The Regiment left the Marshalling Area and moved down to GOSPORT to embark. The move was made in LCT packets, the packets being mixed, containing a portion of Shermans, AA tanks, Recce and Ech, also all HQs were split. The move to the ‘hards’ began at 0530 and each packet moved at varying intervals, the last leaving in the afternoon.
There was considerable congestion at the hards, as two embarkation points previously allotted were at the last moment used for the landing of casualties. Vehicles were embarked in LCTs Mk 4 which carried 9 vehicles of which 8 could be Shermans. When loaded the LCTs joined a much larger convoy and lay off shore from 1 to 3 hours, finally sailing sometime during the afternoon. Two LCTs had to return to the hards owing to excessive loading and these unfortunately included both B & C Sqns troops of ‘Fireflys’ and the COs tank. Both the CO and the Adjt overcame the peril of the sea by jumping from their LCT to another ship and there joining the 2i/c (Major AW Grant MC) on his LCT, whilst on the move.
We sailed throughout the hours of darkness and had an uneventful crossing except that one LCT containing RAF personnel was sunk, believed by an E-Boat.