August 1944
August began with the LCI 35 still having the damage of July 27th repaired. During August the LCI 35 participated in 4 additional landings to Normandy beaches.

August 3, 1944

Arromanches Landing
On August 2, while tied up to HMLCI 210 at East Quay 30 men, 3 officers and 2 R.A.F. officers came aboard for transport to Arromanches. The LCI 35 got underway following HMLCI 210. At 0945 on August 3rd all troops were disembarked and the LCI 35 headed back to England where it tied up to the USS LCI 211 at 0715 in East Quay.

August 7, 1944

Arromanches Landing
British Pioneer Corp troops boarded the LCI 35 on Sunday August 6 and while tied up to US LCI 212 the troops were disembarked at 0835 on Monday August 7th. The LCI 35 headed back to England where it stayed until the next landing later in the month.

From August 8th through August 20th the crew performed normal cleaning and routine deck duties, continued painting the ship dark blue and was given liberty. During this time at East Quay, the LCI 35 was tied to HMLCI 181, and 374 and to US LCI 33. On Monday August 21st, while tied to HMLCI 163, the LCI 35 boarded 150 men and officers and got underway in a convoy of HMLCIs and USSLCIs.

August 22, 1944

Arromanches and Port-en Bassin Landings
At 1055 the LCI 35 tied up to LCI 8 at the floating dock and by 1145 all troops disembarked. The photo below shows the LCI 8 on the port side of the LCI 35.  Commanding Officer Lewis was on the con during this landing.

Photo of Commanding Officer Donald Lewis on the Con of the LCI 35

August 22, 1944 - Arromanches, France

At 1205 the LCI 35 received orders to report to Port-en Bassin, France to relieve HMLCI 178 from duty in port. Rough waters in the harbor caused ships to smash against each other heavily so the ships decided to anchor separately. At 1030 on Wednesday August 23rd the LCI 35 received orders to return to Arromanches and pick up troops for transportation back to England. At 1500 65 R.A.F personnel came aboard and the LCI 35 cast off for England. Shortly after casting off, a "terrible vibration" of unknown cause was noted in the starboard shaft. Even after cutting back the speed the vibrations were still noticeable on the trip back to England.

On Thursday August 24th, the LCI 35 tied up to LCI 214 at East Quay and disembarked the R.A.F. personnel by 1130. The LCI 35 then proceeded to Sleepers Hole where it tied up to HMLCI 165. On Friday August 25th, divers went below and found the cause of the "vibrations". They found cables and debris wrapped around the shaft. The divers removed the debris and checked the screw which they found to be undamaged.

The LCI 35 cast off at 0615 on Sunday August 27th underway in a convoy of 4 US LCIs to Lymington Banks where they received orders to proceed to Southampton and pick up American troops for transport to Omaha Beach. While tied to LCI 33 at the Royal Pier in Southampton 160 men and 5 officers boarded the LCI 35 at 2030.

August 28, 1944 - Omaha Beach Landing
At 0615 in cloudy, threatening weather and rough seas, the LCI 35 cast off and was underway in a convoy of 5 LCIs. The LCI 35 dropped anchor off Omaha beach at 1750 while waiting to hit the beach. After a smooth landing all troops were disembarked by 2200. The LCI 35 waited on the beach until 0730 on Tuesday August 29th for a return tide before getting underway with the convoy of 5 LCIs. At 1650 the LCI 35 tied up to LCI 33 at Lymington Banks.

For the next 2 days, the crew returned to normal cleaning and maintenance duties. On Thursday August 31st the LCI 35 got underway in a convoy of 4 LCIs headed to Portsmouth to pick up British Engineers. A total of 164 men and 2 officers came aboard at 1430. The LCI 35 proceeded out in the harbor where it anchored for the night at 1710.

At the end of August the landscape of the theater of war had changed dramatically. In the map below the areas marked in red show the Allied advances and the land occupied by the Allies on D-Day.

