Page 2

THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NORMANDY

D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5 -- MIDNIGHT JUNE 6

What is your full name? Roger William David Thomson

What is your present address? Eaglethorpe House
Warmington
Peterborough
Northants

Telephone number: ELTON 270

What was your unit, division, corps? HMS Sidmouth (leader of the
Ninth Minesweeping Flotilla, Force J)

Where did you land and at what time?

What was your rank and age on June 6, 1944? Commander, Royal Navy
38

Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Avice Margaret Thomson
Did you have any children at that time? Yes - 3 sons

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? On assuming
command of the flotilla in February 1944.

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you
remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?
Main preoccupations were navigation (extreme accuracy
being required), and watching other ships and the general
conduct of the operation.

Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that
the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire
when the troops came in.)
I heard no rumors, but was not likely to.

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
No. But I wrote an account later. See plain sheet.