces]

23 Jun ‘44 [1944]

Dear Eldon and Ruth [Evie's great-grandfather and great-grandmother]

It's a bit late in the day to be writing to thank you for your good wishes, and cigarettes which you sent for my birthday, but I can assure you that the delay has not been indifference on my part. I was delighted with your long letter and very pleased to have the cigarettes (at the time I hadn't got any, and couldn't get any). Together with a small parcel from home, and letters from Wilfred and Charlie, they all made the day a pretty good one. Thanks very much for everything anyway.


When we arrived in France your letter saying that you now have another son [Evie's Grandfather, Eldon], was waiting for me.


2.


Congratulations! I understand from a letter mother has since sent that both Ruth [Evie's great-grandmother] and the youngster (I don't know what you have decided to call him), are doing well and I sincerely hope they are well and still progressing.


You would be thankful, I'm sure when it was all safely over and you had another boy in your family. Have you, I wonder, decided his name? You'll have plenty to do for the next few months, what with Michael and the new arrival but as Eldon says, when they get a little older, as Michael now is, they are very good company and provide endless interest.



I should like to send something along for him, but at the moment it's not possible for there are no shops here, and no facilities of any kind.


3


You will have had father over since the event. Mother told me that he came up and apparently had a quiet journey - not many people on the train - far different to what he expected in fact.


I am sorry not to have written to you sooner but, during May and till the invasion started we were literally working night and day, and found it hard to get a few hours sleep even.


When D day came, however, things started to slacken off on the clerical side, but loading & packing was then the order of the day. This was a lengthy business, on account of the waterproofing of loads, and all papers etc, but it was finished eventually with a few hours…

4

…to spare, and we were called forward for shipment in the early hours one morning. The order was a typical army one, for we were all asleep in the tents when the lorry came round and told us all to be at a point 2 miles away, with all our kit inside 15 minutes. Needless to say, we hung around all that day, moving towards the embarkation point, with our lorries at the rate of a 1/2 mile in an hour. In the evening we embarked on a Yankee U.S.T. [United States Transport] and sailed in convoy about midnight or shortly afterwards. The sea was rough, and being a flat bottom ship, she rolled abominably. You may have seen this type of shipping in Glasgow. They are quite big really and take a fairly heavy cargo.


5

Fortunately, I and the Ordnance Sergeant [common rank responsible for weapons and ammunition] managed to get one of the few bunks which were available in the ship and so got in a little shut-eye till about 4 am when we awoke to the sound of terrific thuds against the ship’s side and the ship trembling as well as rolling. This didn't make me feel very happy but when I saw the crew, with whom we were sleeping getting on their M.West lifejackets [nicknamed "Mae West" due to the bulky chest they create] I felt genuinely alarmed. What had happened was that the bow doors - huge things which are used for loading vehicles off the beach, had broken open with the rough sea, and were swinging against the ship's side every time she rolled, making a terrific din and shaking the whole ship. Furthermore, the hold was taking water and the vehicle hold already had 6 inches in it.


We dropped out of the convoy then with a corvette [small warships extensively used during WWII, particularly for escort duties and coastal operations. They would commonly stand by to protect landing ships or damaged vessels] standing by about 1 mile away- not near enough for my liking, at dawn I went on deck but it was impossible to move about. The crew were all clustered around the bow and waves coming over them every few minutes whilst the ship’s side rails were alternately in the water as she rolled. Presently we turned around and Major Middleton [? Willkinson] who was in charge of our party said we were returning to England. We were only sailing very slowly now and so we continued for about 2 hours when the Captain turned around again and continued to port in reverse - stern first.


We arrived in harbour about 2pm, staying on the ship till about dinner time the following day when we went into dock. Apparently nothing could be done about repairs as later in the afternoon we left the dock and sailed up coast…

7

…to the beach where unloading could take place. At the tea time we disembarked and were provided with cigarettes, chocolate biscuits, newspapers and a good meal.

