Alrewas Arboretum - Plaque Inauguration

by S/M Jack Culshaw

The day was chilly but the atmosphere was warm, as over one hundred and fifty redoubtable members, wives and friends of our association gathered at The National Arboretum to witness the unveiling of the LST & Landing Craft Association plaque in their plot by President Mike Cresswell, impressively accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr James Hawley, the invited Guest of Honour, with senior members of the association in attendance.

It was in March 1988, that S/M Roy Ellis, the then Chairman brought to the notice of the committee the creation of the National Memorial Arboretum as a living tribute to the people of this century. Its creation was inspired by the thought that something should be done to remember for ever the debt to those in all walks of life who gave so much to defend our freedom. This Roy felt, covered service given by our shipmates world wide, and in an ideally central situation in which it would be appropriate to plant a tree and provide a bench which was subsequently approved by the association.

Accordingly a tree dedication and bench presentation service was organised by Roy himself, and in the presence of our President J. Brend, Vice President W. Chalk, and fifty shipmates, was held at the Arboretum on Thursday 9th September 1999, conducted by the founder director Commander D. Childs, R.N. Rtd. At that time the car park was a grass area and there were no buildings whatsoever on the site.

It was in October 2003, that Roy suggested that a prestigious brick plinth and incorporated plaque, be planned by the association.

In consequence, on Sunday 2nd of April, 2005, a memorable service of dedication in the Arboretum’s impressive Chapel prior to the outside unveiling was held by the Reverend E. Looseby, Chaplain to the Burma Star Association. The President Mike Cresswell read the Prologue, S/M Roy Sanderson, Vice Chairman, read the Lesson, and Chairman Paul Motte-Harrison, delivered the Kohima Exhortation. The National Standard, paraded by S/M Ann Cutter was in attendance, as were the Standards from the North West, (S/M S.J.Davenport), and East Midlands Region, (S/M S/M P.Denham).

We surely must express our thanks for the organisation and operational success of the whole to S/M Secretary Eric Round. Spending many long hours travelling to and fro to the site to supervise the building of the plaque column which housed the most imposing LST & Landing Craft plaque, and also for

supervising its final placement. Also, for co-opting and engaging the many different people which made the affair possible. Eric wishes to commend the services of Jackie Fisher, the Project manager of the N.M.A., for her valuable assistance. Mention also must be made of the brilliant performance by the buglers of The Kirkby Colliery Band. During the service and later at the unveiling; particularly the principle soloist who was note perfect.

I am tempted to expand my observations on the remarkable 150 acre site, only at this moment in its infancy. In the winter from a distance, a drab and unexceptional looking scene, but on closer inspection it comes alive with poignant history bearing reminders of our armed forces, of police, fire service. women’s services and war widows. One of the least expected of plots; ‘Shot at Dawn’, were reminders of young boys as young as seventeen, who were shot for whatever crime they where supposed to have committed. On and on goes the incredible historical data, every year and into the future, the site will develop. Small saplings planted only recently may take a quarter century to develop into a worthwhile scenic view, but then, it is for our children’s children to come and visit and be reminded of their forefathers courage and bravery.

For those interested the address is;

The National Memorial Arboretum

Croxhall Road,

Alrewas, Staffordshire,

DE13 7AR

Tel 01283 792333

e-mail

nmarboretum@btconnect.com

The First Flotilla L.B.A.

By S/M Peter D. Bird

Flotilla Officer:

Lieut. E.V. Flack R.N.V.R.

Divisional Officers:

S/Lt. W.D. Ensor R.N.V.R.

S/Lt. P.D. Bird R.N.V.R.

Attached:

Midn. T.H. Seaward R.N.V.R.

The Flotilla was based at H.M.S. Dragonfly, Hayling Island.

The flotilla assembled at 10.00pm on 5th June 1944 near the NAB Tower and set sail for the main assembly area south of the Isle of Wight.

Conditions were uncomfortable (Windforce 6) as each barge was loaded with 60/80 tons of stores, equipment, ammunition and food.

During 1943 on monthly training exercises the barges (max speed 6 kts.) always travelled light (empty) to the relevant exercise area. As such, they would have a freeboard of about 3’6” but when fully laden their freeboard would be about 18”. Due to the design with the ramp fitted in the stern, it was necessary to drop a kedge anchor forward and then beach by going astern into the surf. With experience gained on the exercises, of broaching-to in the surf, the exercise was usually cancelled if the wind reached force 5. On ‘D’ day the craft were fully laden and the wind was force 6!

Shortly after leaving ‘Picadily Circus’ south of the Isle of Wight, several barges were ‘shipping in green’ and eventually their engines became flooded. It soon became clear that it was impossible to maintain Flotilla formation and so, as the barges were spread out over a large area, it became every man for himself.

At midnight on 6th June, L.V.B. 45 was drifting helplessly when a trawler (also lost) appeared and took her in tow, landing as scheduled on Juno Beach at 06.00am on D+1.

L.B.V.’s 19 and 116 both foundered within sight of Juno Beach, and their crews were rescued. 119 also reported that their two stokers and a motor mechanic had been dragged from their engines unconscious due to exhaust fumes.

L.A.V. 20 was lost with all hands;- Midn T.H. Seaward, P.O. Coxn. L.C. severy, L/Sea W. Easterling, A.B. W.C. Smith, L/MM W.J. Sampson, Sto. D.P. Collins and Sto. W. Gibbin. A great loss to all their colleagues and friends. They must have been within sight of the beach as the first three are buried in the Bayeux Cemetery.

The Flotilla spent three months unloading stores and equipment from coasters which were anchored about a mile offshore. Together with the 2nd. Flotilla L.B.V. (Lieut. A.C. Prothhero R.N.V.R.) they were landing about 1,000 tons per day, across the beach and through the small harbour at Courseulles.

After three months Caen and Cherbourg had been taken and the front line was well inland. It was no longer necessary to land stores over the beach and so L.B.V.’s became redundant. Instructions came to hand over the barges to the Army in preparation for crossing the Rhine.

Consequently in September 1944 personnel of the First and Second flotillas returned to H.M.S. Dragonfly and disbanded.

For further details please refer to ‘Those wallowing Beauties’ by W.D. Jarman