Porpoises

[John McGillivray]

Here is some information about the Sherbrooke Fusiliers from John Gilbert’s book “Bloody Buron! Canada’s D-Day + 1”

Craft Serials Giving Details of Loads

LCT - Serial 1715
Major E.W.L. Arnold, Capt. B.M. Veilleux 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 1 Humber Scout Car, 2 Cars 5-cwt, 4 porpoises, 35 personnel

LCT - Serial 1716
Major J.C. Cave, Lt LA. MacArthur, Lt LA. Maclean 1 Sherman V(C), 2 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 4 porpoises, 17 personnel

LCT - Serial 1717
Capt. K.Y. Dick 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 cars 5-cwt, 1 Humber Scout Car, three 3 ton lorries, 4 porpoises, 46 personnel

LCT - Serial 1718
Lt. A.R. Truax 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry GS, 4 porpoises, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1719
Major G.S. Mahon 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1720
Lt. K.L. Steeves 2 Sherman V(C), 4 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 4 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 40 personnel

LCT - Serial 1721
Capt. S.V. Radley Walters, Capt. M.H.Bateman 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 42 personnel

LCT - Serial 1722
Major V.O. Walsh 1 Sherman V(C), 5 Sherman III, 2 Stuarts, one 3 ton lorry, 5 porpoises, 1 motorcycle, 41 personnel

LCT - Serial 1723
Capt. N.H. Welsh, Lt-Col M.B.K. Gordon, Capt. G.W. Cote, Lt. H.D. Spielman, Lt. T.C. Stevens, Lt. C.F. Thompson 1 Sherman V(C), 6 Sherman III, 2 Humber Scout Cars, 1-15 cwt, 1 car 5-cwt, 5 porpoises, 41 personnel

LST - Serial 1740
Capt. J.H. Gilbert 3 Sherman III, 4-3ton lorries GS, one 3 ton lorry stores, 4 motorcycles, 31 personnel

LST - Serial 1741
Lt. D.H. Bradley 3 Sherman III, five 3 ton lorries GS, 32 personnel

LST - Serial 1743
one 3 ton stores, 1 motorcycle loaded, 5 men

LST - Serial 1744
one 15-cwt GS, one 15-cwt water, one 15-cwt battery charger, 8 men

From the Sherbrooke War Diary, (also from John Gilbert’s book).

2nd June 44: Troops remained in marshalling area all day.

3rd June 44: In the order of craft serials—move off from Camp 17 at 0200 hrs proceed to G -3 Hard at Gosport. Loading commenced at 0600, porpoises were chained under tanks. On completion of loading LCTs (Landing Craft Tanks) moved out into the Solent and anchored off Calshot at 1300 hrs. Compo rations were loaded and blankets. The men slept and read for most of the day after chaining their vehicles and camouflaging them.

6th June: The regiment landed at 1215 hrs on Nan White Sector, just west of Bernieres sur Mer and moved through town. There was much congestion on the beach and in the town and a long wait resulted while this was cleared. During the short halt on the road the marching infantry of the NNS Highlanders loaded on the tanks and porpoises [ammunition carriers] and rode the remaining distance to the assembly area Elder, arriving at 1800 hrs. All tanks and vehicles on LCTs arrived, those on LSTs did not beach. There were no casualties to personnel up to this point.