Allied Advances on D-Day - June 6, 1944

In the map below you can see how much more the allied forces controlled by August 25th. Much happened in the almost 3 months since D-Day, and the LCI 35 could be proud of its accomplishments in helping to bring this about.

Allied Accomplishments Through August 25, 1944

Maps from Newsweek Magazine - May 23, 1994

September 1944
In September the LCI 35 participated in 2 landings, provided escort service and transferred troops to another ship.

September 1, 1944

Arromanches Landing
With the troops picked up in Portsmouth, the LCI traveled in a convoy of 4 USSLCIs and 5 HMLCIs to Arromanches, France.  The LCI 35 tied up to HMLCI 179 at the floating dock at 1810. By 1830 all troops disembarked and the ship headed back to Portsmouth with the same convoy.

On Saturday September 2nd in stormy, rough weather and in a heavy gale, the LCI 35 anchored in Portsmouth Harbor at 1200. LCI 35 is shown close to the HMLCI 264 in these rough waters. However, the LCI 35 did not stay anchored long and was underway for Lymington, England at 1315 where it moored to No 10 mooring buoy in Lymington Banks. At 1800 there still were heavy winds and a rough sea.

September 2, 1944

Destroying Records Related to Operation Neptune
The following notation was made in the Deck Log of LCI 35 for September 2, 1944:

1830-- "all confidential, secret, top secret information, charts, orders, and photographs pertaining to Operation Neptune, the invasion of Normandy were destroyed by burning this date."

The LCI 35 stayed in Lymington Banks from September 2nd until September 11th when it proceeded with LCI 33 and LCI 11 to Southampton to load American troops headed for Utah Beach in a convoy of 4 US LCIs.

September 12, 1944

Utah Beach Landing
After a smooth landing at the beach at 2120, the LCI 35 waited for low tide to unload the troops aboard. At 2330 the ship completely dried out at bow and the starboard ramp was lowered to unload troops. By 0045 on September 13th all troops were disembarked. However, the LCI 35 could not get underway until 0740. The LCI 35 returned in a convoy of 3 US LCIs where it tied up to the LCI 33 anchored in Lymington Banks.

September 21, 1944

LCI 35 Escort Service to Omaha Beach
The LCI 35, on Thursday September 21st was called upon to provide escort service for HMLCIs going to Omaha Beach. The LCI 35 went into Portland Harbor and cast off in a convoy of 10 HMLCIs. After providing the escort service, the LCI 35 returned to Weymouth and anchored off shore on Saturday September 23rd.

September 27, 1944

Transfer of Troops - Omaha Beach
The LCI 35 moved to the docks in Weymouth on Monday September 25th and tied up to US LCI 215. At 1230 on Tuesday September 26th, 153 American Army troops - Mechanized Division boarded the ship. At 1830 after putting into Portland Harbor, the LCI 35 headed to Omaha Beach in a convoy of US LCIs and US LSTs. Upon arrival at 0950 on Wednesday September 27th, the LCI 35 dropped anchor off Omaha Beach. At 1030 the soldiers started unloading from the ship into amphibious "Ducks" for transportation into the beach. By 1110 all troops were unloaded and the LCI 35 headed back to Weymouth in a convoy and on September 28th tied up to LCI 33 at the docks.

For the rest of the month, the LCI 35 crew returned to normal cleaning, maintenance, and painting duties. Those eligible were also given liberty. At 0815 on Friday September 29th the crew started stripping the ship of all unnecessary personnel equipment and gear. For the first time since they first came overseas, the crew could now start to think that their role aboard the LCI 35 and in the war would soon be over.

LCI 8 as viewed from the LCI 35.  These LCIs participated in the August 22, 1944 landing in Arromanches, France.

The photo above is of the crew of HMLCI 259. However, whether the HMLCI 259 was one of the LCIs escorted to Omaha Beach on September 21, 1944 cannot be determined. This photo may have been taken in North Africa, Sicily, or Italy.