June - July 1944

Sword - Juno - Gold - Arromanches (Mulberry) Beach Landings

June Landings in Sword Assault Area
During June 1944 the US LCI (L) 35 participated in four (4) additional landings in the Sword Beach Assault Area.

June 8, 1944
On Thursday June 8th while tied to HM LCI 104 at the dock with the LCI (L) 14 alongside, additional British troops were being loaded to go to Sword Beach and the cable on the stern anchor was replaced. At 2115 the LCI (L) 35 got underway for the Normandy Coast.

June 9, 1944 - Sword Beach Landing

From LCI (L) 35 Deck Log - June 9, 1944

LCI 35 Landing on June 9, 1944 - Sword Beach

Notice the broken port ramp of the LCI 35 in the photo above.  Troops could not disembark from this ramp and had to disembark from the starboard ramp.  Clarence Robins was catapulted from this ramp and almost drowned.

Damaged Ships on Sword Beach

View From Conning Tower of LCI 35

** LCI 416 Sunk off Northern France, 9 June 1944

June 10 - 30, 1944
On Saturday June 10th HM LCI 378 towed LCI (L) 35 back to Newhaven where a tugboat brought her into the harbor on June 12th where she tied up to HM LCI 111 at the dock waiting to go into dry dock for repair of the fouled screw and shafts. On Wednesday June 14th engineers and shore maintenance cleared away cables, wire and other debris twisted around both shafts and the damaged starboard screw was replaced. The LCI (L) 35 moved out of dry dock the following day. On June 16th the port ramp became unusable and the ship was once again loaded for troops for another landing in the assault area.

**LCI 219 Sunk off Northern France, 11 June 1944

June 17, 1944 - Sword Beach Landing
On Saturday June 17th the LCI (L) 35 at 1115 while going into the beach with the starboard ramp in the lowering position had to drop anchor because of a fast dropping tide. Initially the LCI (L) 35 waited for some small boats to come out and unload the troops but when none came, the anchor was hoisted and once again the ship went into the beach at low tide. When hitting the beach, the bow of the ship still remained in about 2 1/2 feet of water. After waiting for the tide to come out the troops were unloaded in 2 or 3 feet of water off the starboard ramp.

With the troops disembarked at 1540 and while waiting for the tide to come to get off the beach, orders were received to unload the British Troop Transport LSI Prince Leopold. At 1710 the 300 British troops from the Prince Leopold* came aboard. At 1807 the LCI (L) 35 after fighting heavy surf and high winds tied up to a pontoon dock where the 300 troops began disembarking at 1845 from the starboard ramp onto the dock. At 1855 Wally Holman, BM 1/c rescued a British soldier who had been washed off the pontoon dock into the water. At 1920 all troops were disembarked and the LCI (L) 35 got underway to report back to the Headquarters ship. Later at 2330 another air raid sounded and enemy planes overhead dropped flares and bombs with no response from the LCI (L) 35.

*HMS Prince Leopold was torpedoed and sunk on July 29, 1944

**LCI (G) 468 Sunk Marianas Operations, Saipan, 17 June 1944

On Sunday June 18th, at 2200 the crew got their first sight of one of Germany's Rocket Plane Bombs, which just passed directly over them.

Between June 19th and June 24th, the LCI (L) 35 received a number of repair and maintenance services including overhauling the outboard forward starboard engine, repair of stanchions around the ship, and installing a new port ramp.

June 25, 1944 - Sword Beach Landing

Troops were loaded at 1245 on Saturday June 24th and the LCI (L) 35 got underway at 2200 heading towards the assault area of Normandy arriving at 1200 on the June 25th. At 1414 the LCI (L) 35 landed at the pontoon dock on the beach and troops began disembarking. At 1420 after all troops were disembarked, as the ramps were being taken in, the starboard ramp cable broke and the starboard ramp dropped back on the pontoon dock. All hands were called to pull in the stern end of the ramp while a wench held the forward end up. The photo (below right) shows the crew pulling the ramp.

On Monday June 26th and Tuesday June 27th the LCI 35 prepared for an additional landing of British troops to the Normandy assault area. While in port the LCI 35 was tied up to the LCI 33 and LCI 16 and at the fuel dock with the USS LCI 523 and HM LCI 328. (The photo on the right of John Laga and Frank Roachell shows the LCI (L) 33 in the background). At 2132 on Tuesday June 27th British troops with 48 bicycles came aboard but due to inclement weather the LCI 35 could not get underway for the Normandy Coast. At 1230 on Wednesday June 28th troops were disembarked for a warm meal and clean up before returning aboard the LCI 35 at 1500. The LCI 35 got underway at 2000.

