Moffet

Hi - my father Rodger Moffet was 1st Bt KOSB D-Coy. He got as far as Etrepagny and contracted Pleurisy (brought on from his account from being in a heavy waterlogged trench but not sure where). I have some extra information for you:

Father always claimed they landed at 10:10am he was quite adamant about the time. LC Captain rammed the craft up the beach and they landed on dry sand. His Friend Jeff Henderson who was in the same Coy went back to Normandy many times in the years soon after the war and he gave us a hand drawn map of the movements in the first days as well as a long description.

Dad had lots of stories some funny some very grim. His experience of the landing was that he exited the beach via a small road, there were garages on one side and what was left of a patisserie on the other, he noticed that the garages had been crudely painted red then stumbled on something, he went to kick it out the way and realised it was a boot with the foot still in it. Only then did he make sense of the scene, the patisserie window had been booby trapped and some lads from the RUR had went to grab something and were blown up – it wasn’t paint on the garages opposite.

Father maintained he crossed Pegasus on D Day but then they went back (possibly St Aubin D'Arquenay as you suggest) My dad was a signaller so tended to be around Major Rennie a lot with his massive wireless pack (as a matter of fact that's why he was partially deaf) In the attack at Cambes wood Rennie's jeep took a hit, Rennie was blown clear but my father was nearby and the blast knocked him against a tree.

19th July there was heavy fighting in an attempt to take Troarn - L/Cpl H Hardman (nicknamed 'Joe' because he looked like Stalin) was killed there when he tried to dash across the town square - two bren guns providing covering fire both jammed as he was in the middle of the square - he was cut down instantly. On the eve of the assault on Troarn my father had an awful premonition (that's something considering what they had already been through) It was his good fortune that he was singled out the next morning for the detail to collect all the blankets and other items and help take them back down the line – he said many time that it almost certainly saved his life because he was convinced this was his number up. Ive spoken to many of lads that were involved at Troarn over the years and they described it as a really tough engagement with the town being taken and lost many times. The worst of the fighting was around the town square

Rodger Moffet (Son) 2019