William John Attwell

PJX347804 Royal Navy Commando (Combined Operations)

William ‘John’ Attwell – a senior Royal Navy rating – was drafted to ‘Combined Operations’ in 1943. Selected for Commando training, he qualified for the Royal Marine ‘Green’ beret. Although grouped as a ‘Marine’ Commando, he remained under the jurisdiction of the Royal Navy (i.e., Royal Navy Commando). He was immediately seconded to the American First Army Group as an instructor, to train men of the American First Division in seaborne assault.

In a full-scale rehearsal at Slapton Sands, a gross error in communication resulted in a significant loss of American life when three German E-boats attacked the landings in the total absence of pre-arranged protection by the Royal Navy.

At 1600 hours on 4th June 1944, four G.I. units embarked on LCT 573 at Portsmouth. Due to bad weather, the invasion was postponed by 24 hours.

LCT 573 arrived at a mid-channel rendezvous (code named: Piccadilly Circus) at 0350 hours on Tuesday, 6th June.

After the most miserable 37 hours, the order to land was given at 0538 hours.

At 0618 hours, an LCT immediately ahead of LCT 573 exploded on a mine, and LCT 573 was showered with debris and human remains. Within a minute, the LCT just 30 yards off the port quarter of LCT 573 shared a similar fate.

LCT 573 landed on Omaha Beach at 0643 hours, having suffered the loss of five Americans and receiving superficial damage from enemy gunfire immediately prior to the landing. On reversing from the beach after discharging her troops, LCT 573 hit a mine, completely wrecking her bows and ramp, rending much of her bottom plating and also displacing an engine bed. Some 13 American G.I.s from LCT 573 were killed after the landing. LCT 573 was towed to Falmouth.

The crew joined LCT 636, returning to the beachhead for successive runs – first to Omaha Beach and then to Utah Beach. LCT 636 was damaged on her last run to Omaha by a near underwater explosion, but it was decided to continue with the shuttle of American G.I.s to Utah Beach. On leaving at this point in a heavy swell, LCT 636 broke her back and was deemed a constructive total loss.

William ‘John’ Attwell became member 008 of the Bristol & District Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association. He was unanimously elected as the first Chairman and subsequently President.

His blazer badge was personally presented by Lord Mountbatten of Burma at a meeting held by the Bristol & District Branch. The badge remains a treasured possession of the Normandy Veterans Association.

It was afterwards formally adopted by the Normandy Veterans Association as their official badge, and is now the standard badge worn by all Normandy Veterans in the United Kingdom.

On 6th June 1984, the 40th Anniversary of D-DAY, John was invited to lay the wreath for the Normandy Veterans Association at the American Military Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer –

OMAHA Beach.