NORMANDY VETERANS SIGNING EVENT - 13th October
We’re proud to be hosting this event at the UK Gallery where we’ll be joined by veterans who took part in this historic period to sign autographs for collectors, including several who have never been to our gallery before!
Our special guests include;
Able Seaman GEORGE CHANDLER MiD Ld’H - having joined the Royal Navy in 1943 aged 18, George served as a Gun Layer on MTB 710, 59th flotilla on coastal defence duties, with regular channel night-time enemy engagements. In the run up to D-Day they trained with US Rangers on the south coast, honing troop seaborne manoeuvres and on D-Day itself served as a defence escort to invasion forces in the American sector close to Omaha beach. George later served in the Mediterranean theatre, Adriatic Sea, in close operational support with the LRDG and SBS special duties sections.
Leading Seaman ALF LONSDALE Ld'H - joining the Royal Navy in 1943, Alf served as a gunner after being seconded to a tug boat as a RN liaison signaller, in the build-up to D-Day. From D-day onwards he undertook supply barrage routes to Normandy, returning with wounded personnel and or damaged vehicles and landing craft. D-Day plus 3 he was seconded to the Mulberry harbour escort duties, transporting and supporting in the construction of Mulberry No 2 at Arromanches. He served the rest of the war in the Pacific arena, Australia, landing troops at Kure Japan post atomic bomb detonations.
Private DON TINDALL - joining the Royal Army Ordinance Corps in April 1944, Don became a driver posted to Donnington 29VRD RAOC, a major invasion vehicle depo. In the build-up to D-Day he was posted to vehicle embarkation duties at the East India docks and served loading vehicles on to supply ships for Normandy. In late June, he served with supply vessels to Mulberry B, unloading and delivering vehicles to vital in-land RASC front line resupply depos. Don finished his service with various home front postings, including POW duties and postings with the RAOC and No 10 AFV (armoured fighting vehicles).
Craftsman DOUG AUSTIN Ld’H - serving in the British Army, Doug fought as part of the 3rd Battalion Scots Guards, 6th Tank Brigade, throughout Normandy. He saw action during the fierce battle for Caen, through Villers-Bocage and the Falaise Gap all the way to Germany on VE-Day.
Signalman FRANK BAUGH Ld'H - serving with the Royal Navy, his landing craft LCI(L)380 was part of Flotilla 253 tasked with carrying members of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion to Normandy. Just after 7.20am on D-Day they were the first craft to land on the Queen Red Sector of Sword Beach and took a direct hit by German fire whilst approaching the beach.
Private BRUNO GOTTHARD LEIBICH - called up for military service in 1943 he joined Grenadier Regiment 915 of the 352nd Infantry Division of the German Army. In December 1943 the unit went to Normandy where he was assigned to Signals (Melder) Company. On D-Day his unit was based at Colleville and deployed to defend Omaha Beach. The next day, using ditches and hedgerows as cover, they fired on some US soldiers but the return fire was such that his group of 6 surrendered and he spent the remainder of the war as a PoW, first in America before being sent to England where he met a local girl and has settled ever since.
Corporal GEOFFREY PULZER Ld'H - drafted to Brigade HQ 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division at Ovingdean near Brighton following a promotion to Corporal in 1943 he was given command of a Sherman tank in preparation for the D-Day Campaign. He landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer near Juno Beach and proceeded west to in the direction of Arromanches where they were heavily involved in the fighting at Hill 112. Often deployed in an observation role as one of the forward tanks of the Brigade, they fought at the Falaise Gap and en-route to liberate Antwerp where he commanded one of the first tanks to enter the city. The 29th Armoured Brigade went on to support the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge, before re-joining the 11th Armoured Division and proceeding to cross the Rhine, finishing near Flensburg in northern Germany.
Our guests are happy to sign autographs for collectors and items purchased at the event over £60 can be signed free of charge. Bookings are now being taken so please contact us to secure your place.
This would be an ideal opportunity to have our new releases additionally signed; ADVANCE FROM ARROMANCHES and ARNHEM AIRBORNE ASSAULT by Simon Smith
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