Porpoises

[Alex van de Wetering]

Geoff,

Excellent to hear a genuine Porpoise was found! I am looking forward to seeing it behind the Sexton at Ver-sur-Mer.
The publication that George scanned is also the only printed info I can remember of the Porpoise that has any specific info...furthermore there are some beach pictures that show discarded Porpoises (run over?) and there is a Pathe movie that shows an ammo depot started with Porpoises.

Alex

[GeoffLeese]

Hi Alex.

Thanks for that - early days yet, but the restoration will DEFINITELY be done for the 2014 commemorations.

We'll have a beer together in the bar opposite and a photo taken by the Porpoise.......

Do you have any references for that information please?

Here are a couple of pictures of the recovery.

Wrong order, but I think the sense is obvious!

BR

Geoff

[Alex van de Wetering]

but the restoration will DEFINITELY be done for the 2014 commemorations.

We'll have a beer together in the bar opposite and a photo taken by the Porpoise.......

Sounds like an excellent idea!

Attached you will find some scans...all shots from the IWM archive. I am trying to find the film footage showing the porpoises stacked in a Normandy field in use as an ammo depot, but haven't found it yet.

First picture shows Shermans of 13/18th Hussars backing into the LCT with the porpoises being pulled backward with a chain. After the LCT landed, a special tow bar/frame was used to take the Porpoise onto the beach as can be seen in th picture with the Centaur. The first and second picture show the bar stowed on front of the Sherman hulls. The last picture shows at least two abandoned porpoises on the beach (St Aubin-sur-Mer???)


Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

I was sure there was pic somewhere of a Sexton and Porpoise in the same shot. Couldn't find it in any of my books, but here it is on the IWM website:

IWM 44931.jpg
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib...e.jpg?action=d

source: http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk

[GeoffLeese]

Thanks for those Alex.

I've passed them on to our curator.

BR

Geoff

[GeoffLeese]

Hi Alex.

Season's greetings to you.

The restoration is progressing well, and we've started putting together the pedagogic panel to explain the exhibit.

Our curator would like to use the left-hand most photograph that you sent.

Do you have it's original location please? Is it IWM? NAC? A reference number would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance and BR

Geoff

[Alex van de Wetering]

Geoff,

Good to hear the restoration is progressing. It will certainly be a unique exhibit and another reason to plan another trip to Normandy !

The picture you mention is from the IWM collection, from a series of pictures taken in Gosport by Sgt. Mapham. I don't know the exact number, but it must be close to H 38998, as it shows the same LCT beging loaded with 13/18 Hussars vehicles.

I was meaning to come back on the subject of the Pathe movie. It might not have been Pathe after all, as I can't find it on their website. In fact I have looked at all VHS, DVD and online sources I can think of, but can't find the "scene" I am looking for. If I remember correctly you see an ammo dump with a bunch of porpoise sleds, stacked one onto another and a Jeep is passing by. Maybe it rings any bells with someone else?

Here is "H 38998"
IWM 44757.jpg
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib...e.jpg?action=d

source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Could this be one of 86 Field Regt RA (Hertfordshire Yeomanry), "the only regiment to land Sexton SP Guns on D-Day (Juno Beach)"?

As per the link above: 86 Field Regt RA found that their Porpoises caused less trouble than expected. The C Troop diary records: "The Porpoises - those misbegotten children of the "War House" proved to be quite amenable to a wet landing and all were landed without any trouble. Perhaps this was as a result of the language used on them previously....".

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I was sure there was pic somewhere of a Sexton and Porpoise in the same shot. Couldn't find it in any of my books, but here it is on the IWM website:

IWM 44931.jpg

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Could this be one of 86 Field Regt RA (Hertfordshire Yeomanry), "the only regiment to land Sexton SP Guns on D-Day (Juno Beach)"?

As per the link above: 86 Field Regt RA found that their Porpoises caused less trouble than expected. The C Troop diary records: "The Porpoises - those misbegotten children of the "War House" proved to be quite amenable to a wet landing and all were landed without any trouble. Perhaps this was as a result of the language used on them previously....".

LCI(L) 295 in the background may be a clue as to where this photograph was taken. LCI(L) 295 was assigned to the RCN's 264th LCI(L) flotilla which sailed out of Weymouth with Force "G" for Gold Beach. For Op NEPTUNE, 295 was commanded by Lt (N) Peter G.R. Campbell (RCNVR).

[Alex van de Wetering]

Two more Porpoises have surfaced in Ver-sur-Mer and are now for sale at Military Classic Vehicles in Normandy.
Geoff; could these be from the same location where yours came from?

In time to be restored for D-day 2024 and to be dragged behind a Sherman, Sexton or Centaur on the beach?! What a sight it would be

more info: https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryCla.../?__tn__=-UC*F