Stratford man, now 99, was in first wave of D-Day attacks on German positions
THE memories of D-Day are still vivid for Philip Sweet from Stratford who was 19 when he took part in the very first wave of attacks on German positions at the start of the liberation of Europe in 1944.
Now aged 99 and looking forward to his 100th birthday in October, Philip’s was second in command of a landing craft that was transporting tanks on Gold Beach at La Riviere on the Normandy coast during the world’s biggest amphibious invasion.
“It was an incredible occasion,” Philip told the Herald. “The sea was dreadfully rough. You had a job to do so you concentrate and get the job done. Later on you think, good God – did I do that? There was immense pride in our armed forces.
As we reached the beach the rear of our tank got caught on an underwater obstacle and we were literally stuck on the beach, it wasn’t until the 19th of June – the day of a great gale – that the tide rose and the tank was swept back off the obstacle. I was involved in the ship to shore operation of moving stores to the troops on land.”
As the battle continued to rage, Philip’s landing craft became a makeshift holding area for POWs.
“I saw plenty of German soldiers 200 or so at a time who were held there before being transferred to a ship and brought back to England,” Philip said.
His war in Europe came to a close when Philip fell ill and was taken to a tented hospital in Bayeux suffering severe pains in his appendix. Later he was flown back to England where he saw out his wartime naval service in Plymouth.
Philip returned to the place of his birth – Stratford – and married his girlfriend from before the war, the late Jean Pickin, and the couple had four children. The family now has grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Philip, who is a former King Edward VI pupil, became an auctioneer at a Stratford company A M Bailey Fruit and Wholesalers and was given the Freedom of Stratford for service to his country in the war.
Within the last few years Philip received the Legion d’honneur which is the highest French order of merit for military service in recognition of his part in the liberation of France.
Philip is off to the arboretum today with his cousin for the commemoration service. He takes with him his memories of Gold Beach and those brave colleagues form all the armed forces which didn’t come home after D-Day.