June 29, 1944 - Sword Beach Landing
At 0945 the LCI 35 tied up to two pontoon barges. However, while backing down the engines trying to get the bow of the ship off the pontoon barges, the ship would not budge. After disembarking the troops and bicycles at 1024 a near-by Army bulldozer pulled the LCI 35 off the dock and the ship got underway towards the rendezvous area at 1030 and headed back to Newhaven at 1620 where on Friday June 30th tied up to LCI 15 at the docks.

July 1-31, 1944
During July the USS LCI 35 would participate in an additional 6 landings in Normandy including landings in the Juno, and Gold Beach areas. From Saturday July 1st through Tuesday July 4th, engineers overhauled and rebuilt one engine, and maintenance crews welded mufflers on the starboard side of the ship. On July 5th at 1115 troops came aboard and by 1830 the ship cast off and formed a disposition in a convoy of USS LCIs and HM LCIs headed towards the Juno beach area.

July 6, 1944 - Juno Beach
The landing on this date was uneventful with troops disembarked by 0935 and the ship underway going back to Newhaven where it arrived and tied up to HM LCI 116 at East Quay at 2245.

From July 7th through July 10th normal cleaning and maintenance activities as well as preparations for repainting the entire ship were begun. On July 11th, 143 British troops including officers boarded the ship and at 1845 the LCI 35 was underway in a convoy of 6 USS LCIs and 9 HM LCIs bound for Normandy.

July 12, 1943 - Gold Beach Landing
At 0750 the LCI 35 dropped anchor offshore in the Gold Area of Normandy and waited to disembark troops. At 0900 the ship beached at low tide and the ramps were lowered in about 4 feet of water. Troops did not disembark immediately but waited for the beach to dry out enough for them to disembark. Finally at 1110 all troops were disembarked in about 1 foot of water. The ship got underway at 1217 in a convoy of 6 USS LCIs and 9 HM LCIs. While underway vibrations were noted in the starboard shaft.

From Thursday July 13th through July 16th the crew tended to normal duties and started painting the ship a "dark blue" color. During this time the LCI 35 was tied up to HM LCI 385 at East Quay.

On Monday July 17th at 1305 Canadian Armoured Corps troops came aboard including 173 men and 10 officers. At 1820, loaded with these troops, the LCI 35 got underway and formed a disposition in a convoy of 12 USS LCIs and 4 HM LCIs bound for Normandy.

July 18, 1944 - Arromanches Area (Mulberry) Landing

At 1120 the LCI 35 tied up to LCI 3 at the floating dock and at 1130 started disembarking troops with all troops disembarked by 1145. At 1200 US LCI 193 was tied up along starboard side and unloaded troops. At 1230 the LCI 35 cast off lines and pulled away from the floating dock and headed back to Newhaven in a convoy of 12 USS LCIs and 4 HM LCI where it eventually was tied up to LCI 16 in "Sleepers Hole" across from the Newhaven harbor on July 19th. By 1930 the LCI 35 was tied up to HM LCI 291 at the Newhaven dock. The crew continued painting the ship "dark blue". On July 20th 166 men and 7 officers of British infantry troops came aboard. By 1805 the ship was underway in a convoy of 7 USS LCIs and 7 HM LCIs heading for the Arromanches area of Normandy.

Mulberry - Artificial Harbor

Arromanches Area of France

July 21, 1944 - Arromanches Area Landing
In rainy, foggy weather with a short chopping sea, moderate swells and poor visibility, the LCI 35 tied up to the floating pier in the Arromanches area of Normandy at 1034. Beginning at 1038 troops began disembarking the ship and by 1055 all troops were disembarked. HM LCI 374 tied up alongside to unload troops at 1100 and shortly thereafter at 1105 the LCI 35 received orders to stand-by to load the ship with German prisoners of war for transportation back to England.

British Troops Disembarking from the USS LCI 35

July 21, 1944

July 21, 1944 - Arromanches
While waiting to pick up the German prisoners of war, some of the crew had a "photo op" and disembarked the ship to take a few photos.

