The story
0300 hours
Battalion ‘Marching Party’ of 17 Officers and 472 Other Ranks under command of Major W.S. STEWART BROWN, D.S.O. entrained at EASTBOURNE Station and left for their Marshalling Area.
0400 hours
Battalion ‘Vehicle Party’ formed up and left for Marshalling Area “T” at WANSTEAD: travelling via HAILSHAM, FOREST ROW, STREATHAM, BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE, WANSTEAD, EPPING FOREST.
During the journey a “flying bomb” landed quite close to the column but did no damage.
1130 hours
On arrival at the Marshalling Area, last stages of Waterproofing were carried out, and All Ranks issued with two 24 hours pack rations, 1 emergency ration, tommy cooker and hexamine fuel, packet of biscuits, 20 cigarettes, and 3 vomit bags.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.