- Contributed by
- rosalind_shearman(nee_morris)
- People in story:
- Rosalind Shearman (nee Morrris), Babs Masters
- Location of story:
- Stokes Bay, Gosport
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4477430
- Contributed on:
- 18 July 2005
In June 1944, I was 18 years old and awaiting call-up into the ATS. My girl-friend, Babs Masters, lived at Alverstoke, Gosport. The sea-front at Alverstoke, which faces the Isle of Wight, had been declared out of bounds to all except local residents.
We were taking an evening stroll along the sea wall, observing the large Armada of hundreds of ships awaiting departure to the Second Front. We had been living for two months with troops assembling in the area for the invasion),
Suddenly, all the ships started to move as one, as if by a hidden command. We looked at our watches and saw that the time was 9 pm exactly. There was no-one in sight around Stokes Bay, apart from one soldier on guard. We felt that we had been privieged to see the beginning of something momentous.
The next day, June 6th, we heard the announcement on the wireless that the Allied armies had landed in Normandy.
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo 