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lives lived

take a moment to walk in their shoes

Operation Neptune

6/6/2019

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Getting Ready

Bob Perry well remembers the three weeks prior to the June 6 invasion when he and his shipmates, along with the crews of thousands of ships jamming the ports all along the south coast of England were confined to their vessels as a security measure.
 
No shore leave was permitted in order to avoid any risk of vital information, even conjecture, as to the timing of the invasion reaching the enemy ears.
 
Those final days were spent checking and re-checking equipment, there was an air of expectancy as well as anxiety. Last minute letters were written, not to be mailed until the invasion was under way.
Picture
Picture

Collage featuring Merrick Jones, who sailed on the Canada Clipper II and Bob Perry who sailed on HMCS Thunder. Both men were members of the board of the Elgin Military Museum.

Someone has to go First

June 6 was but a few minutes old when HMCS Thunder, the leader of a flotilla of seven minesweepers, headed out into the storm-ravaged English Channel to begin the hazardous task of clearing the five safe passages through the German minefield.  They were tasked with clearing Channel Four in the American sector of the operation. The safety of all the sailors and assault troops on board the more than 7,000 ships of all types from the large battleships down to the smallest infantry landing craft, depended on the minesweepers playing their part well.
 
It was a highly dangerous mission also, because it took them under the noses of the enemy and within range of his shore guns.
Picture
HMCS Thunder, a Bangor Class minesweeper Powered bytwo vertical triple-expansion steam engines which produced approximately 24000 horsepower,
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    The Elgin Military Museum has a vast collection of letters, articles, poems and pictures of veterans and others who served their community over a period of two hundred years.. This blog is our way of sharing them with you.

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  • The Elgin Military Museum
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Research Veterans Collection
  • The Services
    • ARMY >
      • D-Day
      • The Elgins
      • The Perfect Man
      • The Kangaroos
      • Afghanistan
      • Links to Army Stories
    • Navy >
      • HMCS St. Thomas
      • Radar Man
      • Links to Navy Stories
    • Air Force >
      • Flying 001
      • Commonwealth Air Training Plan
      • First Radar Dome
      • Links to Air Force Stories
    • Women in the Services >
      • Donna Price
    • Services for the Services
  • Stuff
    • The Boss
    • The Chair
    • Pride Pets & Pests
    • National Winner
  • EXHIBITS & EVENTS
    • Cold War at Home
    • Vimy Centennial at EMM
    • THE VIMY POPPY
    • Fragments
    • Hall of Honour
    • Remember
    • Model Ships
    • Jumbo
  • Plan Visit
    • Tours EMM
    • Tours HMCS Ojibwa
  • Education
  • Blog
  • Remember
  • Remember