45 Cdo Treachers D-Day

Marine Tommy Treacher's D-Day Landing

The previous page was: "45 Commando Dar-es-Salaam"

45 Cdo Treachers D-Day; I have been given this document by the most likeable person you could ever wish to meet. This script is about Tommy Treacher and his D-Day landing on Sword beach. While he was serving in 45 Commando Royal Marines, which formed part of No.1 Special Service Brigade, the other units of the Brigade were Nos. 3, 4 and 6 Army Commandos.

Our Brigade was transported to a transit camp on the South-Coast in May 1944. We received orders to move to a place called 'Warsash' at the head of the Hamble River overlooking the Southampton waterway and leading to the Solent near the Isle of White.

On 5th June 1944, we had to embark on our Landing Craft Infantry Small, No.518. Each Troop in the Royal Marine Commandos had their own landing-craft manned mainly by Royal Marines. But not all.

I was in 'B' Troop which composed of sixty-men plus the Naval Medic. We also had our Troop Commander Colonel Ries, aboard.

45 Commando Dar-es-Salaam

Sailing To Normandy

As we were leaving the Solent (Warsach) at 19:00 hours, we could see ships of all sizes everywhere; some were loaded with guns, others with tanks or stores and many with Troops. There were about one-hundred and fifty-thousand of us all together.

Our craft looked tiny as we sailed through, going between all those big ships. And all of the time Lord Lovat's piper Bill Miller was playing the Bag-Pipes. Everybody guessed we were going through to lead the assault, they were all cheering loudly.

On the way across the Channel we were doing the usual thing, cleaning our weapons, and priming our hand grenades ready for use. We all made sure our weapons were in good working order ready for the landing. And writing to our loved ones and friends.

When we were nearing the French Coast on the morning of the 6th June we received orders to stand-up on deck ready for the landing at 09:10 hours.

There was a Naval Bombardment going on, missiles of all kinds were flying over our heads. It sounded like all hell had broken loose.

No.1 Special Service Brigade

Would be one of the first sent in to land and make the advance. The East York Regiment were to land before us and form a bridgehead, for No.1 Special Service Brigade to go through, on their way to the River Orme. we would be closely followed by our Commanding Officer Brigadier Lord Lovat and his Headquarters.

Our landing beach was Sword but our part of the beach was Green-Red, which was to the west of Quistreham. It was where the French Commandos and No.4 Commando would be fighting.

The 1st special Service Brigade had to make contact with the 6th Airborne at the Orme river and Caen canal, and then we would come under the command of the 6th Airborne Division.

Our Brigade landed wearing our green berets. I do believe we were the only troops to land on D-Day not wearing steel helmets. I was a Brigade Sniper.

Then The Shells Started Flying.

On the run-in to the beach, we were about one-hundred yards from the shore, when our landing-craft was hit by a shell amid ships. It happened just as we had all crouched down ready to make the landing.

We were in a terrible state, men who were our mates were dead, and others were lying about wounded. There was blood everywhere; it was all over our battle-dresses and it covered all of the deck.

We still had to get ready to make the landing, what hurt was the fact that we could not stop to help our comrades who were in agony on the deck.

On the last part of the run-in to the beach. Four sailors were ready to push the ramps down, when another shell hit the front of the landing-craft and killed all four sailors.

What a terrible sight it was. It will live in my memory for ever-more. What made it worse was walking through our mates blood that was swilling about in the well of the deck.

Before we could get on to the shore, we had to clear what remained of the sailors bodies, and push the ramps down onto the beach.

It Was A Terrifyng Situation

We were so pre-occupied with our problems that we had no time for thoughts of what could happen to the rest of us. What remained of us scrambled ashore very wet and shaken by what had happened.

Only to be confronted with the dead and wounded soldiers of the East York Regiment. Who had landed before us to clear the beaches, their bodies were scattered all over the place. Then we could hear Bill Miller, Lord Lovat's pipes were playing us ashore. What a lovely stiring sound it was.

Once we were ashore we made our way up the beach that was heavily mined. The sounds of war was raging all around us. Then we had to get across some ground, which I believe was flooded by the Germans.

It was like a swamp not very helpful when we had eighty-pounds in weight in the ruck-sacks on our backs. While we were making our way across the swamp, and when we reached the middle. Then the Germans started to shell us, but because of the depth of the water our casualties were very light, considering the stuff that came down and exploded around us.

The Two Bridges

When we were across the swamp, we formed up with those who were present and made our way in the direction of the Orme Bridge and the Caen Bridge. On the way we were shelled and mortared constantly.

After a long hard slog we secured the route to the bridges. When we arrived we saw that they had both been captured intact by the 5th Parachute Brigade. We arrived at the bridges at 12:15 hours, just two minutes later Lord Lovat apologized to the airborne for the slight delay.

With Bill Miller once again playing his pipes. No.1 Special Service Brigade crossed the two bridges. We were under very heavy sniper fire, losing some men, who were killed or wounded. The Brigade, having successfully, accomplished their first objectives.

The next Link below will be: "45 Commando Crocodile"

Sadly World War Hero And Sniper Has Died

The much loved Tommy Treacher died aged 88, in hospital on May 16, following a fall.

Oringally from London, he moved to Clacton-on-Sea, after the war. The nickname "Tommy" stuck after basic training, when the squad sergeant commented that Edward would make a first class British Tommy after seeing him shoot.

He was transferred to 45 Commando Royal Marines as a sniper after completing his training. Throughout the war, Tommy went into no-man's land on sniping duties to clear the way for advancing Marines.

His finest hour was on D-Day, 6th June 1944, when he was part of a group that battled through heavy German fire to help an airborne unit struggling to overcome German forces at Pegasus Bridge, near Benouville, in France.

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He Stayed With The Advance

Advancing through France, Belgium, Holland and on into Germany, before being badly injured by shrapnel during an attack. Where he was returned to a Hospital in England.

Tommy married Lucy in 1944, he thought the world of his daughter Carol, and proved to be a real family man who loved his grandchildren and two great grandchildren. After Lucy died in 1979, Tommy remarried to Jean and became a step dad to her children.

Jean said: "Tommy was a real gentleman and he was proud to have served his country in such a difficult time.

Tommy was a founding member of the North East Essex branch of the Royal Marines Association.

Close friend Tom Gunning, also from the association, said: "He was highly regarded by everyone. He had such a cheerful disposition and a charitable nature".

Tommy received a military send-off at his funeral, complete with piper and Royal Marine bugler.

The next Link below is Tommy's friend: "Derick Cakebread's D-Day Landing"

45 Cdo Tommy Treacher's D-Day Derrick Cakebread's D-Day Landing

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