I must say the yanks do you very well on the ships - the food was excellent - all tinned but really good stuff and plenty of it.

It was funny to see all the lads dashing off to the nearest pub as soon as we disembarked, only to find when they got inside that they had only French money in their packets, having changed all English money previously.


We hung about the beach for 4 or 5 hours watching ships loading and unloading and landing craft disgorging long lines of wounded, until we embarked in another ship ourselves about midnight.


8

We sailed again that night and arrived here at dusk the following night, coming ashore after dark. It was just coming light when we were passing through the first French village and very strange it all seemed in the half light.


When we arrived in our area it was raining heavily and it continued to do so all day which wasn't so good whilst we were erecting tents, particularly as each tent had to be dug in 2 feet or so. However, we worked hard and finally completed the putting up of camp by tea time.


The following day Major Middleton [? Willkinson] and two other officers were killed when a shell hit their vehicle. It is very noisy around here with bombing and A.A. [anti-aircraft] once or twice the Germans…

9

…have shelled our area with their 88 mm guns but didn't do much damage and there were only a few casualties.


We are situated in a farm. There aren't many French civilians about but what few there are look remarkably well fed, and prosperous for an alleged starving country. Prices seem to be high though for they charge 5 francs (about 6 d. [Pence]) for an egg if you can get one.


Our own food isn't so bad though. All canned stuff, of course, but quite good apart from the hard biscuits instead of bread. Your jaw’s tired before you're full, eating these biscuits.


Today is a beautiful hot day and I've taken the opportunity of having a bath - 2 biscuit tins full of water, a piece of canvas for a little screen, all the lot underneath our apple tree, is how I organised it.


Well, I'm afraid I've gone rambling on in this letter, longer than I intended. I should be glad tho’ to have a few lines from you to hear how baby is going on.


Thanks again for the birthday present. Hope you are all well.


Love to you all

Frank.

 

Welcome to the forum Donostio!

The ship was not a "U.S.T." (doesn't exist) but a L.S.T. (Landing Ship, Tank), which indeed had bow doors (not supposed to open when sailing though!).

Have you requested Sgt Dandys' Service record yet?

Yes, please do post a good scan of the letter so that we may have a go at finding out the actual name of the Major mentioned, thereby helping narrow down his actual outfit.

Finally, I would suggest you start a new thread, in Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy, or ask Asmin (via the "Report" button) to move your post to a new thread,because I do not see how you query relates to this present thread which is about SWORD Area.

Michel

 

Wow! That was fast! The move was done even before I posted

 

Well, I'd already tried to delete and move it - but I didn't put it in the right topic that you suggested. I found a post advising to edit the text out of my post on this thread (to avoid damaging the thread). I want to delete the other one and start afresh in the correct topic you advised.

 

And please add scans of the complete letter so that we may compare the handwriting in the illegible words (the one before "Branch" in the address and the name of the Major).

 

Of course! Thank you. I'm still wondering then what the word before 'Branch' is...

 

LST - thank you.
I found a medal request card online

I will visit the National Records Office at Kew if I can find some files and diaries to request that are relevant. Would the service record also be there or elsewhere?

 

Congrats!

2nd line possibly:
CSOs Branch
(Chief Signals Officer's Branch)

See ARMY and CORPS HEADQUARTERS

ARMY MAIN HEADQUARTERS
(...)
STAFF
GENERAL STAFF BRANCH
(...)
ATTACHED TO THE GENERAL STAFF
(...)
Signals
Brigadier, Chief Signals Officer
Lieutenant Colonel, Staff Officer Royal Signals
3 X Major, Staff Officer Royal Signals
3 X Captain, Staff Officer Royal Signals
lieutenant, Staff Officer Royal Signals
8 X clerk Royal Signals including
Warrant Officer Class I
serjeant
corporal
lance corporal
4 X private
serjeant draughtsman Royal Signals
draughtsman Royal Signals

 

That's brilliant, thank you!
How did you do it? Are you adept at reading old cursive, or was it contextual knowledge?

