The Chronicle, Summer 2019

34 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Nevill Lawton Smith had joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1939, later transferring to the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion. He had spent the first years of the war in Northern Ireland and his first real action, after rigorous training in Scotland, was D-Day itself. His assault craft put to sea on 3rd June only to be recalled in the early hours of the following morning when a storm hit. During this time, Lawton Smith was very sea sick, like so many others, not ideal preparation of what was to follow! Aged 26, he was a captain in an anti-tank platoon and landed at dawn on D-Day with the first wave on Sword, their task to set up guns to defend the landing forces against the German Panzer divisions. Once off the beach, Lawton Smith’s unit moved towards

Caen encountering stiff resistance. He was mentioned in despatches after single- handedly loading and firing an anti-tank gun, after its crew had been killed. Later he was transferred to the Gordon Highlanders who had taken heavy losses and he was on the front line in actions across the Ardennes. During one advance, he had the narrowest escape as the two men by his side were both killed but a bullet passed through his beret and he survived.

Left and above: Sword Beach D-Day Memorials in Ouistreham, Normandy

It was not only on Sword Beach that OSE played their part on D-Day. Many fought on other beaches or supported the invasion in the air or at sea. Amongst them were the aforementioned Michael Parker on board HMS Warspite, from which the first salvo of the day was fired, and Peter Forrow was also offshore serving with the Royal Marines.

For a comprehensive and absorbing account of OSE involvement in the Second World War, look out for Chris’s book, Let it Roar, Let it Rage, We Shall Come Through , to be published in the autumn, 80 years after the outbreak of this brutal conflict. You can read more about this important publication in the autumn edition of the Chronicle .