Photos Taken of LCI 35 Crew

July 21, 1944 - Arromanches, France

More Photos of Arromanches Landing

John Smith (on Starboard Ramp), John Finnerty, Philip Reed

Photo Courtesy of Philip Reed

German Prisoners of War - Coming Aboard the USS LCI (L) 35
German prisoners of war under British MP guards came aboard the LCI 35 at 1600 for transportation back to Southampton, England.  The photos below were taken prior to the transfer to the LCI 35.

German Prisoners Awaiting Transfer to LCI 35

Discussions Regarding Transfer of German Prisoners of War

Commanding Officer Donald A. Lewis can be seen at the center of the discussions regarding the exchange of prisoners (in the middle of the three person discussion on the right ).

At 1800 the LCI 35 was underway for Southampton, England arriving at 0815 on Saturday July 22nd. While tied up to HM LCI 374 all the German prisoners were disembarked by 0845. The LCI 35 departed Southampton and arrived at Newhaven's "Sleepers Hole" where it tied up to HM LCI 374 at 1500.

On July 22nd and 23rd the LCI 35 while tied up to LCI 13 at the repair dock, maintenance crews welded cracked seams in the engine room and other bulkheads and repaired catheads. On Tuesday July 25th the ship moved to East Quay and tied up to USS LCI 16 and boarded British troops at 1400. At 1935 the LCI 35 was underway in a convoy of 5 USS LCIs and 11 HM LCIs heading to Arromanches.

July 26, 1944 - Arromanches Landing
By 1020 while tied up to a floating pier, all British Soldiers were disembarked. The LCI 35 cast off and was underway at 1025 to return to Sleepers Hole where she tied up to HM LCI 111 at 2345.

On Thursday July 27th the LCI 35 moved to East Quay and tied up to USS LCI 13 at the docks. At 1500 while berthing on the LCI 35's starboard side HM LCI 165's port ramp wing smashed into our No. 3 gun ready box, No. 3 bit, knocking down 4 stanchions and got stuck on No. 3 chock. By 1645 the crew of the HM LCI 165 loosened the ship off the chock. At 1730 on Friday July 28th troops boarded the ship and at 1930 the ship was underway once again for Arromanches in a convoy of 7 USS LCIs and 3 HM LCIs.

July 29, 1944 - Arromanches Landing
The LCI 35 tied up to LCI 13 at the floating dock and by 0910 all troops disembarked the ship and at 1000 the LCI 35 was in a convoy heading back to Sleepers Hole where she tied up to HM LCI 389 at 2045.

The month of July concluded with the LCI 35 in the repair docks in Northeast Quay tied up to LCI 33 where the crew once again returned to painting the ship dark blue and maintenance crews worked on repairing the cathead port ramp roller and welded the starboard exhaust tubes.

The LCI 35 tied alongside HM LCI 104 at the dock in Newhaven, England on June 8, 1944.

Rescue of Shipmate

On June 9, 1944 Clarence Robins was catapulted overboard when the LCI 35 port ramp was thrown off its rollers.  Fortunately, he was rescued from drowning by Earl Eichorn and James Abney.

Clarence Robins

Troops disembarking from the LCI 35 on June 17, 1944.  Troops waded ashore in 2 to 3 feet of water.  This was the first landing on this date.

"Rough Tide Water-Turning Ship Around"

This picture probably depicted the second landing on June 17, 1944.   The 300 troops transferred from HMS Prince Leopold can be seen disembarking in the rough water. HM LCI 264 is visible in front of LCI 35. 

Wally Holman

On June 25, 1944 all hands were called to pull in the stern end of the ramp after the starboard ramp cable broke and the ramp dropped down on the pontoon dock.

Frank Roachell and John Laga aboard the LCI 35.  This probably was taken on or about June 26, 1944.  The LCI 33 can be seen in the background.

The photo above shows the British 50th Infantry Division disembarking on Gold Beach on D-Day June 6, 1944.  The LCI 35 disembarked troops in the Gold Area of Normandy on July 12, 1944

"Returning to England for More Troops"

"Our Ship - Normandy"

Dad used this caption for the photo above to describe one of the routine jobs that the LCI 35 did during June - July 1944.

British troops continue to disembark from the LCI 35 on July 21, 1944 in Arromanches, France.

British Troops Disembarking from a British LCI and the LCI 217 on July 21, 1944 in Arromanches, France .

"MY SHIP"

John Finnerty is barely visible at the foot of the port ramp.  Dad was proud of his service aboard the LCI 35 and always proclaimed that it was "my ship".  This photo was taken on July 21, 1944 in Arromanches, France.