D-Day 1944
one man’s part in the Normandy invasion
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any towns and villages can recount their part in wartime events, and
Arlesey has played its own part in both the world wars. This is one story
that may not be so well known.
Bill Jackson is 90 years old on the 11th June 2013, he tell’s us of his time
on the coast of Normandy after the D-Day landings. During the 2nd World
War Bill served in the Royal Navy Combined Operations unit. Servicing and
maintaining landing craft and other vehicles for the armed forces.
In the weeks running up to 6th June 1944, Bill was in a South coast dock
one day when he stopped and spoke to a face he knew from Arlesey. Dick
Randall, a lorry driver from the brickworks here in Arlesey, was delivering a
load of ‘hollow blocks’ to the docks. The square blocks were being used to
build some huge floating barges (Phoenexes) and from what Bill saw were
being built and made ready to be moved out to sea.
Meanwhile in Arlesey, lines of American lorries were seen at the Arlesey
brickworks to pick up loads of blocks to be shipped elsewhere for the building
of more Phoenexes.
These Phoenexes were used to create the two Mulberry Harbours on the
Normandy coastline at Arromanches (Mulberry B) and off Saint Laurentsur-Mer (Mulberry A). The operation was a huge undertaking to create two
massive floating docks each the size of the town of Dover. They were needed
to ship supplies into the area after the initial landings.
The Mulberry harbours were individual barges mad e from a steel hull and
built up with the hollow blocks to create a platform then strung together to
create a harbour wall. Little did Bill know at the time of seeing Dick Randall
at the dock that he would be posted to the Normandy coast to be part of the
back up for the invasion, from Mulberry B, with engineering support.
Mr Jackson was first posted to Sword beach at Arromanches working on
landing craft, then moved on after 3 weeks to Gold beach. The flotilla of fuel
barges included one engineering barge where he was stationed. These fuel
barges held diesel and petrol ready to re-fuel all forms of craft. This operation
was taken over when a pipeline was finished running from The Isle of White
to the floating harbours, to supply the whole area with fuel – PLUTO (Pipeline
News From Etonbury Academy
Etonbury Farm
We have two NEW residents at Etonbury Academy. Mr Langley and apprentice,
Matthew Johnston-Kenters were hard at work making the area ready for the
two new arrivals. After a certain amount of strutting around and inspecting their
new home, the chickens finally decided it was to their liking and settled into the
nesting boxes.
We are starting the next phase of the project by laying weed control over the
garden area with the help of Year 8 Option groups and the Gardening Club. We
hope to start constructing the raised beds within this area in the next week. If
you would like to get involved in these projects in any way, either helping with the
piggery building or in the gardening project, please contact Miss Martindale or Mrs
Turgoose: Tel 01462 730391 or email: [email protected]
Playtime!!!
“This is awesome,” said one student at the opening of the new Year 5 play area.
After winning another £500,000 grant to improve the building and grounds we
were able to build our new and very impressive Year 5 play area. Although it was
designed for Year 5 students, children (and adults!) of all ages are welcome to use
the equipment.
PGL Trip
Before Easter, Etonbury took 22 students to Marchents Hill, Surrey for an
outdoor activities week. With activities including raft building, zip wire, climbing
and team building games. The students were a true reflection of Etonbury’s high
expectations in attitude to learning and behaviour.
Science Dept
Do you have the following items that you could donate to the Science Dept? Plastic
Dustbins with lids – must be water tight. Wheelie Bins. Waxed Drinks cartons
(Tropicana, milk or fresh juice type cartons, tall 1 litre, not the long life type).
Do You Fancy a challenge?
A member of our Etonbury staff has links to Multiple Sclerosis and as such
volunteers in her ‘spare’ time for the North Herts Branch of the MS Society,
working hard with other volunteers to make a real difference to those affected
by MS locally. We provide weekly physio classes with a neuro physio, grants for
Under The Ocean). Once this was operational Bill’s job was done and he was
posted to Scotland for training and then off to the Far East.
Bill told us “I had a bit of a charmed life in the navy.” he says “I used to sit
and shoot the mines that had been deployed by the Germans overnight. I got
pretty good at it too. One day while out doing this I noticed a Dornier flying
towards me overhead. I aimed and fired. Reloaded as I turned watching it fly
over, then took another shot. I could see the pilot’s face it was so close. The
plane then ditched in the sea about half a mile out. I’d like to think I shot it
down but couldn’t be sure.”
50 years after the invasion Mr. Jackson returned to Normandy to receive a
50th Anniversary medal, at a special memorial.
Picture Bill at the 50th anniversary memorial, after receiving his medal
adaptations and equipment to help people to live as independently as possible,
a wealth of publications on MS and lots of social activities throughout the year
bringing people with MS together. Fund-raising is where you may come in!
I am organising a group Skydive and 16 people are considering taking part
(including two Etonbury amazing colleagues ).
Would you like to experience falling for several thousand feet at 120mph,
followed by a gentle descent with a bird’s eye view when the parachute opens?
It is a tandem Skydive from a height of 10,000 feet (2 miles). This is the only
way you can jump from such an altitude without spending thousands of pounds
becoming a freefall parachutist.
The minimum sponsorship you would need to raise is £395, the Skydive would
be FREE to you, the cost of the dive comes out of your sponsorship money so if
you raised the minimum amount the Branch would receive about £140. Obviously,
the more you can raise the better!!
Branch funds are dwindling and we have just gained 47 new members from
Stevenage due to a Branch merger. We currently have around 200 members.
You don’t have to commit to anything at this point but if you are interested
please contact the school office via email [email protected]
Can you help?
While the Piggery Project moves forward, parts of it are in need of help. We
have a new garden/allotment that is being developed and now have need for the
following items/services.
• ark to make paths suitable for disability access, or brushwood cuttings.
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• orse manure and Top Soil in quantity.
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• arden Compost.
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• here are a number of raised beds in this area and we are looking for timber to
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finish building the beds. Any sturdy, reclaimed timber up to 2.4m long which can
be sawn down to make lengths between 1m minimum and 2.4m in length.
• trailer that could be used to transport these items (There is plastic sheet
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available to line a trailer to keep it clean).
• ny spare Rakes, Hoes, Watering Cans, gardening gloves, garden sieves
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and Wheelbarrows.
• ot Dip Galvanised Wire Netting (Rabbit proof Netting): Wire Dia: 20mm, Mesh
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25mm, Height 900m. We need at least 30metres.
If you can help in any way please contact the school office: Tel 01462 730391
or email [email protected]
to advertise telephone: 01462 834265 or go to the website: www.onthebuttonarlesey.co. uk
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June 2013
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