 

Ah! So it is draughtsman and not ordinance (an AI tool miss read that)

 

Sorry, that was before I discovered this site!

 

You are thus forgiven, but it was a close call!


Page 4: "...we were all asleep in the tents when the lorry came round and told us..."

The Algorithmic Idiocy, being artificial, believes other inanimate objects can talk.

It's actually Rsm (RSM i.e. Regimental Serjeant Major).

Owen is our resident champion in this kind of exercise.

 

The original text of the Letter, including the various observations from the posts above plus a few minor corrections:

2591478 Sgt Sandys. F.,
Csos Branch,
HQ Second Army Main,
B.W.E.F.
23 Jun 44

Dear Eldon and Ruth,
It's a bit late in the day to be writing to thank you for your good wishes and cigarettes which you sent for my birthday, but I can assure you that the delay has not been indifference on my part. I was delighted with your long letter and very pleased to have the cigarettes (at the time I hadn't got any, and couldn't get any). Together with, a small parcel from home, and letters from Wilfred and Charlie, they all made the day a pretty good one. Thanks very much for everything anyway.
When we arrived in France your letter saying that you now have another son, was waiting for me.
2.
Congratulations! I understand from a letter mother has since sent that both Ruth and the youngster (I don't know what you have decided to call him), are doing well and I sincerely hope they are well and still progressing.
You would be thankful, I'm sure when it was all safely over and you had another boy in your family. Have you, I wonder, decided his name? You'll have plenty to do for the next few months, what with Michael and the new arrival but as Eldon says, when they get a little older, as Michael now is, they are very good company and provide endless interest.
I should like to send something along for him, but at the moment it's not possible for there are no shops here, and no facilities of any kind.
3
You will have had father over since the event. Mother told me that he came up and apparently had a quiet journey - not many people on the train – far different to what he expected in fact.
I am sorry not to have written to you sooner but, during May and till the invasion started we were literally working night and day, and found it hard to get a few hours sleep even.
When D day came, however, things started to slacken off on the clerical side, but loading & packing was then the order of the day. This was a lengthy business on account of the waterproofing of loads, and all papers etc, but it was finished eventually with a few hours
4 .
to spare, and we were called forward for shipment in the early hours one morning. The order was a typical Army one, for we were all asleep in the tents when the Rsm came round and told us all to be at a point 2 miles away, with all our kit inside 15 minutes. Needless to say, we hung around all that day, moving towards the embarkation point, with our lorries, at the rate of a ½ mile in an hour. In the evening we embarked on a Yankee L.S.T. and sailed in convoy about midnight or shortly afterwards. The sea was rough, and being a flat bottom ship, she rolled abominably. You may have seen this type of ship in Glasgow. They are quite big really and take a fairly heavy cargo.
5.
Fortunately, I and the Draughtsman Sgt managed to get one of the few bunks which were available in the ship and so got in a little shut-eye till about 4 am when we awoke to the sound of terrific thuds against the ship’s side and the ship trembling as well as rolling. This didn't make me feel very happy but when I saw the crew, with whom we were sleeping, getting on their M. West lifejackets, I felt genuinely alarmed. What had happened was that the Bow doors – huge things which are used for loading vehicles off the beach, had broken open with the rough sea, and were swinging against the ship's side every time she rolled, making a terrific din and shaking the whole ship. Furthermore, the hold was taking water and the vehicle hold already had six inches in it.
We dropped out of the convoy then with a Corvette standing by about
6.
one mile away – not near enough for my liking. At dawn I went on deck but it was impossible to move about. The crew were all clustered round the bows and waves coming over them every few minutes whilst the ship’s side rails were alternately in the water as she rolled. Presently we turned around and Major Millikin [sic: Maj R. Milliken 123370] who was in charge of our party said we were returning to England. We were only sailing very slowly now and so we continued for about 2 hours when the Capt. turned round again and continued to port in reverse – stern first.
We arrived in harbour about 2 pm, staying on the ship till about dinner time the following day when we went into dock. Apparently nothing could be done about repairs as later in the afternoon, we left the dock and sailed up coast
7
to the beach where unloading could take place. At tea time we disembarked and were provided with cigarettes, chocolate, biscuits, newspapers and a good meal.
I must say the yanks do you very well on the ships – the food was excellent – all tinned but really good stuff and plenty of it.
It was funny to see all the lads dashing off to the nearest pub as soon as we disembarked, only to find when they got inside that they had only French money in their pockets, having changed all English money previously.
We hung about the beach for 4 or 5 hours watching ships loading and unloading and landing craft disgorging long lines of wounded, until we embarked in another ship ourselves about midnight.
8
We sailed again that night and arrived here at dusk the following night, coming ashore after dark. It was just coming light when we were passing through the first French village and very strange it all seemed in the half light.
When we arrived in our area it was raining heavily and it continued to do so all day which wasn't so good whilst we were erecting tents, particularly as each tent had to be dug in 2 ft or so. However we worked hard and finally completed the putting up of camp by tea time.
The following day Maj Millikin [sic: Milliken] and 2 other offrs were killed when a shell hit their vehicle. It is very noisy around here with bombing and A.A. Once or twice the Germans
9
have shelled our area with their 88 mm guns, but didn't do much damage and there were only a few casualties.
We are situated in a farm. There aren't many French civilians about but what few there are look remarkably well fed, and prosperous for an alleged starving country. Prices seem to be high though for they charge 5 francs (about 6d) for an egg, if you can get one.
Our own food isn't so bad though. All canned stuff, of course, but quite good apart from the hard biscuits instead of bread. Your jaws tire before you're full, eating these biscuits.
Today is a beautiful hot day and I've taken the opportunity of having a bath – 2 biscuit tins,
10
full of water, a piece of canvas for a little screen, all the lot underneath our apple tree, is how I organised it.
Well, I'm afraid I've gone rambling on in this letter, longer than I intended. I should be glad tho’ to have a few lines from you to hear how baby is going on.
Thanks again for the birthday present. Hope you are all well.
Love to you all,
Frank.

