"After launching we had difficulty in getting our propellers down, but finally got under way. I reported '29 delivered,' meaning that 19 tanks, or the whole squadron had launched. On the way in Tpr. Meadows and Sgt. Pelkey stood with Capt. Wildgoose on the outside of the tank to support the front struts which were threatening to break. Water kept coming over the screen and several times it seemed certain that it would collapse. However, we finally touched down and as we moved in through the surf, heavy splashes appeared on the water and everyone got inside the tank. Capt. Wildgoose gave the order to 'break struts and deflate' and then the command 'action.' At this time the tank was about 50 yds. from a round pillbox on the beach mounting a 75 mm gun and so carefully disguised that it looked like a house.  

"The gun was firing at us, but could not hit us because of its limited traverse—we were at an angle inaccessible to it. Sgt. Pelkey and the gunner blasted the pillbox with HE and AP. The driver, Tpr. Huckell, asked permission to move forward, as there was water coming into the engine compartment and several banks had cut out. Even as he spoke another wave crashed over the tank bringing the water up to the ankles of the turret crew. Huckell, deafened temporarily by the gun, did not realize that his motor had been killed by the water. Realizing that the tank had been swamped and was immobile Capt. Wildgoose ordered Sgt. Pelkey to engage targets until the crew could get out. As the electrical trigger had stopped functioning when the water came in, Sgt. Pelkey, using the mechanical one, fired about 25 rounds of 75 mm and some co-ax. Finally Huckell and Meadows called from the driver's compartment to say that they were up to their necks in water and would have to get out. Then the whole crew reached the back deck of the swamped tank. We inflated the dinghy and boarded it on the back deck since machine-gun bullets were clipping the water all round and we were not too anxious to get away from the protection of the tank.

"As the tide rose higher we cast off and drifted to the left, using land paddles to avoid mines. After attempting to hail two LCT's and managing to avoid being run down by an AVRE we finally beached and got to the shelter of some dunes out of the way of the infantry. Having no tank we spent the whole day on the beaches helping to bandage the wounded infantry. After the tanks and infantry moved inland, we walked down the beaches where we met two more "B" Sqn. crews whose tanks had been lost. These crews were commanded by Sgt. J. M. Bailey and Lieut. B. Deans. Later in the day we were joined by Tpr. Dixon from Maj. Duncan's crew and Lieut. H. A. Mills' crew. About 1500 hours two ME 109's dropped bombs on our beach and strafed another beach further away. From midday on the beach was heavily pounded by artillery fire, but we managed to keep safely out of the way. At 2100 hours Lieut. Deans gathered the party and marched us to an assembly area."