The troop ship anchored near TRENTONIAN and the French Canadians began to disembark into landing craft on 7 June 1944.
Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen B. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK084)

When we speak of the Normandy Invasion or D-Day as it is more commonly called, photos of soldiers hitting the beaches are usually the first images we think of. The hard fought assault on five beaches to gain a foot hold on Fortress Europe on the morning of 6 June 1944.

Very little is discussed about how those landing craft arrived at the beachhead and the extraordinary effort not only to put “Boots on the Beach,” but also to bring material, munitions, supplies and reinforcements in the hours, days, weeks and months to keep the Allied Armies moving forward from the beaches.

Ships of all types and nationalities surround HMCS TRENTONIAN as she arrives at the invasion area on the morning of 7 June 1944.
Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK078)

For the Naval Forces involved in D-Day, codenamed Operation OVERLORD, the assault on Europe began on 31 May 1944. The Naval portion of the invasion was codenamed Operation NEPTUNE and would see the movement of over 6900 ships from ports all around Great Britain. The ships ranged from Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes, Minesweepers, Motor Torpedo Boats, Landing Ships and craft of all types. Also included in this assault was many Merchant Navy ships, including, Troop Ships, Cargo Ships, Hospital Ships and more. Canada contributed fifteen Destroyers, eleven Frigates, Nineteen Corvettes, sixteen Minesweepers, fifteen Motor Torpedo Boats, two Landing Ships, fourteen Assault Landing Craft, thirty Infantry Landing Craft in three Flotillas and one Beach Commando Unit, manned by over 10,000 RCN Sailors.

View from HMCS MAYFLOWER off the Normandy beachhead.
Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL -ROB050)

The first movement on NEPTUNE’s timetable was on 31 May 1944 when a convoy of sixty old and derelict naval and merchant ships left Oban, Scotland escorted by the corvettes HMCShips TRENTONIAN (SOE), MAYFLOWER, DRUMHELLER, RIMOUSKI, LINDSAY & HMS NASTURTIUM. Destined to be sunk off the five Normandy beachheads as blockships to protect the smaller craft from the elements, These breakwaters were codenamed Gosseberry’s.

In the days that followed, more and more ships put to sea, landing ships and craft boarded soldiers, tanks, munitions and sailed from their respective ports, all with intent to arrive off Normandy for the greatest Naval Operation in the history of mankind.

HMCS WASAGA’s Badge of the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla, depicting a naval broom over a sea mine set on a maple leaf base. Each ship’s name in the flotilla is on a cap tally below the un-official badge. The badge was displayed on the funnel of the minesweepers, this badge was scanned from a Christmas card. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM326)

First to arrive off the beaches were ten flotilla’s of minesweepers. During the night of 5 June with only the cover of darkness, these small warships set out on possibly the single most important task of the invasion. Sweeping the approaches to the beaches of German mines. If they failed, not a single landing craft could reach the beach. The all-Canadian 31st Minesweeping Flotilla was in the forefront of these nighttime operations.

Once the channels were cleared of mines the Bombardment force, consisting of Battleships, cruisers and destroyers, including HMCS SIOUX and ALGONQUIN took up position off the French coast to wait the order to commence firing on the German positions ashore. This was followed by the multitude of Troop Ships, Landing Ships and Landing craft, including HMCS PRINCE DAVID and PRINCE HENRY and the three Landing craft Flotillas.

HMCS Prince David, infantry landing ship, at Portsmouth 8 June 1944. Many of the ships allocated to the initial phases of the invasion had to return for supplies. All of Prince David’s landing craft were damaged, sunk or beached during the first day requiring replacements.
Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen B. Singleton photo, courtesy of Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK114)

One can only imagine the sense of awe for the Allied Soldiers and Sailors to witness the 6900 ships as the first rays of light began to expose the sea. Also the sense of fear for the German soldiers, witnessing the largest Naval Armada ever assembled off their positions.

During the planning phase of the invasion, estimates were given to a very high casualty rate. Fortunately for the Allies, the day was a success, over 150,000 Allied Troops were landed ashore at a cost of 9,000 casualties.

Operations for the Naval forces did not end with the invasion, bombardment of enemy positions continued until the soldiers moved beyond the reach of the big naval guns. The steady supply of material, munitions and reinforcements continued.

Concrete Caisson to be used in one of the Mulberry harbours under tow. 
Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen B. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR.

With no usable harbour available, the OVERLORD plan called for two harbours to be built off the beaches of Normandy, each the size of the Port of Dover. Sections of the harbours were pre-fabricated and brought over by tugboats under the escort of corvettes. Incredibly the first harbour was offloading merchant ships directly to shore within three days of the invasion.

Below is a link to a series of photographs from my collection of the days leading up to the invasion and subsequent operations in the days after. These photos have been graciously donated to the Roger Litwiller RCN Photo Collection by the RCN Veterans that were serving in these ships or by their families. These photos are unique as they present the perspective of our Canadian Sailors and what was important to them.

Roger Litwiller RCN Photo Collection -Operation Neptune

If you enjoy the content I create and find value in the articles on this website, please feel free to click on the coffee icon on the bottom right of the webpage and “Buy me a Coffee!” Your contribution will ensure that I can continue to provide the stories of these incredible Canadians and the Canadian Navy. Thank you for your support. Cheers, Roger