Abbreviations:
Sgt = Sergeant
Csos Branch = CSO's Branch = Chief Signals Officer's Branch
HQ = Headquarters
B.W.E.F. = British Western European Force, later redesignated British Liberation Army (BLA)
Rsm = RSM = Regimental Sergeant Major
L.S.T. = Landing Ship, Tank
M. West = Mae West
A.A. = Anti-aircraft

 

Hi,
Entry in the War Diary about Major Milliken.

Regards

Danny

 

I’m guessing, of course, but I was wondering who the two officers killed with Major Milliken may have been. According to CWGC, there are only three other officers buried at Ranville who died on the 20th June.

The first is Brigadier Denis Charles William Sanders,
Royal Artillery, 153 (The Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regt.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...etails/2344285/denis-charles-william-sanders/

Some more information here (see page 4/7):

https://eastfarndon.org/wp-content/...n-who-Lost-their-Lives-During-World-War-2.pdf

The second is 71320 Major James Tulloch Dickson,
Royal Artillery, H.Q. R.M. Armd Sp. Gp.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2847932/james-tulloch-dickson/

The third is 149121 Captain Robert Edward Vane De Lautour, The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. 22nd Indep. Coy.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...etails/2847919/robert-edward-vane-de-lautour/

I highly doubt that Captain De Lautour is one of the other two officers. From the account here, the manner of his death was from machine gun fire and it looks like he was wounded on the 19th and died on the 20th:

Acting Captain Robert De Lautour

My, admittedly, rather tenuous theory, therefore, is that Major Milliken was killed along with Brigadier Sanders and Major Dickson. Tenuous, as all I have is the fact that all three are laid to rest at Ranville, and all three were Royal Artillery.