Hmlct(cb) 2041

[Tony Chapman]

I was speaking to Norman Vingoe the other day who was second in command of the above 'Concrete Buster' the MK5 LCT(CB) 2041 during the D-Day landings in Normandy....where she was due with the combined craft of the 102nd Mk5 LCT Flotilla delivering 26th Assault Squadron Royal Engineers and the 105th LCT(A)(HE) Flotilla delivering the Centaurs and Sherman tanks of the 2nd Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, the whole assigned at Courseulles sur Mer in support of the 7th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division.
Norman told me that he has long since regretted never discovering the name of the Canadian Army officer in command of the single Sherman tank mounted on 2041's firing platform......likely a forlorn hope I know but I wondered if anyone within this websites readership might know the answer......?


Tony Chapman
Official Archivist/Historian
LST and Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy)

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Tony Chapman

Norman told me that he has long since regretted never discovering the name of the Canadian Army officer in command of the single Sherman tank mounted on 2041's firing platform......likely a forlorn hope I know but I wondered if anyone within this websites readership might know the answer......

Hi Tony;

If I'm not mistaken, the officer you are referring to was Lieutenant Fleming Ladd Irving of the 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars), C.A.C., who was killed later in the morning while advancing inland when his tank was hit.

Cheers

[Tony Chapman]

Hello Mark
Thanks for what was a rapid response to my query concerning the name of the tank commander present with the lone Sherman tank onboard LCT(CB) 2041 of 333 Support Flotilla on D-Day.
Do you know of any documentation that would confirm your belief that it was in fact Lt Fleming Irving of the 1st Hussars...I am sure that Norman will be pleased to know this detail but saddened to learn that the men he carried in to Courseulles did not survive the day....!!!
On Juno's left flank at Bernieres and St Aubin sur Mer Lt Robert 'Pardy' Pardingtons HMLCT(CB) 2338 stood in with the combined craft of the 106th and 103rd LCT(A)(HE) Flotilla.......do you have similar details concerning the officers/crews carried in by Pardy and what became of them..? The 2338 had two Shermans raised on the firing platform.
The coxswain of 2338 was hit in the neck as the craft approached but was saved by the quick thinking of someone who inserted what was, it seems, an empty biro refill into his throat which allowed the coxswain to breathe until full treatment could be given.
Tony

Tony Chapman
Official Archivist/Historian
LST and Landing Craft Association (Royal Navy)

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Tony Chapman

Hello Mark
Thanks for what was a rapid response to my query concerning the name of the tank commander present with the lone Sherman tank onboard LCT(CB) 2041 of 333 Support Flotilla on D-Day.
Do you know of any documentation that would confirm your belief that it was in fact Lt Fleming Irving of the 1st Hussars...I am sure that Norman will be pleased to know this detail but saddened to learn that the men he carried in to Courseulles did not survive the day....!!!

Hi Tony;

My primary source regarding Lt F.L. Irving is A HISTORY OF THE FIRST HUSSARS REGIMENT, published by the regiment in 1980.

Originally Posted by Tony Chapman

On Juno's left flank at Bernieres and St Aubin sur Mer Lt Robert 'Pardy' Pardingtons HMLCT(CB) 2338 stood in with the combined craft of the 106th and 103rd LCT(A)(HE) Flotilla.......do you have similar details concerning the officers/crews carried in by Pardy and what became of them..? The 2338 had two Shermans raised on the firing platform.

The two carried on 2338 were from the 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse), C.A.C. (See attached photo). I'll see if I have the crew names on file.

The subject of the "Concrete Busting" Fireflies mounted on LCTs was discussed four years ago on this forum in a thread entitled "CB" Fireflies, which was started by John Tapsell on 11 July 2004 and can be found here: http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...ight=Fireflies

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Attached photo shows the two Fireflies of the Fort Garry Horse aboard HMLCT(CB) 2338.