George Frederick Weightman Sergeant - 56th Brigade - 50th Infantry Division Version Française

I was born on the 13^th October 1909 in Leicester and I joined the Territorial Army in 1939.
When the war was declared I joined a searchlight unit and was trained as a Bofors gunner. I rose to the rank of Sergeant and served in England and Scotland on the coastal defences at the beginning of the war.
I was stationed at Hastings in the south of England when I received orders to join the 56^th Infantry Brigade early in 1944. First I went to Scotland on a waterproofing course. This was to ensure that the vehicles used in the invasion would be reliable when landing in the sea on invasion day.

In early May the invasion force was being built up together in Southern England. I was the stationed in the NewForest, which was ideal camouflage for all the weaponry to be used on invasion day.
I was then ordered to Southampton to await with thousands of other English soldiers for the start of D-Day.
We stayed on the streets of Southampton for 5 - 6 days. Local people helped with cups of tea and sandwiches from their meagre rations.

We then boarded at Southampton a L.C.T., a Landing Craft Tank. Big enough to take men and armour across the Channel. The L.C.T. then moved out into the Channel to a position where all the invasion fleet was to gather. We remained, on board in all 4 - 5 days knowing nothing and doing nothing.
The first day designated for Harding was June 5^th but due to bad weather this was cancelled. But at night later on June 5^th the fleet had a message from General Eisenhower, it said: "Let's go boys". Anchors were up and during night + early hours of June 6^th we crossed the Channel.
I embarked from the L.C.T. on to a Rhino, a big landing craft, about 1 mile from the shore. I went in on the second wave to Gold Beach where the first wave had secured a hole.
We were strafed by German planes, bombarded by coastal batteries and harassed by German snipers.

My regiment reformed near Bayeux, after landing and going forward. We fought at Bayeux, Tilly sur Seulles. Big battles were fought before breaking out.
From Tilly we fought at Villers Bocage, a big battle and many men, both sides, fell.
Then on to Saint-Lô, another battle where the English met up with the Americans. We fought there for 2 days. Then to Falaise, where the Germans were trapped by encircling, Americans, English, Canadians and Free French, this was the battle of Falaise gap. The Germans suffered a mighty defeat. Next was Le Havre were the German garrison fought but in the end surrendered.

After being in action for some time, I was rested for 4 - 5 days near St Romaire.
The back to battle pushing the Bosch back to Germany.

George Frederick Weightman     (November 11, 2003)