Normandy Landings
W B Carter
Athena Press
D-day, or Operation Overlord, is renowned as the largest single-day invasion of all time. The sheer scale of the event was astonishing, with 156,000 allied troops landing in Normandy, and 195,000 personnel involved in the battle. Among them was the author, 19-year-old Brian Carter.
Written in 2004, some 60 years after the event itself, Normandy Landings provides a first hand account of the fateful day from the young Lieutenant’s perception, following the narrative structure of a diary. From his training experiences to the days following the attack, the author provides a valuable genuine insight into one of the greatest British victories of the Second World War.
The young Naval officer managed to take some photos of the operation, which he includes throughout the piece. Images range from that of his craft, the beach landings, sinking ships and even German prisoners of war, which add some visual imagery and allows us to not only get into the thoughts of the Carter, but also see the whole experience though his eyes.
What differentiates this account from standard history book is the powerful emotion and realism Carter delivers. Although he says that the book is written from memory, his intricate descriptions help to create a notion that the event has just occurred. In particular, when he describes the shower of bullets we can almost hear the ringing of the machine gun and the dropping of the bombs.
From the opening pages of these memoirs, it becomes evident that the mental wounds are still raw, and have clearly stayed with the author. He discloses a concern of his: ‘One could not help wondering whether those who had complete breakdowns ever recovered.’ Many comparisons can be drawn to the psychological effects of war and also to current day, with post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers and veterans a very current issue.
The author is successful in keeping the reader gripped to his tale, which arguably reflects the suspense and fear felt by himself and his comrades during the lead-up to D-Day. As his craft approaches the beach he describes the sky as ‘growing darker with only the noise if our engines it gave me a rather ghostly feeling.’
An ambience of anxiety is created throughout as the writer mirrors his emotional state and creating sympathy as he reveals, ‘I found it difficult to remain calm and gave my orders without showing any signs of panic. My mouth had suddenly gone dry…the thought of showing that one is frightened is the most frightening thing of all.’ This throws the reader directly into the situation and into the shoes of the soldier as if we are going through the experience with him.
Carter effectively tells the account of D-day in delicate and graceful manner, but it is not all doom and gloom and he occasionally attempts a little lighthearted humour. When he describes the ship’s rationing of toilet paper the veteran mockingly says: ‘It seemed rather odd that in a days’ time we might be dead, and so much importance should have been put on toilet roll.’ It is light comments like these that proved that amongst the fear, a sense of duty for their country is clear.
Normandy Landings reveals the stories behind the facts of D-day, laid bare. Written from memory over 60 years after the event itself, it is honest and revealing. Although Britain has just celebrated the event’s 65th anniversary, the story will never cease to overwhelm, and it seems fitting to be told again as a mark of respect for these veterans. The truths unraveled between these pages are a sharp realisation of how much we owe these gallant men who helped us to victory.
Review by Rhea Johnson
