The wind was fierce, the English Channel surrounded me. The harsh waves crashing against the sturdy walls of the boat. I hoped that the walls would hold. Adrenaline swelling inside of me. The putrid smell of sick clogged my nose; I couldn’t help but notice my comrades making the sign of the cross.

Looking to my left and to my right as far as the eye can see were war ships.

                         My body started to freeze up,

         The beach a few yards out everybody preparing to

                                        get of the boat and run into the death-defying sea.

        That moment the whistle blew, the ramp fell and…

                                                                                              it was time.

That moment I realised the strength of the water was stronger then I imagined. My legs weakend; I began breathing faster, heart thumping rapidly.

Hands shaking I held my gun above the water level, which was up to my waist. The world around me was like running in slow motion but dodging bullets at the same time.

The sound of engines behind us, machine guns firing and men shouting was deafening my ears.

                                           Then it hit me…  

My friend had been shot and I couldn’t help him. We hadn’t even reached the beach yet…

but I had to carry on. Feeling nauseous I reached the shore, but there wasn’t anywhere to hide or dive behind.

                   Blood covered everything but it was my blood…

                                                              I had been shot …without time to react I was down.

This was the DAY the day I felt the fear! I felt like I was about to die, my heart was rapidly beating; I thought the Germans were going to hear me and my crew.

My hands trembled in fear; my face was covered in dirt, dust and salty water. Was fear the only thing I thought of? I prayed to God that I will survive. I felt claustrophobic. I wanted  everyone to stay away from me. I felt the death ahead of me. The boat was gushing side to side it became rougher and rougher. Could this be the end of me?

I froze! I thought about my precious family. We were near SWORD BEACH  and we could see little pill boxes scattered around the beach. In front of the pills was hedgehogs were there to block the amphibious ships from coming in.

I can remember it like it was yesterday, it was the saddest thing in my life.

I was worried, scared and anxious all at once. I didn’t want to do it.

I could smell the reeking sick all around the boat.

I could see lots of Higgins boats from the left and right of me.

My throat was as dry as a rock that had been in the sun for hours.

I was so tired; you didn’t get much sleep in war, as you had to constantly be alarmed, otherwise who knows what could happen.

I was shivering, shivering because the sea kept crashing onto the boat and getting into every corner of it.

I could hear the captain shouting at me telling me to get ready for the attack.

My heart was in my stomach!

The whistle blew with a piercing screech.

I quickly grabbed my trusty rifle  and made a run for it.

The water was up to my waist, I was in pain ,my arm was aching, I couldn’t keep hold of my gun  , my comrades kept encouraging me to go , but the Germans had seen us !

The deafening sound of the gun fire pierced my ears, but I knew I had to keep going, even if I died I would have done it for Britain.

I had made it to the beach when all of a sudden I had been hit by a bullet in my arm , I screeched in pain as I fell to the floor, for  the last thing I had seen was a German’s  face .

I was lucky enough for my friend to turn round and help me back up again, for he knew I would do the same.

I had reached the rocks and I was safe for now…

By Lily Torode

Our lives had changed. It had begun. My comrades and I were shivering and petrified. The crashing waves flew over the boats leaving us drenched.  I felt frozen and depressed; it was the sea that made me feel like that for sure. Minutes felt like hours as we crossed the sea, the whistle blew with an ear piercing screech, and the heavy metal ramp had been lowered. Men fell as they ran across the endless beach. The sea was turning a dark red as many men were crucified…

Bullets narrowly dodged me and made an explosion in the sand making the partials of sand prickle my skin. I was three quarters over the beach when my body went into a mental shut down.

I had been shot.

All I remember is that my body hit the damp sand and I could hear the shouting of troops and the thud of footsteps.

I was lucky to tell the story to this day.

Danny Allen.

The day had finally come; it had dawned on me, as soon as I found out the truth about the war, this wasn’t a war it was a slaughter. It was so loud I couldn’t hear myself think from the shouting, the waves and so much more, the acidic smell of vomit stanched the place, I felt nauseous from the boat rocking from side to side. “30 SECONDS TILL THE RAMP OPENS!” The commander shouted, I had my heart in my mouth, I counted down “29, 28, 27, 26” The gates came down, everybody ran past, as I saw them getting gunned down instantly, I slowly walked forward, and into the water it was up to my chest, I walked forward tripping over fallen men, and taking cover with the survivors, I made it to the beach, I was relived but as I did,

 

I got shot… in the leg, if you are reading this I have either bled to death, or alive somewhere, but if I have passed out please, help me.