Captain Francois Jean presenting award
and the teardrops when a loved one
weeps”….
After the Service I was told that there were
many hankies out for this very moving
acceptance speech but being up there
with Pat I could not verify that, perhaps my
own eyes were too misty.
So what about Pat`s story, I have
purposely left it to the end, this will allow
us to remember him and those like him
who fought and died on that particular
day….
“La Marseillaise”
own very bitter experience of the landing
and until a short time ago none of us a had
been aware of it.
Pat had sought permission to respond
to the award with a speech of his own, I
publish it here in its entirety:
… “I am honoured to have been awarded
the insignia of the Legion de Honneur and
74
to accept it also on behalf of my shipmates
who perished on board LCH185.
I would like to read the following poem
would, I think it is appropriate:“There are no roses on a sailor`s grave, nor
wreath upon a storm tossed waves,
No heartbroken words carved on a stone,
just shipmates lying there alone,
The only tributes are the seagull`s sweeps
June 6th 1944, D-Day.
Pat vividly remembers that day; he
was 19 years old and a Royal Naval
Telegraphist serving on LCH (Landing Craft
Headquarters) Ship 185. The vessel was
responsible for receiving and transmitting
signals to and from shore in support of
landing forces at “Sword Beach”. The
beach was to the extreme left of the Allied
landings and the forces landing there had
the objective of linking up with Airborne
Forces to the east of the River Orne. Pat
says” We landed about forty Royal Naval
Commandos. The fighting onshore was
ferocious and the gunfire and air attacks
constant”.
LCH185 remained offshore continuing its
duties under the severe battle conditions,
the ship was the target for shore batteries
and also German aircraft and naval forces.
The crew were unable to get proper rest
in their off duty periods, at the time they
were working two hours on duty and two